John McAleer is a Lecturer in History at the University of Southampton. His work focuses on the British encounter and engagement with the wider world in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Before joining the university, he was Curator of Imperial and Maritime History at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Dr McAleer teaches courses and supervises research on a range of themes relating to the history of empire. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

• 1. Introduction: the master link of connection; 2. The key to India: consolidating the gateway to the East; 3. A sword in the hands: European rivals, imperial designs, colonial problems; 4. A constant and unreserved correspondence: networks of knowledge exchange; 5. The great outwork and bulwark of India: troops, military manoeuvres and defending the eastern empire; 6. Conclusions: the connection between the settlements becomes more intimate; Bibliography; Index.

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