VOC English

Dutch East India Company records, translated and anchored to the scan.

Inventory 3714

Bengal · 538 pages · 252 segments · open at the Nationaal Archief ↗

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English

conviction clearly reveals the falsehood of that which is so stubbornly clung to, the previously traded monopoly, and the permitting of all sorts of violence and injustice toward the crafts and craftsmen, and the halting of the supply of treasures which otherwise flowed hither, and which now can bring about nothing other than a general hindrance and decline of commerce, to prevent which, if not entirely redress it, in my humble opinion, the nations established here in this country ought to join hands in Europe, to work out together an end to this, their own prosperity as well as the happiness and fortune of the native inhabitants of this country. In this sense, I believe that I do not judge wrongly when I maintain that it would turn out infinitely more advantageous for the Company to let the Bengal trade stand still for a year or two, or longer. In that manner we humble ourselves before ourselves and not before an arrogant, insufferable people. Through such a humiliation we shall quickly raise ourselves up again. But if it is conceded: let us show that proud Great Britain; let us, who must watch over the trade here; let us show that dominating Calcutta government our embarrassment any longer, and let us act as though we could not succeed except through them, then they will set their foot completely upon our neck, then we shall soon no longer need to hoist the Dutch flag if it should ever be lowered by them again, which now, in my opinion, was done with the intention to maintain their honor and respect as much as our power permits, or rather to strike it down with our own hands; and to leave there a people that intends nothing other than to oppress and despise the Dutch. Paragraph 149. Having hereby dealt with everything that occurred in the unfortunate commission or relates thereto, since the settlement of the account of advanced subsistence expenses to those who were regarded as prisoners of war during the war did not arise; or the Calcutta government made no application for it, and, for reasons of state, may perhaps never do so, if only to avoid other actions upon reconvention: thus I have the honor to present to Your Honorable Worships the account of expenses which, during the three months that the commission lasted, have accrued to the amount of sa R: 4515: 2 /¾: requesting Your Honorable Worships' favorable disposition thereon, with a respectful reminder of that which, see the 121st paragraph of this report, was recommended to me by His Excellency the Governor General Macpherson; I also take the liberty to give a favorable testimony of the zeal and diligence of the provisional First Sworn Clerk Teunis van den Broeck, who assisted us, both with the translation of the delivered memorials and other papers, as well as the proven skill and insight shown to me in handling the Company's affairs, for which he truly may well be recommended to the protection of Your Honorable Worships and all our High Masters. Paragraph 150. For Mr. van Citters and for myself, I dare to assure Your Honorable Worships that our handling of affairs, and my presented sentiments, originate solely from upright ideas and an obligatory zeal and desire for the general interest, and in the first place for that of our Lords and Masters, to whom I have been devoted from my youth and in whose service I already begin to grow old, without ever having had, or possibly having, an opportunity to show more cordial proofs of my fidelity for their well-being than at present. I hope at least to have fulfilled my duty and therefore request, as the conclusion of the commission, such a favorable testimony as Your Honorable Worships shall judge me worthy of: having the honor to remain with the utmost high esteem. Was undersigned: Honorable Worshipful Sir and highly respected Councilors! Lower: Your Honorable Worships' very humble and very obedient servant. Was signed: Iacob Eilbracht. In the margin: Hoegli, the 22. December 1785. GClercq J J Van S Kerop 15. Second Memorial under 15. Gulden 16. Further Translation of the Letter to the Lord Nawabs pursuant to the said Draft, as it was in Persian, English and Dutch 7. Answer, under the 10. of that month, to Mr. Hay 8. Further letter from Mr. Haij dated the 10. 9. Answer to that gentleman under the same date 18. Letter from the frequently mentioned Mr. Haij of the date 11. August 11. Answer thereto, dated the 12. August 12. Letter to the well-mentioned Mr. Haij of the date 18. August 13. Answer from His Honor under the same date 14. First Memorial of the Commissioners under 12. August 4. Answer from His Excellency thereto of the date 2. August 1785. 5. Letter to the then Chairman Herklots under 3. of that month 6. Letter from the Secretary Edward Haij of the date 8. of the same No 1. Instruction for this commission under 30. July 1785. 2. Draft Letter to the Lord Nawabs 3. Notification of the Commission to His Excellency the Governor General Maepherson of the date primo August 1785. The enclosures hereof are Agreed 1785.

Dutch transcription

270 „tuiging klaarlijk ontdekt de valscheid, van het geen men zoo Hout aankleeft, het te vooren verhandelde Monopolium, en het toelaaten van alle soorten van gewelt en onrecht„ „vaardigheid omtrent de Handwerken en Handwerk slie„ „den, en het stuiten der aanvoer van schatten, welke an„ „ders herwaards vloeiden, en nu niet anders kan te weege brengen dan een algemeene verhindering en verval van koop „handel, om het welke zoo niet ten eenemaal te Redresseren ten minsten te prevenieeren, na mijn geringe gedachten, de hier te lande geëtablisseerde Natien de handen in Europa behoorde in een te slaan, Een einde met elkander, haar eige welvaart zoo wel als het geluk ende voorspoed van 's Lands in boorlingen uit te werken. In dezen zin, geloof ik dat ik niet quaalijk denk, wanneer ik sustineer, dat het de Comp: on eendig voor„ „deeliger zou uitkomen voor een Iaar of twee, of Langer den Bengalschen Handel te laaten stil staan. op die wijs ver„ „neederen we ons voor ons zelven en niet voor een Hoogmoedig onverdragelijk volk. Door zoo eene verneedering zullen we ons zelve schielijk weder verhoogen. Maar worder toegegeeven: laaten we dat Trotsch groot Brittannie; Laaten wij, die al„ „hier voor den Handel moeten waaken; laaten wij dat overheer„ „schend kalkatsch Gouvernement, langer onze verlegenheid zien en toonen we, als konden we niet anders, dan, door Haar te regt raaken, dan zullen ze ons ten eenemaal de voet op de net zetten, dan zullen we haest niet meer nodig hebben de Nederlandsche vlag, zoo ze door Haar eens, weeder mocht neder gaen op te haalen, dat nu noch geschied is na mijn opinie met die intensie om zoo veel ons vermogen toelaat, Haar Eer en achting te maintineeren of ze liever met eige handen weder neer te strijken; en daar te laaten een volk dat niet anders voor heeft dan de Nederlanders te verdrukken en te verachten. — § 149. Hier meede alles hebbende afgehandelt wat in de onge„ „lukkige commissie is voorgevallen of daar toe relatie heeft, wijl de vereevening der reekening van uitgeschootene subsistentie ongelden aan den geenedie, geduurende den oorlog als krijgsge„ „vangen aangemerkt zijn, niet te pas is gekomen; of het kal„ „katsch Gouvernement daar toe, geen aanzoek gedaan heeft, en het, om reeden van staat, mogelijk nooit doen zal, alware het niet anders dan om, bij Reconventien andere actien te ontwijken: zoo hebbe ik de eere uw: EE: Achtbaare aan te bieden de Reekening van ongelden welke, geduurende drie maanden dat de Commissie geduurd heeft, ten bedragen van sa R: 4515: 2 /¾. gevallen zijn: daar op uwer EE: Achtbaare gunstige dispositie verzoekende, met eerbiedige herinnering aan het geen vide de 121 par: van dit bericht, door zijn Excell: den Heer Gouverneur Generaal Macpherson mij aanbevoolen is; neem ik noch de vrijheid om een favorabel getuigen is te geeven van de iever en werkzaam„ „heid van den ons geassisteerd hebbende p:l Eersten Gezwooren klerk Teunis van den Broeck, zoo met de vertaaling der overgeleeverde Memorien, en andere papieren, als ai mij de gebleeken vrouw 271 gebleeken kundigheid en door zicht in het behandelen van 'sComp„s zaaken, waar om hij wezenlijk in de protexie van UE E: Acht„ „baare en onzer aller Hooge Gebiederen, wel mag gerecomman„ „deert worden. — § 150. Voor den Heer van Citters en voor mij Zelve, durf ik uw: EE: Achtbaare verzeekeren, dat onze behandeling van Laa, „ken, en mijne voorgestelde gevoelens, en kel herkomstig zyn uit oprechte denkbeelden, en een schuldige iever en zucht voor het algeemen belang, en in de eerste plaats, voor dat van onze Heeren en Meesters, aan wien ik van der jeugd af ben toegeweid en in wiens dienst ik reets begin oud te worden, zonder dat ik ooit gelegenheid gehad, of mogelijk zal hebben, van hartelijker als thans, blijken van mijn trouw voor Haar wel zijn te toonen. Ik hoop ten minsten aan mijn plicht te hebben voldaan en verzoeke als het einde der Commissie, derwegen een zoodanig favorabel getuigen is; als uEE: Achtbaare mij zullen waardig oordeelen: de eere hebbende met de uiterste hoogachting te ver„ „blijven. - /:onderstond:/ E: E: Achtbaare Heer en zeer Gerespecteerde Raaden! /:Lager:/ Uwer EE: Achtbaarheeden zeer nederige en zeer gehoorzaame dienaar /:was geteekend:/ Iacob Eilbracht /:ter zijde:/ Hoegli den 22. December 1785. GClercq J J Van S Kerop „ 15. Tweede Memorie sub 15. Gulden „ 16. Nader Translaat van de Brief aan de Heeren Nawabs na aanleiding van het gem: Concept, zoo als het in Persiaans Engelsch en Nederduitsche 7. Antwoord, onder den 10. van die maand, aan den Heer Hay „ 8. Naderschrijvens van den Heer Haij op den 10 Gedateerd 9. „ Antwoord aan dien Heer onder denzelven datum „ 18. Brief van meerm: Heer Haij de dato 11. agt=s „ 11. Antwoord daar op, den 12. Aug„s gedagteekend „ 12. Brief aan welm: Heer Haij de dato 18. Aug„s „ 13. Antwoord van zijn Edele onder den zelven datum „ 14. Eerste Memorie van de gecommitteerden sub 12. Augustus „ 4. Antwoord van zijn Excell: daar op de dato 2. Aug=s 1785. „ 5. Brief aan den Heer toenmaalig voorZitter Herklots sub 3. dier maand 6. Brief van den Heer Secretaris Edward Haij de dato 8. ejus„ „den N„o 1. Instructie tot deze commissie sub 30. Iulij 1785. „ 2. Concept Brief aan de Heeren Nawabs „ 3. Bekendmaaking van de Commissie aan zijne Excellentie Den Heere Gouverneur Generael Maepherson de dato primo Aug„s 1785. De Bijlagen dezes zyn mor Accordeerd 1785.

