The History of British India

James Mill's often harshly critical History of British India is a classic example of early-nineteenth century philosophical political history.

James Mill (Author)

9781108022798, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 December 2010

792 pages
29.7 x 21 x 4 cm, 1.8 kg

James Mill's three volume History of British India was published from 1817 to 1818 and became an immediate success. A friend of Jeremy Bentham and a follower of utilitarianism, Mill focuses more on historical processes than human interest. He uses extensive sources rather than first-hand experience to create, as his preface claims, an 'objective' yet 'critical' history, often making harsh judgements of the country and its people within the context of a theoretical framework. He also criticises the British involvement in India and the process of conquest, colonization, and administration, the intention being to encourage the reader to a greater understanding of historical processes, ideas, and institutions with a view to encouraging thorough reform. Volume 3 examines the history of the colony from Pitt's India Act in 1784 to the end of the Second Anglo-Maratha War and the peace between the British and Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar in 1805.

Book VI. From the Establishment of the New Constitution for the Government of India, Ao. 1784, to the Termination of the War with the Mahrattas, Ao. 1805: 1. Administration of Mr. Macpherson
2. The trial of Mr. Hastings
3. Arrangement about troops and money with the Nabob of Oude
4. Cornwallis takes the command
5. Lord Cornwallis's financial and judicial reforms
6. Result of Lord Cornwallis's financial and judicial reforms
7. Proceedings in parliament relative to the renewal of the Company's charter in 1793
8. Lord Mornington Governor-General
9. Situation of Oude, as left by Lord Teignmouth, highly satisfactory to the Home Authorities
10. The Nabob of Surat deposed
11. Two sets of princes, connected with the English
12. Objects to which the operations of the army in the north were to be directed
13. Necessity inferred of curbing Holkar
Index.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]