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George Abbott, Views of the Forts of Bhurtpore and Weire along with Sketches about Kurrah, Mannickpore, London: Engelmann, Graf, Coindet & Co. for J.M. Richardson, 1827

Later hand-coloured pictorial lithograph title page, dedication page (to General Combermere), and 11 lithograph plates of sheet size 33.2 x 48 cm on India paper and mounted on sheets. Lithographs by William Gauci (2), Paul Gauci (2), J D Harding (4), J S Templeton (2), F Mackenzie (2) and J H Lynch after Abbott, lithographed by Engelmann, Graf, Coindet & Co.; each plate extensively captioned, single leaf of letterpress and list of subscribers at the end; binding refurbished with later contemporary dark red full leather binding with gilt text at the spine
31.2 x 45.2 x 1.5 cm

LIST OF PLATES
1. Frontispiece / 2. Title page / 3. View of the right breach, Bhurtpoore / 4. The Breach made in the face of the long-necked bastion, Bhurtpoore / 5. The Mud cavalier on the North East Angle of the Citadel, Bhurtpoore / 6. The South Bridge of the Citadel, Bhurtpoore / 7. The Futteh Baug of the fortress of Bhurtpoore / 8. View taken from the top of the breach in the long-necked bastion looking towards the interior of the fort, Bhurtpoore / 9. View of the large Cavalier, Bhurtpoore / 10. Western Gate of the Citadel, Fort of Weire / 11. North East angle of the Citadel, Weire / 12. View of the large pukkah bastion on the Northern front of the Citadel, Weire / 13. Eastern Gate of the Citadel, Fort of Weire

The Emblematical Frontispiece represents two Fakeers (men who pretend to be devoted to the service of God.) Some of them generally accompany the Native troops into action, and are always enthusiastically followed by the men, who esteem them as being peculiarly favoured by the Diety.

The dedication page shows the monumental Bhurtpore cannon, which was captured during the siege and stood for many years outside the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich and is depicted in the dedication to Combermere. The upper part of the Dedication Plate represents the Crest of the Right Breach, showing some of the Troops attacking. In the centre are some of the colours taken from the enemy, and the large brass gun, named by the natives, Tope Ulee Muddud, or Allee (Our) Succour. Ulee, or Allee, was the son-in-law and successor of Mohummud, and celebrated as a warrior. The sect of the Sheeas are followers of Ally, whose right of succession they maintain in opposition to the Soonnees, who assert that right in favour of Omar. - The extreme length of this gun is 15 feet 3 inches; the circumference at the muzzle, 6 feet; ditto at the breach, 9 feet 9 inches; calibre, 8.25 inches. The gun has been sent to England and presented to his Majesty.

Balwant Singh succeeded as Maharaja of Bharatpur on the death of both his grandfather and father, within the space of two months, at the age of seven. Almost immediately, he was captured by his cousin Rao Durjan Sal, and imprisoned in the Fort.

The storming of the formidable fortress of Bhurtpore took place during the Jat War. Between December 1825 and January 1826 British troops under General Lord Combermere besieged the Jats' capital. The campaign continued until 18 January when artillery fire and the detonation of several mines opened a breach in the fortress which was then stormed and captured.

Present during the assault was George Abbott, a lieutenant of the 15th Bengal Native Infantry who had been promoted to captain in 1838. It is evident that his wife compiled this volume for publication, as she reproduces a letter from him that provides a detailed account of the events, "The attack was carried on in a very masterly style... The Europeans [i.e. British line regiments], leading the storm in the most cool and deliberate style... The besieged stood to the best of their power and fought desperately. In twenty minutes, ten regiments were in the town. The slaughter was immense, owing to some of the natives playing false after they had asked for quarter". ODNB remarks that "the attack on Bharatpur was successful; the great Jat fortress, a menace to British rule ever since Lord Lake failed against it twenty years before, was destroyed". According to historian Urmila Walia it was "an achievement of tremendous military and political importance for the British".

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