RAFFLES, Thomas Stamford.

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The charges of Major General Gillespie against The Honourable T. S. Raffles, Leutenant [sic] Governor of the Island of Java, Rare first and only edition of documents assembled and privately printed by Raffles in defence of his administration and financial policy in Java. We have traced just six institutional copies and none on auction records.Raffles (1781-1826) was assistant secretary to the East India Company's newly elevated Penang presidency, when, in May 1811, Lord Minto, Governor-General of India, approved a British campaign against French-controlled Dutch Java. Although a civilian and taking no direct part in the military operations - conducted by Colonel Robert Rollo Gillespie, whose advance guard stormed Fort Cornelis and captured 6,000 prisoners - Raffles was, to Gillespie's chagrin, appointed lieutenant-governor.Subsequent proposals to reduce European troop numbers as an economy measure brought Raffles into open conflict with Gillespie, who in December 1813 laid formal charges before the Governor-General in Council. These attacked the entirety of Raffles's administration and financial policy, accused him of humiliating chiefs and regents, and selling off government lands irresponsibly. Raffles submitted a detailed rebuttal in March 1814 (also privately printed in Batavia), and Gillespie was killed in action before judgement was given, "but the accusations hung over Raffles for years" (ODNB). The present volume was issued without a printed title page, and John Basti

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