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a) This is plate 1 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

He includes three views of the Government House in his collection, all of which were captured from the eastern side. Marquess Wellesley, who had assumed the role of Governor General in 1798, constructed Government House. Captain Charles Wyatt, the architect, drew... a) This is plate 1 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

He includes three views of the Government House in his collection, all of which were captured from the eastern side. Marquess Wellesley, who had assumed the role of Governor General in 1798, constructed Government House. Captain Charles Wyatt, the architect, drew inspiration from Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire for his design, but he adjusted to accommodate the climatic conditions.

This perspective depicts one of the gateways in its entirety: "the main arch crowned by a lion and the side gates by sphinxes, while in front passes Lord Hastings' carriage procession, preceded by his silver-stick and mace bearers and followed by members of his bodyguard." Large Adjutant birds can be observed standing stiffly on the roof of Government House.

c) This is plate 4 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

This is one of two perspectives on the Hooghly River; it offers a view of the Botanic Garden House on the left and the opulent country estates of Garden Reach on the right. The Superintendent of the Gardens, the extraordinary botanist Dr. William Roxburgh, resided in the home, which was constructed in 1795. Colonel Robert Kyd, the East India Company's inaugural superintendent, spearheaded the establishment of the gardens in 1786.

d) This is plate 6 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

Fraser portrays white structures that are encircled by lush vegetation, which are silhouetted against a blue sky or monsoon clouds. In contrast to the Writers' Building in the background, the foreground of this image is dominated by the imposing Holwell's Monument, which was constructed to commemorate the Black Hole tragedy. This tragedy occurred when Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah's soldiers were alleged to have confined approximately 130 soldiers and civilians to a small chamber with only one window, resulting in the deaths of over 120 individuals. In this aquatint, the monument appears dilapidated as individuals conduct their business in its vicinity, as it lacks a protective railing. In 1821, this monument was demolished and subsequently re-erected by Lord Curzon in 1899.

e) This is plate 9 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

He dedicates three views to the Government House in the compilation, all of which are taken along its eastern side. The following image "from the north-east," according to Fraser, was "taken from the premises of Johnson and Company in Old Court House Street, shows the north front and the northern wings crowned with the Company's coat-of-arms”. He depicts the Governor General, Lord Hastings, "about to set off for a drive, as his carriage and bodyguard await him". The grounds are "surrounded by an iron railing upon a plinth interrupted by four triumphal gateways at both ends of the carriageways running across the north and south facades of the building. Beyond the far gateway of Government House, we can see part of the Treasury building in Council House Street, and the east wall of the Town Hall".

f) This is plate 10 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

As of 1801, Marquess Wellesley oversaw the Army's home at Barrackpore, which is 14 miles from Calcutta (Kolkata). He built Barrackpore House so that future governors-general could live there. The tribute Hall, also known as the Temple of Fame, is on the left. It is a tribute to the French and Dutch soldiers who died while taking over Mauritius and Java during the Napoleonic Wars.

g) This is plate 11 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

Fraser wrote: "The Old Court House in Tank Square had been used as a place of public entertainment, but its demolition in 1792 left Calcutta without any grand halls for public suppers or dances. It was resolved to in February 1804 to erect a Town Hall for this purpose, and a lottery was proposed to raise the money. It was apparently already designed (by Colonel John Garstin of the Engineers) before Wellesley left Calcutta in 1805, but it was not completed until 1813 under Lord Minto."

h) This is plate 12 of James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

He incorporated five perspectives of Tank Square into his collection. This is one of two locations that offer a view of St. Andrew's Church, which is situated in the northeast corner of the square and was previously the ruins of the Old Court House. In 1815, the Reverend James Bryce established a congregation of the Church of Scotland in this location. The site was provided by the government, and private funds were utilised to construct a kirk. In the interim, the Exchange Building, which was situated across the square, was utilised as a chapel.

