Summary of the Administration of the Indian Government, by the Marquess of Hastings, During the Period that He Filled the Office of Governor GeneralWhen the Army officer and politician Francis Rawdon-Hastings (1754-1826) arrived in Calcutta to serve as Governor-General in October 1813, British India comprised three presidencies and was beset by problems relating to warring states, weakened armed forces, insufficient funds, and rebellious Gurkhas and Maratha chieftains. This brief first-person account discusses these problems, touching especially on the war against Nepal (1814-16) - after which the Governor-General was created First Marquess of Hastings - and the offensive operations against Pindari raiders and restive chieftains in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18). First published in 1824 to justify Hastings' political, military and financial conduct in office, this work offers direct insight into a colonial leader's mentality and the strategic thinking behind the expenditure of blood and money for the furtherance of British imperialism. |
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30th April 30th of April administration advantage amounted to rupees Appah Saheb appear arms army augmentation Bhurtpore body bonds British Government burthen Calcutta canal cash balance cause cavalry Central India charges chiefs circumstances Company's confidence considerable corps course David Ochterlony Delhi demands disbursement districts dominions Dya Ram England to India exertions exhibited expenditure expense feudatory force fortress FRANCIS RAWDON-HASTINGS functionaries furnished Gwalior Hattrass Honourable Company Honourable Court hostile house of Timour immediate income inconvenience India to England inhabitants interest Jauts Jumna Khan less Lucknow Madras Presidency Maharajah Mahratta Malwa Maratha Marquess of Hastings ment military minister Native Princes Nawab Vizier Nepaul object Ochterlony Offensive Operations officer Peishwa Pindarries pledged Poonah possessions pounds sterling provinces receipt received registered debt reigning render Resident revenue Scindiah shew Sove sovereign of Oude stations strength surplus Talochdars territory thence three Presidencies tion tranquillity treasury treaty Trimbuckjee troops