Inventory 10424
Surat · 700 pages · 115 segments · open at the Nationaal Archief ↗
English
even paid for a whole year, whereas the Nabab is entitled to no more than for six months calculated since the restoration of the Factory. However, as all the aforementioned has had no effect, and the said Nabab continues to prevent the bringing of the aforementioned goods into the city, and thereby to hinder and stop our business, we find ourselves under the necessity of addressing ourselves to you, Gentlemen, in the capacity of Governor of the Mogul's Castle, and to request the same that Your Honours please be so good as to oblige the Nabab to remove all hindrances and obstacles that have been caused to our trade and consequently to these privileges and prerogatives to which the Honourable Company is entitled. We have the honour to be, [subscribed:] Gentlemen, [lower:] Your Honours' very humble and obedient servants, [signed:] A F: Sluijsken, M:s Monte, E: N: Wiardi, J. J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E: Meijer, P:s Siper, C: A: van Eijk and G: C: Roef. [in margin:] Souratta, the 14th of June 1786. To the Right Honourable Rawson Hard Boddam, Esquire, President for all affairs of the British Nation and Governor of His Majesty's Castle, together with the Council at Bombay. Right Honourable Sir and Gentlemen! We have had the honour to receive Your Honours' letter of the 31st of May last. It is with particular regret that we have perceived from it that Your Honours see fit to reject the request in our preceding letter of the 9th of May previously, namely to indemnify the Honourable Dutch Company for the amount of the bill of exchange granted by us on the 9th of June 1781 to the heirs of the Banyan merchant Bhaijsa Bngia upon the suppliers of the Company, which by Your Honours' Chief and Council at Souratta, upon the taking of the Directorship, was deprived of its effect, to a sum of one hundred thousand rupees with interest. The reasons, Right Honourable Sir and Gentlemen, which the Chief and Council at Souratta have pleased to give for the justification of their conduct have already been fully refuted in our aforementioned letter to Your Honours of the 9th of May, as well as in our numerous letters to Their Honours, and their weakness receives in no way any further strength from that which Your Honours, in their aforementioned last letter of the 8th of this month, please to advance. For whatever the heirs of Bhaijsa may have declared at the time when we were made prisoners of war and the Dutch garrisons at Souratta were taken by the British arms, possibly out of that natural fear which is often inherent to the native when he must testify between Europeans, it is certain and beyond all contradiction that the bill of exchange in question was accepted by them, as this is proven not only by the sworn testimony of the then Secretary of our assembly, Egbert Nicolaas Mardi, attached to our letter to the Chief and Council at Suratta of the 16th of March 1786, under number 3, who handed the bill of exchange itself into the own hands of the heirs of Bhaijsa, but also and especially by the receipt of those goods which were delivered by the suppliers in reduction or settlement of the aforementioned bill of exchange, and of which full proof is furnished by the receiving and keeping of the keys of the warehouse in which the same goods were stored and stored away. A proof, Gentlemen, that this was considered by the native to be of such importance that the repeatedly mentioned heirs of Bhaijsa could by nothing be moved to surrender these keys when they were demanded by Your Honours' Chief and Council, and which reduced the aforementioned ministry to the necessity, in order to get to the goods, of having the warehouse broken open with force and violence, so that it is an almost insoluble riddle how these heirs of Bhoijsa could have declared before Your Honours' Chief and Council that they were never put into the actual possession of the goods that were given to them in satisfaction. Yet, because it is nevertheless Your Honours' pleasure to reject our claim, and to refuse the payment of the aforementioned sum of one hundred thousand rupees with interest, we find ourselves compelled to bring this affair to the knowledge of our superiors in Europe, in order to take such measures regarding it as they shall deem necessary, and in the meantime to protest in the strongest terms against all losses and damages which the Honourable Dutch Company shall suffer through this refusal of Your Honours. We have the honour to be with respect, [subscribed:] Right Honourable Sir and Gentlemen, [lower:] Your Honours' very humble and obedient servants, [signed:] A: J: Sluijsken, M:s Monte, E: N: Wardi, J J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E. Meijer, G: Piper, C: A: van Eijk and G: C: Roeff. [in margin:] Souratta, the 24th of June 1786. Souratta To the Honourable Andrew Ramsay, Esquire, Chief for all affairs of the British Nation and Governor of the Mogul's Castle and Fleet, together with the Council. Gentlemen! We have the honour to enclose herewith a letter for the Governor and Council of Bombay, in original and duplicate, and take the liberty of requesting Your Honours to forward the same. We have the honour to be, [subscribed:] Gentlemen, [lower:] Your Honours' obliging and obedient servants, [signed:] A: I: Sluijsken, M:e Monte, E: N: Wardi, J: J: van Polanen de Bevere, E: Meijer, I. Piper, C: A: van Eijk and T: C: Roeff. [in margin:] Souratta, the 26th of June 1786. Bombay To the Right Honourable Rawson Hard Boodam, Esquire, President
Dutch transcription
177 selfs voor een heel Iaar betaald, daer de Nabab niets meer competeerd als voor ses gereekend Seedert de restoratie maanden van de Factorij, dog also al het voorsz: van geen vermoogen geweest is en dat ge„ seijde Nabab: blijft voortvaeren om in het inbrengen der voorsz: goederen in de stad te beletten en daer bij onse besigheeden te verhinderen en te stoppen soo vinden wij ons barharthan Selven in de Noodsaakelijkheijd om ons te vervoegen bij Uw mijne Heeren in de Qualiteijd van Gouverneur van 's Mogols Kasteel, en van deselve te versoeken dat Uwel Ed=e so goed gelieven te sijn om de Nabab te verpligten alle verhinde¬ „vingen en beletselen weg te neemen die aan onsen handel en bijgevolge dan dese Privilegien en voorregten waar toe de Edele compagnie geregtigd is, toe„ gebragt heeft. Wij hebben de Eer te sin /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ Uwel Ed=e seer onder„ „daanigen 361 onderdaanigen & gehoorsaamen Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ A F: Sluijsken, M:s Monte E: N: Wi„ „ardi, J. J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E: Meijer, P:s Siper, C: A: van Eijk en G: C: Roef /:in margine Souratta den 14„e Junij 1786:— Aan den WelEdelen Groot Agtbaaren Heer Rawson Hard Boddam Schildknaip President voor alle saaken van de Britse Natie en Gouverneur van syn Majesteyds Kasteel Benevens Den Raad te Bombaij Wel Edele Groot Agtbaare Heer En Heeren! Wy hebben d' Eer gehad om te ontfangen Uwel Ed=e van den 31:' meij laastleeden het is ons missive bysonder leed dat wij daar uijt hebben ontwaard dat Uwel Edelen goedvinden van de hand te wijsen het versoek bij onse voorgaande brieff van den 9. Meij bevoorens„ om namentlijk de Edele Nederlandsche Compagnie schadeloos te stellen voor het bedraagen van 2 2 van de door ons op den 9:' Junij 1781: den de Erfgenaamen van den Benjaans Koop„ „man Bhaijsa Bngia op de Leveran„ „ciers van de Companije verleende wissel die door UwelEd: cheff en Raad te Souratta bij het neemen der Directie van haar effect beroofd geworden is, tot een Summa van Een maal hondert duijsend ropijen met den Interest De reedenen weledele Groot Agtbaare Heer en Heeren welke den Heere Sou ratsen Cheff & Raad hebben gelieven te tot wettiging van derselver ge¬ geven „drag Sijn bij onse voorengemelde missive Aan UwelEdele Groot Agtb:s en Edelens van den 9:' Meij mitsgaders bij onse meenigvuldige brieven aan Haar Edelen bereeds ten vollen wederlegd en derselver swakheijd ontfangt geensints eenige meerdere kragt uijt het geene Uwel Edelen bij der„ selver voorengemelde laaste missive van den 8„e deeses gelieven te Avanceeren; want wat de Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa ook 69 g ook ten tijde toen wij krijgsgevangenen gemaakt en de Hollandse besettingen te Souratta door de Brtse waapenen genoo„ men wierden moogen hebben verklaard, mogelijk door die natuurlijke vrees welke den Inlander veeltijds eijgen is, wanneer hij tusschen Europeesen getuijgen moet seker is het en buijten alle tegenspraak dat de Wissel in queste door haar is geac„ „cepteerd geweest, also sulx beweesen word niet alleen door het beëdigde getuijge¬ nisse van den toenmaaligen Secretaris onser vergaadering Egbert Nicolaas Mardi„ gevoegd bij onsen brieff aan den Heere Cheff en Raad te Suratta van den 16„' maart 1786: onder Num: 3. die de wissel selven in eijgen handen van de Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa gegeven heeft, maar ook mede voornamentlik door den Ontfangst van die goederen welke door de Leverantiers in mindering ofte voldoening der voorsz: wissel afgegeven sijn, en waar van 341 van tot een volkoomen bewijs verstrekt het aanneemen en bewaaren van de sleutels van het Pakhuijs waar in deselve goede¬ „ren geborgen en opgeslaagen waeren een bewijs mijne Heeren dat sulx bij den Inlander van die aangeleegendheijd g'oordeeld wierd, dat de meergedagte Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa door niets te beweegen sijn, geweest om deese sleutels toense door Uwel Ed=e Cheff en Raad geEischt wierden, afte geeven, en het geen voorseij„ de ministerie in de Noodsaakelijk¬ heijd heeft gebragt, om ten eijnde bij de Goederen te koomen het Pakhuijs met Foree en geweld te Laaten openbree¬ „ken sulx het een bij na onoplosselik raadsel is hoe deese Erfgenaamen van Bhoijsa voor UwelEde Cheff en Raad heb¬ ben kunnen verklaaren dat sy nimmer¬ meer gesteld waeren in de dadelijke besittinge der goederen, die aan haar in voldoening gegeven, sijn. Dan Dan vermits het des niet tegenstaande uwel Ed=e geliefte is om onse vordering van de hand te wijsen de voldoeninge der voorsz: Somma van Een maal hondert Duijsend Ropijen met den Jnteresse te weijgeren soo vinden wij ons genoodzaekt deese affaire te brengen ter kennisse van onse Supie¬ „rieuren in Europa om daer omtrend, sulke maatregulen te neemen als noodig oordeelen sullen, en om In„ „middels ten Kragtigsten te protestee„ teegens alle Schaeden en nadee¬ „ren „len welke de Edele Neederlandse Companij door deese Uwel Ed=e weijgering lijden sal Wij hebben de Eer met respect te sijn (onder„ stond:/ wel Edele Groot Agtbaare Heer & Heeren /:lager:/ UwelEd=e zeer ootmoedige en onderdaanige Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ A: J: Sluijsken, M:s Monte, E: N: Wardi, J J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E. Meijer G: Piper, C: A: van Eijk en G: C: Roeff /: in margine Souratta den 24:' Junij 1786. —. Souratta Souratta Aan den welEdelen Heer Andries Ramsay Schildk: Cheff voor alle Saaken van de Britse natie en Gouverneur van 'S Mogols Kasteel en vloot Benevens Den Raad Mijne Heeren! Wij hebben de Eer desen intesluijten een missive voor den Heer Gouverneur en Raed van Bom„ baij in origineel en Duplicaat en neemen de vrijheijd UwelEd=e te versoeken om deselve adresse te verleenen Wij hebben de Eer te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:Lager:/ Uwel Ed=e Dienstwillige en Sehoorsaame Dienaaren /:Was. getekend:/ A: I: Sluijs„ „ken, M:e Monte, E: N: Wardi, J: J: van Polanen de Bevere, E: Meijer, I. Piper, C: A: van Eijk en T: C: Roeff /:in margine:/ Souratta den 26„e Junij 1786: — Bombaij Aan den welEdelen Groot Agtbaaren Heer Rawson Hard Boodam Schildknoep President
English
President for all Affairs of the British Nation and Governor of His Majesty's Castle, together with the Council, Right Honorable and Worshipful Sir and Sirs! When Your Honor's ministry at this place in the year 1778 saw fit to hinder the Noble Dutch Company in a privilege that it had exercised freely until that time, namely to export its merchandise, after having paid the usual duties upon import at souratta, free of tolls to whatever place desired throughout the entire Mogul Empire, we addressed ourselves, for the purpose of redress and lifting of these hindrances, first to the aforementioned Ministry by our letters of 5 October 1778 and 22 Februarij 1719, and when this was fruitless to Your Honor yourself by missive of 30 April, 13 September and 27 November, also of the last-mentioned year 1779. In answer to which Your Honor, by your rescript of 18 December following, was pleased to say, "we cannot take it upon ourselves to decide in a matter of so much consequence, but for your full satisfaction we will put the entire subject in order and transmit it to the Honorable Court of Directors, their superiors, with faithful copies of every paper, whose express instructions we will ask for our guidance." But to our further letters of 26 Februarij and 26 September 1788 and the proofs enclosed therewith, that the Company has exercised this right constantly undisturbed and even after Your Honor had been the masters of the Surat Castle, Your Honor has never honored us with any answer. The right itself is however of too much consequence, and the damages which the Noble Company [illegible] during the hindrances there [illegible] missive of 18 September last, whereby you were pleased to give us notice that the Lord Governor-General and Council of calcutta would refer our claim for restitution of our Factory at Brootchia to the meeting of your Court of Directors. However much we wish to cultivate the happily restored harmony, we can by no means acquiesce in the aforesaid rescript of Your Honor, out of consideration on the one hand that His Majesty the King of Great Britain has engaged, both by the Preliminary and Definitive Treaties of Peace between the two Nations of 2 September 1788 and 20 meij 1784, Article 5, to return immediately to Their High Mightinesses the Lords States-General all towns, fortresses, ports, and possessions that during the war were taken by the British arms or by those of their East India Company; and on the other hand that this delay causes significant damage to the Noble Dutch Company, both in trade and especially in the loss of those privileges attached to its Factory at Brootchia. But we find ourselves placed in the unpleasant necessity of hereby formally repeating the Protest that we have already previously made by our letter of 22 Januarij 1785, and consequently to protest against all damage and detriments that the Noble Dutch Company will come to suffer through this delay in the execution of the concluded Treaty of Peace. We have the honor to be with great respect, Right Honorable and Worshipful Sir and Sirs, Your Honors' very humble and obedient servants. Was signed: A: I: Sluijsken, M:s Monté, E: N: Wiardi, J: J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E: Meijer, P: Piper, E: A: van Eyjk, and G: C: Roeff. In the margin: Suratta, 5 october 1786. Agreed Van Polanen de bevere Secretary Examined GF Claessen Incoming English Letters of the Year 1786: Copy No 8.
Dutch transcription
President voor alle Saken van de Britse Natie en Gouver¬ neur van zyn Majesteijts Kasteel Benevens Den Raad WelEdele Groot Agtbaare Heer En Heeren!. Toen Uwel Ed=e ministerie ter deser Plaatse in den Iaare 1778 goedvond om de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie te verhinderen in een voorregt dat sij tot die tijd vrijelijk geoeffend had, om namentlik haare koop„ manschappen, nae dat die te souratta bij den invoer dek gewoone tollen hadden be„ taald, vry van tollen Uijt te voeren nae welke Plaats begeeren door het geheele Mogolse Rijk, vervoegden wij ons, ten fire van redres en opheffing deser verhinderingen, eerst bij voornoemde Ministerie bij onse brieven van den 5„' october 1778. en 22 Febru„ arij 1719. en toen dit vrugteloos was bij Uwel Ed=e selven by missive van den 30' April 75 373 April, 13„e September en 27„e November, mede van Laastgemelde Jaar 1779. In and„ woord op dewelke Uwel Ed=e by derselver re„ scriptie van den 18„' December daer aen wel gelieven te seggen„ wy kunnen niet „op ons neemen om te Decideeren in een saek van soo veel aangeleegendheyd, dog „voor uwe volkoomen satisfactie sullen wij het „geheele onderwerp in order stellen en aan „de Honorabele Heeren Directeurs /: dersel„ „ver superieuren:) met getrouwe Copijen van „ieder Papier toesenden welkers Uijtdrukkelij„ „ke Last wij vraagen sullen tot onse „ bestiering „ dog op onse nadere brieven van den 26„' Februarij en 26„e September 1788„ en de daar bij gevoegde, bewijsen, dat de kompanije dit regt steeds onge„ stoord en selfs nae dat uwel Ed=e de meesters van het Sourats Kasteel sijn geweest, ge¬ „oeffend heeft, hebben UwelEd:e ons nimmer met eenig andwoord vereerd gehad: het regt selven is egter van al te veel aange¬ leegendheyd, en de schaeden welke de Edele Kompanije tyd in de - verhinderingen daer 30„ missive van den 18„e September laastleeden waar by deselve ons gelieven kennisse te geeven dat den Heere Gouverneur Generael en Raad van calcutta onse vorderinge tot restitutie van onse Factorij te Broo„ Chia aan de vergaadering uwer Heeren Directeurs refereeren souden: Hoe seer wij ook de gelukkige herstelde harmonije wen„ schen aan te kweeken kunnen wij geensint in de voorsz: UwelEd:e rescriptie berusten uijt consideratie aan de eene syde dat Sijne majesteijt de Koning van Groot Brittanien sig beijde bij het Preeliminai¬ re en Defenitive vreedes Tractaat tusschen de twee Natien van den 2: September 1788 en 20„' meij 1784. Articul 5. heeft ge engageert om aan haar Hoog Mogende de Heeren Staaten Generael datelik te rug te geeven alle steeden sterkten Haven en besittingen die Geduurende den oorlog door de britse waapenen of die van haare Oostindische Kompanie genoomen sijn en Aan de andere kant dat dese verwij¬ „linge aanmerkelijke nadeelen aan de Edele Nederlandsche 379 kompanie toebrengd soo wel in den handel als voornaamentlijk in het gemis van die voorregten welke Aan haare Factorije te Brootchia verbonden sijn maar wij vinden ons selven in de onaangenaame noodzakelijkheijd gebragt om bij deesen formeel te herhaelen het Protest dat wij bereeds in voorraad by onse brieff van den 22 Januarij 1785. hebben gedaan en dienvolgens te protesteeren tegen alle schae„ „de en nadeelen welke de Edele Neder„ landsche kompaned door deese verwijling in het ter Úijtvoer brengen van het ge¬ „maakte vreedes Tractaet sal koomen te Lijden d'Eer met veel respect te wy hebben WelEde sijn, (:onderstond:) Groot Agtbaare Heer en Heeren /:lager:/ Uwel Edelens seer onderdaa„ „nige en Gchoorsaame Dienaaren /:was ge„ tekend:/ A: I: Sluijsken, M:s Monté, E: N: J: J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E: Wiardi, Meijer, P: Piper, E: A: van Eyjk, en G: C: Roeff. /:in margine:/ Suratta den 5. ' october 1786 —. Accordeert Van Polanen de bevert J ser 3 missive van den 18„e September laastleeden waar by deselve ons gelieven kennisse te geeven dat den Heere Gouverneur Generael en Raad van calcutta onse vorderinge tot restitutie van onse Factorij te Broe Chia aan de vergaadering uwer Heeren Directeurs refereeren souden: Hoe seer wij ook de gelukkige herstelde harmonije wer„ schen aan te kweeken kunnen wij geensint in de voorsz: UwelEd:e rescriptie berusten uijt consideratie aan de eene syde dat Sijne majesteijt de Koning van Groot Brittanien seg beijde bij het Preeliminai¬ re en Defenitive vreedes Tractaat tusschen de twee Natien van den 2: September 1788 en 20:' meij 1784. Articul 5. heeft ge„ engageert om aan haar Hoog Mogende de Heeren Staaten Generael datelik te rug te geeven alle steeden sterkten Htaven en besittingen die Geduurende den oorlog door de britse waapenen of die van haare Oostindische Kompanie genoomen sijn en aan de andere kant dat dese verwij¬ „linge aanmerkelijke nadeelen aan de Edele Nederlandsche 379 kompanie toebrengd soo wel in den handel als voornaamentlijk in het gemis van die voorregten welke Aan haare Factorije te Brootchia verbonden sijn maar wij vinden ons selven in de onaangenaame noodzakelijkheijd gebragt om bij deesen formeel te herhaelen het Protest dat wij bereeds in voorraad by onse brieff van den 22 Januarij 1785. hebben gedaan en dienvolgens te protesteeren tegen alle schae„ de en nadeelen welke de Edele Neder¬ landsche Kompanee door deese verwijling in het ter Uijtvoer brengen van het ge¬ „maakte vreedes Tractaet sal koomen te Lijden Wy hebben d'Eer met veel respect te WelEde sijn, (:onderstond:)/ E Groot Agtbaare Heer en Heeren /:lager:/ Uwel Edelens seer onderdaa„ „nige en Gehoorsaame Dienaaren /:was ge„ tekend :/ A: I: Sluijsken, M:s Monté, E: N: J: J: van Polaanen de Bevere, E: Wiardi, Meijer, P: Piper, E: A: van Eyjk, en G: C: Roeff. /:in margine:/ Suratta den 5. ' october 1786 —. Van Polanen de beverct J Accordeert 37 fler Nagesien GF Claessen Aankomende Engelsche Brieven van A:o 1786: Copia N„o 8.