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272 at Calcutta, submitted with the first Memorial No. 17. First letter of complaint from the Aurungs Mahanandoer and Baddelghassi No. 18. Reply from the Supreme Council to Mr. Herklots regarding his private complaints to Mr. Macpherson dated 8 August 1785. No. 19. Third Memorial of the Commissioners dated 15 and 19 August 1785. No. 20. Fourth Memorial dated 19 August 1785. No. 21. Letter to the Supreme Council dated 23 of the aforesaid month No. 22. Translation of a further letter of complaint from the Aurungs No. 23. Reply to the letter to the Supreme Council dated 24 August No. 24. Letter to the Lord President and Council of the same date No. 25. Letter from Mr. Hay dated 25 August 1785. No. 26. Letter from Mr. Hay dated 30 August 1785. No. 27. Letter from the Supreme Council dated 30 August 1785. No. 28. Reply to the same dated 1 September No. 29. [illegible] No. 30. Two Letters from Mr. Herklots dated 29 August No. 31. Reply to His Honour on both of the letters dated the last day of that month No. 32. Letter from the said Mr. Herklots dated 6 September 1785. No. 33. Letter to the Lord Governor-General for one of the Company's yachts dated 7 September No. 34. Reply of His Excellency thereto under the same date No. 35. Letter to Mr. Herklots dated 8 September No. 36. Letter from the Council at Chinsurah dated 9 September No. 45. Letter to the Supreme Council dated 26 September to communicate the suspension of the Commission etc. No. 46. Draft of a fifth Memorial designed to refute No. 37. Letter to the Council at Chinsurah dated 12 September No. 38. Reply to the same dated 14 September No. 39. Rescript from the Commissioners dated 18 September No. 40. Reply of the Supreme Council to the first four Memorials dated 8 and received 9 September 1785. No. 41. The Regulation received alongside it regarding the payment of toll to the Buxbunder etc. No. 42. List of the papers concerning the vessels Constancia and Het Gedult seized by Captain Geddes in the Straits of Durian in 1783, as they were submitted by him to the Government at Calcutta, of which have been received Nos. 1, 2, 15 and 16, namely: Letter A: Receipt from I. Toussam for the Constancia Letter B: Receipt from J. D. Plaat for Het Gedult Letter C: Copy of a letter from Captain Geddes dated 8 November 1784. Letter D: Copy of a letter from the same dated 12 January 1785. No. 43. Letter to the Supreme Council dated 21 September No. 44. Draft of an agreement and Regulation regarding the payment of customs on the Company's goods and those of private individuals to the Buxbunder at Hugli and at Patna, in Dutch and English. 273 the Reply of the Supreme Council dated 8 September, reconsidered and approved in the session of 7 October, but withheld for reasons as stated in the Resolution No. 47. Further Reply of the Supreme Council to the first four Memorials dated 10 October 1785. No. 48. The further Regulation received alongside it regarding the payment of toll to the Buxbunder and the granting of dustucks. No. 48½. Letter to the Lord Secretary Hay dated 19 October 1785 to communicate the receipt of both preceding documents. No. 49. Fifth Memorial of the Commissioners dated 30 October 1785. No. 50. Copy of a letter to Calcutta dated 16 June 1775 with an annexed Copy of the Register of the Farmans etc. which were then sent in copy to Calcutta. No. 51. Proof that the Calcutta Government is obligated to make the Dutch Company enjoy in this country equal freedom, security, and protection as that of the English. No. 52. Copy of the Advertisement that was published in the year 1775 upon complaints and request made at that time, dated 28 April of the said year. No. 53. Draft agreement for free unhindered Trade of the Dutch Company in Bengal. No. 59. Dispatch from the Supreme Council dated 8 December 1785. No. 60. Second defense of Mr. Grant regarding the complaints about hindrances in Baddaal. No. 61. English translations of letters from the English Gomastahs to the said Mr. Grant written today in October. No. 62. Farewell Address by the undersigned to the Supreme Council dated 21 November 1785. No. 63. Expense accounts of the expenditures in the Commission Annex Two receipts for paid house rent, underneath stood: Hugli, 22 December 1785, was signed: Jacob Eilbracht. Agreed, E. J. Van Nierop, Qualified Clerk No. 54. Separate Article for the guarantee of our possessions in this country No. 55. Copy of report from the junior merchant Van Midlum regarding the delivery of the Arzees to the Nawabs and the verbal reply of those princes dated 10 August 1785. No. 56. Parwanahs from the Nawabs in response to the Arzee mentioned under No. 16, received 8 October 1785. No. 57. Reply of the Supreme Council to the fifth Memorial dated 14 November 1785. No. 58. Copy of the first defense of Mr. Charles Grant regarding the complaints of the Gomastahs from the Aurungs, undated. No. 54. Checked, A. Bom A. Domburg. No. 4 belonging to the report of the Commission that had been dispatched to Calcutta in the Month of July 1785 Appendices

