Memoire Pour le Sieur de la Bourdonnais, Avec les Pieces Justificatives. Paris: De l'Imprimerie de Delaguette, 1751, 12mo.
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This important book writes about a detailed defence of Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, a French naval officer and governor of the French Indian Ocean colonies, amid accusations of corruption and misconduct during his command in India.
This memoir recounts La Bourdonnais' significant role in the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748), particularly his strategic capture of the British controlled city of Madras (now Chennai) in 1746, a victory that underscored French power in the Indian subcontinent. However, his success was clouded by tensions with Joseph François Dupleix, the governor-general of French India, and allegations that La Bourdonnais sought personal gain by negotiating with the British.
This work, supplemented by justificative documents, presents La Bourdonnais’ side of the story, arguing that his actions were in France’s interest rather than simply self-serving. This book gives significant details on military, diplomatic, and colonial tensions between France and Britain in India, and gives insight into the workings of the French East India Company, colonial governance, and the intense Franco-British rivalry that shaped Indian and, more widely speaking, global history, in the mid to late 18th century.
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Provenance:
Armorial bookplate of Lord Sandys.
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Size: 103 x 167 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(2), t.p., pp.3-92, foldout map, pp.93-150, foldout map, pp.151-509, (3)]; [(3), t.p., 431pp., (2)]; [(3), t.p., pp.1-146, three foldout tables, pp.147-448, (2)].
Full brown calf bindings with red and black tooled labels in compartments to the spines between raised bands, other compartments with decorative gilt. Red tooled label from volume two lacking, and most of the red tooled label from volume three lacking. Bindings with light rubbing and scuffing, more so to spines. Cracks down the spines of volumes one and three. All boards attached with joints starting or rubbing along joints, and wear to hinges. Shelf and edge wear. Red spotted page edges somewhat dulled, top edges darkened as often. Bookplate attached to the front pastedown in all volumes. Pencil shelf mark to front blank in all volumes. Text blocks very clean with occasional foxing. Endpapers toned as commensurate with the full leather bindings. Small tear to the bottom corner of the rear blank in volume three.