In March 1818, the church was prepared for worship. The Doric southern portico, which is surmounted by a handsome spire, is visible from the eastern gate of Tank Square in Fraser's view. Additionally, a portion of the colonnade of the coachbuilders' premises, James Stewart and Company, is visible behind the church.

i) This is plate 13 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

Fraser incorporated five views of Tank Square into his collection, two of which offer a glimpse of St Andrew's Church. The image that appears here was taken from the "junction of Mission Row with the Lall Bazaar showing the east facade of the Church and the other Doric portico at the north entrance ... we may note the Oriental Library on the left corner of Fraser's view and St. Andrew's Library opposite." These were bookshops rather than libraries.

j) This is plate 14 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

This view is of bright white buildings surrounded by lush plants and set against a blue sky or rain clouds. View of the Government House from the east, with the grand archway at the front door in the foreground. One can see birds flying above, and people walking around.

k) This is plate 16 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

Fraser incorporated two perspectives of the Lall Bazaar, which is "renowned for its punch houses and other entertainment venues" into this collection. Fraser depicted the street's full extent from the intersection with Mission Row, looking east. The grand mansion that dominates the composition is the residence of John Palmer, the "Prince of Merchants." Subsequently, the government acquired the property and converted it into a police station. The residence that functioned as a court for the Justices of the Peace is located beyond it, at the intersection with Chitpore Road. Taylor and Company's emporium and auction chambers are situated across from Palmer's residence.

l) This is plate 19 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

St. John's Cathedral, which was constructed in 1787, was designed by Lieutenant James Agg of the Bengal Engineers and was inspired by the design of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. To facilitate the transportation of palanquins, a staircase was constructed adjacent to the Cathedral. The monument to the Rohilla campaign of 1794 is situated to the right of the cathedral.

m) This is plate 20 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

This one was taken from Shalimar Point opposite Kidderpore, "where the river bends round to the west. Here Colonel Robert Kyd, who persuaded the Company in 1786 to establish the great Botanic Gardens just downriver at Sibpur, and who became their first Superintendent built his famous domed house called Shalimar from here Fort William occupies the centre of the composition with the buildings of Esplanade Row and Chowringhee Road spread around it."

n) This is plate 21 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

This image depicts the view from Barrackpore Park across the river to Serampore or Srirampur, a Dutch settlement on the opposite bank that was designed in the 'English Style' by Marquess Wellesley. In Bishop Heber's words: "The Governor General has a very pretty country residence at Barrackpore ... offering ... beautiful a display of turf, tree and flowering shrub..." A theatre, an aviary, and a menagerie were all situated on the expansive grounds. Additionally, it was feasible to traverse the park on the back of an elephant.

o) This is plate 22 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

This picture shows the western side of the square. The gate to the tank faces Koila Ghat Street, on the right of which is the old export warehouse built up against the southern edge of the Old Fort" it says. In 1819, part of the second building was torn down to make room for the new Customs House, which you can't see right now.

Council House Street goes down to Esplanade Row from the southwest corner of the Square. That building is on the corner of Council House Street and the Square. It was the first Public Exchange and Coffee House in Calcutta. Then Lord Wellesley rented it for his College of Fort William because it didn't work out very well.

p) This is plate 23 of James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

Fraser incorporates the view of the Black Pagoda in the Chitpore Road, a predominantly native part of Calcutta, as he moves south into the heart of the city. Gobindram Mitter, a local zamindar (landlord), constructed this in 1731. It was never finished, and the main tower collapsed in 1813 due to decay. In this image, the Navaratna, or nine pinnacles, are depicted on one of the two subsidiary structures.

q) This is plate 24 from James Baillie Fraser's Views of Calcutta and Its Environs, From Drawings Executed by James B. Fraser, Esq. From Sketches Made on the Spot.

This view is of the bazaar leading to the Chitpore Road, effectively the border between native and European parts of the city. Fraser wrote: "At the east end of Esplanade Row, the European quarter continued if one turned at right angles southwards down the Chowringhee Road. However, if one turned left up Cossitollah Street (named from its being the butcher's quarter originally), one began to enter the Indian city, and especially so when this road crossed the Lall Bazaar and became the Chitpore Road. The Street exhibits a bewildering mix of Indian and decaying Palladian architecture but is very obviously a bazaar. Cossitollah Street had in it many purely European businesses."

All the plates are published by Smith, Elder & Co., London.

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