Dutch transcription

272 te katkatta, met de eerste Memori ingealeend N„o 17. Eerste klacht klacht schrift uit de Arrengs. Mahanandoer en Baddelghassi „ 18. Antwoord van den Hoogen Raad aan de Heer Herklots op zyne particuliere klachten aan den Heer Macpherson in dato 8. Aug„s 1785. „ 19. Derde Memorie der Gecommitteerden in dato 15, en 19. Au„ „ 20. vierde Memorie T„ gustus 1785. „ 21. Brieff aan den Hoogen Raad de dato 23 der meerm: maand „ 22. Translaat nader klacht schrift uit de Arrengs „ 23. Antwoord op de brief aan de Hooge Raad sub dato 24. augustus „ 24. Brief aan den Heer voorzitter en Raad de dato als even „ 25. „ Haij in dato 25 Aug„s 1785. „ 26. „ Haij „ 30. „ 27. „ van den Hoogen Raad „ 30. „ 28. Antwoord op dezelve de „primo septb: „ 29. „ 30. Twee Brieven van den Heer Herklots de dato 29. Augustus „ 31. Antwoord aan zijn E: op beide der brieven sub ultimo dier maand „ 32. Brief van gem: Heer Herklots de dato 6. September 1785. — „ 33. „ aan den Heer Gouverneur Generaal om een van Comp„s Jach„ „ten de dato 7. September „ 34. Antwoord van zijn Excellentie daar op onder den zelven datum „ 35: Brief aan den Heer Herklots de dato 8. September „ 36. „ van den Raad te Sinsura „ „ 9 „ 45. Brief aan den Hoogen Raad sub 26 7ber: tot communicatie van de opschorting der Commissie ensz: „ 46. Concept van een vijfde Memorie ingericht tot wederlegging N=o 37. Brief aan den Raad te Sinsura de dato 12 September „ 38. Antwoord op dezelve gedateerd- „ 39. Rescriptie van de Gecommitteerden. . „ 18. „ 40„ Antwoord van den Hoogen Raad op de vier eerste Memorien geda„ „teerd den 8. en ontvangen den 9: Sept:r 1785. ten „ 41. Het daar neven, ontvangen Reglement weegens betaaling van Tol aan de Bachsbender ensz: „ 42. Lijst van de papieren handelende over de door Capit: Geddes genoomene vaarthuigen de Constancia en het Gedult in Straat Drioens in 1783, zoo als die door hem te kalkatta bij het Gou„ „vernement zijn ingediend, van dewelke ont„ „vangen zijn de N„o 1,2, 15 en 16. teweeten L„a A: Quitantie van I: Toussam voor de Constancia „ 33: _„o „ J: D: Plaat „ „ Het Gedult E: Copij brief van Capt: Geddes de dato 8. November 1784. „ D„ _o „ „ 12. Januarij 1765. „ 43. Brief aan den Hoogen Raad „ „ 21' 7ber: „ 44. Ontwerp van een over eenkomst en Regtement nopens de ver„ „tolling van 's Comp„s goederen en die der par„ ticulieren aen de Bachsbender te Hoeglij en te Pattena, in het Nederduitsch en Engelsch. . . . .. 14: 37 van 273 van het Antwoord van den Hoogen Raad de dato 8 september, ter sessie van 7. 8ber: ge„ „resumeert en geapprobeert, doch te rug gehou„ „den om reeden als bij Resolutie N„o 47. Nader Antwoord van den Hoogen Raad op de vier eerste Memo„ „rien sub 10. 8ber: 1785: „ 48. Het daar neven ontvangen nader Regliment te betaaling van Pol aan de Bachsbender en het verleenen van De steks. „ 48½. Brief aan den Heer Secretaris Haij de dato 19. 8ber: 1785. tot Communicatie der ontvangst van beide voor„ „gaande stukken. „ 49. vijfde Memorie van de Gecommitteerden de dato 30. 8ber: 1785. „ 50. Copia Briefnaar kalkatte de dato 16. Iuni 1775. met een daar aan annex Copia Register van de Firmans ensz: welke toen naar kalkatte in Copij zijn gezonden. — 51. Bewijs dat het kalkatsch Gouvernement verplicht„t de Ne„ „derl„s Compagnie hier te Lande, met die der Engelsche gelijke vrijhed, veiligheid en bescherming te doen genieten. „ 52. Copij van het Advertissement dat in A„o 1775, op toenmaal ge„ „daane klachten, en verzoek, gepubliceert is, de dato 28. April des gem: Jaars. „ 53. Concept overeenkomst tot een vrije ongestoorde Handel van de Nederlandsche Comp„s in Bengale. „ Missive van den Hoogen Raad de dato 8 xber: 1785. „ 59. „ 60. „ tweede verantwoording van den Heer Grant op de klachten over verhinderingen in Baddaal. „ 61. „ Engelsche vertaalingen van Brieven van de Engelsche Go„ „mastaks aan gem: Heer Grant in 8ber: Heeden geschreeven. 62. Afscheids Addres door den ondergeteekende aan den Hoogen Raad sub 21:e Nov: 1785. „ 63. Onkostreekeningen van de ongelden in de Commissie Annex Twee quitantien van betaalde Huishuur /:onder„ „stond:/ Hoeglij den 22 December 1785 /: was geteekend Iacob Eilbracht. Accordeerd E: J: Van Niero p: G Clercq N„o 54. Separaat Articul, tot guarantie van onze Bezillingen hier te Lang „de „ 55. Copia bericht van den onderkoopman van Midlum wegens de overgave der Arzies aan de Nawabs en het mondeling Antwoord van die vorsten sub 10. Augustus 1785. — „ 56. Perwanahs van de Nawabs tot rescriptie op de sub N. o 16. ver„ „melde Arzie, ontvangen den 8. October 1785 57. Antwoord van den Hoogen Raad op de vyfde Memorie, de dato 14: Nov: 1785. „ 58. — Copia Eerste verantwoording van den Heer Charles Grant op de klachten der Gomastaks uit de Ar„ „rengs ongedateerd. — N„o 54. Nagesien A. Bom A Domburg. No. 4 gehoorende tot het rapport van de naar Calcatta gedecer¬ neerd geweest zynde Commissie in de Maand July 1785 Sijlaagen

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of those points which are in dispute and which we would gladly see settled and resolved, if feasible. The First of those points, and that which for the present is also the most urgent, both on account of the daily expected arrival of the ships and the supply of return cargoes being collected for the Company, and which therefore ought to be settled as speedily as possible, is the regulation of the tolls and the respecting of our Dustucks, just as has taken place by virtue of the firmans granted to us, for as long as we have been established here in Bengal. From the copies enclosed herewith of our letters dated 28 October, 26 November, and 17 December 1784, to which we refer for the sake of brevity, it will appear to you what representations we have already made on this matter, and you must make such use of them as you shall deem necessary. Under this article there also ought to be negotiated the heavy duty imposed by the English gentlemen upon the import of Batavia arrack, and you must, if possible, endeavor to effect that that which is brought in by Dutch ships, whether belonging to the Company or to private individuals, remains exempted from that impost. The second point is the free collection of opium and saltpeter due to us, or if that is not to be obtained, and the arrangements successively made by the English gentlemen in that regard must stand, a more ample allocation of those articles than has now taken place for some years. Their High Mightinesses, by their esteemed missive of 27 July 1784, have been pleased to fix the required quantity of the former at 800 to 1000 chests and of the latter at least 36000 maons annually, and have authorized us, in order to obtain the same, if it could not be otherwise, to agree to one or another condition, provided that the same could be granted without damage or detriment to the Company, or the diminution of our privileges and prerogatives. A proposal has also been made to us on this matter on behalf of the English Government, namely to pay the amount of the opium to be delivered to us here into their treasury at Canton in China. We could not, however, bind ourselves to this, and those gentlemen have decided to treat directly with Their High Mightinesses concerning that subject and concerning some other arrangements that were still to be regulated, for which purpose they intended to dispatch an express packet to Batavia. As appears from our enclosed copy of the letter of the 2nd of this month, while asserting our right to the free collection of those products, we have requested to have the plan that their Honors intended to serve as the basis for that negotiation, in order to add our considerations and elucidations to the proposals from their side; but up to now we have received no answer to this. And since it is very likely that their Honors, wishing to follow this project, will not choose to treat with you concerning these articles, you must in that case repeat the aforementioned request for the plan of their proposals, and endeavor to effect that at least for this year the required quantities of opium and saltpeter be delivered to us. The Third point is the demanding of compensation for the damage suffered both by the Honorable Company and by some private individuals in the capture of the bark the Constantia and the pantjalling the Geduld, by Captain Robert Geddes commanding the ship the Nonsuch on the 26th of June 1783, and thus twelve days after the appointed time of five months that, pursuant to the agreement upon the cessation of arms between the Crown of England and our Republic, was to take place here in the Indies. We have received news from Malacca of the return of those vessels, with a statement of what was found in them upon that restitution. Of what was missing and the further damage caused to the Honorable Company by this incident, we have had the account annexed hereto drawn up, amounting for the benefit of the Company to f 36852:13:8 and of private individuals to f 6157:10:8, which you must therefore endeavor to recover. The Fourth Point is the settling of the account that the English Government has charged to our debit on account of disbursed subsistence money to the prisoners of war in service here in Bengal, for which the High Government at Batavia has been pleased to authorize us, if an application should be made for it, with instructions to allow the aforementioned damages to serve as a reduction thereof. The Fifth point is the obstruction that our gomastahs encounter in some aurungs in the collection of piece-goods for the service of the Dutch Company, as the two attached petitions of complaint demonstrate. The first signatory has already on the 9th of this month made complaints about this in private to His Excellency the Governor-General Macpherson, but they have up to now remained unanswered. It is probable that peace has not yet been proclaimed in the manufacturing stations, and that on that account the residents there consider themselves entitled to this mode of conduct. The safest and speediest remedy against this is, in our opinion, that the same still be done, and that by a proclamation, after the example of the year 1775, it be ordered everywhere to allow us to proceed undisturbed in the collection of our requirements. The Sixth and last Point concerns the ground rents of our village of Chinsurah, in which one has both Moorish and Company's land. The Moorish lands pay the chasanna to the country, and the others to the Company, which in return shows its acknowledgment annually to the Lord of the Land with the payment of the usual general tolls and ground rents. It was to prevent

