EAST INDIA COMPANY. Parliamentary Reports of 1772-1773 on the state of the Company

Reports on the State of the East India Company… from the Committee of Secrecy, appointed to enquire into the State of  the East Idia Company on the Affairs of the East India Company.1772-73. Reprinted by Order of the House. 1804

763pp, A large [16½ x 10½ ins] folio volume containing the full Nine Reports from The Committee of Secrecy appointed to enquire into The State of the East India Company. Stout librarybuff cikiured buckram with red and black title labels gilt, titled on the spine REPORTS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS  VOL IV 1772 – 1773.  The binding is completely sound, old stain to top right corner of upper board but not having any effect within. Although there ar no markings, stamps, &c in this volume it is in a binding which was used in the Home Department and other government deaprtments, several of which sold off sets of papers in the 1990s.  This is Volume IV “EAST INDIES – 1772-1773” in the series of “REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Re-printed by Order of the House, 1804” which comprised 15 large folios: only 1500 copies were printed. Parliament was recalled in 1772 after the East India Company asked for a loan of a million pounds and the resulting committee of 13 which inquired into its affairs came up with a damning report which probes interestingly into all aspects of affairs in India – administration, debt and revenue, territorial management, army reform, justice, the salt trade, the China trade, shipping, etc. An invaluable primary source for research into Indian affairs in the 18th century and the age of Clive. Numerous lists and tables showing, for instance, the names of ships used by the Company with their tonnages.This volume weighs approximately 4.5kilos or 10llbs so shipping abroad will be somewhat costly.         apr4/4