The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 08 (of 12)

A collection of political writings focusing on British governance in India, written in the late 18th century. This volume includes critical reports and observations concerning the management of the East India Company and the governance of Indian territories. The likely topic of this work revolves around the examination of British policies in India, encompasses detailed reports about administrative mismanagement, economic exploitation, and the sociopolitical impacts on the native populations. The opening of this volume introduces the Ninth Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the affairs of India, discussing the state of the administration of justice in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. The report critiques the pervasive mismanagement of the East India Company, highlighting specific abuses and calling for a closer investigation into the connection between British authority and the welfare of Indian inhabitants. It lays out the principal concerns regarding commerce, government, and the administration of justice, establishing a framework for understanding the complexities of British colonial governance while detailing the various grievances held by both the British government and the native populace.