Folio Archives 93: Journal of my Service in India by Maj. John Corneille 1966
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1wcarter
Journal of my Service in India by Maj. John Corneille 1966
In 1754, when Major John Corneille arrived in India, England was only very early in its colonisation of India, and the English present were mainly nabobs (traders). He left after three years, as the conquest of the interior of India in the name of a monopoly company was well underway.
His diary is a fascinating insight into the style of life of both the Indians and the English interlopers 270 years ago. There was also the interactions between the other traders, Portuguese, French and Dutch.
Corneille landed in Madras (modern Chennai). He was further inland at Plassey (of which there is a map in the book) when it was attacked by the French as part of the expansion of the War of Austrian Succession between France and England that was then active in Europe. The result was a rapid increase of the military in India, gradually replacing the merchants as the dominant group, not only numerically, but socially.
Travels up country to interact with the rulers of the minor Indian princes and extend the English influence, also formed part of Corneille’s duties.
This manuscript was only discovered in France in the 1950s, and has been edited and introduced by Michael Edwardes. There are engraved chapter headings by B. S. Biro, but no other illustrations. A glossary of leading historical characters mentioned in the text can be found at the back of the 181 page book. The white endpapers are printed with the coats of arms of the East India Company and George II. The book is bound in mid-brown cloth blocked on all sides with an engraving of Madras, and with a gilt on green spine title. The slipcase is plain mud-brown and 22.7x15.5cm. A facsimile of a page from the original manuscript acts as a frontispiece.
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
In 1754, when Major John Corneille arrived in India, England was only very early in its colonisation of India, and the English present were mainly nabobs (traders). He left after three years, as the conquest of the interior of India in the name of a monopoly company was well underway.
His diary is a fascinating insight into the style of life of both the Indians and the English interlopers 270 years ago. There was also the interactions between the other traders, Portuguese, French and Dutch.
Corneille landed in Madras (modern Chennai). He was further inland at Plassey (of which there is a map in the book) when it was attacked by the French as part of the expansion of the War of Austrian Succession between France and England that was then active in Europe. The result was a rapid increase of the military in India, gradually replacing the merchants as the dominant group, not only numerically, but socially.
Travels up country to interact with the rulers of the minor Indian princes and extend the English influence, also formed part of Corneille’s duties.
This manuscript was only discovered in France in the 1950s, and has been edited and introduced by Michael Edwardes. There are engraved chapter headings by B. S. Biro, but no other illustrations. A glossary of leading historical characters mentioned in the text can be found at the back of the 181 page book. The white endpapers are printed with the coats of arms of the East India Company and George II. The book is bound in mid-brown cloth blocked on all sides with an engraving of Madras, and with a gilt on green spine title. The slipcase is plain mud-brown and 22.7x15.5cm. A facsimile of a page from the original manuscript acts as a frontispiece.
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2NLNils
Tempting. Seen this book come by often on the secondhand market, never knew exactly what it was about.
3LesMiserables
Looks like a really interesting book. I have always been interested in books concerning HM Force and the sub-continent. Do you happen to know if Folio ever published anything concerning Major-General Hector MacDonald?
4wcarter
>3 LesMiserables:
There is no mention of Gen. MacDonald in the Complete List of FS Books, so I assume not.
There is no mention of Gen. MacDonald in the Complete List of FS Books, so I assume not.
5InVitrio
"I must have been keen on her, because I took her to see...India!!!"
"INDIA???"
"At the Oval!"
"INDIA???"
"At the Oval!"
6affle
>3 LesMiserables:
It is perhaps possible that Churchill’s My early life covers Macdonald’s exploits at Omdurman?
It is perhaps possible that Churchill’s My early life covers Macdonald’s exploits at Omdurman?
7LesMiserables
>6 affle:
Only the very briefest of mentions...
This second shock was far more critical than the first. The charging Dervishes succeeded every where in coming to within a hundred or two hundred yards of the troops, and the rear brigade of Sudanese, attacked from two directions, was only saved from destruction by the skill and firmness of its commander, General Hector MacDonald.
https://archive.org/stream/rovingcommissino001321mbp/rovingcommissino001321mbp_d...
Only the very briefest of mentions...
This second shock was far more critical than the first. The charging Dervishes succeeded every where in coming to within a hundred or two hundred yards of the troops, and the rear brigade of Sudanese, attacked from two directions, was only saved from destruction by the skill and firmness of its commander, General Hector MacDonald.
https://archive.org/stream/rovingcommissino001321mbp/rovingcommissino001321mbp_d...