English
381 Surat To W. A. J. Sluysken Esqr. Director for affairs of the Noble Netherlands East India Company &ca. Council at Surat. Gentlemen. Should Captain John Williams of the ship Lady Hughes be in want of any goods from your Noble Company's warehouses at Ceylon or Cochin, I am to request you will write to their representatives at those places and desire them to supply him with what he may require, taking his bills upon me, on my own private account, for the amount thereof, which I will most punctually pay to you here. I have the honour to be, below stood, Gentlemen, lower, Your very obedient humble servant, was signed, Andrew Ramsay, in margin, Surat 10th January 1786. Translation. To the Honorable Sir A. J. Sluysken Esqr. Director for the affairs of the Noble Dutch Company &ca. Together with The Council Gentlemen Should Together with The Council at Surat Gentlemen We have been honored with your letter of the 21st instant, in which was enclosed a packet for the Honorable President and Council of Bombay, which was immediately forwarded to their Honors by express pattamar couriers. The books or memoirs which your Honors please to request having been sent to Bombay, we have made an application concerning them to our superiors, and we shall give ourselves the pleasure of communicating their orders to your Honors as soon as they shall have been received. In the meantime we have the honor to be, below stood, Gentlemen, lower, your Honors' very humble and obedient servants, was signed, Andrew Ramsay, George Green, William Lewis, D. Seton, J. Warden, L. Corkran, W. N. Roberts, J. H. Cherry, in margin, Surat the 23rd February 1786. Translation To the Right Honorable Sir Abraham Josias Sluysken, Esquire, Chief for all affairs of the Dutch Nation, To 383 Gentlemen We have been honored with your letter of the 24th ultimo. The claim you are now pleased to repeat respecting the heirs of the Banyan merchant Bhaysa, we can on no account admit. You must well know we are not ignorant of the mode of providing investments for the Europe market by making considerable advances; consequently, the goods outstanding of your investment, on which advances had been made, as well as those deposited in your warehouses in town, could not be considered otherwise than clearly the property of your Noble Company, and, on the capture of your factory, became that of ours, the same as all other Dutch property whatever. Had the assignment you mention taken place, the heirs of Bhaysa would no doubt have had some proof to show that the goods were given as security for the money Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca. Council at Surat Abraham Josias Sluysken Esqre. their To their father had lent to the Dutch Company; his bonds were his security, and there was no endorsement thereon conveying any other collateral security. Even had any assignment been made after the rupture with Holland, it could not have been admitted, and we must observe, it is in the highest degree improbable that one should have been made before, or an order given for the disposal of goods in Surat which were evidently provided for exportation. We have the honour to be, below stood, Gentlemen, lower, your most obedient humble servants, was signed, Andrew Ramsay, George Green, William Lewis, D. Seton, J. Warden, John Spencer, L. Corkran, W. N. Roberts, J. H. Cherry, John Church, in margin, Surat 7th March 1786. Translation of English letter To Abraham Josias Sluysken, Esquire, Chief for all affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Together with the Council Gentlemen! We 387 We have been honored with your Honors' letter of the 24th of the past month. The claim which your Honors now please to repeat regarding the heirs of the Banyan merchant Bhaysa, we can in no way admit. Your Honors must well know that we are not ignorant of the manner of obtaining piece-goods for the European market by making large advances; consequently, the goods still outstanding or undelivered of your Honors' piece-goods, upon which advances had been made, as well as those which were kept in your warehouses in the city, could not be regarded otherwise than as the true property of your Honors' Company, and, upon the capture of your Honors' factory, became ours, the same as all other Dutch property whatsoever. Had the assignment or transfer of which your Honors make mention taken place, the heirs of Bhaysa would without doubt have had some proof to show to show that the goods had been given as security for the money that their father had lent to the Dutch Company; his bonds were his security, and there was no endorsement thereon that gave occasion to any collateral security. Even if any transfer or assignment had been made after the rupture with Holland, the same could not have been admitted, and we must remark that it is in the highest degree improbable that any should have been made before, or an order given for the disposal of goods in Surat which were evidently intended for transport. We have the honour to be, below stood, Gentlemen, lower, your Honors' obedient and humble servants, was signed, Andrew Ramsay, George Green, William Lewis, D. Seton, J. Warden, John Spencer, L. Corkran, W. N. Roberts, J. H. Cherry, and John Church, in margin, Surat the 7th March 1786. Abraham
Dutch transcription
381 suratte The W. H. J. Hluijken Esqr. Derectore for affairs of the Noble Nether¬ „lands East India Companij &ca Couneil at Surat. Gentlemen. Should Captain John Williams of the Schip Ladij Hughes be in want of anij Goods from youz Noble Companijs ware houses at Ceijloan or Colhim, Jam to request you will wrise to their Representatives at those Places en desire them, to supplij him with what he maij require, taking his Bils upon me, on mij own private account, for the amount thore of which Iwill most punctuallij pay to you here. — shave the Honour to be /:onderstond:/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ Your very obedient humble Servant /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij /:in margine:/ Surat 10„e Jann: 1786:— Translaat, Aan den Agtbaaren Heer A: I Sluijsken Esq:r Directeur voor de Paken van de Edele Nederlandse Kompanij & Benevens Den Raed Myne Heeren soude Benevens Den Raad de Souratta Mijne Heeren Wij zijn verEerd geworden met Uwel Ed=e brieff van den 21:' deeses, waar bij ingeslooten een pakket voor den Honorabelen president en Raad van Bombaij Het geen haar Edelens datelik is toegesonden met Expres„ Te Pattemars De Boeken of Memorien, welke UwelEd. gelieven te vraagen, na Bombaij gesonden zijnde geweest, hebben wij over deselve een applicatie gemaakt dan onse superieuren en wij sullen ons selven het vermaak gee¬ „ven, Uwel Ed=e derselver ordres te bedeelen so ras die sullen ontfangen sijn Inmid„ „dels hebben wy van te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ Uwel Ed=e seer Ootmoedige 't gehoorsaamen dienaeren /:was getek::/ Andw: Ran„ Paij, Peo: Treen, William Louis, D. Peton, I. Warden„ L: Corkran, W: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherrij /:in margine:/ sou„ „ratta den 23„' februarij 1786. —. Translaat Aan den weledelen Heer Abraham Josias Sluijtken Schild por Cheff voor alle Saaken van de Hollandse Natie, To 383 Gentlemen We have been Honored with your letter of the 24 ult:o The Plaim you are now pleased to repeat, respecting the Heirs of the Banyan Mer¬ „chant Baijsa, we can on no account admit you must well knouw we are not ignorant of the Mode Providing Investinents for the Europe Market, bij making Considerable advances consequentlij, the Goods outstan„ „ding of ijour Investment, on which advances had been made, al wel, as those deposited in your ware houses in Town could not be considered otherwise, than, clearlij the propertij of ijour Noble companij, and, on the capture of ijour Factorij, became that of ours, the same as all other Dutch Propertij whatevet Had the assignment you mention taken place, the Heirs of Bhaijsa would. no doubt have had some proof, to shew, that the goods were given as securitij for the monij Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca. Concie at Surat Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq:re their To Father had lent to the dutch Companij; hes Bonds were his securiteij, and there was no Indorsement theron conveying any other col¬ lateral securitij. Even had any assignment been made after the Rupture whith Hol„ land, it could not have been admitted and we must observe, it is to the highest de¬ qpee impossable, that one should: have been made before, or an order geven for the Desposal of goods, in Sarat, which were widently provided for Exportation. We have the honour to be /:onderstond:/ Gentlemen, /:lager:/ your most obedient Humble Servants /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsoy, G: Green, William Lewis I: Seton, J: Warden, John Speneer, P:d Corkran W: N. Roberts, J: H: Cherry, John Church /in margine:/ surat 7=t March 1786. — Translaat Engelsche missive Aan Den Heer Abraham Josias Sluijsken schildk: Cheff voor alle saaken van de Hol„ „landse Natie Te Souratta Nevens den Raad Mijne Heeren! E Wij 387 Wy syn verleerd geweest met Uwel Ed=e missive van den 24„e der laastleedene maand. Den eisch welke uwelEdele nu gelieven te herhaelen belangende de Erfgenaamen van den Benjaans Koopman Bhaysa, Kunnen wij in Geenerlij wijse admitteeren Uwel Ed=e moeten wel weeten dat wy niet onkundig syn, van de wyse om sig Lijwaeten voor de Europeesche markt te verschaffen, door het doen van groote voor uyt verstrekkingen, bij gevolge, konden de goederen nog uijtstaande of onvoldaan van UwelEd=e Lywaeten, op dewelke voor uijt verstrekkingen gedaan waeren, al so wel als deese die bewaard wierden in uwe Pak= huijsen in de Stad, niet anders worden aangesien als de waere Eijgendommen van Uwel Ed=e Comp: en bij het neemen van uwel Ed=e Factorij de onse wierden, het selfde als allen andere Hollandse Eijgendom welke ook; stad de Assignatie of overwijsing waar van Uwel Edele gewag maaken, plaats gehad, de Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa Pouden buijten twijffel eenig bewijs gehad hebben, om Om te toonen dat de goederen gegeven waeren„ als seekerheyd voor het geld dat haar vaeder aan de Hollandsche Compagnie geleend had zyne Obligatien waaren sijne sekerheijd en er was geene agter opschrijving /: en dossee„ ving :/ daar op die aanlijding gaf, tot ee„ „nige Sijdelingse verseekertheijd, zelfs al was er eenige overdragt of overwijsing gemaakt na de rupteur met Holland het zelve konde niet geadmitteerd syn geworden en wij moeten aanmerken, dat het in den hoogsten graed onwaarschijnelijk is, dat eenige van te vooren souden gemaakt sin, of een ordre gegeven, voor de beschikking van goederen in Souratta, welke blijkbaar waeren geschikt ter vervoering Wy hebben de Eer te syn /:onderstond:/ Mijne /:lager:/ Uwel Ed=e gehoorsaame en Heeren Ootmoedige Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ Andw:s 1: Ramsaij, Geo: Green, William Leurs, D' Ieton J: Warden, Iohn Spencer, L: Corkaan G: N: Roberts, I: H: Cherrij en John Church /:in margine :/ souratta den 7:' Maert 1786. — Abraham
English
To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqr. Chief for affairs of the Noble Netherlands East India Company at Surat Sir Mr. Govarts, an officer in the service of the English East India Company, has complained to me yesterday that his house was assaulted by a person belonging to your Factory named Roosmeijer, with an avowed intention of summoning and seizing one Mrs. Heydeman, who was then under his roof, by virtue, as he, the said Roosmeijer, alleged, of your authority. Whatever may be your motives for arresting the said Mrs. Heydeman, you must be sensible, Sir, you could have no right to do so in the house of an officer in the service of the English East India Company, or to order anyone to enter that house by force of arms. I must therefore conclude the assault complained of has arisen from some ignorance or misapprehension in the person employed to execute your orders, and that, in such case, suitable reparation will be made to the officer so insulted, and proper steps taken to prevent the like happening in future, that so the harmony at present so happily subsisting between our two Factories may be preserved. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very obedient humble servant, Signed: Andrew Ramsay In the margin: Surat, 19th March 1786. Translation To the Right Honourable Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Chief for all affairs of the Honourable Dutch Company at Surat. Sir! Mr. Goverts, officer in the service of the English East India Company, has complained to me that his house was assaulted yesterday by a person named Roosemeijer, belonging to your Factory, with an avowed intention to summon a Mrs. Heydeman, who was then inside his house, and bring her before justice, supported, as the aforesaid Roosemeijer alleged, by your authority. Whatever your reasons may be, you must well be informed that you have no power to do the like in the house of an officer in the service of the English East India Company, or to order anyone to enter therein by force of arms. I must therefore conclude that the complained-of violent attack was caused by the ignorance or misunderstanding of the person employed to carry out your orders; and in that case, that sufficient reparation will be made to the assaulted officer, and proper precautions taken to prevent the like in the future, so that the happily existing harmony between our two Factories may be preserved. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very humble and obedient servant, Signed: Andrew Ramsay In the margin: Surat, the 19th of March, Anno 1786. To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqr., Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &c. Council at Surat. Gentlemen, We have been honoured with your letters of the 16th and 19th instant. In answer to the former, we beg to assure you, we by no means meant thereby to call in question your integrity or veracity; but, as you acknowledged therein the assignment to the heirs of Bhaysa was made on the 9th June, five days after the Declaration of War between the States General and Great Britain had been published at Bombay, and as it is well known Pattamars arrive from thence in three days and a half, we are clearly of opinion the assignment took place in consequence of that event, and must therefore adhere to our former resolution, communicated to you in our letter of the 7th instant, not to admit of its validity. We cannot at present further reply to your letter of the 19th, than that we have thought proper to appoint a committee from our Council to examine into the affair complained of, and that we shall communicate to you the result of their enquiries. In the meantime, should they find it necessary to call on Mr. Roosmeijer, or any other person concerned, we request you will please to give orders for their attending them. As the widow of the late Mr. Heyderman has applied to us for the protection of our flag, and we have referred her request to our superiors at Bombay, we desire she may not receive any molestation in the interim of our receiving their orders on the subject. We have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your very obedient humble servants, Signed: Andrew Ramsay, Geo. Green, William Lewis, D. Seton, J. Warden, John Spencer, L. Corkran, P. N. Roberts, J. H. Cherry. In the margin: Surat, 21st March 1786. Translation To Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Chief for the affairs of the Dutch Nation &c. and Council at Surat. Gentlemen, We have been honoured with your letters of the 16th and 19th of this month. In answer to the first, we request to assure you that we thereby did not in the least intend to call your integrity or veracity into question; yet, since you acknowledge therein that the assignment or transfer of debt to the heirs of Bhaijsa was done on the 9th of June, after the Declaration of War between the States General and Great Britain was published at Bombay, and it is very well known that the couriers sent from there arrive in 3½ days, we are clearly of opinion that the assignment or transfer took place in consequence of that event; and we must therefore persist in our previous resolution, made known to you by our letter of the 7th of this month, that we cannot admit the validity of the same. We cannot for the present further answer your letter of the 19th of this month, other than that we have thought fit to appoint a commission from our assembly to investigate the affair about which has been complained, and that we shall inform you of the result of their investigation. In the meantime, should they find it necessary to [illegible]
Dutch transcription
389 Abraham Josias Hluijsken Esqr. Govarts an officer in the service of the Mr: English Cast India Companij has complai„ hat his house was „ned to mi ijesterdaij assaulted bij a Person belonging to your Factorij named Roosmijer, with an avowed intention of summoning and siezing one Mrs. Heijdeman, who was then Underhis Roof, bij virtue, as he, the said Roosmijer, attedged, of your Authoritij Whatever may be ijour motives for arresting the said Mrs. Heyderman, you must be sensi¬ ble, sir, you could have no right to do so, in the house of an officer in the ser¬ vice of the English East India Companij or to order any one to enter that House by force of arms. Imust the refore con¬ clude the assault complained of has arrisin Ignorance or mis apprehension in Som Person employed to execute your orders the Chiep for affairs of the Noble Netherlands Eerst India Companij at Surat and Tir that, in such case, suitable Reparation will be made to the offecer so insulted, and proper styps taken to prevent the like happening in„ future, that so the Harmony at Present so happelij subsisting between our Uwo Factones may be preserved shave the Honour to be /onderstond:/ Sor f:la¬ Your ving obedient humble servant „ger:/ /:was getekend:/ Andries Ramsay /: in margine Surat 19=te March 1786: — Translaat Aan den wel Edelen Heer Abraham Josias Huijsken Cheff voor alle saaken van de Edele Hollandsche Kompagnie te Souratta Mijn Heer! Mijn Heer Goverts, officier in den dienst van de Engelsche Oostindische Compagnie, aan myn heeft geklaagd dat syn huijs, gis„ teren, door een Persoon genaamd Roose„ meijer, hoorende aan Uwel Ed=e Fractorij, is aangetast geweest, met een bekend oogmerk om 391 om een Juffrouw Heydeman, die toen binnen sijn huijs was, den standen op te leggen en voor het geregt brengen ( bevestigd als hy de Roosemeijer by bragte, van Uwel Ed=e voorm: gesag Hoedaanig dat uwel Ed=e beweegreden kan weesen, Uwel Ed=e moet wel van berigt sijn, dat Uwel Ed=e geen vermoogen hebben om van gelyke te doen, in 't huijs van een officier in den dienst van de Engelsche Oost Indische Compagnie, of iemand te bevee„ „len, daar binnen te gaan, met geweld van waapenen Ik moet daarom besluijten, geweldig dat de beklaagde Aanval veroorsaekt is geweest door d'onweezendheyd of misvergrijping van de Persoon besteed Uwel Ed=e ordres uijt te voeren: en in dat geval, dat genoegsame vergoeding zal gedaan sijn, aan den aange„ randen officier; en behoorlijk voorbehoedselen genoomen worden, om de weergae in 't toe„ koomende voor te koomen, op dat de te¬ „genwoordige gelukkig bestaande Harmonij tusschen onse twee Factorijen bewaard mag zijn Jk 9 Ik heb d' Eer te zyn /:onderstond:/ Mijn Heer /:lager:/ UwEd=e zeer ootmoedige en Ge„ hoorsaame dienaar /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ram„ Pay /:in margine:/ souratta den 19=' Maart Ao 1786. Abraham Jaras Sluijsken Esgre thef for affairs of the Dutch Natton &a Council, at Surat To Gentemen We have been honored with yjour. Letters of the 16t en 19dt Instant In answer to the former, we big to assure you, we, by no means, meant therebij to cale in quettion your Integrity or re¬ veracity but, as you acknowledged therein the assignment to the Heirs of Bhaysa, was made on the 9th June, five daijs after the Declaration of war, between the States General, and Great Britain had been published at Bombay, and as it is wel Known, Pattamars arrive from thence in three days &a half, weare clearlij 39 clearlij of opinion, the assignment took place in consequence of that went, and must, therefore, adhere to our former Resolution, communicated to you in our Letter of the 7t. Instant, not to admit of its vali¬ ditij We cannot at Present further reply to your Letter of the 19th, than, that we have thougt proper to appoint acommittee from our con„ cil, to examinein to the affair Complai¬ nea of and that we shall communicate to you the result of their Enquiries in the meantime, should they find it nuessarij to call on Mr. Roosmijer, or anij other per„ son concerned, we request you will please to give orders for their affending them As the widow of the late Mr. Heyder¬ man, has applied to hus for the Protextion of our Flag and we have referrd her request, to our superiors at Bombay, we desere she may not receive any molestation in their orders the interim of our receeving on the subject. We - We have the honor to be /:onderstond:/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ very obedient Humble servants /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, Geo: Freen, William Lewis, D: Seton, J: Warden, Iohn Spencer, L. Corkran P: N: Roberts, I: H: Cherrij /: in marginee Surat 21=et March 1786. —. Translaat Aan Abraham Josias Sluijskenbel Cheff voor de Saaken van de Hollandse Natie &a en Raad Te Suratta Myne Heeren. Wy syn vererd geworden met uwe brieven van den 16. ' en 19: deeses In andwoord op de Eerste versoeken wy uwel Edelen te verseekeren dat wy daar bij in het minste niet hebben gedagt om Uwel Ed=e integriteyt of veraciteijt in twijffel te trekken, dog also Uwel Ed=e daer by er„ „kennen dat de assignatie of overwijsing van schuld aan de Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa was gedaan 395 gedaan, den 9=e Junij na dat de Declaratie van Oorlog tusschen de Staaten Generael en Groot Brittanien te Bombay gepubliceert was en het zeer bekend is dat de expressen die van daer gesonden worden in 3½. dag aankoo„ „men zoo syn wy klaarlyk van gedagten dat de Assignatie of overwijsing plaats ge„ noomen heeft ingevolge van die gebeurte„ „nis en wy moeten daarom persisteeren by ons voorig besluijt aan Uwel Ed=e bekend gemaekt by onsen brieff van den 7=e deeses, dat wy de valiteyjt van het selve niet kun„ „nen toestaan wy kunnen voor het tegenswoordige niet verders andwoorden, op Uwen brieff van den 19=e deeses, dan dat wy hebben goed„ „gedagt om een kommissie uyt onse ver„ „gaderinge te benoemen, om ondersoek te doen na de affaire waar over geklaagd is en dat wij Uwel Ed=e zullen kennisse gee„ „ven van den uijtslag van haar ondersoek Inmiddels soude deese het Noodig- vinden om ad ad
English
to summon Mr. Roosemeijer or any other person involved therein before her, we therefore request that Your Honor be pleased to give orders to appear before her, as the widow of the late Mr. Heijdeman has requested of us the protection of our flag, and we, with her request, have referred her to our superiors in Bombay, we therefore request that she may receive no molestations during the time that we receive their orders on this subject. We have the honor to be /:below:/ Gentlemen /:lower:/ Your Honor's humble servants /:was signed:/ Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, William Lewis, D: Seton, J: Warden, John Spencer, L: Corkran, W: Robert, and J: H: Chery /:in margin:/ Surat the 21st of March A:o 1786. Abraham Josius Sluijsken Esqre Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca Council at Surat Gentlemen We have the pleasure to enclose a packet to your address from the Honble the President and Council of Bombay and to return two of the books or memorials mentioned in your letter of the 21st ultimo, the third, had it not been mislaid, would have accompanied them; but we expect to receive it by the first safe conveyance. We have the honor to be /:below:/ Gentlemen /:lower:/ Your most obedient humble servants /:was signed:/ Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, William Lewis, D: Seton, J: Warden, John Spencer, L:s Corkran, P. N: Roberts, J: H: Cherrij /:in margin:/ Surat 28th March 1786. Translation To The Right Honorable Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq. Chief for all affairs of the Dutch Nation and the Council At Surat. Gentlemen! We have the pleasure to enclose herewith a letter from the Honorable Governor and Council in Bombay addressed to Your Honor, as well as to return 2 books or memorials mentioned in Your Honor's letter of the 21st ult., had the third not been mislaid we would have attached it hereto, however we expect to receive the same at the first opportunity. We have the honor to be /:below:/ Gentlemen /:lower:/ Your Honor's obedient and humble servants /:was signed:/ Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, W: Lewis, D: Seton, J: Warden, John Spencer, L. Corkran, G. N. Roberts, J: H: Cherrij. /:in margin:/ Surat the 28th of March 1786. Translation Abraham Josius Sluijsken Esqr. Gentlemen We have had the honor to receive your address of the 21st ulto repeating your request to be restored to your factory in Broach, and it is not in our power at this time to give you any other answer to this demand, than was conveyed in our letter under the 3rd November 1784. We have resolved to immediately transmit copies of your letters on this subject, to the Honble the Governor General and Council at Fort William, and request their directions, of which you shall be hereafter duly advised by us, as soon as we receive them from the controlling power in Bengal. We have the honor to be, /:below:/ Gentlemen /:lower:/ Your most obed:t humble servants /:was signed:/ R: H: Boddam, L. Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich: Church /:in margin:/ Bombay Castle Pol:t secret depart: 23d March 1786. Director &ca. Council for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Translation Translation To the Right Honorable Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq. Director and Council for the affairs of the Dutch Nation At Surat Gentlemen We have had the honor to receive Your Honor's letter of the 21st ult., repeating Your Honor's request to be restored to your factory in Broach, and since it is presently not in our power to give Your Honor any other answer to this demand than that contained in our letter of the 3rd of November 1784, we have resolved to transmit copies of your letters on this subject without delay to the Honble Governor General and Council at Fort William with the request for their orders, of which Your Honor shall hereafter be duly informed by us as soon as we receive the same from the controlling authority in Bengal. We have the honor to be /:below:/ Gentlemen /:lower:/ Your Honor's all-obedient and humble servants /:was signed:/ R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich: Church /:in margin:/ Bombay Castle pol:t secret dep:t 23rd March 1786. Sir Most certainly the captain of the vessel of the Dutch Company did not pay close attention to the return of the salute which he made to the roadstead on the day of his arrival, for he would have seen and heard that I returned him fifteen shots, that is to say shot for shot. I know, Sir, that in the Indies the vessels of the Company enjoy the same rights and prerogatives as the vessels of the King, and it is out of this consideration that I made no distinction in the return of the salute. I beg you consequently to be disabused of this error, which could only have been caused because the Dutch vessel, being anchored far from me and my guns being small, the little noise will have caused it. I am very sorry, Sir, that this small contestation has given you the trouble of writing to me, but I am extremely flattered that it provides me the pleasure of showing you how sensible I have been to all the kindnesses with which you have showered me, and of which I would always wish to find occasions to show you my gratitude, and it is in these sentiments that I have the honor to be /:below:/ Sir /:lower:/ Your most humble & most obedient servant /:was signed:/ Lambert /:in margin:/ Surat Roads, the 26th of March 1786. Translation Sir The captain of the Dutch Comp. ship certainly did not pay good attention to the answer to the salute which he fired on the day of his arrival in the roadstead, for he would have seen and heard that I answered him with 15 (that is to say: shot for shot). Sir, I am aware that in the Indies the
Dutch transcription
