Second edition, one year after the first, fairly uncommon, just 9 locations for this, and two for the first on Copac. This copy inscribed on the half-title: "To Sir Henry Rodes Green KL.C.S.I and C.B. from his old friend The Author", initialled and dated in 1874. "I have met with no work giving full insight into the duties and responsibilities of Indian Political officers, a body of men who uphold British supremacy or British interests over some fifty millions of human beings, and whether Residents at native Courts, or under titles of Commissioner, Agent, or Superintendent, with their respective Deputies and Assistants, control, with more or less of diplomacy or of direct power, both kings and people" (Introductory Observations). A lack that Jacob tried to make up with the present autobiographical work which represents "thinking outside the mainstream of political thought of mid-nineteenth century British India [objecting] to the high level of British insensitivity to native needs and interests" (Riddick). The recipient of this copy Major-General Henry Green (1823-1912), was educated at Addiscombe before being commissioned in the Scinde Irregular Horse, commanded by Jacob, in 1846. Served throughout the Second Anglo-Sikh War, present at the siege of Multan and the battle of Gujarat. During the Crimean War he was seconded to the Turkish Irregular Cavalry, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, severely wounded, and was awarded the Order of the Medjidie for his services. Assistant Adjutant General in the Persian War, 1856-7; political agent Beluchistan 1859. In 1866 he was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India in recognition of his service as Political Superintendent in Upper Scinde, in 1868 promoted lieutenant-colonel, and subsequently in 1875 to the rank of Major-General in the Staff Corps. He saw service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, publishing an account of the battle for Kandahar, The Retention of Kandahar, which was published by Stanford in 1881. An excellent association copy of an elusive and interesting title.
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