Item #239716 A Defence of the United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the East-Indies, and their servants, (particularly those at Bengal) against the complaints of the Dutch East-India Company; being a Memorial from the English Company to His Majesty on that Subject. East India Company, John Dunning, Baron Ashburton.

A Defence of the United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the East-Indies, and their servants, (particularly those at Bengal) against the complaints of the Dutch East-India Company; being a Memorial from the English Company to His Majesty on that Subject.

London: Printed for J. Brotherton, in Cornhill; and sold by R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, and T. Waller, in Fleet Street, 1762.

Price: $300.00


About the item

First edition. [4], 71 pp. Errata slip tipped to blank verso of second leaf. LACKING folding diagram. 1 vols. 4to. Removed. First two leaves detached. Kress 6007; Goldsmith 9776; Higgs 2737; ESTC T97097.

Item #239716

Dunning's brilliant defence of the British East India Company against charges brought by the Dutch marked the beginning of his career as barrister and politician. " ... of Dunning's great distinction as a lawyer there is no doubt. The obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine referred, not purely conventionally, to his 'amazing powers' ... Shelburne wrote that 'all parties allowed him to be at the head of the bar ... The only doubt was whether he excelled most at equity or common law. There was none as to anybody's coming up to him in either' ... " (ODNB).