Dutch transcription

275 van die Poienten, welke ingeschil zijn en die wy des doenlyk, gaarne afgehan„ delt en vereevend zagen. Het Eerste dier pointen, en het welk voor 't teegenswoordige ook het dringenste is, zoo uithoofde der dagelyks verwagt wer„ dende komst der scheepen, als den aan„ voer der voor de Maatschappij in„ gezameld werdende retouren en dat dus ten Spoedigsten behoord afgedaan te werden, is het reguleeren der Tollen en het respecteeren onser Destekken, ge„ lyk zulks, uit kragte der aan ons verleen =de Firmans, plaats heeft gehad, zoo lange wy hier in Bengale gezeeten zyn geweest Bij de hier neven gevoegde Copyen onzer Brieven in datis 28 Octbr:, 26 November en 17 xbr: 1784. , waar aan wy ons kort¬ heidshalven gedragen, zal UE blijken welke vertoogen wi bereets hier over hebben gedaan, en daar UE Zodanig een gebruik van moeten maaken als Dezelve nodig zullen oordeelen, onder dit Artikel behoord meede verhandels te werden de door de Heeren Engelschen gelegde zwaare Tol op den invoer van Ba„ taviasche Arak en UE moeten, is het mo„ =gelijk, tragten te bewerken, dat die welke met Nederlandsche, het zy Compagnies ofte particuliere schepen aangebragt werd, van dien impost uitgesloten blyft Het tweede Point is, de ons competeerenden vrijen inzaam van Afioen en Salpeeter, ofte zoo„ die niet te verkrijgen is, en daar omtrent stand houden moet de door de Heeren Engelschen Successive gemaakte Schikkingen, eene rui„ mere toedeeling van die Artikelen als nu zeedert eenige Iaaren geschied is; Haar Hoog Edelens hebben bij Hoog Derzelver geeerde Missive van 27 July 1784 de be¬ nodigde quantiteit van het eerste op 800 a 1000 kisten en van het laatste op ten mins„ ten 36000 maons jaars, gelieven te bepaalen en ons gequalificeerd om ter verkryging van dien, indien het niet anders weezen konde, de eene of andere Conditie toe te staan, mits dat dezelve zonder s'Compagn: schaade of nadeel, of verkleening onzer te voorzlyten 276 voorregten en privilegien konden werden geaccordeert:- Van weegens het Engelsch Gouvernement is ons ook desweegens een voorslag gedaan, namelyk om het bedragen der ons hier te leeverene Afioen, in Haare kas te Canton in China te betaalen, wij hebben ons egter hier toe niet Kunnen verbinden en die Heeren hebben besloten over dat onderwerp en overeenige andere schikkingen, die nog te reguleeren zouden zijn, direct met Hun Hoog Edelens te han„ delen, ten welken einde zy expres een Paquet na Batavia dagten te depe„ „cheeren; wy hebben blykens onze hier bij gevoegde Copy brief van den 2„e deezer, onder betooging van ons regt tot den vryen inzaam van die Producten, verzogt het Plante mogen hebben, dat Hun Ed„s voorneemens waren tot een basis van die onderhandeling te laaten dienen, ten einde by de voorstellen van Hunne zyde, onze Consideratien en op„ helderingen te voegen; dan wy hebben hier op tot nog toe geen aantwoord bekomen. - En vermits het zeer waarschynelyk is, dat Hun Ed„s dit Project willende volgen, niet zullen verkiesen met UEd over deeze artike„ =len te handelen, zoo moeten UE in dat geval, het opgemelde verzoek om het Plan hunner voorstellingen, herhaalen en trag¬ =ten te bewerken dat ons ten minsten voor dit jaars de benodigde quantiteiten Afioen en Salpeeter afgeleeverd worden, Het Derde point is het eisschen van vergoedering der Schaade geleeden zoo by de E: Comp„e als eenige particulieren by het neemen van de Bark de Constantia en de Pantjalling het Gedúld, door den Capitein Robert Geddes voorende het schip the Nonsuch op den 26„e Juny 1783, en dus twaalf dagen na de bepaalde tyd van vyf maanden, dat ingevolge de overeenkomst, by de stilstand van Waapenen tusschen de Kroon van Engeland en onze republiek, hier in Indien, moest plaats grypen Wij hebben van Ma¬ =lacca tijding gekreegen van de te rueg gave dier vaartuigen, met een opgifte Hun van 277 van het geen by die restitutie daar in gevonden is, van het ontbreekende en de verdere schaade de E: Comp„e door dit toeval toegebragt, hebben wij de deezen bygevoegde reekening laaten opmaaken, bedragende ten behoeve van de Maatschappij ƒ 36852:13:8: en van Particulieren. . . . . . . ƒ 6157: 10: 8: welke UE dus moeten tragten te re„ couvreeren Het Vierde Point is het vereevenen der reeke„ „ning, die de Engelsche regeering ten onzen Laste heeft weegens uitgeschotene subsis „tentie gelden aan de Krygsgevangene Dienaaren hier in Bengale waar toe de Hooge Regeering te Batavia ons heeft gelieven te qualificeeren, indien daar toe aanzoek gedaan werd, met Last om in mindering van dien, de bovengemelde schaade te laaten dienen. Het Vyfde point is, de verhindering die onze Gomastahs in eenige Arrengs ontmoeten in de inzaameling van Linwaaten ten diensten Neder Maatschappye, gelyk de byleggende twee klagtschriften zulx aan„ =wijzen; den eersten teekenaar heeft reets den de 9„e deezser in het particulier, daar over klagten ingebragt by zyn Excellentie den Heere Gou„ verneur Generaal Macpherson, maar dezelve zijn tot nog toe onbeantewoord gebleven Het is waarschynelyk dat in de weerfplaatsen de vreede nog niet afgekondigt is geworden, en dat uit dien hoofde de residenten aldaar zig geregtigd oordeelen tot deeze handel„ wyze; het veiligste en spoedigste middel hier teegen is, onzes dunkens, dat het zelve als nog geschied en dat door een publicatie, na 't: voorbeeld van A„o 1775, alomme gelast werd om ons ongestoord in den inzaam onzer be„ =nodigtheid te laaten voortgaan. Het Zesde en laatste Point is over de Grondpag„ =ten van ons Dorp Sinsura, waar in men beide Moorsche en Compagnies grond heeft. De moorsche gronden betalen de Chasanna aan het Land en de andere aan de Comp„e welke daar voor Jaarlyks haare orkente¬ „nis aan den Heer van het Land betoond, met de betaaling der gewoone algemeene Tollen en Grondpagten Het was ter voorkoming wijzen van

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278 of all disputes and differences, completely to place Chinsurah and its inhabitants under the Company's jurisdiction, to have the Chasannah tolls and further dues paid to it, after a firm arrangement shall have been made concerning the private persons or natives, among other things obliging them to transport their goods on our dustucks, under guarantee on our part for the accounting of the dues. Being fully convinced of your abilities and zeal for the service of the Company, we leave entirely to you the manner in which to present these points to the English Government, and expect that you will successively inform us of your proceedings and progress; while, wishing you a good outcome, we remain with all affection. Below stood: Your Honours' Good Friends. Signed: Gregorius Herklots, A. Bogaardt, J. van Haugwitz, A. G. W. Krayenhoff, Jacob Eilbracht, Cornelis van Citters Aarndzoon, L. Reael de Bas, J. C. Heijning. In the margin: Hooghly, the 30th of July 1785. Agreed: C. B. Vane Kircop, Secretary, G. Clercq. 279 We would already have given Your Excellency notice of the reoccupation of our places recently taken by the English, had not various uncertain prospects and circumstances, principally with regard to conducting the Company's trade peacefully and on that footing as took place, or ought to have taken place, by virtue of our privileges before the disruption of the public peace here, caused us concern regarding the actual constitution of the government and in whom the legislative power may finally be considered to reside. We could cite very many examples in support of the authority that the English Company has long exercised over all inhabitants, among whom we also count ourselves; but, besides that Your Excellency is not unaware thereof, we see no advantage therein. The only thing we need to know in order to enter into regular and lawful negotiations, No. 2 280 is the question whether the Khalsa Sharifa Diwani, as the English Company titles itself and under which name it openly acts, entitles it to make such transactions or arrangements with the European nations established and privileged in Hindustan concerning their trade and what is annexed thereto, as previously took place with the Nawab as representative of the Emperor; whether it, holding and exercising that capacity, possesses the power to annul our privileges, and whether it ought not rather, on the contrary, to maintain the same and favour our trade, instead of prescribing the law to us and imposing taxes, entirely contrary to our firmans etc., as the intention seems to be regarding the toll once fixed for goods that we export from the country, as well as those that we may otherwise bring in duty-free, by refusing to permit the transport of merchandise within the country to and from our factories or ships except upon their rawannahs, whereas our privileges expressly dictate that for an unhindered passage thereof the Company's dustucks must everywhere be respected. Illustrious prince, we desire as little to dispute with Your Excellency as with the English concerning the legality or illegality of the character whereby they usurp authority; but, as it is our custom to recognize whoever constitutes the lawful government of the country, we request for our security and peace of mind for the future a parwana from Your Excellency, authorizing us henceforth to be able to regulate and determine the affairs of our Company and those of its subordinates with the British, whether as sovereign of the country, or by virtue of other compatible capacities; and that Your Excellency, without withdrawing your protection and favour from us, may be pleased to intervene in this with such authority and power as shall be found necessary for the attainment of our object, or the obtaining of right and justice: while we, to show how ready we are to regulate everything on a good footing, and once and for all to put an end to all discord and complaints, will at the same time that we write this to Your Excellency, endeavour through two members of our Council to enter into conference with the gentlemen of the Government at Calcutta, awaiting Your Excellency's favourable answer hereto. What more need we write? May the sun of your power never be obscured. Agreed: E. J. Vane Kircop, Secretary. Being just now arrived here and intending to proceed down on our voyage to Calcutta in order to execute a commission conferred on us by the President and Council at Chinsurah to Your Excellency and the Gentlemen Members of the Supreme Council of Fort William, we deem it our duty previously to give you this private intelligence. We beg that Your Excellency will be pleased to favour us with an answer to this, acquainting us of the time when it will best suit your convenience to grant us a private audience, that we may deliver to you the letter To His Excellency The Honourable John Macpherson, Esq., Governor General on behalf of the Honourable English East India Company, Fort William. Honourable Sir. 281 No. 3

