A Free Inquiry Into the Various Causes of the Alarming State of Our Affairs in the East Indies: Wherein the Measures of the Several Governments of Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, Are Fairly Discussed.

A Free Inquiry Into The Various Causes Of The Alarming State Of Our Affairs In The East Indies: Wherein The Measures Of The Several Governments Of Bengal, Madras, And Bombay, Are Fairly Discussed. With Some Cursory Observations On The Military Talents And Conduct Of Hyder Aly by James Capper. This work provides a historically grounded critique of late 18th-century British policy in the East Indies, focusing on Bengal, Madras, and Bombay during the Mahratta War and the broader context of Anglo-Indian relations. Capper analyzes the political intrigues among the major Indian powers—the Mahratta confederacy led by Ragoba and his rivals, the Scindia, Holkar, Nana Furnese, Moodagee Bounfello, and their allies—as well as the British decisions that shaped military and diplomatic strategies. The text includes an extended narrative of the Mahratta War, including tensions over Salsette and Bassein, the missteps and debates within the Bombay and Bengal administrations, and the contested treaties such as Poorundah. The author surveys French involvement and the shifting alliances that influenced the Carnatic and Deccan fronts. The work adopts a documentary tone, raising questions about prudence, governance, and the costs of intervention, and critiques the way different governments framed peace, war, and territorial acquisitions in India. It ultimately aims to identify the causes of Britain's precarious state in the East Indies and to propose more measured approaches to governance and warfare.