An Historical Disquisition Concerning India.

William Robertson.

An Historical Disquisition Concerning India.

London:

Cadell and Davies,

1809

Colchester’s fascination focused especially on travel and the history of English colonies. While antedating the establishment of the Raj, England was firmly established in India through the reaches of the British East India Company. Written just a few years before the 1813 abolishment of the Company’s monopoly under the Charter Act, Robertson’s Historical Disquisition explores numerous facets of India’s history from ancient times and includes a substantial fold-out map. Robertson is especially fascinated with Indian history, imbued with the history of western connections, addressing Egyptian, Roman, and the historical passage to intercourse with India through the Cape of Good Hope. Robertson was purported to have been inspired to write his disquisition after reading Major James Rennell’s Memoir on the Map of Hindustan (1793) and drew, to some extent, on the monumental treatment of Rome by Gibbon. Restoration work on the binding (to reattach both the front and end boards) was executed by Natasha Herman at Redbone Bindery in the Netherlands.

From the Collection of Brendan Clark