Dutch transcription

278 van alle oneenigheeden en verschillen best, ge¬ „heel Sincura en dies Inwoonderen te stellen onder 's Comp„s Jurisdictie, de Chasannah„ Tol en wesmeer aan Haar te doen betaalen, na dat daar op, wat de particulieren of Inlanders betreft een vaste schikking ge„ „maakt zal zyn, onder anderen hun ver¬ „pligtende om op onze Desteks hunne goede„ „ren te vervoeren in caveering van onze zide voor de verantwoording der Geregtigheeden Wy laaten, als volkomen overtuigd zynde van UE bekwaamheiden en iever voor den dienst der Maatschappij, geheel en al aan UE over, de wyze hoedaanig deeze pointen aan het Engelsch Gouvernement voor te dragen, en verwagten dat UE ons successive onderrigten zullen van derzelver verrigtin„ =gen en vorderingen; terwyl wy na toewen¬ „sching van een goeden uitslag, met alle toe geneegenheid verblyven. /: onder stond:/ Uwer E„ Goede vrinden. /: wangerd:/ Greg„t Herklots, A: Bogaardt, J: van Haugwitz, A: G: W W Krayenhoff Jacob Eilbracht Corn„s van Citters Aarndzoon, L: Reael de Bas, J: C:s Heijning /:ter zijde:/ Houg„ by den 30„e Julij 1785. Accordeerd C:B: Vane Kiecop Com„s G Clercq 279 Wij zouden UExcellentie reets hebben Ken„ =nis gegeven van de weder bezitneeming onzer laast door de Engelschen ingenomen plaatzen indien verscheide onzeekere uitzichten en om„ =standigheeden, principaal ten aanzien van het dryven van sComp„s Handel gerustelyk en op dien voet als het plaats had, of behoorde te hebben uit kragte van onze Previlegen, voor de om„ =wenteling van de publicke Rust hier de Legende ons niet in bekommering bracht, over de eigen lyke Constitutie der Regeering en by wie men eindelijk mag aanmerken de wetgevende macht te berusten. Wy zouden zeer veel voor„ =beelden konnen bybrengen tot staaving van, het gezach dat de Engelsche Comp„es al voor Lang, over alle Ingezeetenen, waar onder we ons zelven mede reekenen, heeft geoeffend:te maar, behalven dat Uwe Excelb: daar van niet onkundig zyt, zoo zien wi daain geen voordeel Het eenige dat we om reguliere en wettige onderhandelingen aan te gaan, dienen N„o 2 280 dienen te weeten, is de vraag of de Chalezyh Iarisijh Dewanie, zoo als de Engelsche Com„ =pagnie zich tituleert en op welke naam zij opentlyk ageert, haar wettigt, om met de in Hindostan ge-etablisseerde en geprilviligeerde Europische Natien, over haare Koophandel en het geen daar aan annex is, zulke Trans¬ =actien of schakkingen te maaken als te vooren „plaats hadden met den Nawab, als Repre „sentant van den Keizer! of zy die hoedanig„ „heid bekleedende en oeffenende, de macht bired onze Previlegien te vernietigen en of zij in teegendeel, dezelve, niet veel eer diende te maintineeren en onzen Koophandel te favoie„ =seeren in steede van ons, gelyk de intentie schijnd te zijn nopens de eens vastgestelde Tol voor goederen die wy het Land uitvoeren, niet alleen, maar die wy anders, Tolvry komen en mogen inbrengen, de wet voor te schrijven, en belastingen op te leggen, ten eenemaal strijdig met onze Firmans enz: als niet willende gedogen het vervoeren van Koop„ „manschappen binnen 'slands van en naar onze Factorijen of schepen dan op haere Rewanahs, daar onze Privilegeen wel expres dicteeren, dat tot een onverhinderde nasjage van dezelve Comp„s Destoks over al gerespecteert„ moeten worden, wy begeeren doorlechtige vorst met Uwe Excell: zoo min, als met de Engelschen te twisten over de wettig of onwettigheid van het Caracten, waar mede zy zich het gezach aan„ =maatigen, maar gelijk het onze gewoonte is, van te erkennen den geen die 'slands wettige Re„ =geering uitmaakt, verzoeken wij tot onze zee„ =kerheid en gerustheid voor het toekomende, van uwe Excell: een Perwanah, ons machtigen„ =de om voortaan met de Britten, het zy als Souverein van den Lande, of úithoofde van andere compatibele hoedaanigheeden, te konnen reguleeren en determineeren te affai„ =renn onze Compt en die van haare onderhoori„ geen en dat Uwe Excell:, sonder zich de Pro„ „tectie en geënst over ons te onttrekken in de„ =zen gelieve by te treeden met dat gezach en die authoriteit als ten bereiking van ons oogmerk, of dierlanging van Recht en Gerechtigheid, bevonden zal worden nodig te wezen: terwyl wy, om te toonen hoe Rewy gezeed Aan Zijne Excellentie gereed we zijn om alles te reguleeren op een goede voet, en eenmaal te doen ophouden alle oneenigheid en Klachte, ter gelyker tyd dat we dit schryven aan Uwe Excell: door twee Leeden van onze Raad, met de Heeren van het Gouvernement te Kalkatta zullen trachten te treeden in Conferentie, Uwe Excell: gunstig Antwoord hierop, te gemoet ziende Wat behoeven we meer te schrijven De zon van U vermogen verduisteren nooit. Accordeerd E: J: Vane Herop Gelier Op het oogenblik hier zynde Being Just now arrived here and aangekomen ten einde onze intending to proceed down on Reize verder voort te zetten naar vier voijdge to Calcutta in oeder Kalkatta ter uitvoering van to execute a Commission confer¬ eene ons door de Heer President reed on us by the Presidend and en Raad te Sinsivea aan uw council at Chinsura to your Excellentie en de welEd: Heeren Excellencij and the Gentleme van den Hoogen, Raad van het Members of the Supremecoun„ Fort William opgedragen cil of Fort William, wedeem Commissie oordeelen wy het van it our duty previourly to give onze plicht Uwe Excell: daar you this private intelligence We beg that your Excellencij van voor af, afsonderlyk kennis te geven, wij verzoeken zeer be„ will bepleassed to favor us with „leefdelyk dat uwe Excell: onseen an ansever to this, acquainting zeekere tyd gelieven te bepaalen us of the time when it wille wanneer het Denzelven zal Con„ best sait your Conveniencej venueren ons afzonderlijke to grant us a privaté audience that we may deliveer you the te ontvangen ter overgave van The Houble John Macphesorleg Den Hoog Edelen Heer John Maephersen Gouverneur Generaal van Governor General weegen de Edele Engelsche oort Portwilliam Indische Compagnie Hoog Edele Heer Honourable Sir. To his Excellencij 281 letter de N„o 3

