Holwell, J. Z. A GENUINE NARRATIVE OF THE DEPLORABLE DEATHS OF THE ENGLISH GENTLEMEN, AN OTHERS, WHO WERE SUFFOCATED IN THE BLACK-HOLE IN FORT-WILLIAMS, AT CALCUTTA…. London: Millar, 1758. 8vo. viii, 56 pp. Bound in period 1/4 sheep (along with 3 other titles, see below) ****************** FIRST EDITION. Holwell was an administrator of the British East India Company, and he was among those held in the prison at Fort William following the fort's capture by the troops of the Nawad of Bengal. The "Black Hole" was actually a jail cell in which an unknown number of people (around 164 according to Holwell) were crammed into overnight without adequate water or food. Around 143 of them died from suffocation. In this volume, this work is bound along with three other titles, including: An Account of the Expedition of the British Fleet to Sicily (London, 1789, 3rd ed.), Faction Detected, by the Evidence of Facts (London, 1743, 5th ed.), and Some Considerations on the Law of Forfeiture, for High-Treason (London, 1746, 2nd ed.) – Later signature (ca. 19th c.) of Hugh Williams to title of first bound work (i.e. An Account of the Expedition.) Third bound work (i.e. Considerations on the Law of Forfeiture) with early signature of R. Leycester to title.

Hinges cracked but intact, the whole rubbed and with some chipping/flaking. Contents mostly clean with some occasional light foxing or similar minor stains or blemishes. The principle work (Holwell's narrative) is quite clean with the exception of the title and verso of final leaf – both with some light dust-soiling and minor staining.