om m:r Roosemeijer of eenig ander Persoon daer in bemoeijd voor haar te ontbieden zoo versoeken wij dat Uwel Ed=e gelieven orders te geeven om voor haar te verschijnen, also de weduwe van den overleedenen Heer Heijdeman aan ons heeft versogt om de Protextie van onse vlag en wy haar met haar Request hebben overgeweesen aan onse Superieuren op Bom„ baij zoo versoeken wij, dat zy geene mo„ „lestatien mag ontfangen geduurende de tijd dat wy haare ordres over dit onder¬ „werp ontfangen. Wy hebben de Eer om te zyn /:onderstond/ Myne Heeren /:lager:/ Uwer welEdelens onderdaanige Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Treen, William Lewi„ D: Seton, J: Warden, John Spencer, L: Corkran, W: Robert en J: H: Chery /:in margine:/ Souratta den 21„e Maart A:o 1786: —. fo 397 Abraham Josius Sluijsken Esqre Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca Council at Surat Gentlemen We have the pleasure to enclose a Packet to your address from the Stonble the President en Council of Bombay and to re„ turn two of the Books or Memorials men¬ tioned in yjour Letter of the 21t. ultimo, the third had it not been mislaid, would have accompanied them; but we expect to recive it by the first safe conveijance. We have the honor to be /:onderstond:/ Ten¬ /:lager:/ You most obedient Humble tlemen servants /: was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, Geo: William Lewis, D: Peton, J: Warden, Green. John Spencer, L:s Corknan, P. N: Roberts st J: H: Cherrij /:in margine:/ surat 28:t March 1786. —. Translaat So Aan Den WelEdelen Agtbaaren Heer Abraham Josiers Huijsken Schildtr Cheff voor alle Saaken van de Hollandse Natie en Den Raad Te Souratta. Mijne Heeren! Wij hebben het Plaijsier deesen in te sluijten Een brieff van den Honorabelen Gouverneur en Raad te Bombaij aan UWelE: geadres¬ „seerd zo mede te rug te geeven 2. boeken of memorien vermeld in UwE: brief van den 21:' laastleeden, was de derde niet ver„ „legd geworden zoude wij het hier nevens ge„ „voegd hebben, egter verwagten hetselve bij de eerste gelegendheijd te zullen Ontfangen Wy hebben de Eer te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ Uwel Ed:e Gehoorsaame en onderdaanige Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, Geo: Green, W: Leuis, D: Peton, F: Warden, John, Spencer, L. Corkran, G. N. Roberts, J: H: Cherrij. / in Souratta den 28. Maart 1786: —. margine:/ Translaat Fo 399 Abraham Josius Huijsken Esqr. Gentlemen We have had the honor to receive your address of the 21st Ulto repeating your Request to be restored to your factorij in Broach, and et is not in our power at this time to give you any other answer to this demand, than was convajed in our Letter under the 3rd. No¬ „vember 1784. we have resolved te immediatelij transmit copies of your letters on this sub„ Ject, to the Htouble the Governor General en Council at Fort William, and Request their Directions, of which you schall be hereafter anly advised by us, as soon as we receive them from the controlling power in Bengal We have the hour to be, /:onderstond:/ ble Gentlemen /:lager:/ gour most obed:t hum=dle servants /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L. Nieson, Rob:t Sparks. Rich: Church /:in margine:/ Bombay Castle Pol:t secreet depart: 23:e March 1786: Directore &ca. Council for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Translaat Translaat Aan den WelEdelen Agtbaaren Heer Abraham Josias Sluijsken Tchilokz Directore en Raad voor de Saken van de Hollandse Natie Te Souratta Mijne Heeren Wij hebben d' Eer gehad te ontfangen UwE: missive van den 21=e laastleeden, herhaelende UwE: versoek, om in Uwe Fractorij te Broot„ „chia hersteld te zijn, en vermits het voor tegenwoordig niet in ons vermoogen is UwE: Eenig ander andwoord op deese vordering te geven, als het geen in onsen brieff van den 3„' November 1784. vervat is, hebben wij beslooten, om ten eersten Copijen van uw brieven over dit onderwerp over te senden aan den Houble Gouverneur Generael en raed in 't Fort williams met ver¬ soek van haar bevel, van het welke Uwe hier na behoorlijk door ons Luet onder„ „rigt worden so spoedig als wij deselve sullen ontfangen van het Gesag voerend vermoogen in Bengaalen 1i 407 Wij hebben de Eer te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ Uwel Ed=e allgehoorsaame en onderdaanige Dienaeren /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich: Church /:in margine:/ Bombaij Cas„ teel pol:t secreet dep:t 23=e Maart 1786. —. Monsieur Oien certement Le capitaire du vaisseau de La Compagnie de Hollande n'a pas bien fait attention a la reponce du salut qu'il à fait à' La rade Le jour de son arrivéé car il aurait vu et entendu que je sui act rendu quinse coup, cest à doxe coup per coup„ Je sai monsieur que dans Les Jndes Les vaisseaux de La Compagnie jouisse des Mêmes droits et prerogative que le vaisseam Du Roi, et cet en cette consideration que je n'ai point fait de difference a La reponse du Salut Je vous prié En conce= quence d'êstre desabusé de cette Erreure qui n'a put être ocationné que par ce 8 que Le vaisseau holl=s Elant mouillé Loins de moi et que mes Pieces sont petite Le peut de bruit Laura Causé. je Je Suis trés faché Monsieur que cette patite constertation vous ait donné La peine de mecrire, mais je suis Extreme„ ment flaté que me procure Le plaisir de vous temoigner. Combien jai êté seneible a toute les honnesteté d'ou vous mares comblé, et dont je desirerais toujours trouver des ocations de vous en têmoigner ma Gratitude et ces dans ces sentiments que Vai L'honneur D'estre /:onderstond:/ Mon„ Sieur /:lager:/ Votre tres humble & tres Obeisant serviteur /:was getekend:/ Lambert /:in margine:/ Rade de surat Le 26 mars 1786 Translaat Myn Heer Den Capitain van het Hollandse Compt. Schip heeft zekerlijk niet wel agt geslaagen op het antwoorde van het Salut welke hij den dag van sijn komst op de Rheede gedaan heeft, want hij soude gesien en gehoort hebben dat ik hem met 15. (:te Zeg¬ gen:/ Schot voor Schot beandwoord heb¬ Myn heer my is bewust, dat in Indien de
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the Company's ships enjoy the same prerogatives and privileges as those of the King, and in that consideration made no distinction in answering the salute, I therefore request Your Honor to be better informed of this mistake, which could only have been caused by the Dutch ship being far away from me, and that my guns are small and thus make little noise. I am very sorry, Sir, that this surprise has caused Your Honor the trouble of writing to me, but I am also very glad that it affords me the opportunity to testify to Your Honor how sensible I have been of all the civility with which Your Honor has loaded me, for which I desire always to find an occasion to express my gratitude to Your Honor; and it is with these sentiments that I have the honor to be, was written beneath, Sir, lower, Your Honor's humble and obedient servant, was signed, Lambert, in the margin, Surat Roads the 26th of March 1786. To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqr. Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca. Council at Surat Gentlemen We have the Honor to acknowledge receipt of your Letter of the 26th ultimo, and in reply need only observe that you are at perfect liberty to take such further Steps in the affair respecting the Heirs of the Banyan Baysa as you may think proper, we having in our opinion, already amply refuted every Argument you are pleased to urge against the conduct we have pursued. The Honble the President and Council of Bombay having transmitted us, by a vessel that arrived here yesterday, the third Book or memorial omitted to be returned to you at the conclusion of the War, we have the pleasure to send it herewith, as also a Duplicate Packett from them to your address and remain with Esteem, was written beneath, Gentlemen, lower, your most obedient humble servants, was signed, Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, William Lewis, D: Seton, J: Warden, John Spencer, L:s Corkran, P: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherry, John: Church, in the margin, Surat 4th April 1786. Translation To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqr. Chief for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation, together with the Council at Surat. Gentlemen, We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Honors' letter of the 26th of last month, and in reply thereto we have only thought it necessary to observe that Your Honors have the most complete liberty to take further such measures concerning the heirs of the Banyan Bhaijsa as Your Honors might think proper; we have, in our opinion, already refuted all the compelling reasons that Your Honors have been pleased to adduce against the conduct pursued by us. The Honorable the President and Council of Bombay having transmitted to us, by a vessel that arrived yesterday, the third book or memorial whose return was neglected at the end of the war, we have the pleasure of sending the same herewith, along with a duplicate of their last to Your Honors' address, remaining with esteem, was written beneath, Gentlemen, lower, Your Honors' most humble and obedient servants, was signed, Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, William Lewis, D: Seton, J: Warden, John Spencer, L: Corkran, P: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherry, Johan Church, in the margin, Surat the 14th of April 1786. To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqr. Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca Council at Surat Gentlemen We are this moment honored with your Letter of yesterday's date; but as we cannot take any steps regarding it without orders from our superiors at Bombay, we beg to inform you, that we shall embrace the earliest opportunity of transmitting it to them. We have the pleasure to remain, was written beneath, Gentlemen, lower, your most obedient Humble servants, was signed, Andw: Ramsay, William Lewis, D: Seton, John Spencer, P: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherry, in the margin, Surat 19th May 1786. Translation To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqr. Chief for the affairs of the Dutch Nation, together with the Council at Surat. Gentlemen, We are this moment honored with Your Honors' letter of yesterday. As we cannot take any steps concerning it without orders from our superiors at Bombay, we request to be permitted to inform Your Honors that we shall embrace the very first opportunity to transmit the same to them. We have the pleasure to remain, was written beneath, Gentlemen, lower, Your Honors' most obedient and humble servants, was signed, Andw: Ramsay, William Lewis, D: Seton, John Spencer, P: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherry, in the margin, Surat the 19th May 1786. To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqre Director &ca. Council for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Gentlemen On the 10th Instant we were honored with your Letter of the 9th claiming from the Honble English East India Company payment of the bill of Exchange for one Hundred Thousand Rupees granted by you on the 9th July 1781 to the Heirs of the deceased Banyan Merchant Baijsa on the Linen Providers for the Noble Netherlands Company Byramjee Sorabjee & Hormajee Ruttonjee. In reply to which we have the honor to acquaint you that previous to the Goods in question being taken for the use of our Honble Employers the Heirs of Baijsas claim upon them was fully investigated when it appeared by their voluntary declarations that they could procure neither acceptance nor payment of the Bill of Exchange you had granted them on your Linen Providers, which was fully corroborated by the Bill not being accepted & of course in default thereof could be of no validity whatever and further when the
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403 de Comp:s scheepen, deselve voorregten en Privilegien uit als die van den Koning genieten, en die con„ sideratie in het beantwoorden van het solutgeen„ onderscheijd gemaakt heb, dienweegens versoe„ „ke ik UwelEdele beter onderregt te worden van deese fout, die niet dan, door het verre van mij afzijn van het Hollandse Schip, en dat mijn stukken kleijn zijn, en dus weijnig gerugt maaken, heeft kunnen veroorsaakt zijn ƒ Het doed mij seer leed mijn Heer dat de„ se verbaastheijd, Uwel Ed=e de moeite van mij te schrijven veroorsaekt heeft, maar ik ben ook seer verheugt dat zij mij ge¬ „legendheijd verschaft van UwelEd: te be„ „ tuijgen hoe ik gevoelig ben geweest aan alle de welleevendheijd met dewelke Uwel Ed: mij belaaden heeft, waar toe ik begeer al„ „toos eene gelegendheijd te vinden, om UwelEd: daar voor mijne dankbaarheijd te betuijgen, en het is met dese gevoelens dat ik de Eer hebbe te zijn /:onderstond:/ Mijn Heer /: lager:/ Uwel Edele onderdaanige en gehoorsaame Dienaar /:was getekend:/ Lambert /:in margine:/ Souratsche Rheede den 26„' Maart 1786. — To Gentlemen We have the Honor to acknowledge receipt of your Letter of the 26t ulti¬ mo, and in reply need only observe that you are at perfect liberty to take such further Steps in the affair respecting the Heirs of the Banyan Baysa as you may think proper, we having in our opini¬ on, alreadij amply refused everij Argument ijou are pleased to urge against the conduct all have purmed The Henble the president and council of Bombaij having trainimitted us, bij a vessee that arrived here yesterdaij, the third Book or memorial omitted to be you at the conclusion of the returned War, we have the pleasure to send it herewith, as also a Duplicate Packett from them to your address and remain Abraham Jasias Cluijsken Esq=r Chief for affairs of the Dutel Nation &ca. Council at Surat With 205 With Esteem /:onderstond:/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ your most obedient humble servants /:was ge„ tekend :/ Andw: Ramsaij, Gec: Green, Wil„ Leuis, D: Teton, I: Warden, John „liam L:s Corkran, P: N:, Roberts J: Spencer, H: Cherrij. John: Church /:in margine:/ Surat 4=t April 1786: —. Aan Abraham Josias Hluijsken Schildsep: Cheff voor de Saaken van de Hollandsche Natie Benevens Den Raad fe Souratta Mijne Heeren. Wij hebben de Eer te erkennen den ont„ „fangst Uwer missive van den 26„' des voorleeden Maand en wij hebben alleen in andwoord daar op nodig geagt aan te mer„ „ken, dat Uwel Ed=e de volmaakste vrijheijd heb verder sulke maetregulen betreffende Erfgenaamen van den Benjaan Bhaij„ de „sa te neemen als Uwel Ed=e goed mogten Translaat vinden vinden wy hebben na onse gedagten bereeds wederlegd alle de drangreedenen die uwE: hebben gelieven bij te brengen tegen het door ons gevolgde gedrag. Den Honorabelen de President en Raad van Bombaij ons meld een vaartuijg gis„ teren aangekoomen hebbende overgesonden, het derde boek of memorial welkers te rug geeving bij 't eijnde des oorlogs is versuimd geweest hebben wij het plaisier het selve hier nevens te senden met een duplicaat van haar laaste aan Uwel Ed=e adves, verblijve met aagting /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ UwelEdele onderdanig„ „ste en gehoorsaame Dienaaren /:was getekend Andw: Ramsaij, Teo: Green, William Le„ „wis, D: Peton, F warden, John Spencer L: Corkran, P: N: Roberts, J: H:s Cherrij„ Johan Church /:in margine:/ Souratta den 14e: April 1786:— So. Abraham Josias Ruijsken Esqr. Gentlemen We are this moment honored with your Letter of ijesterdaijs date; but as we cannot take anij any steps regarding it without orders from our superiors at Bombaij, we beg to inform you, that we schall embrace the earliest opportunitij of transmitting it to them. We have the pleasure to remain Gentlemen /:lager:/ gour most /:onderstond:/ obedient Humble servants /:was getekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, William Lewis, D: Seton, spencer, P: N: Roberts J: H: Cherrij John /:in margine:/ surat 19:t Maij 1786. —. Translaat Aan Abraham Josias Huijsken Schildher. Chef voor de saken van de Hollandsche Natie Benevens Den Raad Te Souratta Mijne Heeren To Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca Council at Surat 407 „ G Wij sijn dit Ogenblik verlerd met Uwel Ed: missive van gesteren, Also wij sonder orders van onse superieuren te Bambaij, daar omtrend geenige stax kunnen doen, versoeken wij uwel Ed=e te moogen informeeren, dat wij de allereerste geleegendheijd sullen omhelsen, hetselve aan haar overtelaaten. Wij hebben het vergenoegen te verblijven /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /: lager:/ UwelEd: gehoorsaamste en onderdaanige Dienaeren /:was Getekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, William Lewis, D: Peton, John Spencer, P: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherrij /:in margine:/ sou„ „ratta den 19„' Maij 1786 — Abraham Josia Huijsken Esqre Directore &ca. Council ter the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Gentlemen On the Losh. Instant we were honored With 409 With your Letter of the 9st claiming from the Houble Englsh Cast India Companij of the bill of Exchange tof one paijement Thousand Rupees granted bij Hundred you on the 9t Juny 1781 to the Hevrs of the deceased Banijan Merchant Baij¬ Ia on the Linen Providers ter the Noble Netherlands Companij Bijramjee Sorabjee & Harmajee Ruttonjee In replij to which we have the honor to aegaint you that previons to the Goods in question being taken for the use of our Htouble Emploijers the Heirs of Baijsas claim upon them was fullij investiguted when it appeared bij their voluntarij declara¬ tions that theij could procure neither ac¬ ceptance or payment of the Bill of Exchange you had grandted them on your Providers, which was fully Corrobo¬ Linen „toted bij the Bill not being accepted & of course in default there of contd be of no validiti whatever and further whem t the
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the Heirs of Baijsa were called before our Council at Surat, they likewise fully declared that they were never put into actual possession of the Goods, said to have been conveyed to them in payment, nor did there appear on the Interest Bond in their possession, which they produced, any Endorsement or Discharge thereon to the Noble Netherlands Company for any part thereof, in consequence of which, the Goods became unquestionably the property of our Honorable Employers on the capture of your Factory, and were accordingly taken possession of as such. We have the honor to be, below written, Gentlemen, lower, Your most obedient humble Servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich:d Church, in the margin, Bombay Castle, Political and Secret Department, 31st May 1786. Translation 411 Translation of an English letter written by the Governor and Council of Bombay to the Director and Council at Surat, received the 10th of June 1782. Gentlemen. On the 20th ultimo we were honored with Your Honors' letter of the 9th preceding, demanding from the Honorable English East India Company payment of a bill of exchange of one hundred thousand rupees, granted by you on the 9th of June 1781 to the Heirs of the deceased Banyan merchant Baijsa upon the linen suppliers of the Noble Netherlands Company, Beramtie Souraabje and Harmootjee Bettengie; in answer to which we have the honor to inform Your Honors that before the goods in question were taken for the use of our Honorable paymasters, the claim of the Heirs of Bhasahor upon upon the same was fully investigated and examined, when it appeared from their voluntary declaration that they could produce neither acceptance nor payment of the bill of exchange which Your Honors had granted them upon your linen suppliers, which was fully reinforced by the non-acceptance of the bill of exchange, and which consequently, through this defect, could be of no force or validity whatsoever; and further that when the Heirs of Bhaijsa were called before our Council of Surat, they in like manner freely declared that they were never placed in actual possession of the goods which are said to have been transferred to them in payment, nor did it appear that on the bond in their possession, which they showed, any endorsement or receipt was made for any 413 any part thereof from the Noble Netherlands Company, in consequence of which the goods, upon the capture of your factory, unquestionably became the property of our Honorable paymasters, and were taken possession of as such. We have the honor to be, below written, Gentlemen, lower, Your Honors' obedient and humble servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Robt: Sparks, Rich:d Church, in the margin, Bombay in the Castle, the 31st of May 1786. To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq. Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &c. Council at Surat Gentlemen We have now the honor to enclose you a packet from our superiors; and have their commands to acquaint you, at the same time, that they see no necessity for entering of your address of the 24th Ultimo acquainting us of your intentions of submitting the affair of the Heirs of Bhaijsa to your superiors in Europe, and have the honor to be, below written, Gentlemen, lower, your most obedient humble servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich:d Church, in the margin, Bombay Castle, Political Secret Department, 8th July 1786. Translation To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq. Director, together with the Council for the affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Gentlemen. We were honored with the receipt of Your Honors' letter of the 24th ultimo, making known to us your intention to refer the affair of the Heirs of Bhaijsa to Your Honors' superiors in Europe, to refer, and have the honor to be, below written, Gentlemen, lower, Your Honors' humble and obedient servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich:d Church, in the margin, Bombay in the Castle, 8 July 1786, Political Secret Department. 58 Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq. Director &c. Council for the affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat Gentlemen We were duly honored with your address of the 15th Ultimo, on your claim for exporting all merchandizes from Surat free from export customs, after they had once paid the customary duties on importation, and in reply have to acquaint you that this Government, agreeable to their promise to you under the 18th December 1779, fully stated the subject to your Honorable Employers in April following, and transmitted faithful copies of every paper that had passed passed for their information. As the Honorable the Court of Directors have not yet been pleased to send their orders, we shall embrace the earliest opportunity of again requesting their explicit commands for our guidance; in the mean time, we are sorry we cannot agree to the expedient proposed by you, Gentlemen, of keeping a separate account of such export duties or allow the amount to remain in deposit until the final issue. We have the honor to be, below written, Gentlemen, lower, your most obedient humble servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich:d Church, in the margin, Bombay Castle, Political Secret Department, 17th August 1786. Translation of a letter written by the Governor and Council of Bombay, received the 24th of August To
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the Heirs of Baijsa were called before our councillat Surat, theij likewise fuelij declared that they were never put into ac¬ tual possession of the Goods, said to have been conveyed to them in paijment, nor dit there appeur on the Interest Bond in their pos¬ session (which theij produced) any Indorse, ment or Diccharge there on to the Noble Netherlands Companij fer anij part there of in consequence of which, the Goods deca¬ me imquestionallij the propertij of our Houble Employers on the capture of ijoux Factorij. & were accordinglij taken possession of as such We have to honor to be /:onderstond:/ sentle„ „men /:lager:/ Your most obedient stum„ Servants /:was getekend:/ R: H: Bod„ „ble „ P:s Nilson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich„d dam Bombaij Castle Church /:in margine:/ Pol:t en Secret Dept„t 31:e Maij 1786: — Translaat 411 Translaat Engelsche Missive geschree„ „ven door den Gouverneur en Raad van Dombaij Aan den Heer Directeur en Raad te Suratta ontfangen den 10„' Junij 1732 Mijne Heeren. Op den 20„e Laastleeden zijn wij verEerd. geworden met Uwel Edelens brieff van den 9„' bevoorens vorderende van de Honorabele Oost Indische Engelsche companij betaerlingen brieff van Een maal hon„ van een Wissel dert Duijtend Ropijen bij uw op den 9„e 36 Junij 1781: verleend aan de Erfgenaamen van den overleeden Benjaans Koopman Baijsa op de Linne Leveranciers van ch de Edele Neederlandsche Companij Be„ „ramtie souraabje en Harmootjee Betten, „gie in andwoord op dewelke wij de Eer hebben UwEdelens te verwittigen dat alvoorens de goederen in questi, ge„ „noomen wierden voor het gebruijk van onse Honorable betaals. heeren, de vorde„e „ving van de Erfgenaamen van Bhasahor op op deselve volkoomentlijk nagespeurd en onder sogt is, wanneer het door haare vrijwilli¬ „ge verklaaring gebleeken is, dat zij niet produceeren Konden nog acceptatie, nog betaelinge van de wissel brieff, welke uwEdelens haar verleend hadden op uw Linne Leveranciers, het welke ten vol¬ len versterkt wierd door het niet geae¬ cepteerd syn der wissel en die bijgevolg door dit gebrek, van geene Kragt of valideijt, welke ook, syn konde en verders dat wanneer de Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa voor onsen Raad van Souratta geroepen waeren, Sij op gelijke wijse vrijelijk verklaard hebben, dat sy nimmermeer gesteld waaren in de da„ delijke besitting van de goederen, welk gesegd worden aan haar te Syn overge¬ draagen in betaaling, nog gebleek het dat er op de obligatien in haare be„ sitting welke sy vertoonden eenige in„ dossement of quitantie gesteld was voor eenig 413 eenig gedeelte van deselve van de Edele Nee„ „derlandsche Compagnie, ingevolge van het welke de goederen Bij het neemen van Uw Frac„ „torij ontwijffelbaar den eijgendom van onse betaalsheeren wierden, en als Honorabele sodanig in besittinge genoomen sijn, d' Eer te sin /:onderstond:/ Wij hebben Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ UwEdelens onder„ „daanige en Gehoorsaame Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L. Nilson Robt: Sparks Ruch:d Church /:in margine:/ Bombaij in het Casteel den 31„e Meij 1786. To Abraham Josiaus Sluijsken Esq=re Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &a. Council at Surat Gentlemen We have now the honor to enclose you a Packet from our superiors; and have their Commands to acquaint you, at the same time, that they see no necissityj for entering of your address of the 24st Ultimo acquain„ ting us of your intentions of submitting the of the Heirs of Bhaijsa to your affair superiors in Europe, & have the honor to /:onderstond:/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ your be most obed:t humble servants /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L. Nilson, Rob„t Sparks, Rich:s Church /:in margine:/ Bombaij Cas„ tle Polt. Secreet Departement 8=e Julij Translaat 1786: — Aan Abraham Josias Huijsken Sched. „Knaep Directeur benevens den Raad voor de Saken van de Hollandse Natie te Souratta Mijne Heeren. Wij zyn vereerd geweest met den ont„ „fangst Ulwer brieff van den 24„e laestlee„ „den, ons bekend maakende uwe intentie, om de saek van de Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa aen UWE: superieuren in Europa over tewijsen d 7 overte wijsen en hebben de Eer te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:lager:/ UwelEdelens onder„ daanige en Dienstwillige Dienaaren /:was R: H: Boddam, L. s Nilson, getekend:/ Rob:r Sparks, Rich„d Church (:in margine) Bombaij in 't Casteel 8. Julij 1786. pol:t se„ „creet Departement. 58 Abraham Josias Hluijsken Esq=r Directore &ca. Councie for the affairs of the Dutch nation at Surat Gentlemen We were duly honored with your address of the 15s Ultimo, en your Claim for exporting all Merchandizes from Surat free from export customs, after theij had once paid the customarij Duties on importation„ & in reply have to acquaint you that this Government agreeable to their promise to you under the 18t. December 1779 fullij the Subject to ijour Houble Em¬ stated „ploijers in april jollowing, & transmitted faithful Copies of werij Paper that had passed passed for their Information as the Honble the Court of Directors have not yet been pleased to send their orders we shall embrace the earliest oppor¬ tunitij of again requesting heir expli„ cit Commands for our quidance, in the mean time, we are serry we cannot agree to the expedient proposed bij You, Tenttemen, of keeping à Separa„ se account of such exhort duties or allow the amount to remain in deposit unsil final asue. the We have the honor to be /:onderstond:/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ ijour most obed:t Hum„ „ble servants /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L: Nilson Rob:t: Sparks, Rich:d Church /:in margine:/ Bombaij Castle Polt: secreet Dep:t 17=t August 1786. —. Translaat van Een missive geschreeven door den Gouver„ „neur en Raad van Bombaij ontfangen den 24„e Augustus Aan
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To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esq. Director and Council for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat. Gentlemen, We were duly honored with your address of the 15th ultimo concerning your claim for the exportation of all merchandise from Surat free of export duties after they have once paid the ordinary duties upon importation; and in reply we have to inform you that this government, in accordance with its promise made to you under date of 18th December 1779, fully submitted the subject to our honorable masters in April following, with the transmission of exact copies of every paper that was exchanged for their information. As the honorable Court of Directors has not yet been pleased to send their orders, we shall embrace the first opportunity to request again their explicit orders for our guidance. In the meantime, we regret that we cannot consent to the measure proposed by you, Gentlemen, of keeping a separate account of such export duties, or permitting the amount to remain in deposit until the final outcome. We have the honor to be, beneath stood, Gentlemen, lower, your most obedient and humble servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nelson, Rob:t Sparks, and Rich.d Church. In the margin: Bombay Castle Political and Secret Department, 17th August 1786. To Abraham Josias Sluijsken Esqre Director &a. Council for affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat. Gentlemen Agreeable to what we advised under the 17th ultimo, we acquainted the honorable the Governor General & Council, respecting your claim for the Reestablishment of your Factory at Broach; and in reply they acquaint us, that they would refer the same to the honorable the Court of Directors by their next dispatches to Europe. We have the Honor to be, beneath stood, Gentlemen, lower, Your most obedient Humble servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L: Nelson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich:d Church. In the margin: Bombay Castle Political & Secret department 18th September 1786. Translation of an English letter written by the Governor and Council of Bombay to the Right Honorable Director Abraham Josias Sluijsken and the Council, dated 18th September 1786. Gentlemen, In accordance with what we communicated to you in our letter of the 17th ultimo, we have informed the Honorable Governor General and Council of your claim for the re-establishment of your Factory at Broach, and in reply thereto they have made known to us that they would refer the same with their first dispatches to Europe to the Honorable Court of Directors. We have the honor to be, beneath stood, Gentlemen, lower, your most humble and obedient servants, was signed, R: H: Boddam, L. Nelson, Robt: Sparks, Richd. Church. In the margin: Bombay Castle Political and Secret Department, 18th September 1786. Agrees, A. van Polanen de Bevere, secretary. Papers concerning the bill of exchange of Baijsa. No. 9. Surat, 9th June Anno 1781. Pay upon this our bill of exchange to the heirs of the deceased Banyan merchant Baijsa a sum of one hundred thousand Rupees with the interest since 21st March 1781 at 3/4 per cent per month, and this in satisfaction of an equal sum which the aforesaid heirs of Baijsa lent to the Honorable Netherlands Company on the aforesaid 21st March, upon two bonds written in the names of Saa Gosaaltjent Kapoertjent and Saa Kapoertjent Singa, and place the same to the account of the Honorable Netherlands Company. Signed, W: J: van de Graaff. To the linen suppliers of the Honorable Netherlands Company, Beramjie Souraabjie and Hormojie Rittingie. Under which was the seal of the Company impressed in red wax, and written beside it: By order of the Extraordinary Councilor of the Netherlands Indies and Director of this Direction, together with the Council, was signed, E: N: Wiardi, secretary. Beneath stood: Agrees with the original, and signed, C: S: Wickerman, sworn clerk. Agrees, A. van Polanen de Bevere, secretary. Copy of a copy. Translation. Copy of a Copy. Surat, 9th June Anno 1781. Pay at this our Bill of Exchange to the Heirs of the deceased Banyan Merchant Baijsa the sum of one Hundred thousand Rupees with the Interest since the 21st March 1781 at 3/4 per Cent per month, and such in payment of an equal sum which the aforesaid Heirs of Baijsa have lent to the noble Netherlands Company the 21st March aforementioned on two Bonds in the names of Saa Gosaaltjent Kapoertjent and Saa Kapoertjent Singa, and bring the same to the account of the noble Netherlands Company. Signed, W: J: Van de Graaff. To the Purveyors of Linen Cloth for the Noble Netherlands Company, Beramjee Souraabjee and Hormootjee Rettingee. Here stood the seal of the Company printed in red sealing Wax and thereby written: By order of the Director of this Direction and Councilor Extraordinary, and Council, signed, C: N: Wiardi, secretary. Here under stood: For the true Copy of the Original, signed, C: S: Wickerman, deputy secretary. For the true Copy of a Copy, signed, J: J: van Polanen de Bevere, secretary. For the true Translation, A. van Polanen de Bevere, secretary.