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letter which our Council has given to us as a Credential, on receipt thereof we will immediately proceed on and do our selves the honour of paying our respects to Your Excellency. We have the honor to be with the greatest Esteem, Honourable Sir, Your Excellency's most humble and most obedient servants, Jacob Eilbracht, Cornelis van Citters Aernout's zoon. Bernagore, the 1st August 1785. Agreed: C. S. van Nierop, G. Clercq. 282 This morning I had the Honour of receiving your Letter of yesterday from Bernagore. Tomorrow at 9 o'clock I shall be happy to receive you at the Government House. I have the Honour to be with respect, Gentlemen, Your most faithful humble servant, John Macpherson. To Jacob Eilbracht & Cornelis van Citters Esquires. For the translation: T. van den Broeck, English Translator. Agreed: C. J. van Nierop, G. Clercq. Gardens, 2nd August 1785. Gentlemen. No. 4 283 To the Well-Noble Sir Gregorius J. Herklots Well-Noble Sir. Having arrived here yesterday evening and having been admitted to Mr. Macpherson for a private audience this morning, we have the honour to give Your Honor advance communication thereof, adding that our reception, as always, was friendly, and from all appearances will meet with good success, as Mr. Macpherson assured us that he wished nothing more than to have everything settled on a firm footing, and promised us to that end to deliberate on what is necessary within three days or else after the dispatch of the Swallow, which they think will take place this coming Saturday; in the meantime we fear whether this will actually be concluded so quickly, No. 5 284 as the news concerning the appointment of Lord Macartney is certain and, although some say that His Honor will not accept the government, we believe we have reason to suspect the contrary, and that the business caused thereby will consequently inevitably delay ours. We have reliable information of the safe arrival of Straalen at the Cape and can therefore safely congratulate Your Honor thereon. Mr. Macpherson also spoke of a Dutch ship that is said to have arrived from Madras at Balasore, but we must obtain better information about that in order to give Your Honor some certain report of it. We shall not fail to do so, while in the meantime we have the honour to be, Well-Noble Sir, Your Honor's very humble and very obedient Servants, Jacob Eilbracht, Cornelis van Citters Aernout's zoon. Calcutta, the 3rd August 1785. P.S. We request that the copy translation of the sanad of 1776 and parwana of 1782 may be delivered to us as soon as possible. Agreed: E. J. van Nierop, G. Clercq. 285 To the Honourable Jacob Eilbracht and Cornelis van Citters Esquires, Members of the Council at Chinsurah. Gentlemen. The Honourable the Governor General and Council having been advised by the Chief and Council at Chinsurah under date the 30th Ultimo that you have been deputed to Fort William as their Commissaries to treat on some subjects which have not yet received the determination of this Government, and the Board having been requested to consider your representations, I have the Honor to acquaint you with the request of the Honourable the Governor General and Council that such representations may be transmitted to them, and I am also to inform you that they have No. 6 fixed on Friday next for deliberating on the same. I am with great respect, Gentlemen, Your most obedient Humble servant, E. Hay, Secretary. Council Chamber, Foreign Department, 8th August 1785. For the translation: T. van den Broeck, English Translator. Agreed: G. Clercq, C. J. van Nierop.

Dutch transcription

letter which our Council has de Brief ons als een Credenta„ given to us as a Credential, aal mede gegeeven, wanneer ds on receipt thereof we will wy dadelyk vertrekken en de eere hebbe zullen van onze immediately proceed on and schuldige opwachtigen by uw do our selves the honour of paynng our respects to Yau Excell: te maaken inmiddels We have the honor to be met alle Respect de eere hebben with the greatest Esteem /: ond:/ de te verblyven /:onderstond:/ Honowrable ser /:lager:/ Youw Hoog Edele Heer /:lager:/ uwe Excellenais most humble and Excellenties zeer nederige en zeer gehoorzaame dienaare most obedient servant /:get:/ Iacob Eilbracht Com„ van Cit, /: geb„t Iacob Eilbracht en Corns„ ters Am:t. zoon (:ter zijnde:) Ber„ van Citters Am„t zoo /: terzyde:/ Bernagor den 1 augustus 1785. nagore the 1t. August 1785. Accordeerd C: S: Van Nierop. lG Clarcq 282 Deze morge had ik de Eerete This morning Thad the ontvangen UwE brief van gis„ Honour of receiving your Letter of Gesterday from Bernagon tere van Bernagoor- Morge Tomoriou at 95 clock 1 shall te negen uure zal ik uoEds„ met vermaak ontvangen in be happy to receve you at the Government House. het Gouvernements huis Ik heb de Eere met achting I have the Honour to be te zijn /:onders:) Myn Heeren with respect /:onderp:/ Gentlemen /:lager/ Your most faithful /:lager:/ uw Edelens zeer ge„ hooizaame nederige Dienaar humble servant /:geteekend:/ John Macpherson. /: gel:/ John Macpherson /:terzijde:/ Aan Jacob Eilbracht /:terzijde:/ To Jacob Eilbracht & Coins. van Citters Ergr en Corn„s. van Citters Schildh /: daaronder:/ voor de vertaaling /: get:d T„s vandenbroeck Eng„s Translat: C: J Van Nierop: G: Clercq Accordeerd Gentlemen Gardens 2:e August 1785 Uit de Tuin den 2„e Augs„ 1785. Mijn Heeren. No 4 283 Aan den WelEdelen Heer Gregnius J Herklots Wel Edele Heer. Gisteren avond alhier gearriveert en deeze morge by den Heer Macpherson op een byzondere audientie toegelaate zynde, hebben wy de eere Uwel Edele daar van voor af Com¬ =municatie te geeven, onder byvoeging dat onze receptie, als altoos, vriendelijk geweest is, en na het zich laat aanzien, van goed suc„ „cess zal zyn, wyl den Heer Maeptierson verzeekerde niets liever te wenschen dan alles op een vaste voet gereegeld te hebben en ons beloofde ten dien einde binnen een dag of drie dan wel na de depeche van de zwaluw, die zy denken dat aanstaande Saturdag staat te geschieden, het noodige daar toe te beraamen; intusschen zyn wij bevreefd of dit wel zo spoedig zyn beslag zal erlangen vil N„o 5 284 erlangen wyl de tijdinge nopens de aanstel„ „ling van Lord Macartneij seeker zijn en, of schoon sommigen zeggen dat zin E: het Gou„ „vernement niet zal aanvaarden wy het tee„ gendeel meenen te mogen vermoeden en dat dus de beezigheeden daar door te veroorzaaken de onze noodwendig vertraagen zullen. Wij hebben zeekere onderrechting van de behoude aankomst van Straalen aan de Kaap en kunnen UwelEdele dus daar¬ meede gerustelijk feliciteeren Den Heer Macpherson sprak ook van een Hol„ „lands schip dat van Madras op Bella„ zoor zou zyn g'arriveerd dan daar omtrent moeten wy beetere informatie bekoomen om uwel Edele daar van iets zeekers te berichten Wy zullen daar in niet man „keeren, terwyl wij intusschen de eere hebbe te zyn. /:onders:/ wel Edele Heer /:lager/ uwel„ Edele zeer onderdanige en zeer gehoorzaame Dienaaren /:get:/ Iacob Eilbracht, Corn:s van Citters Ain=t zoon /:lerzijde:/ Calcutta den 3„e Aug„s 1785 / daar onder / P: S: wij verzoeken dat de Copia Translaat senned van 1776 en perwannah Accordeerd E: J: Van ierop G Clercq van 1782. ons hoe eerder hoe beeter mag worden bezorgd. van 285 To the Homble Jacob Eilbracht and Aan de Edelen Jacob Elbracht & van Citters Esqrs. van Citters schildt Members of the Council Leeden van den Raad at Chinsura Sinsura Gentlemen. Myn Heeren. The Honble the Gouver„ De Edelen den Gouverneur nor General and Council having Generaale en Raad, door het been advised by the Chief and opperhoofd en den Raad te sin¬ Council at Chinsura under date surd, onder den 30 passats, be„ the 30st Ultimo that you have richt geworden zynde, dat uwelEd„s been acputed to Fort William als Húnne gecommitteerdens as thier Commissaries to treat na het Fort william zyn on some subjects which have afgezonden, omme te handelen not yet recieved the determina over eenige onderwerpen wel„ tion of this Government, and =ke door deeze regeering noch the Board having been requested niet zyn beslist; en nadien den to consider your representations Raad verzocht is geworden om I have the Honor to acquaind Uwe vertoogen te overweegen; you with the request of the zo heb ik de Eere Uwel Ed„s kin„ Honble the Gouvernor General nis geeven van het verzoek and Council that such repre„ van den Gouverneur Generaal sentations may be trans„ en Raad dat die vertoogen aan hem mogen worden overgeleeverd mitted to them, and Jam also to inform you that they moetende ik uwel Ed„s insgelijks have ber: N 6. berichten dat den dag van aan„ fixed on Tredaij wert for deli berating on the same. =staande vrydag ter deliberatie over dezelve bepaald is Jam with great respect Ik ben met Hoog Achting /: ondersd:/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ /:ond:/ Mijn Heeren /:Lager:/ Gour most obedient Humble UwelEd„s zeer gehoorzaame ne„ servant (:get:d:/ E Hay Leer „derige Dienaar /:gel:/ E: Haij sed„r /:terzijde:/ Council Chamber /:terzijde:/ uit den Raad Kamer Foieign Department 8:te Aug„s bentenl: Depart den 8„e Aug„s 1785 /: geld: / O: gerb: DP sorter. /:daar onder:/ voor de vertaaling /:get:d:/ I: van den broeck Eng„s Jans: Accordeerd GClercq G J: Van Nierop 1785

