Two printed documents relating to the attempt by Richard Twining the younger, tea and coffee merchant in the Strand, London, to become a director of the East India Company: an address 'To the Proprietors of East India Stock', and a 'List Anno 1810.'

Item One (address): 2pp., 4to. Bifolium, printed on the rectos of the two leaves. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight evidence of previous mounting on the reverse of the second leaf. First page headed 'To the Proprietors of East India Stock.' Addressed to 'LADIES AND GENTLEMEN', signed in type 'RICHARD TWINING', and dated 'Strand, December 19, 1809.' Second page carrying a memorandum headed 'AT a very numerous meeting of PROPRIETORS OF EAST INDIA STOCK, at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry, on Wednesday, the 20th of December 1809. | CHARLES PIESCHELL ESQ., IN THE CHAIR. | The following Resolutions were proposed by WILLIAM BORRADAILE ESQ., and seconded by CLAUDE GEORGE THORNTON ESQ.' Twining begins his address: 'A vacancy having occurred in the East India Direction, I respectfully solicit the favor of your Votes and Interest, that I may be appointed to the honor of filling it.' He is 'impressed with the importance of that situation, even in common times. But at this time, with our Charter nearly expiring, the Trust is of much more than usual magnitude.' In the final paragraph he comments on 'the Death of Sir WILLIAM BENSLEY', whose 'excellent qualities, and, particularly, his inflexible integrity', he hopes to emulate. The memorandum of the meeting quotes two resolutions in favor of Twining, and ends: 'MR. TWINING's Committee will meet daily at the King's Head in the Poultry, where any communication will be thankfully received.' Item Two (election list): 1p., 12mo. Good, on aged paper. Headed 'LIST | ANNO 1810. | For the ELECTION of SIX DIRECTORS, | On the 11th of April, 1810. | The Ballot to be taken from Nine o'Clock of the Morning to Six in the Evening.' The names of eight individuals follow, with a manuscript note of the six elected, together with the votes received. 'Richard Twining, Esq.' came in sixth, with 1359 votes, the winner being 'Jacob Bosanquet, Esq.' with 1731 votes. Beneath the list, and above the printers' slug: 'If any List shall contain the Names of more than Six or less than Five Persons, duly qualified to be Directors; in either Case, every such List, and all the Names therein contained, will be totally rejected.' The elder Twining had been elected to a directorship of the East India Company in 1793, and 'played', according to the Oxford DNB, 'a prominent role on the company's court'; his son would go on to occupy the position of chairman of the committee of by-laws at East India House.