Dutch transcription
Abraham Josias Sluijsken Aan Mijne Heeren Wij waeren behoorlijk vereerd met uw address van den 15„e laastleeden aangaande Uwen Eisch ter uijtvoering aller Koopmanschappen van Suratta, vry van Úijtvoers Tollen, na dat sij eens de gewoone rechten betaeld hadden op den Inbreng, en in andwoord heb„ „ben wy UE: kennis te geven dat dit gouvernement overeenkomstig haare be„ loste aan Uwe onder den 18„e December 1779. het onderwerp ten vollen dan onse agtbaare Betaalsheeren in April volgen¬ de voorgedraagen heeft met oversending van getrouwe Kopijen van ijder Papier dat gewisseld is voor hunne onderrigting Alsoo het de Achtbaare vergaadering van Bewindhebberen als nog niet behaagd heeft hunne orders te senden, zullen wij de eerste gelegendheijd omhelsen om wederom schildknaep Directeur en Raad, voor de Saaken van de Hol¬ landse Natie pe Souratta hunne 419 14 hunne uytdrukkelijke beveelen te versoeken ter onser bestiering, ondertusschen, spijt het ons dat wij niet kunnen bewilligen in het mid„ del door u voorgesteld, Myne Heeren, van een bysondere rekening te houden van zulke Úijtgaande Rechten of toestaan het bedraa¬ gen in bewaaringe te blyven tot den fi¬ Naelen Uijtslag Wij hebben de Eer te zijn /:onderstond:/ Myne Heeren. /:lager UwE: Gehoorsaamste en ootmoedige Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L„s Nelson. Rob:t Sparks en Rich.d Church /:in margine:/ Bombaij Casteel Pol:t en Secreet Dep:t 17=e Augustus 1786: —. To re Abraham Josias Hluijsken Esqre Director &a. Councie for affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat. Gentlemen Agreeable to what we advised under the 17=e 17t ultimo, we acquainted the houble the Gover„ nor General & Council; respecting your claim for the Reestablishment of your Factoryj at 14 Broach; and din replij theij acquaint us, that theij would refer the same to the stouble the court of Directors by then next dis„ palchis to Europe We have the Honor to be (:onderstond) Gentlemen /:lager:/ Your most obed:t Humble servants /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L: Nelson, Rob:t Sparks, Rich:d Church Bombaij Castle Polt: Secreet /:in margine:/ dep:t 18„e September 1786. Translaat Engelsche Missive geschreeven door den Heer (:Gouverneur en Raad van Bombaij Aan den WelEdelen Agtbaaren Heer Di„ recteur Abraham Josias sluijs¬ „ken nevens den Raad gedateerd den 18„e September 1786.— Mijne Heeren OverEenkomstig met het geen wij Uwel Edele bij onsen brieff van den 17„' Laest. bedeelden „leeden 421 -. laestleeden hebben wij den Honorabelen Gou„ verneur Generael en Raad Kennisse gege„ „ven van Uwen Eisch ter herstelling van Uwe Fractorij te Brootchia en in andwoord daar op, hebben sij ons te kennen gege„ „ven dat sij deselve met haare Eerste schry„ „ven na Europa souden refereeren Aan de Honorabele vergaaderinge der Direc„ teurs Wij hebben de Eer te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:Lager:/ Uwel Edele seer onderdaanige en Gehoorsaame Dienaaren /:was getekend:/ R: H: Boddam, L. Nilson Robt: Sparks, Richd. Church. /in margine Bombaij Casteel Pol:t en Secreet Depar:t 18„' September 1786. —. Van Polanen de bever Accordeert sen Papieren betrekkelijk tot de wissel van Baijsa g. No 9. Souratta den 9=e Iunij Ao 1781. — Betaald op deese onse wisselbrief aan de Erfgenamen van wijlen den Benjaans Koopman Baijsa eene somma van Een Honderd Duijsend Ropijen met den intrest zeedert den 21=e Maart 1781. à - ¾ p:r C:t 'smaands, ende zulks in voldoening van een gelijke som die de voorsz: Erfgenamen van Baijsa aan de Edele Nederlandse Comp: op voorsz: 21e Maart hebben geleend, op twee obligatien geschre„ ven op de naamen van saa Gosaaltjent ka„ poertjent en Saa kapoertjent Singa en steld het zelve op reekening van de Ed: Nederland„ se Comp:e De Lijwaat Leveranciers van de Edele Nederlandse Comp: Beramjie Souraabjie en Hormojie Rittingie /:Wier onder stond het zegel van de Comp: afgedrukt in rood Lak en daarnevens geschreeven:/ ke Ter ordonnantie van den Heer Raad Extradinair en Nederlands Jndien en Directeur deeser Directie Neevens den Raad /:was getekend:/ E:s N:s wiardi Tek:s /:onderstond:/ Akkordeert met het oorspronkelijke en /:getekend:/ C: S: Wickerman gezw: klerk Akkordeert A Van Polanen de beverek /:was geteekend:/ W: J: van de Graaff sen. s Copij â. Copij L H:a H. 423 3 923 Translate Copy of a Copy Seralt 9te Iune A:o 1781. Pay at this our Bill of Exchange to the Heirs of the deceased Benyan Merchant Bhaysa the sum of one Hundred thousand Rupees with the Interest since the 21t March 1781 at 4 pro Cento per month, and such inpayment of an equal sum which the afore said Heirs of Baijsa have lent to the noble Netherlands Companye the 21st. March a fore mentioned on two Bonds in the names of saa Gosaaltjent kapoertjent & Saa Kapoertjent Singa„ & bring the same to the account of the noble Netherlands Companye. /:signed:/ W: J: Van de Graaff The Purveyors of Linnen Cloth for the Noble Netherlands Company Beramjee souraabjee & Hormootjee Rettingee. - Here stood the seal of the Company prin¬ ted in red sealing Wax & there by wrote:) By order of the Directore of this Direction & Consellor Extra ordinarij, & Council /:segned:/ C:t N:s Wiardi secret:s (:Here under stood:) for the true Copy of the Original /:signed:/ C: S: Wickerman de put: secrt:s for the true Copy of a Copy /: signed:/ J:n J:s van Polanen de bevere secrt For the true Translation AH A Van Polanen de bever Sevt
English
I, Egbert Nicolaas Wiardi, junior merchant in the service of the Noble Dutch Company, certify and declare that, being at that time secretary of the Council of Policy here, on Sunday morning the 10th of June 1781, I was sent by the former Director, the Honourable Willem Jacob van de Graaff, Extraordinary Councillor of the Dutch Indies, and went in person to the residence of the deceased Banyan merchant Baysa within the city of Suratte; and that there with my own hands I delivered to his sons and heirs an assignment or bill of exchange granted by the aforesaid Honourable Director and Council to the said heirs to the amount of one hundred thousand rupees drawn on the linen suppliers of the Noble Company, Beramjie Souraabjie and Hormojie Rettenjie, dated the day before, or the 9th of June, of which the copy is kept here at the secretariat and was handed over with the papers of this Directorate to the English gentlemen; and that the aforesaid bill of exchange was accepted and received by the aforesaid sons and heirs. In witness of the truth I have signed and sealed this, being ready at all times, if required, to confirm it under oath. Suratte, the 9th of March 1786. Signed: E:t N:s Wiardi Beside his Honour's name, his seal impressed in red wax. Underneath stood: Saturday the 11th of March, Anno 1786. Appeared before the Commissioners of the Honourable Court of Justice of this trading post, George Christoffel Roeff and Anthonij de Sille, the junior merchant and warehouse master here, the Honourable Egbert Nicolaas Wiardi, who, in the presence of the Fiscal, the Honourable Egidius Meijer, the aforesaid declaration having been read aloud word for word, was asked if he was ready to confirm the same under oath, answered yes, as was also immediately executed, by raising the first two fingers of the right hand and pronouncing these words: So help me God Almighty. Signed: E:t N:s Wiardi Lower: As Commissioners, signed: G: C: Roeff, A: de Sille In the margin: In my presence, signed: Eg:s Meijer In the middle: Known to me, signed: Abraham Leopoldus Gratiaen, Secretary Conforms: Van Polanen de Beveren, Secretary. Translate: I, Egbert Nicholas Wiardi, junior merchant in the service of the Noble Netherlands Company, do certify and declare that I, being at that time secretary to the Council of Police at this place, on one Sunday morning the 10th of June 1781, was sent by the late Director, Mr. Willem Jacob van de Graaff, Counsellor in Extraordinary of Netherlands India, and in consequence I repaired personally to the dwelling house of the deceased Benyan merchant Baysa in the city of Suratte, and that there with my own hands delivered to the sons and heirs of the said Baysa one draught or bill of exchange given by the said Director and Council to the said heirs to the amount of one hundred thousand rupees on the purveyors of linen cloth for the Noble Company, Beramjee Souraabjee and Hormootjee Rettinjee, dated the day before, being the 9th of June, of which the copy has been deposited at the Secretary's office and been delivered to the English gentlemen with the other papers; and I further declare that the said bill of exchange was accepted and received by the aforesaid sons and heirs. In token of truth I have signed and sealed this paper, being willing to certify it at all times with a solemn oath. Suratte, the 9th of March 1786. Signed: E:t N:s Wiardi Saturday the 11th of March 1786: Appeared before us, George Christoffel Roeff and Anthonij de Sille, Commissioners of the Worshipful Court of Justice of this factory, Mr. Egbert Nicholas Wiardi, junior merchant and warehouse keeper, to whom in the presence of the Fiscal Meijer, the aforestanding declaration and deposition being read from word to word, and interrogated if he was willing to certify the same with an oath, answered yes, on which the said oath was performed by lifting up the two forefingers of his right hand, pronouncing the words: As true, so help me God Almighty. Signed: E:t N:s Wiardi In the quality of Commissioners: Signed: G: C: Roeff, A: de Sille In the margin: In my presence, signed: Eg:s Meijer In knowledge of me: Signed: Abraham Leopoldus Gratiaen, Secretary For a true copy: Signed: J: J: van Polanen de Bevere For the true translation: A: van Polanen de Bevere, Secretary. The linen suppliers Beramje Souraabje and Hormojie Rettingjie are hereby ordered to pay, out of the funds they hold belonging to the Noble Dutch Company, to the heirs of the deceased Banyan merchant Baysa, a bill of exchange amounting to one hundred thousand rupees, granted to them today, and that in settlement of an equal sum of one hundred thousand rupees which the said heirs of the Banyan merchant Baysa lent to the Noble Company on the 21st of March 1781 on two bonds made out in the names of Saa Gosaaltjent Capoertjent and Saa Capoertjent Singa, each for fifty thousand rupees. Furthermore, the same suppliers are also ordered to pay to the aforesaid heirs of Baysa the interest on the aforesaid two bonds since the 21st of March 1781 until full and effective satisfaction, and to place all this to the account of the Noble Dutch Company. Underneath stood: Suratta, the 9th of June, Anno 1781. Signed: W: J: van de Graaff In the margin stood the seal of the Company impressed in red wax, and written beside it: By order of the Honourable Extraordinary Councillor and Director of Suratta, Willem Jacob van de Graaff, together with the Council. And signed: E:t N:s Wiardi, Secretary Lower stood: Agrees with the original. And signed: C: S: Wickerman, Sworn Clerk. Agrees: Van Polanen de Beveren, Secretary.
Dutch transcription
Certificeere en verklaare Ik Egbert Nico„ laas wiardi onderkoopman in dienst van de Edele Hollandse Compagnie, dat ik, zijnde toenmaals secretaris van den Raad van Politie alhier, op sondag Morgen den 10=e Junij 1781. door den voormaligen Di„ recteur den Heere Willem Jacob van de Graaff Raad Extraordinair van Needer„ lands Indien, ben gezonden en mij in perzoon hebbe begeeven na het woonhuijs van den overleedenen Benjaans Koopman Baijsa binnen de stad Suratte; En dat ik aldaar met eijgen handen aan Des„ selfs zoonen en Erfgenamen hebbe over„ gegeeven Een Assignatie of wissel door voorm: Heer Directeur en Raad aan ge„ dagte Erfgenamen verleend tot een bedra„ gen van Een Honderd Duijsend Ropijen op de Lijwaat Leveranciers van de Edele Comp: Beramjie souraabjie en Hor„ mojie Rettenjie gedateerd des Daags be„ Litta. B 427 voorens voorens of den 9=e Junij, waarvan de Copij al¬ hier ter sekretarije bewaard, en met de papieren deeser Directie aan de Heeren Engelschen over„ gegeeven is, en Dat de voorseijde wissel door voorsz: zoonen en Erfgenamen is aangenomen en ontfangen. Ten teeken van waarheijd heb ik dee„ zen geteekend en gezeguld, bereijd zijnde ten allen tijden, des gerequireerd wordende, met /:onderstond:/ Suratta den Eede te sterken. /:was getekend:/ E:t N: 9=e Maart 1786. wiardi /:bezijden zijn E: naam derselver Cachet in rood-lak gedrukt /:daar onder stond Saturdag Den 11=e Maart Ao 1786. kompareerde voor E:s Kommissarissen van den Agtbaaren Raad van Justitie deeses Comptoirs George Christoffel Roeff en Anthonij de sille, den onderkoopman en Pakhuijsmeester alhier D'E: Egbert Nicolaas wiardi„ denwelken ten overstaan van den fiscaal DE Egidius 429 Egidius Mijer voormelde verklaring van woord tot woord voorgelesen zijnde, afgevraegd wierd bereid teweesen hetselve met Eede te be¬ vestigen, andwoorde 't van Ja, gelijk sulx 7 ook terstond is volbragt, met het opsteeken der twee voorste vingeren van de regterhand en 't uitspreeken deeser woorden zoo waar¬ lijk helpe mij God Almagtig /:was getekent:/ E:t N:s Wiardi /:lager:/ Als /:getekent:/ G: C: Roessen Commissarissen A: de Sille /:in margine:/ Ten mijnen overstaan getekent:/ Eg:s Meijer /: in ƒ het midden /:in kennisse van mij /:gete„ kent:/ Abrah=m Leopold:s Gratiaen sek:s Accordeert Van Polanen de bevera: Secr:d. „ 431 Translate T Egbert Nicholas Wiardi Junior merchant in the service of the Noble Netherlands Company do Certify & declare, that I being at that time secretary to the Council of Police at this place, on one sunday morning the 10th June 1701 was sent by the late directore Mr. Willem Jacob van de Graaff, Counsellor in Extra Ordinary of Nitherlands India, and in consequence I repaird Personally to the dwelling House of the deceased Benyan Merchant Baysa in the City of Surast & that there with my own hands delivered, to the sons & Heirs of the said Baysa one Draught or bill of Exchange, given by the said Directore and Council to the said Heirs to the amount of one hundred thousand rupees on the Purveyors of Linnen Cloth for the noble Company Beramjee Souraabjee & & Flormootjee Rettinjee, dated the day before being the 9th. of June, of which the Copy has been deposited at the Secretarys office & been delivered to the English Gentlemen, with the other papers, & I fur„ ther declare that the said bill of Excharg was accepted and received by the afore said sons & Heirs, In token of Truth I have signed and sealed this paper, being willing to Certificy it at all times with a Solemn Oath. Suratt 9:te March 1786. — /:signed:/ C:t N:s Wiardi Saturdayj the 11th March 1786: Appeared before Us George Chris¬ „toffel Roeff & Anthonij de Sille Com„ missary of the W. Court of Justice of this factory, M:r Egbert Nicholas Wiardi Junior merchant and ware house keeper 433 In mij presence /:signed:/ Egs Meyer keeper, to whom in the presence of the Fiscaal meyer, the afore standing de„ claration & deposition from word to word being read, & interrogated if he was willing to Certify the same with an Oath, answered yes, en which the said Oath is performed with lifting Up the two fore Vingers of his right hand pronouncing the words, if true so help my God almighty.- /: Signed:/ C:t N:s Wiardi /:in quality of kommissaryj:/ /:signed:/ G: C: Roeff A: de Sille /:in knowledge of mij:/ /:signed:/ Abrah:m Leopeld Gratiaen secrt:s For a true Copi /:signed:/ J: J Van Polanen de bevere For the frue Translation A Van Polanen de bever serek - De Lijwaat Leveranciers Beramje sou¬ „raabje en Hormojie Rettingjie wor„ den door deesen gelast om uijt het be„ „draagen dat ze van de Edele Neder„ „landsche Comp: onder zig hebben, aan de Erfgenaamen van den overleedene Ben„ „jaans Koopman Baijsa te betaalen een wissel groot Een Hondert Duijzend Ropijen, op heeden aan deselve verleend en zulx in voldoening van een gelijke som van een Hondert Duijzend ropijen die de gemelde Erfgenaamen van den Ben„ „jaans koopman Baijsa op den 21:' Maart 1781. aan de Edele Komp: heb„ „ben geleend op twee obligatien geschree„ „ven op de naamen van Saa Gosaalt„ „jent Capoertjent en saa capoert„ jent singa elk groot vijftig duijzend ropijen, Voorts worden dezelve Leveranciers nog gelast om aan de voorsz: Erfgenaamen van L A: 435 Copij á Copij Baijsa Baijsa nog te betaalen den intrest op de voorsz: twee obligatien zeedert den 21:' — Maart 1781. tot de volle en effectueele voldoening en het een en ander te stellen op reekening van de Edele Nederlandsch Comp: /:Onderstond:/ Suratta den 9:' Junij A:o 1781. /:getekend:/ W: I: van de Graaff /:in margine:/ stond het zegel van de Comp: afgedrukt in Rood zak en daarnevens geschreeven:/ Ter ordonnantie van den Heer Raad Extra ordinair en Direkteur van Souratta, Willem Jacob van de Graaff. nevens den Raad /: en getek:/ E„t V wardi Tek:s /:lager stond:/ Akkordeert met het oirspronkelijke /:en getekend:/ C: S: Wickerman gezw: klerk. Akkordeert. — . Van Polanen de beverok Sevr.
English
The Purveyors of Linen Cloth Beramjee Souraabjee and Hormootjee Rettinjee are ordered by these presents to pay out of the amount which they have in their possession from the Noble Netherlands Company, to the Heirs of the deceased Banyan merchant Bhaysa, one bill of exchange given to them this day to the amount of one hundred thousand rupees, and such in payment of an equal sum of one hundred thousand rupees, which the said Heirs of the Banyan merchant Baysa have lent to the Noble Company on the 21st of March 1781 on two bonds drawn in the names of Saa Gosaaltjent Capoertjent and Saa Capoertjent Singa, each of them for the value of fifty thousand rupees. Further the said Purveyors are ordered to pay to the aforesaid Heirs of Baysa the interest on the said two bonds since the 21st of March 1781 until full and effectual payment be made, and to bring both the one and the other to the account of the Noble Netherlands Company. Surat, 9 June 1781. Signed: W. J. van de Graaff. In the margin stood the seal of the Company printed in red wax, and next to it was written: By order of the Councillor Extraordinary and Director of Surat, Willem Jacob van de Graaff, and Council. Signed: E. N. Wiardi, Secretary. Below stood: For a true copy of the original. Signed: C. L. Wickerman, Deputy Secretary. For a true copy. Signed: J. J. van Polanen de Bevere, Secretary. For the true translation: J. J. van Polanen de Bevere, Secretary. 439 Extract of a letter written by the Right Honourable Willem Jacob van de Graaff as former Director of Surat, to Their High Excellencies the Governor-General and the Council of India, dated Colombo, 30 May 1782. When news of the war between the Republic and England became known to us at Surat with certainty, the Company held at interest a principal of 100,000 rupees that, pursuant to a resolution of the Council in the preceding month of March, had been negotiated from the late Banyan merchant Baijsa, in order to assist the linen purveyors with money. With the last returning ships, three lakhs of rupees in cash were sent off, which amounted to well over the purchase value of all the trade goods remaining at that time, including the goods brought by the most recent ships, with the sole exception of the Japanese copper and the spices, from which I had hoped to find in time sufficient funds for the linen trade and the household expenses. But I could not make this possible, and I was therefore obliged to resolve upon the aforesaid loan of money for a few months, until sufficient funds should come in to repay the same, in order that the manufacture of the required linens might begin in good time. This debt caused me great embarrassment upon receiving the news of the war; and being uncertain when we might be attacked, I found no expedient that could be put into effect more promptly than to give for this debt a bill of exchange on the ordinary linen purveyors of the Company, who then still held in their possession a sum of 130,533:11 rupees. These purveyors were ordered in writing on the very day that the aforesaid bill of exchange was issued to satisfy it out of the said funds; and although several days elapsed thereafter before the English took possession of the wharf, I did not dare make any subsequent change, because I was no longer sure of any moment. Furthermore, upon receiving the aforesaid order, of which as well as of the bill of exchange a copy is attached hereto, the linen purveyors immediately made arrangements to satisfy it; at that time they already had in readiness about 50,000 rupees' worth of linens, which they immediately placed, to serve toward the reduction of the aforesaid bill of exchange, under the management of the house of Bhaijsa, to whom they handed over the keys of the warehouse in which these linens were stored. However, before they could make further arrangements for the complete satisfaction of this bill of exchange, the English arrived and took possession of the Company's wharf. They not only forced the linen purveyors to account to them for the moneys advanced to them which they still actually held in their possession at the moment war was announced to us, including what still had to be deducted therefrom for the complete satisfaction of the aforesaid bill of exchange, but they even wished to force the house of Bhaijsa to surrender and deliver into their hands the warehouse keys handed over to this house by the purveyors, in which the aforesaid linens already delivered to them were stored. And when this house refused to do so, they had the locks of the warehouse forced open and had the linens removed therefrom. When, after some time had elapsed and everyone was again permitted access to me, complaints regarding this were made to me by the aforesaid house, I addressed the English Chief and Council by letter on this matter at the same time the general inventory was delivered to the English, in which detailed mention of this item was also made; but they never deigned to send me any answer thereto. Therefore, prior to my departure from Surat, I wrote once more to the English government on this subject, demonstrating at length that by the issuance and acceptance of the aforesaid bill of exchange, the house of Baijsa had acquired an incontrovertible right to the funds for the amount of this bill of exchange.