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288 To Edward Hay Esq. Secretary to the Supreme Council of Fort William Honourable Sir, We have been honoured with the receipt of your letter of the 8th Instant, by which you inform us in the name of the Honourable the Governor General and Council, that their Excellencies were ready to take our representations into consideration on Friday next. We will take care to be ready and do ourselves the honour to wait on the Gentlemen at the place where they meet to deliver our papers in person, if we may be informed by your Honour at what hour the council will be assembled. We have the honour to be with great esteem, Honourable Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servants, (signed) Jacob Eilbracht Cornelis van Citters, Arnout's son Calcutta, the 10th of August 1785. Agreed, G. Clercq E. J. van Nierop. No. 7. 983 287 To the Honourable Jacob Eilbracht Cornelis van Citters Members of the Council Chinsurah Gentlemen, I have been honoured with your letter of this date, in which you do me the favour to acknowledge the receipt of mine of the 8th Instant, and inform me that your representations will be prepared, and that your Honours will attend the Governor General and Council in the Council Room therewith on Friday next, being the day appointed for deliberation upon the same. The Governor General being at present in the country and rather indisposed, I am not able at present 288 to receive his orders on the subject of your letter, but I am so far informed of his sentiments and those of the Members of the Council, that I can take it upon myself to inform you of their wish that your Honours might honour them with your representations before next Friday, in order that such points serving the subject may be collected from the records of this Government as may be necessary to lay the whole state of affairs open before them, and enable them to decide thereon. I have the honour to be with great respect, Gentlemen, Your Honours' most obedient, humble servant, (signed) E. Hay, Secretary. Council Chamber, Foreign Department, 10th August 1785. For the translation: (signed) Pieter van den Broeck, English Translator. Agreed, E. J. van Nierop G. Clercq 289 No. 9 To the Honourable Mr. E. Hay Secretary to the Supreme Council of Fort William Honourable Sir! We have just this moment had the honour to receive your reply to our letter of this morning. We must express our regret that we cannot comply with what your Honour proposes to us regarding the delivery of the address, which is already prepared, otherwise than in the assembly, in order that, whether the Gentlemen of the Supreme Council will be pleased to decide thereon immediately or at a later date, we may assure the Council at Chinsurah that it has served and been read in our presence. We come, provisionally to inform your Honour what it will be about, in order however to give you

Dutch transcription

288 To Edward Haij Erq.s Aan den wel Edelen, Heer E: Maij Secretarij to the serpreme Secretaris van den Hoogen Councel of Fort William Raad van het Fort William WelEdele Heer. We have been honaured Wij hebben de eere gehad with the receipt of your letter of te ontrangen uwe missive van the 8t Instant, bij which you den 8„e dezer ons uit naam inform us in the name of the van zyn Excell: den Heer Gou¬ Honaurable the Governor Gene„ verneur Generaale en Hoogen ral and Council, that their Ex„ Raad verwittigende dat Haar cellencies were to take our re„ WelEdelens gereed waren om presentations in to considera„ onze te doene Representatie tion on Fudaij nert-we will aanstaande vrijdag in over„ take care to be ready and boour„ weeging te neemen wy zul„ selves the Honowr te wait on len maaken gereed te zynen ons the Gentlemen at the Council begeven ter plaatse daar de room; if you will do us the Heeren bij een komen om onze favor to acquaint us of the Papieren in perzoon over te hour where the council will leveren, indien wy door Uw¬ be assembled. Edele mogen worden verwit„ „tigt om wat neer het verga„ dering zal wezen. We have the Honour to Wy zyn met alle hoog ach„ be with great Esteem / onder„ ting /:onderstond:) Wel Edele stondt/ Heer Sir No. 7. 983 Obedient and most humble servants zaame en zeer mederige Dienaaren /:was geteekend:/ Iacob Eilbracht. /:was geteekend:/ Iacob Eilbracht Corn„s van Citters Arm: soon /: ter„ Corn„s van Citters Amt. zoon /: ter zyde:/ Calcutta the 10„e Augs 1735 zide:/ Kalkatta den 10„e Aug„s Heer /:lager:/ Uwe zeer gehoor„ Accordeerd GClercq E J: Van Nierop. stond:/ Ter /:lager:/ Gour most 1785. 287 Aan de Edele Jacob Eilbracht C: van Citters J Schelek: Leeden van den Raad Chintsura Myn Heeren. Gentlemen. I have been honoied Ik ben vereerd geworden with your Letters of this Date, met UwelEd„s brief van heeden„ in which you do me the Favor waar by uweld„s my het fa„ to acknouwledge the Receipt =veur bewyzen te erkennen den of mine of the 8th. Inst, and ontvangst myner, letteren van acquaint me that jawe Re„ den 8„e dezer en my berichten presentations will be prepa„ dat Uwe vertoogen zullen wer„ red, & that you will attend =den in gereedheid gebragt en the Governor General & Coun„ dat uwel Edelens den Gouver„ cil in the Council Room „neur Generaal & Raad daar therewith on Friday next, meede ter Raad Kamer zul„ the Day appointed for con„ „len opwagten op aanstaande sidering the Same. Vrydag, zynde dit de dag welke bepaald is ter deliberatie over dezelve The Governor Generaal Den Gouverneur Gene „raal thans op 't Land en being at present in the Countrij onpasselijk zynde, ben ik voor and rather indisposed, Sam Jacob Eilbracht Esqr C: van Citters Members of the Council Chinsura To the Honble No 8 not 288 not able at present to receeve tteegenswoordige niet in staat /:ter zijde:/ Council Chamber /:terzyde/ uit de Raad Kamer om zyne beveelen over het on his orders on the supject of Freigen Depart t 10. t Aug. 1785. beutenhand„ depart:, den 10. Aug: 1785. „derwerp van Uwe brieff te ont„ Your Letter, but Jam 10 far /:daar onder:/ voor de vertaaling /:get:/ P„r van den broeck vangen, dat ik ben in zo verre¬ porsessed of his Lentiments, & Engl. Translat: onderregt van de gevoelens van thore of the Members of the Hem en de Leeden van den Raad Council, that sean take dat ik op my kan neemen uwel Ede upon me to acquaint you kennis te geeven van Hun ver¬ with thier wish that you might honor them withyour lange, dat uwel Ed„s Hun gelief„ Representations before Fridai den te vereeren met Uwe ver„ toogen voor aanstaande vrydag nert that such Materials may be callected from the ten einde als dan zodanige poin¬ Government Records upon ten, ter materie. Dienende, uit de Your several Requerts, as may Registers van dit Gouvernement te kunnen verzamelen, als place the whole Lubject before them, & enable them & enable noodig zyn om Hen de geheele samenloop van zaaken open te them to decide on leggen en in staat te stellen daar op te besluiten. Ik heb: de eere met Hoogach„ ting te zin /:onderstond:/ Mijn Heer /:lager:/ uwel Ed„s zeer, gehoorzaame Nederige Dienaar /:geteekend:/ E: Hay he. t I have the Hlonour to be with great Respect. /:ondersd:/ Genttemen /:lager:/ Gour most obedient, humble ser„ vant /:geteekend:/ E Haij LeeJ. Accordeerd Aan Nier op G Clercq ther /:ter 289 No. 9 Aan den WelEdelen Heer E Hay Secretaris van den Hoogen Raad van het Fort william WelEdele Heer! On this moment we have Wy hebben zoo momentelijk been honoured with your reply de eere gehad te ontfangen U to our letter of this date we Antwoord op onze Brief van are acceedingly Lorry to have heeden morgen. Wi moeten it not in our Power of Comply„ ons Leedweezen betuijgen over ing with your proposal in 10 dat we in zoo verre niet kon¬ far as concerns the delivery nen voldaen aan het geen of our application which we Uwel Edele ons voorsteld om het have in readiness otherwyse Addres dat reets gereed is, an„ but in Council, because we ders als in vergadering over are to inform the Council te geven, om dat het zy de at Chinjura that it has been Heeren van de Hooge Raad delivered and read in our en onmiddelyk of na dato Presence what ever the op zullen gelieven te besluiten Gentlemen of the Supreme wy den Raad te Sinsura kon¬ Council will be pleased un¬ „nen verzeekeren dat het gediend mediatelij to resolve there heeft en geleezen is in onze aboret or that they will presentie wy komen, om defer this to another day. by provisie uw Edele te on„ „verrichten waar over het In order however to give To Edward Hay Esqr Secretary to the supreme Council of Fort William you zal Sir.

