WARREN HASTINGS' LETTERS TO SIR JOHN MACPHERSON. Edited by Henry
Dodwell. (Faber and Gwyer. 15s.)—Professor Dodwell has been fortunate in finding, and skilful in editing, a batch of new letters mainly written by Warren Hastings to his friend and colleague Sir John Macpherson in 1781-2, when the East India Company was faced with the Mahratta and Mysore Wars and France was trying to recover her lost power in India. Hastings, writing familiarly and confidentially to Macpherson, is a singularly impressive and attractive figure. Only those who are well acquainted with the complex story of Indian polities and London intrigues at this time will appreciate the letters to the full. But Hastings' determination to pursue a bold policy towards the Mahratta chief Sindia, despite the eroakings of the timid Council at Calcutta and the anger of the directors at home, is plainly evident in his correspondence. He points out again and again that he did not begin the war but that, being forced into the quarrel, he was resolved not to withdraw except upon his own terms. And the event justified his resolute policy. Sindia made peace, all the Mahrattas followed the example, and the Company was left free to deal with Hyder All of Mysore, who had nearly destroyed Madras. The letters are a most valuable addition to the sources for this critical period of Anglo-Indian history.
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