Dutch transcription
Translate The Purveyors of Linnen Cloth Beram„ „jee souraabjee and Hormootjee Rettinjee, are ordered by these to pay out of the a„ mount which they have under them from the Noble Netherlands Company, to the Heirs of the deceased Benyan mer„ „chant Bhaysa, One Bill of Exchange gi¬ ven to them this day to the amount of one hundred thousand Rupels, & such in payment of an equal sum of one hun¬ dred thousand rupees, which the said Heirs of the Benyan Merchant Baysa have lent to the Noble Company on the 21st March 1731 on two Bonds drawn in the Names of saa Gosaaltjen't Capoert¬ „jent & saa Capoertjent singa each of them for the value of Fifty thousand rupces Further the said Purveyors are Copy of a Cohy 137 ordered ordered to pay to the afore said Heirs of Baysa the Interest on the said two Bonds since the 21st march 1731 till the full & effectual payment be made and to bring the one and the other to the account of the Noble Netherlands Company. /: Here stood:/ Suratt 9:t June 1781: /: sig„ „neel:/ W: J: van de Graaff /:in margin stood the seal of the Company printed in red wax & nex to it was wrote:) By Order of the Consellor in Extra Ordinary and Directore of Souratt Willem Jacob Van de Graaff and Council /:signed:/ E:r Ns Wiardi secrets. /. Under stood:/ for the trul Copy of the Original (:Signed:) C: L: Wicker „man Deput: secrt: for a true Copy /:signed:/ J:n J:b Van Polanen de boven secret„s For the true Translation # Van Colanen de bevere „ keet 439 Extract Missive geschreeven door den WelEdele Gestrenge Heer Willem Jacob van de Graaff als geweesen Di„ recteur van Souratta, aan Haar Hoog Edelheedens den Heere Gouverneur Generaal en de Raaden van Jndia gedateerd Colombo den 30. Meij 1782. Toen de tijding van den oorlog tusschen de Republiek en Engeland met zeekerheid bij ons te souratte bekend wierd, hadde de Comp op intrest een kapitaal van rop=s 100000: dat op een besluijt van de Raad in de maand Maart daar te vooren genegotieerd was van rijlen den Benjaans Koopman Baijsa, om de Lijwaat Leveranciers aan geld te hel¬ „pen. Met de laatste te rug gaande scheepen waaren N: 1 waaren er drie lak ropijen aan Contant ver= „sonden, zijnde ruijm het uitkoops bedraagen van alle de toen bij restand zijnde negotie goederen, daar onder begreepen de goederen die met de Iongste scheepen waaren aan= gebragt, alleen úijtgenoomen het Japans Koo¬ „per en de specerijen waar uijt ik gehoopt hadde dat ik in tijds penningen genoeg zoude hebben kunnen vinden voor de Lijwaat handel en de Huishoúding. Dog ik heb dit niet moogelijk kunnen maaken, en heb daarom tot de voorschreven geld: leening voor eenige maanden en tot dat er pennin= gen genoeg zouden zijn ingekoomen om deselve wederom afteleggen moeten besluijten, ten eijnde met het aanmaaten der g'eijschte lijwaaten in tijds konde worden begonnen. Deese schuld maakte mij bij het ontfangen der tijding van den oorlog zeer verleegen, en onzeeker zijnde wanneer men ons zoude koomen overvallen, vond ik geen middel dat spoediger konde worden te werk gesteld„ dan 441 dan om voor deese Schuld te geeven een Wis¬ „sel op de gewoone Lijwaat Leveranciers van de Comp die toen nog onder zig hadden een montant van rop=s 130533: 11: Deese Leveranciers zijn ten zelven daage dat de voorschreven Wissel verleend is, schriftelijk gelast, om die uijt gemelde gelden te voldoen, en schoon er zee= „dert nog eenige daagen verloopen zijn voor dat de Engelsen zig in het bezit van de Werf gestelt hebben, heb ik naderhand daar in geen verandering durven maaken om dat ik nu van geen oogenblik meer zeeker was. Ook hadden de Lijwaet leveranciers op het ontfangen van de voorschreven Ndre„ waar van zo wel als van de wissel een Copij hier nevens gaat, aanstonds schikkingen gemaakt om daar aan te voldoen deselve hadde te dier tijd bereeds in gereedheid voor omtrent 50000. rop aan Lijwaaten, welke ze daadelijk stelden, om te dienen in mindering van de voorschreven Wissel¬ onder de beheering van het huijs van Baijsa 3 Bhaijsa waar aan ze inhandigden de sleu= „tels van het Pakhuijs, waarin deese Lijwaaten opgeslaagen waaren dog voor datse verdere Schikkingen konde maaken ter Compleete voldoening van deese Wissel, kwaamen de Engelsen stelden zig in het bezit van 's Comp werf, deeze hebben de Lijwaat Leveranciers niet alleen genoodsaakt om aan hun rekening en verantwoording te doen van de gelden aan hun voor uijt verstrekt die ze op het oogenblik dat ons den ont„ „staane oorlog aangesegt is, nog dadelijk onder zig hadden, daar onder begreepen het geen daar van nog moeste afgaan tot de Compleete voldoening van de voorschre¬ ven Wissel maar ze hebben selfs het huis van Bhaijsa willen noodsaaken om aan hun over te geeven en in handen te stellen, de door de Leveranciers aan dit huis over= „gegeevene sleutels van het Pakhuis waar in de voorschrevene bereeds daar aan overgegeevene Lijwaaten opgeslaagen waaren en 3 443 en toen dit huis dit weigerde, hebben ze de slooten van het pakhuis doen openslaan en de Lijwaaten daar uit laaten weghaalen: Hier over na verloop van eenige tijd en na dat wederom aan een elk toegang tot mij vergund wierd, door het voorschreven Huis klagten aan mij gedaan zijnde, heb ik te gelijker tijd dat de Generaale inventaris aan de Engelsen overgegeven is, de Engelse Chef en Raad bij missive over deese post waar van ook bij de voorschreven generaalen inventaris omstandig vermaen gedaen is, onderhouden, dog ze hebben sig nooijt ver= „waardigt om mij daarop eenig antwoord te laaten toekoomen. Ik heb daarom voor mijn vertrek van suratte nog eens aan de Engelse Regeering daar over ge= „schreeven en in het breede aangeweesen, dat door het verleenen en accepteeren van de voorschreven wissel, het huis van Baijsa„ voor het beloop van deese wissel een aller ontrijffelbaarst regt verkreegen heeft op de gel= den te aa aan strekt ont= lijk en
English
moneys which were in the possession of the linen suppliers at the time the bill of exchange was granted, and that consequently that portion of these funds required to satisfy the aforementioned bill of exchange has ceased to be the property of the Honorable Dutch Company and, on the contrary, became the property of the House of Baijsa from the very moment that the aforementioned bill of exchange was granted and accepted. On these grounds, I demonstrated to the English Government that I trusted they would leave the Company's linen suppliers in, or as far as necessary restore them to, the ability to settle the aforementioned bill of exchange in accordance with the order given to the house for that purpose. And I added that whatever decisions they might take in this regard, the Honorable Dutch Company considers the aforementioned moneys advanced by the house of Baijsa to Her Honor as fully satisfied, without 445 Checked Ms: Isaaks Her Honor ever considering herself bound to concern herself any further with it. This last letter, the draft of which was left behind by mistake at Suratte with the secretary, I sent to the English Chief and Council when I was already in the roads. The English Chief, to whom I had addressed it with a private letter of my own, has since written to me, as appears from his copy letter attached hereto, that he received it and sent it to Bombaij. I shall request the aforementioned draft from Souratta and have the honor of sending it to Your High Excellencies on a further occasion; in the meantime, I take the liberty of appending hereto a copy of the English translation of this letter, which I have sent alongside it according to custom. Agrees Van Polanen and De Bevere 44 65093:23. 1688: —. To be brought forward rop 138533 11 7: 105273:34. Memorandum of what the Honorable Dutch Company has to claim from various parties, after deduction of what, on the other hand, has been borrowed by Her Honor: namely. Mr. Martinus Joan Bosman, formerly Director on behalf of the Honorable Dutch Company at Souratta . . . . - - - - - - - rop:s 38492:14. The Nabab Mier Havis Eddhien Emmetchan Bhadur, Governor of this city on behalf of the Mogol, is in arrears at the closing of accounts for moneys advanced against the Tolls, as of 14 June last. Mandchergje Gorseedjen and Gowenram Roederam, Brokers of the Company, are in arrears at the closing of accounts for various goods delivered to them according to the Trade books, as of 14 June. Beramje Souraatje and Harmoogie Rettingjie, Linen Suppliers of the Company, for which the Contracting account is debited in the Trade Books, have received on several occasions, upon the contracting of various linens done with them - -. rop:s 130533: 11 The aforementioned contracts have since been imposed upon them, and on the contrary they were ordered in writing to pay, out of these moneys which they held from the Honorable Dutch Company, a bill of exchange amounting to rox 100000:— with interest since 24 March last at 9 percent per month, granted to the Heirs of the late Banyan Merchant Bhaisa, from whom the Honorable Company negotiated the aforementioned sum of rop:s 100000 on the aforementioned 24 March against two Bonds written in the names of Saa Go Saoltjen t Capoertjens and Saa Capoertjent Singa; and the aforementioned Linen Suppliers, pursuant to the aforementioned order given to them, have already placed in pledge with the Heirs of the aforementioned Baisa for their security, for about 50000 rop in Linens according to their calculation, which are encumbered for this purpose and stored in a Warehouse in the Lodge that the Honorable Company rented in the inner city, and the keys of which have been handed over by them accordingly to the Heirs of the often-mentioned Baysa. The Honorable Dutch Company, on the other hand, as stated above, negotiated on 24 March from the Heirs of the Banyan Merchant Baysa, on two bonds written in the names of Saa Gosaeltjent Capoerjen and Saa Capaertjent Singa, against the interest of 3/4 percent per month, a principal of roxs 100000. To the aforementioned Heirs No 2 Carried forward r:o 13053 1 = 105273 37 To the Heirs of Baysa, a bill of exchange amounting to rop 100000 drawn on the Linen Suppliers named hereinabove was subsequently given for this sum, as indicated hereinbefore, to be satisfied by them to the same with the interest of 3/4 percent per month since 24 March last, and there have consequently been taken in pledge by the aforementioned Heirs of Bhaysa for their greater security, as said before, the Linens mentioned hereinabove, stored in a Warehouse in a Lodge in the inner city that the Honorable Company had rented, and the keys of which were received by the often-mentioned Heirs of Bhayse from the hands of the aforementioned Linen Suppliers; and which sum of rop: 100000:—. Which, together with the interest from 24 March to 14 June, must be paid out of the aforementioned moneys advanced to the Linen Suppliers, being 2050:— Deducted together from the money advanced to these Linen Suppliers, amounting to 102050:— Remainder . . . . . . . 28483: 11: All the preceding entries amount together to rops 133757:—. was written underneath The above entries are extracted from the Trade books and agree with the same was signed A: I: Huijsken. Agrees Van Polanen de Bevere
Dutch transcription
„den die ten tijde dat de wissel verleent is, onder de lijwaat leveranciers gestaan hebben en dat mids dien dat gedeelte van deese gelden dat tot het voldoen van de voorschre„ „ven wissel noodig is, heeft op opgehouden te zijn een eijgendom van de Edele Neder= „landse Compagnie en daar en teegen gewor= „den is een eijgendom van het Huis van Baijsa, van het oogenblik af aan, dat de voorschreven wissel is verleend en geaccep¬ „teerd, op die gronden heb ik aan de Engelse Regeering vertoond dat ik vertrouwde dat ze de lijwaat leveranciers van de Comp zouden laaten of zoo veel het noodig mogte zijn herstellen in het vermoogen, om de meermelte wissel volgens de ordre daartoe aan huis gegeven te voldoen, en ik heb er bijgevoegt, dat wat besluijten ze hier omtrend ook neemen mogten de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie de voorschreeven door het huijs van Baijsa aan haar Edele geschootene gelden houd voor voldaan, zonder dat 445 Nagesien Ms: Isaaks dat haar Ed: zig ooijt gehouden zal agter zig daar meede verder te bemoeijen. Deese laatste brief waar van de minut bij ver= „gissing te suratte onder de secretaris is verbleeven, heb ik aan de Engelse Chef en Raad gezonden, toen ik reeds op de reede was de Engelse Chef aan wien ik ze met een particuliere brief van mij hadde geaddresseert heeft, mij zedert geschreeven, blijkens zijn hier nevens leggende kopij brief, dat hij ze heeft ontfangen, en gezon„ „den na Bombaij ik zal de voorschreven minuut van Souratta vraagen en de eere hebben ze Uw Hoog Edelheeden bij eene na= „dere gelegentheid toe te zenden, intusschen neem ik de vryheid hier bij tevoegen een afschrift van het Engelsch translaat van deese brief dat ik na gewoonte nevens de zelve hebbe gezonden. Accordeert Van Jolan en De beven E seer 44 65093:23. 1688: —. die Transporteere rop 138533 11 7: 105273:34. Memorie van het geen, de Edele Nederlandse Comp=e van diverse te vorderen heeft na aftrek van het geene daar en tegen by haar Edele is genego¬ treerd: te weeten. De Heer Martinus Joan Bosman eertijds Diracteur van wegens de Edele Nederland „se Comp:e te Souratta.. . . - - - - - - - rop:s 38492:14. De Nabab Mier Havis Eddhien Emmetchan Bhadur Gouverneur deser stad van wegens den Mogol, staat bij slot van reekening wegens vooruit verstrekte gelden op de Tollen, onder den 14 Juni JL ten agteren Mandchergje Gorseedjen en Gowenram Roederam Makelaars van de comp„e staan by slot van reekening voor diverse aan hun gelee¬ verde goederen by de Negotie boeken, onder den 14 Juny ten agtere„ Beramje Souraatje en Harmoogie Rettingjie Lywaat Leve ranciers van de Compe waar voor by de Negotie Boeken de ree¬ kening van Aanbesteeding beswaert is, hebben in verscheij de reisen, op de aan hun gedane aanbesteeding van diverse Lij„ - -. rop:s 130533: 11 water ontfangen. Aan deselve zyn sedert de voorsz: aanbesteedingen opge„ legt en zy zyn: daer en tegen schriftelyk gelast, om uit dese penn: die zy van de Ed: Nederlands Com p: on„ der zig hadden, te betalen Een wissel groot rox 100000:- met den Intrest sedert den 24 Maart J=r L: a 9 prCo smaands„ verleend aan de Erfgenamen van wylen den Benjaans Coop„ man Bhaisa van wien d EE Comp: op den voorsz 24 Maert op twee Obligatien geschreeven op de namen van Saa Go Saoltjen t Capoertjens en saa Capoertjent Singa de voorsz. som van rop:s 100000 heeft genegotieerd en gem: Lywaat Leveran„ ciers hebben ingevolge van voorsz: aan hun gegeeven ordre bereeds onder de Erfgenamen van voorsz: Baisa tot hun in onderpan seekerheid gesteld, voor omtrend 50000 rop aan Lywaten naar hunne reekening die daar voor verbonden, en opge slagen zyn in Een Pakhuys in de Loge die d Ed Comp: in de binnen stad in huur gehad heeft, en waar van de sleutels door hun ingevolge van dien, aan de Erfgenamen van meerm: Baysa ter hand gesteld zyn¬ DEd: Ned Comp:e heeft daar en tegen als voorsegt op den 24 Maert van de Erfgenamen van den Benjaans Coopman Baysa, op twee obligatien geschreeven, op de namen van Saa Gosaeltjent Capoer, Jen ver saa Capaertjent Singa, tegens den Jntres van ¼ pC:t maends genegotieerd een Capitaal van roxs 100000, Aan de voorschr Erfgenam „ No 2 per Transport r:o 13053 1 = 105273 37 Erfgenaemen van Baysa, is sedert voor dese somma gegeeven Een wissel groot rop 100000 op de hier boven genoemde Lijwat Leverantiers zo als dat hier voren is aengeweesen, om door deselve aan hun te worden voldaan met den Jntrest van apCt 's maands, zedert den 24 maert Jongstl:n en zyn by de meer. „gem Erfgenamen van Bhaysa ingevolge van dien tot derselver meerder sekerheid, gelyk voorsegt, in onderpand genomen, de hier bovengem: Lywaeten opgeslagen in een Pakhuijs in Een Loge in de binnen stad die d Ed Comp. in huur gehad heeft, en waar van de sleutels by de meerm. Erfgenamen van Bhayse uit handen van de meergenoemde Lywaat Leveran¬ ciers ontfangen zyn en welk somma rop: 100000:—. Die met en benevens den Jntrest van den 24 Maart tot den 14 Juny uit de voorsz. aan de Lywaat Leveranciers verstrekte penningen moeten worden voldaan zynde 2050:— te samen afgetrokken van 't verstrekte geld aan dese „ 102050:— Lywaat Leverantiers met Rest. . . . . . . „ 28483: 11: Alle de te vorenstaande posten monteeren te samen rops 133757:—. /onderstond/ de bovenstaande potten zyn getrokken iit de Negotie boeken en accordeeren met deselve /:wasgeteekend A: I: Huijsken. Accordeert Van Polanen de bevere ..
English
449 Extract of a letter, written by the Right Honorable Extraordinary Councilor and former Director of Surat Willem Jacob van de Graaff and Council to Mr. Rawson Hart Boddam, Chief on behalf of the Honorable English Company, Governor of the Mogul's Castle and Fleet, as well as the Council at Suratta; dated September 3, 1781: This morning, the inventory of the Company's estate as it was on June 14, when we were made prisoners of war, was delivered to the commissioners appointed by Your Honors, Messrs. Green, Seton, and Gambier. The first undersigned has thereby discharged the obligation he took upon himself on that same day, not because he considered himself under any obligation to do so after the Honorable English Company unexpectedly seized by force of arms the effects of the Honorable Dutch Company within this neutral city, but solely so that it may at all times and whenever necessary be demonstrated what the effects of the aforementioned Honorable Company consisted of on the aforesaid day. In this inventory, an amount of 100000 rupees with interest from March 24 to June 14 has been deducted from the sum owed to the Honorable Dutch Company by the linen suppliers Berampje Sourabje and Harmotje Kettingje to the amount of 130533: 11 rupees. These 100000 rupees were negotiated on the aforesaid day for the account of the Honorable Dutch Company from the heirs of the late Banyan merchant Baijsa and received into the Company's treasury, and a bill of exchange of 100000 rupees was subsequently granted for it to the aforesaid heirs upon the Company's linen suppliers, who on the same day were instructed in writing to discharge this bill of exchange with interest out of the aforesaid amount of the Company's funds which they have in their possession, as described in the Memorandum of Debtors submitted as an appendix to the aforementioned inventory, whereby it is shown that the linen suppliers, pursuant to the aforesaid order given to them, have pledged to the aforementioned heirs of Baijsa the linens which had already been stored by them in a warehouse of the lodge which the Company rented in the inner city, amounting together according to their calculation to approximately 50000 rupees, and have at the same time handed over to them the keys of the warehouse in which these linens are stored. Examined Agrees Van Polanen de Bevere, Secretary Mr. Isaaks No. 4 433 Copy To Mr. Rawson Hart Boddam, Esquire, Chief on behalf of the affairs of the Honorable English East India Company and Governor of the Mogul's Castle and Fleet, as well as the Council at Souratta. Gentlemen, I have the honor to inform Your Honors that, in view of my impending departure, I have caused to be turned over to Messrs. Green, Seton, and Gambier the gold and silver works of the Honorable Dutch Company listed in the General Inventory. Herewith the Honorable English Company has received all the goods and effects of the Honorable Dutch Company listed in the General Inventory, which together amount to 965858: 13 rupees, excluding the goods whose cost had already been written off in the Company's books and were therefore entered unvalued in the same Inventory. If deemed necessary hereafter, the value thereof will be specified further. In my letter of September 3 last, I had the honor to address Your Honors regarding an item of 100000 rupees, which was negotiated in the month of March last for the account of the Honorable Dutch Company from the heirs of the late Banyan merchant Bhaijsa. Regarding this item, I showed that payment for it was made by a bill of exchange amounting to 100000 rupees, which was given to the aforesaid heirs of Baijsa drawn on the linen suppliers of the Honorable Dutch Company, Berampje Souraabje and Harmotje Kettingje, and that the same suppliers, on the same day the bill was granted, were instructed in writing to pay the amount thereof with interest out of the sum which they, the linen suppliers, still held from the Honorable Dutch Company on that day. I have also pointed out that out of this amount held by the linen suppliers, which before the granting of the said bill of exchange amounted to 130533. 11 rupees, the sum of the aforesaid 100000 rupees with interest, because this sum had now through the granting and acceptance of the aforementioned bill of exchange become the property of the heirs of the late aforementioned Banyan merchant Bhaijsa and thus, from the moment this bill of exchange was granted and accepted, ceased to be the property of the Honorable Dutch Company, and that consequently, for what the linen suppliers Berampje and Harmotje Kettingje actually still held from the Honorable Dutch Company, only 28483: 11 rupees was brought into account in the General Inventory for the Honorable English Company. I had hoped, Gentlemen, that Your Honors, on behalf of the Honorable English Company, would have acquiesced in what I, together with the members of my Council, did in this matter at the time I was here at the head of the administration over the affairs and interests of the Company.
Dutch transcription
449 Extract Missive, geschreeven door den= Edele Gestrenge Heer Raad Extra ordinair en geweesen sourats Directuur Willem Jacob van de Graaff en Raed aan de Heer Rawson Hart Boo= „dam, Cheff van weegens de Edele Engelse Compagnie Gouverneur van I. Mogols Casteel en Vloot beneevens den Raad te Suratta; gedateerd den 3. September A=o 1781: Heeden morgen is aan de door UW Edelens be= „noemde Gekommitteerdens de Heeren Green, Seton en Gambier inhandigt den inventaris van 's Comp„s staat zoo als die geweest is op den 14. Junij doen wij zijn krijgsgevangen gemaakt. Den eerst ondergeteekende heeft zig daarmeede ge= „acquiteerd van het geen hij ten selven daage heeft op sig genoomen, niet om dat hij gedagt heeft daartoe uit eenige hoofde verpligt te zijn, na dat de Edele Engelse Comp„e door derselver wapenen zig op het onver„ „wagst heeft meester gemaakt van de effecten van de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie binnen deese neutrale stad maar alleen op dat het ten allen tijden en wanneer het noodig is, kan blijken waarin de effecten van No. 3 van welgem: Edele Comp„e ten daege voorsz: hebben bestaan. Bij deese inventaris is van de som, die de Lijwaat Leveranciers Berampje Sourabje en Harmotje Kettingje aan de Ed„e Ned=e Comp„e schuldig zijn ten bedraage van rop„s 130533: 11: afgetrokken een Montant van rops„ 100000 met den intrest seedert den 24. Maert tot den 14. Junij Deese rop„s 100000. sijn ten voorsz: daage voor reekening van de Edele Nederl: Comp„e genegotieerd van de Erfgenaamen van wijlen den Benjaans koop= „man Baijsa en in 's Comp„s Cas ontfangen en is daarvoor seedert aan de voorsz: Erfgenaamen ver= „leent een wissel van rop„s 100'000 op 's Comp„s Lij= „waat Leveranciers die ten selven daage schriftelijk sijn gelast om deese wissel te voldoen met den in= „trest uit het voorsz: bedraagen dat se van de Comp„e onder zig hebben zoo als dat beschreeven staat bij de Memorie van de Debiteuren, die als een bijlaage van meerm: inventaris is overgegeeven waarbij is getoond, dat de Lijwaat Leveranciers inge= „volge van voortz: aan hun gegevene Ordre de Lijwaaten die door hun bereeds sijn opgeslaagen geweest in een Pakhuijs van de Loge die de Comp„e in de 431 de binnen stad in huur gehad heeft, en te saamen naar hun reekening min of meer bedraegen rops„ 50000. aan de meerm: Erfgenaamen van Baijsa in onderpand gegeven hebben, en aan hun teffens hebbens ter hand gestelt de sleutels van het Pakhuijs, waar in deese Lijwaaten opgeslaagen sijn. Nagesien Accordeert Van Polanen de bevere sers Mr: Isaaks N 4 433 Capij Aan de Heer Rawson Hard Boddam Schildknaep Opperhoofd van wegens de saeken der Edele Engelsche Oost Indische Compagnie en Gouverneur van 's Mogols kasteel en Vloot Beneevens Den Raad te Souratta Mijne Heeren. Jk heb d' Eer Uwel Ed: door dese kennisse te geeven, dat ik mits mijn op handen sijnde vertrek, aan de Heeren Green, Seton en Gambier, heb doen overgeeven, de Goud en silverwerken van d' Ed: Nederlandse Compagnie bij de Generaale Jnventaris bekent, hier mede heeft d' Edele Eng. Compagnie ontfangen alle de goederen en Effecten van de Ed. Nederlandse Comp: bij de Generaale Inventaris bekent en welke met malkanderen monteeren rops 965858: -13: behalven de goederen waar van het kostende bij Comp=s boeken bereeds afgeschreeven was, en daarom bij bij deselve Jnventaris ongeschat ingeschreeven sijn als het na deese nodig bevonden word, sal de waarde daar van nader worden opgegeeven. Bij mijn brief van den 3. September Jongst¬ „leeden heb ik d' Eer gehad Uwel Ed. te onderhouden over een post van rop=s 100000, die in de maand van Maart Jongstleeden voor reekening van d' Edele Nederlandse Comp=e genegotieerd zijn, van de Erfgenaamen van wijlen den Benjaans koopman Bhaijsa, jk heb nopens dese post aangeweesen dat de betaaling daar van gedaan is, door En wissel groot r=a 100000, die aan de voorsz: Erfgenaamen van Baijsa gegeeven is op de Lijwaat Leveranciers van d: Ed: Ned: Comp„e Berampje Souraabje en Harmotje, rettingje, en dat deselve Leveranciers ten zelven daage, dat de wissel verleend is, schriftelijk zijn ge„ „last, om het montant daar van met den Jntrest te voldoen, uijt het bedragen, dat zij Lijwaat Leveran¬ „ciers ten dien dage van de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie nog onder zig gehad hebben. Nog heb ik aengeweesen, dat uit dit Montant. tijt 4 433 Montant onder de lijwaat Leveranciers dat voor het verleenen der gem: Wisselbrief getrokken is, heeft bedraegen rop=s 130533. 11. het beloop van de voorsz: rops 100000, met den Jntrest, dewijl dit beloop door het verleenen en accepteeren van de meergem: wissel, nu een eigendom geworden was van de Erfgenaamen van wijlen den meerm: Benjaans Koopman Bhaijsa en dus van 't ogenblik af aan dat dese wissel verleend en g'accepteerd is, heeft opgehouden te zijn, een eigendom van d'Ed: Nederlandse Compagnie en dat bij gevolg aan de Ed: Eng: Compe voor het geen de Lijwaat Leveranciers Beraampje en Harmootje Rettingje, nu nog werkelijk van de Ed. Ned: Compe onder zig hadden bij de Generaale Inventaris maar in reekening gebragt is rop=s 28483: 11. Ik hadde gehoopt mijne Heeren, dat UwelEd: van wegens. dEd: Eng. Comp=e soude hebben berust, in het geen ik met de Leeden van mijnen Raad te samen in dese sack gedaan heb, ten tijde ik hier aan het Hoofd van het bewind was, over de saeken en aangeleegentheeden, van de ven sal de sijn, men nciers armotje. en e
English
the Honourable Dutch Company in Souratta, and that I consequently had an absolute and indisputable right to make such arrangements with the aforesaid members of my Council regarding the property and affairs of the Honourable Dutch Company in this city as we found necessary for the service of our masters, yet now that I am on the verge of my departure, the aforesaid heirs of the Banyan merchant Baijsa have come to me, who have told me that the aforesaid bill of exchange of 100,000 rupees has not been paid to them to this day. They reported to me on this subject: That, after the Honourable English Company took possession on 14 June last of all the possessions and affairs of the Honourable Dutch Company in Souratta, the keys of a warehouse were demanded from them on behalf of the Honourable English Company, in which, as I informed Your Honours in my aforesaid letter, approximately 50,000 rupees worth of linens were stored, which the repeatedly mentioned linen suppliers of the Honourable Dutch Company, at the same time as handing over the keys of this warehouse, had pledged for their security and as a complete guarantee, so that they, the suppliers, immediately began to devise and put into effect the necessary means to pay them the aforesaid bill of exchange pursuant to and in satisfaction of the written order given to them. That they, the heirs of the late Banyan merchant Bhaijsa, when the aforesaid keys were demanded of them, showed and pointed out this: that they could not surrender these keys because, in payment of the aforesaid 100,000 rupees with the interest that they had lent on 23 March last to the Honourable Dutch Company, they had received from me and the members of my Council a bill of exchange drawn on the linen suppliers named above, to be satisfied to them out of the sum that these linen suppliers held from the Honourable Dutch Company on the day that the aforesaid bill of exchange was granted, and of which the linens stored in the aforesaid warehouse to the value of roughly 50,000 rupees, which were already placed under their management, constituted a part and had thereby already become their property. That notwithstanding this, the warehouse in which the aforesaid goods had been stored was subsequently broken open, and the repeatedly mentioned goods were taken out of it; and that the aforesaid linen suppliers of the Honourable Dutch Company, when they were addressed by them for the satisfaction of the aforesaid bill of exchange, answered them that because the Honourable English Company, besides the aforesaid goods that were already stored in the warehouse, had also seized the remaining sum which was in their hands from the Honourable Dutch Company at the time the bill of exchange was granted and the order was given to them to satisfy it, and out of which amounts they had been ordered to satisfy this bill of exchange, they were rendered unable to pay it. That they, the heirs, having seen the fairness with which the Honourable English Company has acted with regard to various merchants who had given a large sum of money to the Honourable Dutch Company as advance payment for diverse trade goods, a large portion of which still lay unweighed and undelivered in the warehouses of the Honourable Dutch Company at the time the Honourable English Company took possession of them, and which goods have since been delivered to these merchants, in the hope of being treated by Your Honours with the same fairness, have hitherto waited for no payment, but that it is very inconvenient for them to have to wait longer for their money, so that they requested me to confer further with Your Honours about this before my departure. I have thought, Gentlemen, that I could not refuse this to the heirs of the aforesaid Banyan merchant Bhaijsa, and I therefore take the liberty to very courteously request Your Honours by this that the aforesaid linen suppliers may be permitted or restored by Your Honours to the ability to satisfy the aforesaid bill of exchange, of which a copy is attached hereto, either in cash or, should this suit them better, in linens, calculated at the price at which they were contracted with them, and with which the aforesaid heirs will be satisfied. I must add to this, Gentlemen, that the Honourable Dutch Company, through the making of the aforesaid arrangement by me and the members of my Council at a time when we had an absolute and complete right to do so, considers the aforesaid 100,000 rupees with interest as paid, without their Honours ever considering themselves obliged to concern themselves further with this matter. I have the honour to be with all respect, Gentlemen, Your Honours' obedient and humble servant, signed: W: I: van de Graaff Agrees, Van Polanen do bevere Examined, Ms: Isaaks Souratta, 28 January 1782.
