Bericht van den tegenwoordigen toestand der Bataafsche bezittingen in Oost-Indië

en den handel op dezelve; door Dirk van Hogendorp. (Delft, M. Roelofswaert, 1800), 2nd ed., XVI,194 p., modern gilt leather. Lacks title. Several pages with owner's stamp in white lower margin.

Possibly the most important work concerning colonial reforms in Indonesia, with very progressive ideas for the time. The first edition from 1799 was not intended for commercial purposes by the author, but immediately became highly sought after, which led to a second edition with approval but no further cooperation from the author. Because of this publication, the first edition of which appeared in 1799, the Dutch government felt compelled to set up a commission to investigate Van Hogendorp's proposals. The proposals concerned, among other things, free trade and agriculture for the Javanese and the introduction of a lease system similar to that of the British in India. The commission rejected the proposals, although Van Hogendorp's programme was introduced by Raffles during the British rule of Indonesia (1811-1816).