The criticisms were drafted and sent to James Mill at his request, at intervals between October and December 1819, and were subsequently returned to Alexander Walker. There are also some incomplete draft notes. In commenting on the Preface and Books II and III Walker disputes Mill's argument that it was not necessary for an historian of India to have a first-hand knowledge of the country, and he goes on to contest Mill's harsh interpretation of Hindu civilisation. There is no evidence, although he appeared to value them at the time, that Mill incorporated any of Walker's painstaking criticisms into the 2nd edition.