8vo. viii, 88pp, [4]. With a terminal leaf of advertisements. Contemporary black half-calf, tooled in gilt and blind, marbled paper boards, supralibros of the United Service Club to foot of spine. Bookplate of the United Service Club to FEP, initial two leaves of text working loose, leaf B8 detached, single word on p.82 seemingly deliberately rubbed away, with a marginal manuscript note 'Sheridan see speech at the end', scattered spotting. Presentation copy, inked inscription to head of title page: 'Presented to the United Service Club with a map. see p.73 by Major Thos. Best Jervis'.

The sole edition of a monograph on the governance of India by British military engineer and cartographer Thomas Best Jervis (1796-1857); including discussion of Anglo-Indian relations and the necessity of improving the condition of the native population:

'the introduction of the Hindoo, by a natural, and easy, and judicious process, into that condition of moral fitness to take part in the government of the country, which is his due. And in the prospect of this very general desire, to superadd to a solid preparatory education in our own of the missionaries’ schools, the benefits of a finishing education in our own ancient seminaries of learning, and the Government schools for the better knowledge of the arts, sciences, and professional walks of life'.