Dutch transcription
de Ed. Ned: Comp=e binnen Souratta, en dat ik mitsdien een aller onbetwistbaarst regt hadden om, met voorsz. leeden Mijner Raad, over de eigendommen en aangelee„ „gentheeden van d' Ed: Ned: Comp=e binnen dese stad sulke schikkingen te maken als wij ten diensten van onse meesteren hebben nodig gevonden, dog nu dat ik op mijn vertrek sta„ zijn de voorschreeven Erfgenaamen van den Ben„ „jaans koopman Baijsa bij mij gekomen, die mij gesegd hebben dat de voorsz: wissel van rops 100000, aan hun tot heeden toe nog niet was betaeld, zij hebben mij op dit onderwerp berigt. Dat, na dat d Ed: Engelsche Compagnie op den 14: Junij Jongstl=n in besit genomen heeft alle de besittingen en aangeleegentheeden van d' Ed: Nederlandse Comp=e binnen souratta, van hun uit naamen van wegens d'Ed: Eng: Comp„e af= gevordert zijn de sleutels van een Pakhuijs waarin gelijk ik Uwel Ed=s bij voorsz: mijn brief heb g' informeerd voor omtrend 50000. rop=s aan lijwaaten waaren opgeslagen, die de meermelde Lijwaat Leveranciers van de Edele. 457 Edele Nederlandse Compe te gelijk met het over¬ „geeven van de sleutels van dit Pakhuijs gesteld hadden tot hunne seekerheid en tot een volko= „mentlijk, dat zij Leveranciers aanstonds begon= „nen sijn, om te beramen en te werk te leggen, de nodige middelen om hun te doen de betaaling der voorsch: wissel ingevolge en ter voldoening van de aan hun gegeeven schriftelijke ordre. Dat zij Erfgenamen van wijlen den Ben= jaars Coopman Bhaijsa doen hun de voorsch: sleutels afgevordert zijn, dit hebben vertoond en aengeweesen, dat zij deese sleutels niet konde overgeeven, wijl ze in betaaling der voorsch. rop=s 100000, met den Intrest die zij op den 23. Maart Jongstl=n aan de Edele Nederlandse Comp=e hadden geleend, van mij en de Leeden van Mijnen Raad ontfangen hadden Een wissel op de Lijwaat Leveranciers hier boven genoemd, om aan hun te worden voldaan, uit het montant, dat deze Lijwaat Leveranciers ten daagen dat de voorsch: wissel is verleend van d' Ed: Ned: itsdien voorsz. gelee¬ se wij no B die rops rigt. op op den lles hun „ Nederlandse Comp=e onder sig hadden, en waarom de in het voorsch. Pakhuijs opgeslagen Lijwaaten ter waarde van min of meer 50000, rop=s die bereeds onder hunne beheering gesteld waaren, een gedeelte uitmaakte en mitsdien hier door bereeds een Eigendom van hun geworden waeren Dat des onaangesien het Pakhuijs waarin de voorsch: goederen sijn geborgen geweest ver¬ „volgens is opengeslaagen, en de meerm: goe= deren, daar uit sijn weggenomen, en dat de voorsz: Lijwaat Leveranciers van d' Ed: Ned: Compe doen zij door hun aengesprooken zijn, tot het vol¬ doen der voorsz: Wissel hun hebben geandwoord dat wijl de Ed. Eng: Compe behalven de voorsz goederen, die bereeds in het Pakhuijs zijn opge¬ „slaagen geweest, ook na zig genomen hadden, het overige montant, dat, den tijde, dat de Wissel is verleend, en aan hun gegeeven is de ordre om die te voldoen, van de Ed: Med Compagnie is onder hun geweest, en uit wel„ „kers bedragen zij gelast waaren dese wissel te voldoen, zij gebragt waaren buiten het vermo „gen 459 „gen om die te kunnen voldoen. Dat zij Erfgenaamen gesien hebbende de regt= „maligheid, waar mede de Ed. Eng: Comp=e gehandelt heeft, ten aansien, van voorscheide kooplieden die eene groote som geld aan d Ed. Ned: Compe. gegeeven gehad hebben, in vooruit betaaling van diverse Negotie goederen, waar van nog een groot gedeelte onafgewoogen en onafgeleeverd geleegen heeft, in de pakhuijsen, van d Ed. Ned. Compen. ten lijde dat de Ed. Eng: Comp=e zig in het besit daar van heeft gesteld, en welke goederen sedert aan deese Cooplieden afgegeeven sijn, in de hoop van door UwelEd: met deselfde regtmatigheid te sullen worden behandelt, tot hier toe na geen betaaling gewagt hebben, dog dat het hun zeer ongeleegen; komt om langer na hun geld te moeten wagten, dat zij mij daarom versogte, dat ik UwelEd=e voor mijn vertrek daar over nog nader wilde onderhouden. Jk hebbe gemeent Mijne Heeren aen de Erfgenaamen van voorsz: Benjaans Coopman Bhaijsa dit niet te kunnen weigeren, en ik neem daerom de vrijheid Uwel Ed: door dese Souratta den 28. Janu dese seer gedienstig te versoeken, dat ze voorsz: Lijwet Leveranciers door Uwel Eds mogen worden gelaaten of hersteld in het vermogen om de voorsz. Wissel„ waar van een Copij hier nevens ligt, te voldoen, het zij in Contant, of so hun dit beter gelegen mogten komen in Lijwaaten, gereekend na de prijs, waar tegens zij bij hun aanbesteed zijn, en waarmede sig de voorsz: Erfgenaamen zullen te vreede houden. Ik moet hier bij voegen Mijne Heeren, dat d' Ed: Nede. Compe. door het maken van voorsz schik „king, door mij en de Leeden van mijnen Raad, in een tijd dat wij daar toe een allervolkomenst regt hadden, den voorsz rop=s 100000 met den Intrest houd voor voldaan, zonder dat haar Ed=s zig ooijt gehouden zal agten zig verder met deese saak te moeijen. Ik heb de Eer van met alle agting te zijn Mijne Heeren Uwel Ed=s gehoorsaeme en Ootmoedige Dienaar /:was geteekent:/ W: I: van de Graaff Accordeert Van Polanen do bevere Nagesien Ms: Isaaks 1782. 4 seer
English
No: 5: 461 Extract of a letter written by the Honorable, Valiant Sir, Councillor Extraordinary and former Director of Surat, Willem Jacob van de Graaff, and Second Abraham Josias Sluysken, to His High Honor, the Highly Honorable, Valiant, Highly Esteemed, Wide-Commanding Lord, Mr. Willem Arnold Alting, Governor-General on behalf of the State of the United Netherlands and the Dutch Chartered East India Company, and the Honorable Gentlemen, Councillors of the Dutch Indies, dated the 31st of December 1781. As the first-signed is now on the eve of his departure for Batavia, we take the liberty to inform Your High Honors through this respectful report of the state of the main treasury on the day we were made prisoners of war. When we were informed of the war between us and England, there were still several unsettled accounts. We immediately made arrangements to pay them, and we spoke at once with the brokers to see what further might be possible. The household accounts, etc., etc. To conclude this respectful report on the main treasury, we have the honor further to report that in the latter part of March 100000 rupees were received into the main treasury, which, pursuant to the Resolution of the 21st of March last, were taken up from the house of the Banyan merchant Baijsa for the Company in order to assist the cloth suppliers with funds, because the brokers, on account of the still ongoing unrest in the country, by which almost all trade had at times been brought to a standstill for months on end, saw at this time no opportunity to procure the necessary funds for the cloth suppliers. As soon as the news of the war became known here, a bill of exchange for the aforesaid 100000 rupees was issued upon the cloth suppliers, to whom these funds had been advanced on account, and the aforementioned cloth suppliers were at the same time ordered in writing to satisfy the said bill of exchange of 100000 rupees out of the funds which they held belonging to the Company. Copies of this bill of exchange and the order to the cloth suppliers are appended hereto, and in this arrangement no one has dared make any change since, because the acts of aggression by the English were now to be expected at any moment. The cloth suppliers had at that time already about 50000 rupees worth of cloths in readiness; and for the greater security of the settlement of the aforesaid bill of exchange, they placed the keys of the warehouse in which these goods were stored, along with an inventory of what they consisted of, into the hands of the aforesaid house of Baijsa. The English nevertheless, after the house of Baijsa had refused to surrender to them the keys to the warehouse in which these goods pledged to them were stored, had these goods removed by force after having the locks of the doors smashed open, and they have up to now, as far as we know, made no arrangement for the payment thereof. In the inventory of all the Company's goods, detailed reference has been made to the issuance of the aforesaid bill of exchange and the pledging of the above-mentioned goods to the value of more or less 50000 rupees, and the amount of the bill of exchange has thereby been deducted from the debit of the cloth suppliers, so that if the English Company leaves the house of Baijsa unpaid, and should it be agreed upon the conclusion of peace that the seized goods or the value thereof shall be returned, the amount of this debt must again be added to the sum total of the entire inventory. was signed: W: J: van de Graaff and A: J: Sluysken. In the margin: Surat, the 31st of December 1781. Van Polanen Secretary Agreed C. van Rienj No. 6 465 Copy To the Honorable Sir, Andrew Ramsay, Esquire, Chief for all affairs of the British Nation and Governor of the Mogul Castle and Fleet, and the Council at Surat Gentlemen, Some time before this Directorship was taken by Your Honor on the 14th of June 1781, indeed before the war between Great Britain and the State of the United Netherlands was declared at Surat, and thus at a time when we possessed an indisputable right to dispose of the interests and property of the Dutch Company, we had granted to the heirs of the Banyan merchant Baijsa a bill of exchange of one hundred thousand rupees with the interest thereon since the 21st of March 1781 at 3/4 percent per month, drawn upon certain merchants in Surat, namely Berampje Souraabje and Harmootje Rettingje, cloth suppliers of the Dutch Company; and this in satisfaction of an equal sum which they had negotiated for the Noble Company on the 21st of March 1781 upon two bonds in the names of Saa Gosaaltjent Kapoortjent and Saa Kapoortjent Singa; and the said suppliers, who were ordered by us to satisfy this bill of exchange, as soon as the same was presented to them for payment, having no cash in hand at that time, immediately surrendered or delivered into the hands of the said heirs of Baijsa, in payment or reduction of the said 100000 rupees, a consignment of cloths stored in a warehouse, to the value of 50000 rupees, and moreover undertook to satisfy the remaining sum out of the goods further remaining in their possession, to which end they immediately delivered the keys of the aforesaid warehouse where the goods were stored to the aforementioned heirs of Baijsa, whereby the aforesaid bill of exchange
Dutch transcription
No: 5: 461 Extract Missive geschreeven door den WelEdele Gestrenge Heer, Raad extra ordinair en geweesen surats Directeur Willem Jacob van de Graaff en secunde Abraham Josias Hluijsken aan sijn Hoog Edelheijd den Hoog Edelen Gestrengen Groot-Agtbaaren Wijdge¬ biedende Heer Mr Willem Arnold Alting, Gouverneur Generaal van weegens den staat der vereenigde Ne„ derlanden en de Nederlandse geok= troijeerde Oost- Jndische Maatschap„ „pije en de WelEdele Heeren Raaden van Nederlands Jndien gedateerd den 31. December 1781. Wijl den eerstgeteekenden thans staat op sijn vertrek na Batavia, gebruijken we de vrijheijd UW Hoog Edel= „heeden door dit eerbiedige verslag kennis te geeven van den staat ter groote Cas ten daage de we sijn krijgsgevan„ gen gemaakt. Toen we van den Oorlog tusschen ons en Engeland geinformeert wierden waaren er nog verschijde onver= evende posten. We maakten aanstonds Schikkingen om die te betaalen en we spraaken ten eersten met de uden. Eo schik # ge de Makelaars om te sien wat verder mogelijk zijn zoude De Huijshoudelijke possen etcra, M„ra, Tot slot van dit eerbiedige verslag van de groote Cas hebben we de eer nog te berigten dat in het laatst van Maart in de groote Cas ontfangen zijn 10000 ropn die ingevolge Resolutie van den 21. Maart Jongstleed=n van het Huijs van den Benjaans koopman Baijsa voor de Comp=e opgenoomen sijn om de Lijwaat Leve¬ ranciers aan geld te helpen, wijl de Makelaars uit hoofde van de nog altoos voortduurende onlusten in het land, waardoor bij na allen handel somtijds maanden lang agter een is gestremt geweest ter — deeser tijd geen kans saagen om de noodige gelden voor de Lijwaat leveranciers te besorgen. zoo dra de tijding van den Oorlog hier bekend wierd, is voor de voorsz: rop„s 100000: verleent een Wissel op de Lijwaat Leveranciers, die deese gelden op reeke „ning verstrekt waaren, en sijn de voorm: Lijwaat Leveranciers tevens schriftelijk gelast om de geme Wissel van rop„s 100000. uit de gelden die ze van de Comp„e onder sig hadden te voldoen. Van deese Wissel en Ordre op de Lijwaat Leven „vanciers 463 „ranciers leggen de afschriften hier nevens, en in deese schikking heeft men seedert geen verandering durven maaken wijl de daadelijkheeden der Engelsen nu alle oogenblikken te wagten waaren. De Lijwaat Leve¬ „vanciers hadden te dier tijd bereeds voor omtrend 50000: rop„s aan Lijwaaten in gereedheid; en tot meerder seekerheid van het voldoen der voorsz: Wissel stel= „den se de sleusels van het Pakhuijs waarin deese goederen opgeslaagen waaren met een Notitie waar„ „in ze bestonden in handen van het voorsz: Huis van Baijsa. De Engelsen hebben des niet te min deese goederen na dat het Huijs van Baijsa geweijgert hadde de sleutels van het Pakhuijs waarin deese bij hun in onderpand gegevene goederen geborgen waaren aan hun over te geeven, met geweld en na dat ze de slooten der deuren hadden doen openslaan doen weghaalen, en ze hebben tot nog toe zoo veel ons bekent is geen schikking ge„ maakt tot derselver betaaling. Bij den inventaris van alle 's Comp„s goederen is van het verleenen der voorsz: Wissel en het in pand leggen der boven gem: goederen ter waarde van min of meer 50000 rop„s omstandig aanwijsing gedaan en het bedraagen der Wissel is daarbij van het Debet van de Lijwaat Le¬ „veranciers afgetrokken, zo dat indien de Eng: Comp„e het n Nagesion Huijs van Baijsa onbetaalt laat en wanneer bij de vreede mogte verstaan worden, dat de genomene goederen of de waarde van dien zullen worden te rug gegeeven, het beloop van deese schuld wederom geteld moet wor¬ „den bij het Montant van den geheelen Jnventaris. /:was geteekend :/ W: S: van de Graaff en A: J: Sluijsken /:in margine:/ Sspuratta den 3:' December 174 ƒ Van Polanen de beverel Secrs Accordeert C Van Rienj x N 6 465 Copia Aan den WelEdelen Heer. Andries Ramsaij Schildknaap Cheff voor alle saaken van de Britse Natie en Gouverneur van het Mogols Kasteel en Vloot Mijne Heeren Enigen tijd bevorens deese Directie door UwelEd: op den 14 Junij 1781. genomen wierd ja bevorens den Oorlog tusschen Groot Brittannien en den staat der Vereenigde Nederlanden te Souratta gedecla¬ „reerd was, en dus op een tijd, dat wij een onteegenspre= „kelik regt hadden, om over de belangens en eigen= „dommen van de Hollandsche Compagnie te beschikken, hadden wij aan de Erfgenaamen van den Ben= jaans koopman Baijsa verleend eene wissel van Een maal honderd duijsend ropijen met den Intrest, daar op sederd den 21. Maart 1781. teegen 4. procento 's Maands, op sekere kooplieden in Souratta beneevens Den Raad te souratta Berampje bij gegeeven, moet wor¬ ventaris. 31e: December 1730 vezel goederen E Berampje Souraabje en Harmootje Rettingje Lijvent Leveranciers van de Nederlandse Compe, en de sulx in voldoening van een gelijke somma, welke rij aan hun op den 21 Maart 1781. voor de Edele Com„ „pagnie hadden genegotieerd op twee obligatien, op de naemen van Saa Gosaaltjent kapoortjent en saa kapoortjent singa, en gemelde Leveranciers, welke de voldoeninge deser Wissel door ons g'ordonneert was, hebben so ras deselve aan haar ter betaaling gepresenteerd wierd, aan de gedagte Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa, terwijl Se op dien tijd geene kon¬ tanten den handen hadden, datelik in betaling of mindering van gem: 100000. rop=n overgegeeven, of in hand gelegd eene partij Lijwaaten die in een Pakhuijs geborgen waaren, ter waarde van 50000 rops en daar en boven aangenomen, om de overige Sum „ma, uit de goederen die verder onder haar be= „rustende waaren te sullen voldoen, ten welken einde sij de sleutels van het voorm: pakhuijs daar de goederen waaren opgeslaagen, datelik hebben ter hand gesteld aan de voormelde Erfgenaamen van Baijsa, waar door dan de voorschreven Wissel
English
467 the bill of exchange having been realized, we could never have suspected that Your Honor, upon taking over the Directorship, would have deprived it of its effect, contrary to all rights. Yet this was done by Your Honor when, notwithstanding all representations and protests made against it by the aforementioned Heirs of Bhaijsa to the effect that these goods had already become their property by virtue of the aforesaid transaction, Your Honor proceeded to have this Warehouse broken open by force, after the keys to it had been refused by the aforesaid heirs, and to carry off the goods from it, while all the remaining goods that the said Suppliers were further to give in payment of this Bill of Exchange were likewise taken away by Your Honor. Your Honor was several times addressed concerning this unlawful conduct while we were your Prisoners of War by the then Director, Mr. van de Graaff, and most recently after His Honor's exchange and upon his departure from Souratta by missive of 28 January 1782. And it is now that, by express order of our High Superiors, we request Your Honor and expect from your equity to credit the Noble Netherlands Company for the amount of the aforesaid Bill of Exchange, which was deprived of its effect by Your Honor's conduct, with the Interest. With which we have the Honor to be, below, Gentlemen, lower, Your Honor's humble and Obedient Servants, was signed, A. I: Sluijsken, M: Monté, E: N: Wiardi, J: J: van Polanen de bevere, E. Meijer, and G: E: Roeff, in the margin, Souratta the 21 February 1786. Agrees, Van Polanen de bevere, secretary. AJ. Wolf 469 Chief for Affairs of the Dutch Nation and Council Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Esquire Gentlemen. We have been honored with your letter of the 24th ultimo. The Claim you are now pleased to repeat, respecting the Heirs of the Banyan Merchant Baysa, we can on no account admit. You must well know, we are not ignorant of the Mode of providing Investments, for the Europe Market, by making considerable advances, consequently, the goods outstanding of your Investment, on which advances had been made, as well as those deposited in your warehouses in Town, could not be considered otherwise, than clearly the property of your Noble Company, and, on the Capture of your Factory, became that of ours, the same as all other Dutch Property whatever. Had the assignment you mention taken place, Surat, 7th March 1786: the Heirs of Baysa would no doubt have had some proof, to show, that the Goods were given as security for the Money their Father had lent to the Dutch Company, his bonds were his security, and there was no Indorsement thereon conveying any other collateral Security. Even had any assignment been made after the Rupture with Holland, it could not have been admitted, and we must observe, it is to the highest degree improbable, that one should have been made before, or an order given for the Disposal of Goods, in Surat, which were evidently provided for Exportation. We have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient Humble Servants, signed, Andrew Ramsay, George Green, William Lewis, D. Seton, F. Warden, John Spencer, Lewis Corkran, P: N: Roberts, J: H: Cherry, John Church. For the true Copy, Van Polanen de bevere, secretary. Number 7 To Mr. Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Esquire, Chief for all affairs of the Dutch Nation at Souratta, together with The Council. We have been honored with Your Honor's missive of the 24th of the past month. The claim which Your Honor is now pleased to repeat regarding the Heirs of the Banyan Merchant Baijsa, we can in no way admit. Your Honor must well know that we are not ignorant of the method of procuring linens for the European market by making large advances; consequently, the goods still outstanding or undelivered of Your Honor's linens on which advances had been made, as well as those which were kept in your warehouses in the city, could not be regarded otherwise than as the true property of Your Honor's Company, and upon the capture of Your Honor's factory became ours, the same as all other Dutch property whatsoever. Had the assignment or transfer of which Your Honor makes mention taken place, the Heirs of Baijsa would without doubt have had some proof to show that the goods had been given as security for the money that their Father had lent to the Dutch Company. His Bonds were his security and there was no endorsement thereon that gave occasion to any collateral security. Even if any transfer or assignment had been made after the Rupture with Holland, the same could not have been admitted, and we must remark that it is in the highest degree improbable that any should have been made beforehand, or an Order given for the disposal of goods in Souratta which were manifestly intended for exportation. We have the Honor to be, below, Gentlemen, lower, Your Honor's Obedient and humble Servants, was signed, Andrew Ramsay, George Green, William Lewis, D: Seton, F: Warden, John Spencer, L. Corkran, P: N. Roberts, J: H: Cherry, and John Church, in the margin, Souratta the 7th of March 1786. Agrees, Van Polanen de bevere Ms: Isaaks
Dutch transcription
467 Wissel gerealiseert sijnde, hadden wij nimmer kun¬ „nen vermoeden dat UwelEd. deselve bij het neemen der Directie strijdig met alle regten van sijn effect souden hebben beroofd. Dan dit egter is door Uwel Ed: geschied wanneer deselve, niet tegenstaande alle door de meergedagte Erfgenaamen van Bhaijsa daar tegen gedaane voor= „dragten en protestatien, dat deese goederen door de voorschreeven transactie bereets haaren eigendom geworden waaren, daar toe sijn overgegaan om dit Pakhuijs, nae dat de sleutels daar van door voorschreeven erfgenaamen geweigerd waaren met geweld te laeten openbreeken en de goederen daar uit weg te neemen, terwijl alle de overige goe= „deren die gedagte Leveranciers in betalinge deser Wissel verder geeven moesten mede door Uwel Ed: sijn weggenomen. UwelEd: sijn over dit onwettig gedrag ten sijde wij Uwe krijgs-Gevangenen waaren, te meer maalen onderhouden, door den toenmaligen Heere Directeur den Heere van de Graaffen wel laetstelik na sijn Edele uitwisseling en bij sijn vertrek at Com. op en ers, donneert betaaling en Nagesien vertrek van Souratta bij missive van den 28. Ja¬ „nuarij 1782. En het is thans dat wij op expresse last onser Hooge superieuren UwelEd: versoeken en van derselve Aquiteit verwagten, om aan de Edele Nederlandse Compe, te goed te doen het bedragen der voorschreeven Wissel die door Uwel Ed. gedrag van sijn effect beroofd is met den Jntrest Waarmede d' Eer hebben te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:Lager :/ Uwel Ed=s onderdanige en Gehoorsaeme Dienaaren /:was geteekend:/ A. I: Sluijsken, M: Monté, E: N: Wiardi, J: J: van Polanen de bevere, E. Meijer, en G: E: Roeff /:in margine:/ Souratta den 21: februarij 1786. Accordeert Van Polanen de beveret seev # AJ. Wolf 469 Chief for Affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca Council Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Esq=re Gentlemen. We have been honored with your letter of the 24. t ult. o The Claim you are now pleased to repeat, respec„ ting the Heirs of the Banyan Merchant Bay- sa, we can on no account admit. you must well know, we are not ignorant of the Mode of pro¬ viding snvestiments, for the Curope Market, by making considerable advances, - consequently, the goods outstanding of your Investment, on which advances had been made, as well, as those deposited in your ware houses in Town, could not be considered otherwise, than, clearly the property of your Noble Company, and, on the Capture of your Factory, became that of ours, the same as all other Dutch Property whatever. Had the assign- Surat at ment so Surat Yst 7. n March 1786: „ment you mention taken place, the Heirs of Baysa would no doubt have had some proof, to shew, that the Goods were given as security for the Money their Fathor had lent to the Dutch Company, his youds were his security, and there was no Indorsement therion conveying any other collateral Security Even had any assignment been made after the Rupture with Holland, it could not have been admitted. and we must observe, it is to the highest degree improbable, that one should have been made before, or an order given for the Disposal of Goods, in surat, which were widently provided for Exportation. We have the honor to be Gentlemen. Your most obedient Humble Servants /:signed:/ Andw: Ramsay, Ged: Green, William Lewis, D. Seton, T. warden, John Spencer, L:s Corkran, P: N: Roberts, I: H: Cherry, John Church for the true Copy Van Polanen de bevere seer N 7 Aan Den Heer Abraham Josias Sluijsken Schildknaap Cheff voor alle saeken van de Hollandse Natie te Souratta neevens Den Raad Wij sijn vereerd geweest met Uwel Ed: missive van den 24. der laastleedene maand. Den eijsch, welke UwelEd: nu gelieven te herha„ len, belangende de Erfgenaamen van den Benjaans Koopman Baijsa, kunnen wij in geenerleij wijse ad= mitteeren. Uwel Ed: moeten wel weeten, dat wij niet onkundig sijn van de wijse, om sig Lijwaaten voor de Europische markt te verschaffen, door het doen van groote voor uit verstrekkingen, bij gevolge, konden de goederen nog uitstaande of onvoldaan van Uwel Ed: Lijwaaten, op dewelke voor uit verstrekkingen gedaan waaren also wel als deese die bewaard wierden in uwe pakhuijsen in de stad, niet anders worden aangesien als de waare eigendommen van UwelEd. Comp=e en bij het neemen van UwelEd: faktorije de onse wierden, het selfde als allen anderen Holland „se eigendom welke ook; stad de Assignatie of overwij= sing, waar van UwelEd: gewag maken, plaats gehad, de Erfgenaamen van Baijsa souden buiten trijffel eenig bewijs gehad hebben om te toonen, dat de goederen ge= Translaat „geeven 7 Nagesien „geeven waaren, als seekerheid voor het geld, dat haar Vader aan de Hollandse Comp„e geleend had. Zijne Obligatien waaren sijne sekerheid en er was geene agter opschrijving /:endosseering :/ daar op, die aanlijding gaf tot eenige sijde„ „lingse verseekerheid, selfs al was er eenige overdragt of overwijsing gemaakt na de Ruptuur met Holland het selve konde niet geadmitteerd zijn geworden, en wij moeten aanmerken, dat het in den hoogsten graad onwaarschijnelik is, dat eenige van te vooren sou¬ den gemaakt sijn, of een Ordre gegeeven voor de beschik „king van goederen in souratta, welke blijkbaar waa= „ren geschikt ter vervoering. Wij hebben d' Eer te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /. Lager:/ Uwel Ed. Gehoorsaame en ootmoedige Dienaaren /:was geteekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, Geo: Green, William Levis, D: Seton, F: Warden, John Spencer, L. Corkran, P: N. Roberts, I: H: Cherrij en John Curd /:in margine:/ Souratta den 7=e Maart 1786. Accordeert Van Polanen de bever Aen Ms: Isaaks
