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First edition, with the bookplate of Thomas Otho Travers, Raffles's long-serving aide-de-camp. In March 1814, Travers personally conveyed to London Raffles's despatches defending himself from corruption charges, and Travers's journals were an important source for Sophia Raffles's memoir of her husband. We have traced no commercial appearance of this work in recent decades. Raffles composed his Statement, a justification of his 14 years of service in Asia, shortly after his final return to Britain, when the directors of the East India Company were considering his conduct, his eligibility for a company pension, and possible recompense for personal financial losses incurred during his administration. While their judgement praised him for the invasion of Java and the consolidation of British control in Singapore, the directors also attacked his opposition to slavery and land-management policies, and Raffles died in great financial peril. Travers (1785-1844), affectionately referred to by Raffles as "Tot", first met Raffles in 1806 and, as aide-de-camp, served him with distinction. Having held military appointments in Jakarta, in 1820 he was appointed the new British resident and commandant in Singapore, but the incumbent's refusal to make way brought an end to Travers's time in Asia. He remained close to Raffles in the latter's difficult final years and was thanked by name in Lady Raffles's introduction to her Memoir of the Life and Public Services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1830): "Though the Editor is conscious that her thanks can be of little value, she feels it her duty publicly to record the sense which Sir Stamford always entertained of the attachment of his private Secretary, the late Mr. Assey, and of his personal staff, Captains Travers, Garnham, Dalgairns, Watson, and Methven, during his government of Java. The enthusiasm of this little band of friends, in all that concerned his honour and happiness, tended to soften the troubles in which he was involved. To Captain Travers, who, in a moment of difficulty, and at a considerable personal sacrifice, volunteered to take a voyage to England, for the purpose of defending the character of Sir Stamford, and who has now permitted the Editor to make use of his Journal, her first thanks are due." Cordier 1493. Quarto (291 x 232 mm), pp. 72. Contemporary, perhaps original, red quarter roan, drab boards. Spine ends and joints repaired, endpapers foxed, contents clean: a well-preserved copy.
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