This explanation may likewise serve to shew in a more pardonable light, any deficiencies which may be found in this particular volume: it has been composed under an aggravation of those difficulties to which I have presumed to allude; and it certainly is inadequate to my own wishes. The Historical and Critical Departments are not sufficiently extended; partly owing to these causes, and partly to the voluminous collection of State Papers, which it was indespensable to insert. These important documents unfold the whole policy of the Marquis Wellesley's government, in regard to the Mahratta empire, and explain, in the fullest manner, all the various causes which combined to produce the late war with Scindeah and Boonsla. An attentive perusal of the official correspondence between the supreme government of the British dominions in India, and the British residents at the courts of the Peishwa and Scindeah, is essential to the forming a correct judgment, not only of the real policy and expediency of that war, but also of the sub sequent sequent rupture with Holkar. The less fortunate and less brilliant events of the contest with that Chief, and the clamour which has in consequence been raised against it, have rendered it the more necessary to point the attention of the public to those circumstances and transactions, from which it originally arose, and on which its merits must ultimately rest. The account of the military operations against Holkar, during the period of time which this volume embraces, I have postponed until the next, because it will be more satisfactory as well as more interesting to the public, to see the whole of those operations, and of the official correspondence between the British government and that Chief, exhibited at one view. The present condition of Europe, and the ambitious projects of France, point out the expediency of consolidating the resources of the British empire in India, and of fixing on a broad, stable, and permanent foundation a comprehensive, uniform, and vigorous system of policy, for the administration of its affairs, both in its foreign, foreign, and domestic relations. The principles, and provisions of such a system of policy can alone be thoroughly comprehended, and the necessity of their adoption adequately felt, by a full and fair exposition of the actual state of British India, of the true characters, interests, and views of those nations with which it is politically connected, and of the real situation of the Company's affairs. I shall therefore in the next volume of the Register endeavour to simplify and explain these most important, complicated, and ill-understood subjects, uninfluenced by any other consideration, than a regard to the truth of facts, and the maxims of reason. LONDON, Feb. 15, 1806. L. D. CAMPBELL. CONTENTS. RECAPITULATION of the subjects of the third and fourth Chapters.-Relative situation of the Dutch and English East India Companies, and of their possessions in India, in A. D. 1619.-Causes of the Dissentions between those Companies.-- Treaty of Amity between them concluded under the sanction of the King of Eng- land, and the States General of the united Provinces. The Dutch Governors, in the Spice Islands, pay little attention to that Treaty.-Their Violation of it.-Dutch attack the English at Lantore, and Poolaroon; burn their towns, and put the inhabitants to death.- The Dutch defence of their conduct in this affair, and the English reply.-A. D. 1620, The English send a fleet to the Gulph of Per- sia-Portuguese Attack the English Fleet, and are defeated.-Designs of the Dutch.-Relative state of Dutch and English at Amboyna.-Dutch seize the English Settlers on that Island, on the pretext of an alleged Conspiracy.-The Charges preferred against the English; the cruel tortures inflicted on them to extort Confession; their Condemnation, and Execution-The opprobrium which this action cast on the Dutch Nation-Dutch Company's Defence.-The Reply ibid 34 |