English
No. 8 3 4 73 Copy To the Honorable Mr. Andries Ramsaij, Esquire, Chief for all affairs of the British Nation and Governor of the Mughal's Castle and Fleet, along with The Council at Souratta Gentlemen, We have had the honor to receive Your Honors' letters of the 23rd of February and the 7th of this month. It is with particular regret that we had to learn from the latter that Your Honors see fit to refuse us thereby our rightful claim contained in our letter of the 24th of February prior, namely to credit to the Noble Dutch Company the amount of the bill of exchange granted to the heirs of the Bania merchant Baijsa, which was deprived of its effect by Your Honors, along with the interest; and which regret is noticeably increased still further, when we furthermore learn from Your Honors' aforementioned letter, that Your Honors now wish to ground this refusal on the assumption that it would be improbable to the highest degree that this bill of exchange in question would have been made before the hostilities here—in that sense alone can the word rupture, which Your Honors see fit to use in your letter, be of application here—had commenced between England and Holland, because this assertion shows what value Your Honors place on our integrity and a solemnly given word, since it is abundantly well known to all the members of Your Honors' assembly from that unfortunate time, that, even had we truly held the principles which Your Honors now see fit to attribute to us to cover their own unlawful conduct, it would have been impossible for us to write the slightest scrap of paper or to have communication, let alone to make any bills of exchange, after this Directorship was taken by the arms of the Noble English Company. This is such a well-known matter that it needs no proof; also, far from raking up past matters, we wish to heal the breach and, now that peace between the two nations has been restored, to revive again, as much as is in our power, that good correspondence and harmony which previously existed so happily, and we shall therefore restrict ourselves hereby solely to demonstrating to Your Honors, their superiors, and the whole impartial world, firstly, that the bill of exchange or draft in question was granted not after the hostilities against the Dutch had commenced here, but on the contrary at a time when we had an indisputable right to do so; and secondly, that Your Honors' assembly of that time paid no regard to the same bill of exchange or draft, but placed themselves by force of arms into the possession of those goods which had been given in pledge in payment of the aforementioned bill of exchange and had immediately become the property of the heirs of Baijsa, without paying any heed to all the representations and protests made by the aforementioned heirs, nay, regardless of their steadfast refusal to deliver to Your Honors the keys of the warehouses where these goods were stored. Concerning the first point, it can be contradicted neither by any impartial person nor by Your Honors yourselves, that we, as Ministers of the Noble Dutch Company at this place, had the right to dispose of and arrange the goods, merchandise, and possessions of the same Company, up to the moment that our factory was taken by Your Honors' arms, and even to such an extent that we could have destroyed them, without being indebted to anyone on that account for a reckoning or justification other than to our superiors; indeed, even without Your Honors being able to blame us on that account; and according to this rule we were likewise permitted to resell, or in another manner dispose of at our pleasure, these linens which we had ordered to be manufactured for the Company. It is true, Gentlemen, we have always been in the firm confidence that, in the event of a breach of the peace between Great Britain and Holland, the possessions and properties of the Dutch Company at this place were safe and secured, as much by virtue of the fact that Souratta until the moment of the last War has always been considered a neutral place, but principally because we reside here under and upon the faith of the firmans and privileges of the sovereign, which were granted to ensure complete safety and protection, and which have been very expressly and most solemnly guaranteed repeatedly by Your Honors yourselves, for and on behalf of the Noble English Company, as Governor of the Mughal's Castle; and we could thus by no means expect that which has happened here. But nonetheless there could arise in us an apprehension that, in the event of a breach of the peace, of which people at that time began to murmur in the city, it would be very difficult for us to ship the Company's linens from Souratta, and that it was therefore better to dispose of them and to pay off again the negotiated funds in order thereby to be freed from the payment of interest. Nothing is more natural than this, and nothing less could our superiors expect from Ministers who have their interests at heart, however wondrous and improbable Your Honors may see fit to call the same. And to this end we resolved on the 9th of June 1781, five days before the Directorship was taken by Your Honors' troops, to restore to the heirs of Baijsa the sum of One hundred thousand rupees which they had lent to the Company on the 21st of March prior, and to do so from those moneys and goods which our linen suppliers owed and had in their possession. We thus granted to
Dutch transcription
N8 3 4 73 Copia Aan den WelEdelen Heer Andries Ramsaij schildknaep Cheff voor alle saeken van de Brtse Natie en Gouverneur van 's Mogols Kasteel en Vloot Mijne Heeren Wij hebben de Eer gehad te ontfangen Uw Wel Ed: missives van den 23 februarij en den 7=e deeser; Het is met bijsonder leedweesen dat wij uit de laetste hebben moeten verneemen, dat UwelEd: gelieven goed te vinden, ons daar bij te weigeren onse regtmatige vordering vervat bij onsen brief van den 24. februarij bevoorens, om namentlijk aan de Edele Nederlandse Compag¬ „nie te goed te doen, het bedragen der aan de Erf= „genaemen van den Benjaans koopman Baijsa verleende Wissel, die door Uwel Ed: van haer effect beroofd geworden is met de Intrest. en welk beneevens Den Raad te Souratta leedweesen leedweesen nog merkelijk vermeerdert, wanneer wij al verder uit UwelEd: voorsijden brief ontvaaren, dat Uwel Ed: deese weigering thans willen gron= „den op de veronderstelling, dat het tot den „hoogsten graad onwaarschijnlijk zoude sijn, dat „deese Wissel in Questie zoude sijn gemaakt, „bevoorens de vijandelijkheeden alhier „ /: in dien sin alleen kan het woord kupture waar van uwel Ed. in haere brief gebruijk gelieven te maken alhier van applicatie sijn :/ „ tusschen „Engeland en Holland waeren aengevangen, om dat deese assertie aantoond welke eene waarde Uwel Ed. stellen op onse integriteid en een pleg= „tig gegeven woord, daar het alle de leeden van Uwel Ed: vergadering van dien ongelukkigen tijd overvloedig genoeg bekend is, dat, al had= den wij waarlijk de grondbeginselen gehad, welke UwelEd: ons nu ter dekking van dersel= „ver onwettig gedaag gelieven toeteschrijven, het ons onmoogelijk zoude geweest zijn, om het minste papiertje te schrijven of Communica „tie te hebben, wij geswrijgen eenige wissels te maeken; nae dat deese Directie door de wa„ „penen van de Edele Engelse Comp genoomen was. was. Dit is sulk een bekende saak, dat se geen bewijs noodig heeft, ook wenschen wij, wel verre van gepasseerde saaken weeder opte haelen, de breuke te heelen en nu de vreede tusschen de twee natien hersteld is, weeder te doen herleeven„ so veel in ons is, die goede Correspondentie en Harmonie, welke bevoorens zo gelukkig heeft stand gegreepen en wij zullen ons daar= om bij deesen alleen bepaalen om Uwel Ed: derselver supperieuren en de heele onpartijdige wereld te betoogen, eerstelijk dat de Wissel of assignatie in questie verleend is niet nae dat de vijandelikheeden tegen de Hollanders alhier waaren aangevangen, maar in tegendeel op een tijd dat wij daar toe een ontegensprekelik regt hadden en ten tweeden, dat uwel Ed: vergadering van die tijd op deselve Wissel of Assignatie geen regart heeft geslagen, maar zig met geweld van wapenen heeft gesteld in de possessie van die goederen, welke en betaaling der voorschreeven Wissel in pand gegeëven en daadelijk den eigendom van de Erfgenamen Erfgenamen van Baijsa geworden waeren, sonder eenige agt te slaan op alle de voordragten en pro= „testatien door voorsijde erfgenaamen gedaan, ja on= „gereekent derselver stantvastige wijgering om uwel Ed: de sleutels der Pakhuijsen, alwaar deese goederen geborgen waaren, ter hand te stellen. Omtrend het eerste poinct, kan het van geen onpartijdige nog van Uwel Ed: selfs wor= „den teegen gesprooken, dat wij als Ministers van de Edele Hollandse Comp: ter deeser plaat„ „se, het regt hadden, om over de goederen, Koopmanschappen en bezittingen van deselve Comp„e te disponeeren en te beschikken, tot op het ogenblik dat onse faktorije door UwelEd: wapenen genoomen wierd, en soo verre selfs dat wij se zouden hebben kunnen vernitigen, sonder desweegens aan jemand als aan onse supperieuren, rekenschap of verandwoording verschuldigt te sijn, ja selfs zonder dat UwelEd: ons desweegen souden hebben kunnen blameeren en volgens deesen reegel mogten wij dan ook deese Lijwaaten 4 ƒ 4 Lijwaaten, welke wij voor de Compagnie hadden doen aanmaken; weeder verkoopen of op een andere wijse ons kwijd maaken na welgevallen. Het is waar mijne Heeren, wij zijn altoog geweest in het vaste vertrouwen, dat bij een vreede breuk tusschen Groot-Brittannien en Holland, de besittingen en eigendommen van de Hollandse Comp: ter deeser plaatse vijlig en verseekerd waaren, so wel uit hoofde dat souratta tot het ogenblik van den laatsten Oorlog altoos is geconsidereert als een Neutraale plaats, maar voorna= „mentlijk, om dat wij hier geseeten zijn onder en op het vertrouwen der Firmans en voorregten van den souverain die gegeeven zijn tot verseekering van een volkomen vij= „ligheid en bescherming en die door Uwel Ed: selven voor en van weegens de Edele Engelse Compagnie als Gouverneur van 'S Mogols Kasteel seer expres en op het plegtigste bij herhaaling zijn geguarandeert, en wij konden dus geensints verwagten, het geen hier gebeurd is, dog des niet te min konden er er bij ons opkoomen een apprehensie dat het in geval van een vreede breuk waar van men toen maals in de stad begon te mompelen voor ons seer beswaarlijk soude sijn, 's Comp:s Lijwaaten van souratta te versenden en dat het dus beeter was om sig van deselve te ontdoen en de genegotieerde gelden wederom afteleggen ten einde daar door van de betaling van in= terest bevrijd te weesen, niets is natuurlijker als dit en niets minder, konden onse suppe„ rieuren verwagten van Ministers, welke haar belang ter harte gaat hoe wonderlik en onwaerschijnelik Uwel Ed: hetselve gelieven te noemen, en ten deesen einde resolveerden wij op den 9=e Junij 1781. , vijf dragen bevoren, de Directie door UwelEd. troepen genomen wierd, om de Erfgenaemen van Baijsa de som van Een maal Hondert duijsend ropijen die ze den 21:e Maart bevoorens aan de Comp geleend hadden te restitueeren en om sulx te doen uit die gelden en goederen welke onse Lijwaet Leveranciers schuldig waaren en onder sig hadden. Wij verleenden dus ten.
English
on that day to the aforesaid Heirs the Assignment or Bill of Exchange on the Linen Suppliers of the Noble Dutch Company, Beraamtie Souraabjie and Harmojie Rettingie, of which we have the honor to enclose a copy under No. 1. And on the aforesaid 9th of June we ordered the said Suppliers to pay this Assignment or Bill of Exchange out of the amounts they held on behalf of the Noble Dutch Company, as appears from the order also enclosed herewith in copy under No. 2, which was delivered to them immediately, while the Bill of Exchange itself was handed over in person the following day, being Sunday the 10th of June, early in the morning, by the then secretary of our council, Egbert Nicolaas Wiardi, to the aforementioned heirs of Baijsa and accepted by them, as appears from his sworn statement No. 3. Whereupon the aforementioned Suppliers immediately proceeded to fulfill the aforesaid Order by handing over to the Heirs of Baijsa the keys to a Warehouse house in which a considerable quantity of goods were stored, and thus placing the same goods in their hands or transferring them toward the reduction of the Bill of Exchange accepted by them for payment, as it was not convenient for them to pay in cash so quickly. The first point—namely, that we disposed of the Company's property at a time when we had an indisputable right to do so—having been proven, we refer with respect to the second point to the personal knowledge and cognizance of the Noble Lord, Your Honor's Chief and Council of that time, holding ourselves assured that their piety and sincerity will not allow them to deny that the heirs of Baijsa exhibited the aforesaid Assignment or Bill of Exchange, which is still in their possession to this day, immediately after the yard was taken and while we were still confined within it, and insisted that the goods be left untouched as their property or pledge; and that when the keys of of the Warehouse were demanded of them by the Lord Chief etcetera, they steadfastly refused to surrender them, without Your Honors having been pleased to show any regard for this, but rather proceeded to have the doors broken open by force in order to get to the goods. It is therefore entirely beside the point how the procurement contracts for the European market are made here; it is enough that we have proven that the ownership of the goods was transferred in payment to the heirs of Baijsa, and that they were not Dutch property at the time the Directorate was taken by the British arms. And we may rightly remark regarding Your Honor's allegation "that if any assignment had taken place, the Heirs of Baijsa would have had some proof thereof to show that the goods had been given as security for the money which their father had lent to the Dutch Company," that the aforesaid Heirs could never produce stronger proof that the goods had been given to them in payment or or security than the Keys themselves, by the surrender of which the goods were placed completely into their hands. Your Honors, Gentlemen, must be convinced by all this that their supposition—that it was in the highest degree improbable that this bill of exchange could have been made before hostilities against us were commenced here—has been entirely groundless. We therefore expect that Your Honors will no longer delay in rectifying their conduct based thereon and, in consequence thereof, crediting to the Noble Dutch Company the amount of the aforementioned bill of exchange, which has been deprived of its effect by Your Honors' conduct, with interest, which as an unquestionable right we find ourselves obliged repeatedly to reclaim and demand. With which we have the honor to be, /underneath stood:/ Gentlemen, /lower:/ Your Honors' humble and obedient Servants, /was signed:/ A: I: Sluijsken, M: Monte, E. N. Wiardi, I. I. van Polanen de bevere, E:s Meijer, G: Piper and G. C. Roeff. /in the margin:/ Surat, the 16th of March 1786. Agrees Surat Van Polanen de bevere examined N. J. Wolff 8 2 Abraham Josias Sluysken, Esqre. Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation &ca Council at Surat Gentlemen. We have been honored with your Letters of the 16th and 19th Instant. In answer to the former, we beg to assure you, we by no means meant thereby to call in question your Integrity or veracity, but as you acknowledged therein, the assignment to the Heirs of Baysa was made on the 9th June, five days after the Declarations of war between the States General and Great Britain had been published at Bombay; and as it is well known Pattmars arrive from thence in three days & a half, we are clearly of opinion the assignment took place in Consequence of that event, and must therefore adhere to our former Resolution, communicated Surat 21st March 1786: we cannot &ca We have the honor to be communicated to you in our Letter of the 4th Instant, not to admit of its validity. Gentlemen. Your very obedient Humble Servant /signed:/ Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, William Lewis, D: Seton, F: Warden, John Spencer, L: C. wean, P: N: Roberts, I: H: Cherry For the true Copy Van Polanen de bevere also No 9 No O
Dutch transcription
ten dien daage aan de voorsch: Erfgenamen de Assignatie of Wissel op de Lijwaat Leveranciers van de Edele Nederlandse Comp: Beraamtie souraabjie en Harmojie Rettingie, waar van wij d' eer hebben eene Copij deesen bij te voegen onder N=o 1. , En wij gelasten op voorsijde 9=e Junij de gedagte Leveranciers, om uit het be= „dragen dat ze van de Edele Nederlandse Comp onder sig hadden, deese Assignatie of wissel te voldoen blijkens de ordre hier meede bij gevoegd in Kopij onder N:o 2. die dadelijk aan haar is ter hand gesteld, terwijl de Wissel selve, den volgenden dag zijnde sondagh den 10. Junij des morgens vroeg door den toenmaligen secretaris onser vergadering Egbert Nicolaas Wiardi aan meergedagte erfgenamen van Baijsa in persoon is over= „handigt en door deese aangenomen, blijkens sijn Edelijke verklaring N=o 3. Waar na de meergedagte Leveranciers, dadelijk zijn overgegaan tot voldoening aan voorschreeven Ordre, door aen de Erfgenaemen van Baijsa ter hand te stellen, de sleutels van een Pak= „huijs huijs, waar in een aansienelijk quantiteid goederen geborgen waaren, en dus deselve goederen in hand te geeven of te transporteeren in mindering van de bij haar ter voldoening g'accepteerde Wissel„ als so het haar niet gelegen kwam so spoedig in kontant te betalen. Het eerste poinct dat wij namentlijk beschikt hebben over 's Comp=s eigendommen, op een tijd, dat wij daar toe een indisputabel regt hadden, beweesen sijnde, so beroepen wij ons ten opsigte van het tweede poinct, op de eigene kennisse en meede weeten van den Edelen Heer UW Ed: Chef en Raad van die tijd ons verseekert houdende dat derselver vroom- en opregtheid haar niet sal toelaaten om te ontkennen, dat de erfgenaemen van Baijsa de voorsch: Assignatie of Wissel die nog hee¬ „den ten dage in haar bezitting is dadelijk na dat de werf genomen en wij nog in deselve geconfineerd waaren, hebben vertoond en gein= „steerd daer op, dat de goederen als hunnen eigendom of onderpand onaangeroerd gelaten wierden, en dat zij, toen haar de sleutels van 481 van het Pakhuijs door den Heer Chef etcm wier„ den afgeischt, deselve stantvastelijk hebben gewij= gert sonder dat Uwel Ed: daar op eenig regart heb= „ben gelieven te slaen, maar daar toe sijn over„ gegaan om ten einde bij de goederen te koomen de deuren met geweld te doen openbreeken. Het doet dus niets ter saak hoedanig de Contracten van aanbesteeding voor de Europeese markt alhier worden gemaakt genoeg is het dat wij beweesen hebben, dat den eigendom van de goederen is overgegaan tot betaaling van de erfgenaamen van Baijsa, en dat se geen Hol¬ landse eigendom waaren ten tijde de Directie door de Britse wapenen genomen wierd en wij moogen met regt op UwelEd. allegatie „ dat so „er eenige assignatie plaats gehad hadde, de Erf„ „genaamen van Baijsa daar van eenig berijs „ souden gehad hebben om te toonen dat de goe„ „„deren gegeeven waaren, als in sekerheid voor het „geld, dat haar vader aan de Hollandse Comp „ geleend had„ aanmerken, dat de voorsijde Erf= genaamen nimmer een sterker bewijs dat de goederen haar waaren gegeeven in betaaling of of sekerheid produceeren konden, als de Sleu„ tels selve, door welkers overgave, se volkomen in haare handen waaren gesteld. Uwel Ed. Mijne Heeren moeten uit deesen aller overtuigd sijn, dat derselver onderstelling. als was het in den hoogsten graad opwaerschijne„ „lik dat deese wissel soude sijn gemaakt bevoren de vyandelikheeden alhier tegen ons waaren aen„ „gevangen ten eenen maele sonder grond ge= „weest is, wij verwagten daerom dat UwelEd: niet langer sullen uitstellen om dersel„ „ver daer op gegronde gedrag te beteren en in „gevolge van dien aen de Edele Nederlandse Kompagnie te goed doen, het bedragen der meergedagte wissel, die door Uwel Ed:s gedrag van zijn effect beroofd is, met den intrest, het welke als een ontwijffelbaar regt wij ons genoodsaakt vinden bij herhaeling te re„ „clameeren en te vorderen. Waarmeede de Eer hebben te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /: Lager:/ UWel Ed=s onderdani„ ge en gehoorsame Dienaeren /:was geteekend:/ A: I: Sluijsken, M= Monte, E. N. Wiardi„ I. I. I. van Polanen de bevere, E=s Meijer, G Piperen G. C. Roeff. /:in margine:/ Souratta den 16: Maart 1786. Accordeert Sur Van Holanen de bevere nagezien N. J. Wolff 8 2 Abraham Josias Sluysken, Esqre. Chief for affairs of the Dutch Nation tica Council at Surat Gentlemen. We have been honored with your Letters of the 16th en 19th Instant. In answer to the former, we big to assure you, we by no means, meant there by to call in question your Integrity or veracity, but as you acknowledged therein, the assignment to the Heirs of Baysa, was made on the 9t. June, five days after the Declarations of war; between the states General, and great Britain had been published at Gombay; and as it is well known, Patta¬ mars arrive from thence in three days &a half, we are clearly of opinion, the assignment took place in Consequence of that event, and must, the refore, adhere to our former Resolution, commu¬ in nicated so ren surat 21. e March 1786: we cannot &=a We have the honor to be nicated to you in our Letter of the 4th Instant, not to admitted of its validity Gentlemen. Your very obedient Humble sorvant /signed:/ Andw: Ramsay, Geo: Green, William Lewis, D: Setom F: warden, John Spencer, L: Co Cherry # For the true Copy „wean, P: N: Roberts, I: H: Van Polanen de bevere slsa No 9 Na O
English
To Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Esquire Chief for the affairs of the Dutch Nation together with The Council at Suratta We have been honored with Your Honors letters of the 16th and 19th instant. In answer to the first, we request to assure Your Honors that we thereby did not in the least intend to call Your Honors integrity or veracity into question, yet as Your Honors therein acknowledge that the assignment or transfer of debt to the heirs of Baijsa was made on 9 June after the declaration of war between the States General and Great Britain had been published at Bombay, and it is very well known that the expresses sent from there arrive in 3 ½ days, we are clearly of the opinion that the assignment or transfer took place in consequence of that event, and we must therefore persist in our previous resolution communicated to Your Honors by our letter of the 7th instant, that we cannot admit the validity of the same. We can for the present etcetera etcetera We have the honor to be stood below Gentlemen lower Your Honors humble servants was signed Andw: Ramsaij, Geo: Green, William Liwis, D. Seton, F. Warden, John Spencer, L. Conkran, W. Robert, and J. H. Chirrij in the margin Souratta 21 March 1786. Agrees Van Polanen de bever Examined No. 10 To the Honorable Andries Ramsaij Esquire Chief for all affairs of the British Nation and Governor of the Mogul Castle and Fleet together with The Council at Souratta Gentlemen We have had the honor to receive Your Honors missive of the 21st of this month. The new argument which Your Honors are pleased to give therein for your refusal to indemnify the Noble Dutch Company for the amount of the bills of exchange with the interest which were granted to the heirs of Baijsa but by Your Honors were deprived of their effect, namely that the aforesaid bills of exchange or assignments were allegedly granted by us after the declaration of war between Great Britain and the States General was published at Bombay, and we allegedly had knowledge thereof, is of no more force than that which Your Honors were pleased to cite in your letter of 7 March, and which we in our missive of the 16th following refuted as clearly as extensively, for if that argument held, then all dispositions which a subject might make over his property from the time that war was declared on his sovereign until the moment that the fortune of war made him a prisoner would be null and of no value, a strange proposition that has possibly never been advanced before, and is contradicted by daily experience, as all sovereigns have always respected that which was done prior to the actual conquest or at least investment of a place; moreover, we demonstrated in our previous letter of the 16th instant that we could never expect to be attacked and captured in a neutral place such as this previously was, where even our safety and privileges have been guaranteed, and now we declare, namely those of us who were here at the time the Directorship was seized, most dutifully and solemnly in addition, that we were ignorant of any declarations of war anywhere at the time we granted the bill of exchange. Yet since we learn to our regret that Your Honors under all kinds of pretexts are disinclined to comply with our requisition by letter of 24 February last, Your Honors will please excuse us for applying to that place where we may hope to obtain satisfaction. With regard to etcetera etcetera With which we have the honor to be stood below Gentlemen lower Your Honors very humble and obedient servants was signed A: I: Sluijsken, M: Monté, E. N: Wiardi, J: J: van Polanen de bevere, E. Meijer, G. Piper, and G C: Roeff. in the margin Souratta 26 March 1786. Agrees Van Polanen deber Examined Ms Isaaks Secretary No. 11 To the Right Honorable Rarson Hard Boodam Esquire President over all affairs of the British Nation as well as Governor of His Majesty's Castle at Bombay together with The Council Right Honorable Sir and Gentlemen On 24 February of this year we applied by missive to Your Honors Chief and Council at this place, with the request to indemnify the Noble Dutch Company for the amount of a bill of exchange amounting to one hundred thousand rupees with interest, which we on 10 June 1781 had granted to the heirs of the Bania merchant Baijsa upon certain merchants at Souratta, Berampje Souraabje and Haamootje Rettingje, linen suppliers of the Company, in satisfaction of an equal sum which we from the said heirs on 21 March of the same
