INDIA – EAST INDIA COMPANY & THE FIRST ANGLO-MARATHA WAR
Manuscript journal, purportedly that of The Rev. Mr Arnold Burrowes (1749-1819), Senior Military Chaplain, Honourable East India Company Service, Bombay, written initially at Bombay and thence whilst accompanying Colonel Keating on campaigns during the first Anglo-Maratha War, with detailed journal entries, noting the arrival and departure of ships and passengers, pastimes, news on Company skirmishes with Portuguese troops ('...between two and three hundred fighting men... marched from Mahim... to attack the Fort of Versava on the sea coast...'), a description of the death of Commodore John Watson at Fort Thanna, a precis of Indian Affairs in 1774 ('...a grand Epocha in the history of the English transactions in the East Indies...'), many pages on history and religion ('...Brahmins... never taste anything that either has or could enjoy life...') and the advent of the first Maratha War ('...this revolution, so fatal and unexpected...'), much on his appointment as chaplain to Colonel Keating and his subsequent travels, to Surat for the signing of the treaty between Raghoba and the British ('...They proceeded in the greatest state... a large handsome building in the Mogul taste, just finished; adorned with chandeliers and carpets... The Nabob and all his attendants out of compliment to the English were seated in chairs...'), describing in detail their various camps, with descriptions of skirmishes ('...The enemy... in the greatest confusion... fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving their tents, grain and baggage on the ground...') and a vivid account of the success of the British forces at the Battle of Arras 18 May 1775 ('...For the enemy now observing this surprizing change in their favor, instantly faced about with renewed courage... and hacked our flying troops in the most shocking manner...'), with descriptions of life in camp ('...the water was soon rendered so thick and muddy by the thousands of men, horses, camels and elephants...'), on the morale of Ragobah's army ('...dispirited, fearful and timid to the last degree...'), changing allegiances ('...The Nabob Hyder Ally has declared himself in Ragobah's favor...'), interspersed throughout with descriptions of the landscapes, wildlife and weather, trade and the pastimes of the Nabobs ('...hawking and hunting... the flying of paper kites was formerly a fashionable amusement...'), his final task for Colonel Keating to take dispatches to Bombay on his behalf ('...I set out early this morning on an elephant...'), arriving at Bombay to find to his dismay that an immediate cessation of arms was ordered ('...This conduct... being fraught with the worst of consequences to the Companys interest on this side of India, where they would have obtained very valuable acquisitions in territorial revenues, as well as many other solid advantages upon Ragobahs establishment in the government of Poonah...'), 132 leaves, pages numbered 245 to 487, margins ruled in red, watermark, original blindstamped calf, worn with losses to back board and spine, folio (305 x 188mm.), 1 January 1774 to 9 September 1775
Footnotes:
'I SET OUT EARLY THIS MORNING ON AN ELEPHANT': The Honourable East India Company's chaplain describes the first skirmishes of the Anglo-Maratha War.

Whilst there is no signature or ownership inscription in this journal, the entry for 16 February 1775 identifies the author as '...Chaplain to the troops now ordered from Bombay, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Keating, to assist Ragonath Row, sovereign of the Maharattas in the war he is carrying on against his rebellious ministers...'. The Rev. Mr Arnold Burrowes (1749-1819) can reasonably be assumed, therefore, to be the author of our journal.

The numbering of the pages would suggest that this is one of several volumes, with our volume taking in the period of eighteen months from 1774 to 1775 during which time the East India Company embarked on the so-called First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782). The war arose from a dispute between two candidates for the vacant position of Peshwa. One claimant, Raghunath Rao, received help from the British in Bombay in return for the promise of territories and trade should he be successful, a promise sealed at the Treaty of Surat, at which our author was present. The turning point was the Battle of Arras on 18 May 1775, described in detail here, resulting in heavy losses for the Mahratta chieftains under Hari Pant Phunhay and a British victory, despite Rao's troops fleeing in confusion. In consequence, the East India Company at Calcutta under Warren Hastings opposed any further interference and ordered the annulment of the Treaty of Surat, much to our author's disappointment, which is where our journal ends. Hostilities were resumed, however, and were to continue for a further seven years until a British victory sealed twenty years of peace.

The journal is sold with a nineteenth century commonplace book, letters and family papers pertaining to the Wilson family, a descendant of whom was James Wilson (1805-1860), the founder of The Economist weekly and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, who also held the post of Secretary of the Board of Control which supervised the East India Company's control of British India.

Provenance: Basil F.A. Wilson, Edinburgh (ownership inscription dating from the 1930's in pencil on first leaf); thence by descent to the present owner.
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