Calcutta in the 19th Century By P. Thankappan Nair

Book Description

Preface
This collection, Calcutta in the 19th Century (Company's Days), features thirty-five accounts that illuminate the city's history before the Mutiny. We hope these narratives will deepen our understanding of Calcutta and serve as valuable primary sources for historians.

About one-third of this collection comes from seven remarkable women—Emily Eden, Fanny Parks, Maria Graham, Fenton, Emma Roberts, Honoria Lawrence, and Hofland—whose keen observations capture nearly every significant detail of old Calcutta. We also include writings from ten soldiers—Archer, Bacon, Bengalee, Davidson, Huggins, Leigh, Mundy, an unnamed officer, Orlich, and Wallace—who wielded their pens as effectively as their swords. Journalistic pieces by Miss Emma Roberts and William Howard Russell offer a perspective on the city, though neither was specifically assigned to Calcutta. The missionary accounts from Bishop Heber, Rev. Howard Malcom, a London missionary, and John Hobart Counter of the "Oriental Annual" extend beyond mere conversion efforts. Additionally, historians like Hamilton, Martin, and Thornton have contributed valuable insights. While only three foreign visitors—Victor Jacquemont of France, Leopold von Orlich, and Georgian Rafail Danibegashvili—are featured, their observations reveal lesser-known facets of Calcutta’s history.

In compiling these extracts, we have strived to retain all interesting details from the extensive writings of our authors, without altering their original texts. Notes have been included where necessary to provide context.

We extend our gratitude to the National Library of India for permitting us to reproduce extracts from rare books, and we owe a special thanks to Mr. Rathindra Nath Mukherji, who not only lent us invaluable volumes from his collection but also facilitated the publication of this work. Mr. Sripati Ghosh of Firma, as always, ensured the manuscript’s smooth journey through the press.