Dutch transcription
487 Aan Abraham Josias Sluijsken, Schildknaep Cheff voor de saeken van de Hollandse Natie neevens Den Raad te suratta Wij sijn vereerd geworden met Uwe brieven van den 16. ' en 19=en deeses Jn andwoord op de eerste, versoeken wij UwelEd: te versekeren dat wij daar bij in het minste niet hebben gedagt om UwelEd. integriteit of vera- „citeit in twijffel te trekken, dog also UwelEd. daar bij erkennen dat de Assignatie of over= „wijsing van schuld aan de erfgenaamen van Baijsa was gedaan den 9: Junij na dat de declaratie van Oorlog tusschen de staaten Gene= „raal en Groot-Brittannien te Bombaij ge= „publiceerd was, en het zeer bekend is, dat de expressen die van daar gesonden worden in 3. ½. dag aankoomen, zoo zijn wij klaarlijk van gedagten, dat de Assignatie of overwijsing plaats genomen heeft ingevolge van die ge= Translaat. „beuatenis N g „beurtenis en wij moeten daarom persisteeren bij ons voorig besluit aan Uwel Ed. bekend gemaakt bij onsen brief van den 7=' deeses, dat wij de validiteit van het selve niet kunnen toestaan. Wij kunnen voor het teegenswoordige etc=a e=ra Wij hebben de Eer om te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /: Lager:/ Uwer wel Edelens onder„ danige Dienaaren /:was geteekend:/ Andw: Ramsaij, Geo: Green; William Liwis, D. Seton, F. Warden, John Spencer, L. Conkran, W. Robert, en J. H. Chirrij /: in margine:/ Souratta den 21. Maart 1786. Accordeert Van Polanen de bever B sir. na O AGwaff nagezien nag 8 No. 10 Aan den WelEdelen Heer Andries Ramsaij Schildknaap Cheff voor alle saeken van de Britse Natie en Gouverneur van 's Mogols Kasteel en Vloot Mijne Heeren Wij hebben d' Eer gehad te ontfangen Uwel Ed: Missive van den 21. deses maends De nieuwe orangreden, welke Uwel Ed: bij deselve gelieven te geeven voor haare weigering om de Edele Ne= „derlandse Compagnie schadeloos te stellen voor het be= „draagen der wissels met de Jnteresse, welke aan de Erfgenaemen van Baijsa verleend dog door UwelEd: van haar effect beroofd geworden sijn, dat nament= lik de voorschreeven wissels of Assignatien door ons souden sijn verleend na dat de declaratie van Oorlog tusschen Groot- Brittannien en de Staten Generaal te Bombaij gepubliceerd was, en wij daar van Kennisse souden hebben gehad is, van niet meer kragt als die UwelEd: hebben gelieven aan te haalen bij haare brieff van den 7„e Maart, te Souratta Beneevens Den Raad Extract V8 en O nog en welke wij bij onse Missive van den 16. daar aan volgende soo klaar als uitgebreid wederlegd hebben, want soo die drangreden aenging, dan souden alle beschikkingen welke eene onderdaen over sijne eigen¬ „dommen maeken mogte van den tijd dat den Oorlog aan sijnen souverain verklaard was tot het ogenblik dat het lot des Oorlogs hem eene gevangene maakte, nul en van geener waarde sijn eene vreemde stellinge die mogelik nimmer bevo= „rens g'avanceerd is, en door de dagelixe ondervin= „ding wedersproken word, also alle souverainen steeds gerespecteerd hebben het geen gedaan was bevorens de dadelijke verovering ten minsten berenning van een plaats; daar bij hebben wij bij onsen voorgaende brieff van den 16. deeser betoogd dat wij nimmer konden verwagten om in eene neu= „traale plaats als deese bevorens geweest is alwaer ons veiligheid en privilegien bij selfs geguarandeert hebben, te worden aangevallen en vermeesterd, en nu verklaaren wij, namentlik die geene van ons, welke hier sijn geweest ten tijde de Directie genomen wierd ten aller pligtigsten en solemneelsten daar en boven dat wij van alle verklaeringen van Oorlog, waarook onkundig sijn geweest ten tijde wij de Wissel hebben verleend, 19 91 verleend, Dan vermits wij tot ons leedweesen ontvaaren, dat UwelEd: onder allerleij uitvlugten ongenegen sijn aen onse Requisitie bij briff van den 24: februarij laetst „leeden te voldoen, so sullen Uwel Ed:n ons ten besten gelieven te houden, dat wij ons vervoegen ter plaetse alwaer wij verhoopen mogen voldoening te sullen erlangen Ten aensien Ac=ra Ac=ra Waarmede d' Eer hebben te sijn /:onderstond:/ Mijne Heeren /:Lager:/ Uwel Ed=s seer onderdanige en Gehoor= „saeme Dienaaren /:was geteekend:/ A: I: Sluijsken, M: Monté, E. N: Wiardi, J: J: van Polanen de bevere, E. Meijer, G. Piper, en G C: Roeff. /:in margine:/ Souratta den 26. Maart 1786. Accordeert Van Polanen deber Nagesien Ms Isaaks Secrs „ nag No. 11 493 Aan den WelEdelen Groot-Agtbaaren Heer Rarson Hard Boodam Schildtmaap Praesident over alle saeken van de Britse Natie mitsgaaders Gouverneur van sijn Majesteits kasteel ter Bombaij beneevens Den Raad Copia WelEdele Groot.-Agtbaare Heer en Heerens Op den 24 februarij deses Jaers hebben wij ons bij missive vervoegd gehad bij UwelEd: Cheffen Raad ter deser plaatse, met versoek om de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie schadeloos te stellen voor het bedraagen eener wissel groot Een maal honderd duijsend ropijen met Jnteresse„ soo wij op den 10. Junij 1781. hebben verleend gehad aan de Erfgenaamen van den Benjaans koopman Baijsa op sekere kooplieden en souratta Berampje Souraabje en Haamootje Rettingje Lijvaet Leveranciers van de Compagnie in voldoening van een gelijke somma die wij van geseide Erfgenaamen op den 21. Maart desselver
English
of the same year had negotiated in the names of sja Gosaaltjent kapoertjent and sja Kapoertjent Singa, but which, when the Directorate was taken by British arms on 14 June 1781, was deprived of its effect by Your Honours' aforementioned Chief and Council through the violent breaking open of the warehouse and the removal therefrom of the goods which were given in pledge or payment thereof, or placed as collateral therefor, by the aforementioned merchants Berampje and Harmootje after they had accepted the aforementioned Bill of Exchange, as Your Honours will please learn from the copy of this our letter enclosed herewith under [illegible]. However much we, in all fairness, also had to expect that Your Honours' Surat Ministry would immediately have complied with this requisition, we on the contrary perceived from the letter with which Their Honours favoured us on 7 March last, that they were not pleased to admit this claim, mainly on the grounds that it would be in the highest degree improbable that the Bill of Exchange, assignment, or transfer in question would have been made before the hostilities between England and Holland had commenced here, or that an order would have been given for the disposal of goods in Surat which were apparently destined for shipment, etc. And since we, from the tenor of the aforementioned letter, of which a copy is attached hereto under Letter B, believed we had to assume that all difficulties would be removed as soon as it was in our power to demonstrate that the Bill of Exchange or assignment in question was granted not after the hostilities against the Dutch had commenced here, but on the contrary at a time when we had an indisputable right to do so, we wrote to this end to the frequently mentioned Your Honours' Chief and Council here the letter dated 16 of the aforementioned month of March, of which we have the honour to enclose a copy herewith under Letter E, in which we not only demonstrated this, as well as that the Bill of Exchange was deprived of its effect by Their Honours' conduct when they broke open the warehouses by force and took away the goods that had been given in satisfaction or pledge thereof, clearer than the midday sun, but in which we also, for an indisputable proof, caused to be delivered to Their Honours authentic copies: 1st, of the Bill of Exchange itself, as it was granted to the heirs of the Bania merchant Baijsa upon the merchants and linen suppliers of the Noble Dutch Company, Berampje Suraatje and Harmootje Rettingie, and is in their possession to this moment, dated 9 June 1781; 2nd, of the order upon the aforementioned suppliers to pay the aforementioned Bill of Exchange to the said heirs out of what they held belonging to the said Noble Dutch Company; and 3rd, of the sworn declaration of Egbert Nicolaas Wiardi, the secretary of our assembly at that time, that he had delivered the aforementioned Bill of Exchange to the heirs of Baijsa at their own residence and that it was accepted by them on the morning of 10 June 1781, and thus five days before any hostilities between Great Britain and the Republic of Holland had been heard of; which three documents were attached to the aforementioned letter under numbers 1, 2, and 3, as they also accompany this herewith. We could therefore not but be astonished in the highest degree when, instead of a prompt consent in accordance with equity, Their Honours, by their letter of 21 March aforesaid, annexed hereto under Letter D, thought fit to cast another obstacle in the way, and to persist in their refusal under the pretext that the assignment or transfer had allegedly taken place pursuant to and after the Declaration of War was published at Bombay. A proposition which sounded so strange in our ears, Right Honourable Sir and Sirs, when we considered what consequences it would have if all disposals which any subject might make of his property from the time that war was declared on his Sovereign until the moment that the fortune of war made him a prisoner of war were to be null and of no value, and which clearly showed us that Their Honours intended to persist in their refusal, under whatever weak and void pretexts that might be; wherefore we were then necessitated to reply to the said Lord Chief and Council by our letter of 26 of the frequently mentioned month of March, pointing out the aforementioned and making a solemn declaration that at the time the Bill of Exchange was granted we were ignorant of all declarations of war, stating that we would apply ourselves in this regard to the place where we may hope to obtain satisfaction, as Your Right Honours will please learn from the letter itself annexed hereto under Letter E.
Dutch transcription
desselver Jaars hadden genegotieerd op de naamen van sja Gosaaltjent kapoertjent en sja Ka¬ „poertjent Singa, dog die door Uwel Ed: voorge„ „melde Cheff en Raad toen de Directie den 14: Junij 1781. door de Britse wapenen genomen wierd van haar effect beroofd geworden is, door het gewel„ „dadig openbreeken van het pakhuijs en het daer uit wegneemen der goederen, welke door voormelde kooplieden Berampje en Harmootje nae dat de voormelde Wissel hadden g'accepteerd in pand of betaaling derselve gegeeven of daar voor ten onderpande gesteld waaren, invoegen Uwel Ed: sullen gelieven te verneemen uit de kopije van desen onsen brieff hier bij onder lust Hoe seer wij volgens de billikheid ook moesten verwagten dat Uwel Ed. souratse Ministerie immediaat aan dese requisitie souden hebben voldaen, soo ontwaarden wij ter contrarie uit de Missive waer mede Haar Wel Edelen ons den 7. Maart laastleeden vereerden, dat deselve deeken Eisch niet gelievden te admitteeren hoofdsam kelik op fundament dat het in den hoogsten graad onwaarschijnelik soude sijn, dat de Wisse Assignatie 495 Assignatie of Overwijsing in quaestie soude sijn gemaekt, bevoorens de vijandelikheeden tusschen Engeland en Holland alhier waeren aangevangen, of dat er een order soude sijn gegeeven ter beschikking over goederen in souratta welke blijkbaar waaren geschikt ter vervoering enz: En vermits wij uit den teneur van voorschre„ „ven brieff, welkers kopie hier bij gaat onder Litt„a B: vermeenden te moeten onderstellen dat alle swarigheeden souden sijn reggenomen, soo ras het in onse vermogen was om aan te toonen, dat de Wissel of Assignatie in quaestie is verleend niet na dat de vijande= „likheeden teegen de Hollanders alhier waaren aangevangen maar in tegendeel op een tijd ƒ dat wij daer toe een onwedersprekelik regt hadden schreeven wij hier toe aen meergedagten UwelEd. Cheff en Raad alhier de Missive gedateerd den 16. van de voormelde maand Maart van welke wij d' eer hebben een kopie deesen bij te voegen onder Litta E: bij dewelke wij dit, soo wel als dat de Wissel door Haar Edelen gedrag van haar effect beroofd geworden is wanneer wanneer de pakhuijsen met geweld open gebroo= „ken en de goederen weg genomen hebben welke in voldoening of onderpand van deselve gegeeven waaren, sona Meridiana clarius hebben aan= „getoond, niet alleen maer bij dewelke wij haar Edelens ook nog tot een onwedersprekelik bewijs, hebben doen toekomen Autentique Copien 1=m uit de Wissel: selve zodanig als die op kooplieden en de Lijwaat Leveranciers van de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie Be= rampje Suraatje en Harmootje Rettingie, aan de Erfgenaamen van den Benjaans Koopman Baijsa verleend en tot dit ogenblik in hunne besittinge is gedateerd den 9. Junij 1781. 2de uit de order op de voorsch: Leveram „ciers om de voorschreven Wissel aan gedagte Erfgenaamen te voldoen uit het geene sij onder sig hadden van de geseide Edele Nederlande Compagnie: en 3=te uit de Edelike verkla- ringe van den ter dier tijd sijnde secretaris onser vergadering Egbert Nicolaas Wiardi dat de voorschreven Wissel aan de Erfge„ „naamen nag N 497 3 „naamen van Baijsa aan haar eigen woning hadde overhandigd en bij deselve aangenomen was, des morgens van den 10. Junij 1781. en dus vijff daagen bevorens men van eenige vijande= „likheeden tusschen Groot-Brittannien en de Republijcq van Holland vernomen had welke drie stukken gevoegd sijn geweest bij voormelde missive onder de Nummers s. 2. en 3. soo als ook mede hier nevens gaan. Wij konden dus niet anders als ons ten hoogsten verwonderen, wanneer in steede van eene vaardige toestemming overeenkomstig de billigheid, haar Edelen bij derselver letteren van den 21. Maart voormeld hier bij gevoegd onder Litt=a D: gelievden goed te vinden om een andere hinderpaal in den weg te werpen, en onder voorgeeven dat de Assig= „natie of overwijsing soude geschied sijn ingevolge en nae dat de Declaratie van Oorlog te Bom„ baij gepubliceerd was bij haere weigering te volherden. Eene stellinge die ons WelEdele Groot Agt= „baare Heer en Heeren soo vreemd in de Ooren klonk wanneer wij in aenschouw namen, van welke gevolgen deselve sijn soude, soo alle beschikkingen beschikkingen welke eenig onderdaan over sijne eigendommen maaken mogte van de tijd dat de Oorlog aan sijnen Souverain verklaard was tot het ogenblik dat het lot des oorlogs hem tot eene krygsgevangene maekte nietig en van geene waarde sijn moesten, en die ons een klaar deed sien dat Haar Edelen voornemens waa= ren bij haere weigering te persisteeren onder welke swakke en nietige voorwendsels sulx ook sijn mogte, alwaaromme wij dan genoodsaakt wierden gemelden Heere Cheff en Raed bij onse brieff van den 26. van veel maalen genoemde Maend Maert, onder vertoning van het voorengemelde en plegti„ „ge verklaringe dat wij ten tijde de Wissel verleend is, onkundig sijn geweest van alle verklaringen van Oorlog te rescribeeren dat wij ons hier omtrend souden vervoegen ter plaatse alwaar wij verhoopen mogen voldoeninge te sullen erlangen, invoege Uwel„ „Edele Groot-Agtbaere sullen gelieven te ver„ neemen uit de Missive selven hier annex on= „der Litt=a E. nag N. F
English
And it is a consequence of this necessity that we take the liberty of addressing this to Your Right Honourable, with an urgent request that Your Right Honourable will be pleased to give the necessary orders, or otherwise make arrangements, so that the Honourable Dutch Company may be indemnified for the amount of the aforementioned bill of exchange or assignment to the sum of one hundred thousand rupees, with interest, which, as aforesaid, has been deprived of its effect by Your Right Honourable's Chief and Council here. Although we also in no way doubt that Your Right Honourable will be abundantly convinced, from this enclosed correspondence between your ministry here and us, of the validity of the right of the Honourable Dutch Company to the requested compensation, we hope that Your Right Honourable will forgive us if we briefly reiterate here: That we issued this bill of exchange at a time when we had the most indisputable right to dispose of the property and possessions of our Masters, without the arguments brought against it by the Surat Chief and Council having any force or application. For the unusualness of making arrangements concerning, and disposing of, goods in the Indies or at the place where they were made that have been prepared to be transported, in no way detracts from the right that everyone has to alienate goods or surrender them for debts at the very place where they were manufactured. And no one in their right mind will maintain that someone is not permitted to dispose of their property as long as they have not been deprived of their natural freedom. Furthermore, the disposition made by us over the goods of the Honourable Dutch Company was very proper and natural; indeed, it could never have been otherwise. For although we could not possibly imagine anything other than that we and the Company's goods in Surat were safe and protected against all eventualities, even if there were a rupture between England and Holland in Europe—of which, it is true, there was not much uncertain whispering—both in view of the former well-known neutrality of this place, and especially because Your Honours, in the capacity of Governor of the Castle, have taken it upon yourselves and have very expressly and solemnly engaged to guarantee and protect us in the prerogatives and privileges that we have obtained here from the Mughals, among which certainly that of complete safety is the first and foremost. Nevertheless, it is neither absurd nor unnatural that we took into consideration the difficulty that there must be in sending the goods there in case of a rupture in Europe, and subsequently decided to satisfy what we owed to the House of Bhaijsa by a bill of exchange on the suppliers, so as to be paid by them from those goods and funds belonging to the Company that were in their custody. This was done long before the Dutch possessions in Surat were taken by British arms, and it was deemed fit to remove by force those same goods, which had already been given as a pledge and satisfaction for the bill of exchange in question, and to break open the warehouse for that purpose by force and against the repeated protests of the aforementioned heirs of Bhaijsa, into whose possession the aforesaid goods had already been placed. With which we have the honour to be, with respect, Right Honourable Sir and Sirs, Your Right Honourable's most humble and obedient servants, Signed: A: I. Sluijsken, M. Monté, E. N. Wiardi, I: J: van Polanen de bevere, Es Meijer, G. Piper, C: A: van Eijk, G: C: Roeff. In the margin: Surat, 9 May 1786. Agrees: Van Polanen de bevere. Ms: Isaaks sem To Abraham Josias Sluysken, Esqre Director &ca Council for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat On the 20th Instant we were honored with your Letter of the 9th, claiming from the Honble English East India Company payment of the Bill of Exchange for one Hundred Thousand Rupees granted by you on the 9th June 1781 to the Heirs of the deceased Banyan Merchant Baysa on the Linen Providers for the Noble Netherlands Company Byramjee Sorabjee & Hurmerjee Ruttonyee. In reply to which we have the honor to acquaint you, that previous to the goods in question being taken for the use of our Honble Employers, the Heirs of Baysas claim upon them was fully investigated, when it appeared by their voluntary declarations, that they could procure neither acceptance or Payment of the Bill of Exchange you had granted them on your Linen Providers, which was fully corroborated by the Bill not being accepted & of course in default thereof could be of no validity whatever, and further, when the Heirs of Baysa were called before our Council at Surat, they likewise truly declared that they were never put into actual possession of the goods, said to have been conveyed to them in payment, nor did there appear on the Interest Bond in their possession (which they produced) any Indorsement or Discharge thereon, to the Noble Netherlands Company for any part thereof, in consequence of which, the Goods became unquestionably the property of our Honble Employers on the Capture of your Factory & were accordingly taken possession of as such. We have the honor to be Gentlemen your most obedient Humble servants Signed: R: H: Boddam, L:d Nilson, Rob:t Sparks and Rich: Church for the true Copy Van Polanen de bevere Secr: G Bombay Castle Polt. & Secret Depart. 31st May 1786. B
Dutch transcription
4 99 13 En het is een gevolg van deese noodsakelik= „heid dat wij de vrijheid neemen deesen aen Uwel= „Edele Groot-Agtbaare te rigten, met instantig versoek dat Uw WelEdele Groot-Agtbaare de nodige beveelen gelieven te geeven ofte andersints ordre stellen, dat de Edele Nederlandse Compag„ „nie worde schadeloos gesteld voor het bedraagen der meergedagte wissel of Assignatie tot eene somma van Een mael honderd duijsend ropijen met den Jnteresse, welke door Uwel Edelen Cheff en Raad alhier als voorseid van haer effect beroofd geworden is. Off Schoon wij ook geensints twijffelen of Uwel Ed: Groot-Agtbaare sullen uit desen bij gevoegde Correspondentie tusschen derselver Ministerie alhier en ons overvloedig overtuigd worden van de gegrondheid van het regt van de Edele Nederlandse Compagnie tot de gevraeg¬ „de vergoeding soo hoopen wij dat uwel Edele ons sullen vergeeven wanneer wij kortelik in deesen repeteeren Dat wij deese Wissel hebben verleend op een tijd dat wij een aller onwedersprekelijkst regt hadden hadden, om over de eigendommen en de besittin= „gen onser Meesteren te beschikken, sonder dat de daar tegen ingebragte redenen van den Heere souratsen Cheff en Raad van eenig vermogen of Applicatie sijn kunnen want de ongewoon¬ heid om in Indien of wel op de plaats daar se gemaakt sijn schikkingen te maaken over en sig te ontdoen van goederen die om vervoerd te worden in gereedheid sijn gebragt, beneemd niets van het regt dat een jeder heeft om de goederen weder van de hand te setten of voor schulden afte staan ter selver plaatse daar die aangemaakt sijn en niemand van gesonde Sinnen sal staande houden, dat het jemand niet toege¬ „laten is over sijne goederen te disponeeren so lan= „ge hem sijne natuurlike vrijheid niet beno= men is, buiten dat de door onse gemaakte dispositie over de goederen van de Edele Neder„ „landse Compagnie seer eigen en natuurlik is ja nimmer anders sijn konde want schoon wij met geene mogelikheid ons iets anders kon„ den voorstellen als dat wij en de goederen van de maetschappije te suratta veilig en tegen alles gedegt waeren, al was er ook eene Rupture tusschen tusschen Engeland en Holland in Europa, waar van men het is waar schoon niet veel onsekerheid mompelde, uit hoofde soo wel van de voormalige bekende neutraliteit van deese plaats, als wel voornamentlik om dat UwelEdelen in de quali= teit van Gouverneur van het kasteel op sig genomen en sig wel expresselik en plegtig ver= bonden hebben om ons bij de voorregten en pri= „vilegien die wij alhier van de Mogols hebben verkreigen en waar onder sekerlik dat van eene volkomene veiligheid wel de eerste en de voornaemste is, te guarandeeren en te bewaaren, soo is het egter niet ongerijmd nog onnatuir= „lik, dat wij in overweging namen de swaarig „heid die er sijn moeste om in Cas van een Rupture in Europa de goederen derwaarts te senden, en vervolgens besloten om het geene wij aan het Huis van Bhaijsa schuldig waaren te voldoen door een Wissel op de Leve¬ „ranciers om bij deese uit die goederen en gelden welke van de maetschappije onder sig hadden te worden betaald, soo als ook geschied is lang bevoorens de Hollandse besittingen te souratta door de Britsche wapenen genomen wierden, en men Nagesien men goed vond om dieselve goederen, welke reets in pand en voldoening van de Wissel in Questie gegeeven waaren met geweld weg te neemen en om daar toe met force en tegen de herhaalde protestatien van de voorseide Erfgenamen van Baijsa in welkers besittinge de voorschreeven goederen bereets gesteld waaren, het pakhuijs te doen open te breeken. Waar mede wij de Eer hebben met respect te sijn /:onderstond:/ Wel Edele Grootagtbaare Heer en Heeren /:Lager./ UwelEdele Groot Agtbaares seer Ootmoedige en onderdanige Dienaeren /:was geteekend/ A: I. Sluijsken, M= Monté, E. N. Wiardi, I: J: van Polanen de bevere, E„s Meijer, G. Piper, C: A: van Eijk, G: C: Roeff /:in margine:/ Souratta den 9. Meij 1786. Accordeert Van Polanen de beverg. Ms: Isaaks sem T0 Abraham Josias Sluysken, Esqre Directori &ea Council for the Affairs of the Dutch Nation at Surat On the 20sth. Instant we were honored with your Letter of the 9th., claiming from the Honble English East India Company payment of the Bill of Exchange for one Hundred Thousand Rupces granted by you on the 9th. June 1781; to the Heirs of the deceased Banyan Merchant Baysa on the Linen Providers for the Noble Nether¬ „lands Company Byramjee sorabjee & Hur„ merjee Ruttonyee. In reply to which we have the honor to acquaint you, that pre- „vious to the goods in question being taken for the use of our Honble Employers the Gentlemen. Heirs Heirs of Baysas claim upon them was fully investigated when it appeared by their voluntary declarations, that they could procure neither acceptance or Payment of the Bill of Eschan- ge you had granted them on your Linen Providers which was fully corroborated by the Bill not being accepted & of course in default there of could be of no validity whatever, and further, when the Heirs of Baysa were cal„ led before our Council at Swrat, they likewise tredly declared that they were never put into actual possession of the goods, said to have been conveijed to them in payment, nor did there appear on the Interest Bond in their possession (which they produced) any Indorse¬ ment or Discharge there on, to the Noble Netherlands Company for any part there of in consequence of which, the Goods became unquestionally the property of our Houble Employers on the Capture of your Factory & were 305 & were accordingly taken possession of as such We have the honor to be Gentlemen. your most obedient Humble servants /:signed:/ R: H: Bodelam, L:d Nilson, Rob:t Sparks en Rich: Church for the trua Copy Van Polanen de bevere Sew: G Bombay Castle Polt. & secret De part. 31. 't May 1786. B