POPHAM, Sir Home.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Three pamphlets related to Sir Home Popham's expenses trial. First editions, Aeschines a presentation copy inscribed "to the editor of the British Critic with the author's compliments. N.b. This pamphlet is quite of a temporary nature". These works detail the spurious allegations of overspending levied against Sir Home Popham in 1803, published from the perspectives of his accusers, defenders, and his acquitters at trial.In 1800, Popham (1762-1820) was appointed to the Romney and sailed her on missions to Egypt and India. However, on returning to England in 1803 he was accused of incurring "enormous and extraordinary" expenses while repairing the ship and her sister, the Sensible, in Kolkata. These reports were fabricated by Benjamin Vincent, secretary to Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent. A House of Commons select committee in 1805 ruled the reports to be spurious, but not before considerable public interest was drawn to the case.

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