An Analysis of One Hundred Voyages to and from India, China, &c. performed by ships in the Hon.ble East India Company's Service. by Wise, Henry - 1839

London: J.W. Norie, 1839. Tall 8vo. xxv, (1), 120 pp. b/w lithograph frontispiece and plates.

"(W)ith remarks on the advantages of steam-power applied as an auxiliary aid to shipping; and suggestions for improving thereby the communication with India, viâ the Cape of Good Hope. To which is added an appendix, containing a description of Melville's patent propellers, with plans of the engines, machinery, &c." This book is innovative in that it puts forth a plan for using steam and a "propellor" to improve travel between England and the Far East. He recounts his experiences and airs out his theories in a preliminary essay entitled "Remarks on the Advantages of Steam-Power." Wise rose in the East India Company's Marine Service from midshipman in 1819 to chief officer in 1831, and then a supercargo in the China trade. He returned to London in 1838 and wrote this book before becoming involved with James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak, in several financial speculations that ultimately put him in financial financial difficulties. INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY, MOUNTSTUART ELPHINSTONE, AND bound in publisher's plum cloth with gold cover lettering. Spine sunned, some foxing to plates, else a very good copy. And scarce in the trade - nothing but POD copies on the interweb.