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will treat, to set down here that it relates to the differences we have with your Government concerning the tolls, as being, apart from any other points, for many reasons the most urgent and principal one that requires a speedy disposition. We have the honour to be with the greatest respect, Honourable Sir, Your Honours' very obedient and very humble servants, Signed: Jacob Eilbracht, Cornelis van Citters, Arnout's son. Calcutta, the 10th August 1785. Agreed: Van Nierop, G. Clercq. 290 To the Honourable Jacob Eilbracht and Cornelis van Citters, Members of the Council of Chinsura. Gentlemen, The Governor General has directed me to inform Your Honours that he is very sorry that his indisposition prevents the Council from meeting tomorrow, when your proposals were to have been taken into consideration, but that an early day will shortly be appointed especially for deliberating upon the same. The same cause prevents the Governor General from enjoying the pleasure which he proposed to himself of paying his respects to Your Honours in person, a pleasure which he promises himself as soon as he shall be in a state to go out and pay visits. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your Honours' most obedient humble servant, Signed: E. Hay. Fort William, the 11th August 1785. Beneath: For the translation, signed: J. van den Broeck, English Translator. Agreed: J. van Nierop, G. Clercq. 291 To the Honourable Mr. E. Hay, Secretary to the Supreme Council of Fort William. Honourable Sir, It was too late last night, when we had the honour to receive your letter, to answer it directly. We learn with genuine regret the indisposition of His Excellency the Governor General, and that the meeting appointed for today for deliberating upon our petitions to be submitted had to be deferred thereby until another day expressly to be chosen for the purpose. We are therefore resolved, as the week is at an end, to take a trip to Chinsurah, and shall not fail to be back here again next Monday morning. We wish the Governor General a speedy recovery and the most perfect health, when we shall consider ourselves exceedingly happy to have the honour of waiting upon His Excellency. We are with all respect, Honourable Sir, Your Honours' most obedient and very humble servants, Was signed: Jacob Eilbracht, Cornelis van Citters, Arnout's son. Calcutta, the 12th August 1785. Agreed: J. van Nierop, G. Clercq.

Dutch transcription

you Jome Idea about its zal handelen, hier ter neder„ contents we beg leave to in„ stellen dat het zijn betrekking form you that it relates to heeft tot die verphillen met the differences we have with het Gouvernement over de Your Government about Tollen als buiten eenige an¬ the Dutys and that we are „dere pointen om veele redene dezirous Previourly to have het drengendste en voornaamste this article finally settled zynde dat een spoedige it being for more than ons dispositie vereischt. reaions amoungst others the most urging ond Prin„ cipal one which requires, a speedy determination. We have the honour to be Wy hebben de eere met with the greatest Esteem het uiterste respect te zijn /:ond, sir / lager/ Gourmost /:ond:d/ welEdele Heer /lager/ Obedient and humble Leruvants uwelEd: zeer gehoorzaame /getd/ Iacob Eilbracht. Comt en zeer nederige Dienaaren. van Citters Am:t zoon /:terzide:/ /:get:/ Iacob Eilbracht, Corn„s Calcutta the 10. th Aug„s 1785. van Citters Amszoon /terzyde/ Kalkatta den 10„e Aug„s 1785 Accordeerd 0 : Van Nierop G Clercq 290 The Stönble Jacob Eilbracht Aan de Edele Jacob Eilbacht Cloys Cornelis van Citters & schildt Cornelius van Citters Members of the Council Leeden van den Raad Chinsura sinsura Gentlemen. Myn Heeren. The Governor Geneal Den Gouverneur General has desired me to acquaint heeft my gelast uwel Edelens you that he is much concer„ te berichten dat het hem zeer ned that his Indisposition spyt dat zyne onpasselykheid is such as to prevent a mee„ den Raad op morge, wanneer ting of the Council to moviou, uwe voorslagen in overwee„ when yourpropositions were =ging zonden genomen zyn, to have received the Conside¬ belet te vergaderen, dan dat ration of the Boord, but that binne korte een dag zal wor¬ an early Day will beappoin„ den bepaald speciaal ter Led for the special purpoze deliberatie over dezelve. of deliberating en the same. The same cause preleides Dezelve oorzaak verhinderd the Governor General from den Gouverneur Generaal in having the pleasure which het vermaak het welk hy zich he proposed of paying his Res„ voorstelde om in persoon Uwelds pects to yjou in person, aplea van zyn respect te komen ver¬ fure which he promises hamself =zeekeren, een genoege het welk as soon as he shall be able to Hy zich beloofd zo draa Hy in staat N 10ƒ P staat zal zyn om uit te gaan en bezoeken af te leggen. I have the Honaur to be Ik heb de eere te zijn /ondersd/ Gentlemen /:lager:/ /:ondersd:/ Mijn Heeren /:lager:/ Your most Obedient humble UwelEd„se zeer gehoorzaame Lervant /:get:/ E Hay Nederige Dienaar /:get:/ E: Haij /terryde :/ Fort William /terzijde:/ Fort William den 11e Augu„ 1785 11:t Aug„ 1785. /:daar onder:/ voor de vertaaling:/ /: getd I„ van den broeck Eng„s Transl: e J Van Niero p:lG Clercq go abroad and pay visits Accordeerd 291 11./ To Edward Hay Esqr. Secretarij to the suprieme Council of Fort William Tin. H was too late last night Het was gisteren avond when we had the Honor to re toen wy de eene hadden uwe ceive your letter to replythere missive te ontvangen, te laat om dezelve direct te beant„ We are greatly Concerned Wy verneemen met wezen to find thene by the indispo lyke aan doening de indispo„ sition of his Excetl the Governor sitie van zyne Excetl: den Heer General and that there by Gouverneur Generaal en the meeting of the Council dat daar door de heeden bestem„ which was fired on this day devergadering ter delibratie for the Considering about our over onze in te doene Ad¬ proporals is deferred untill dressen, moest uitgesteld blij„ an other day enprenly to be ven tot een nadere expres daar made Choice of for the pur„ toe te verkiezene dag wy zijn pose, we are therefore resolved dus van voorneemen om ver¬ as the week is at an end to mits de welk dochten einde take a trep to Chinsurah, is, eens naar Sinsura te vertrek„ woorden. WelEdele Heer! Aan den wel Edelen Heer E: Haij Secretaris van den Hoogen Raad van het Fort William in't =ken to 2 intendig to be back again ken en zullen niet mancquire„ om mondaij moining nerto aanstaande Maandag morgen weder hier te zyn. We wish the Governor Gene„ Wij wenschen den Heer Gou¬ ral a speedy recovery to the verneur Generaal een spoedige most perfect health, when we herstelling en de volmaakjte will Consider our selves en„ welstand wanneer wy ons ten ceedingly happy in the honor uitersten gelukkig zullen ach„ of paying our respects to his „ten de eene te hebben van zijne Excellengij Excell: op te mogen wachten. We have the honour to be Wy zyn met alle Respect /:onders:/ Sir /:lager:/ Gawe /:onders:/ welEdele Heer /:lagere:/ most obedient and most hum„ Uwel Edeles zeer Gehoorzaame ble Lervants /:wangel:/ Iacob en zeer nederige Dienaaren Eilbracht, Corn„s van Citters /:avas get:) Iacob Eilbracht, Com„s Arn. ts zoon /: terzyde:/ Calcutta van Citters Arn„ts zoon /: herzyde the 12th. Augs. 1785. Kalkatta den 12 Aug„s 1785 E: J: Jane Herop Eijlener Accordeerd

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No 12. To the Honourable Edward Hay, Secretary to the Supreme Council of Fort William. Honourable Sir, Pursuant to what we had the honour of communicating to you in our last letter, we returned here from Chinsura on Monday morning last in order to await the moment when we shall have the good fortune of obtaining an audience for the delivery of our representations to the Supreme Council. We are very well aware that the regrettable indisposition of His Excellency the Governor-General is the cause of this delay, but we trust no less that you will agree with us on the necessity of finally bringing matters to a point where we may emerge from all our uncertainty; the more so because the arrival of our ships is at hand and we have already received private notice of the arrival on the Coromandel Coast of two ships destined from Batavia for Bengal, and a third from Europe at Ceylon, which consequently may arrive here daily. And as long as the disputes regarding the payment of the tolls remain undecided and unregulated, new differences may arise which we sincerely wish to prevent. It will therefore greatly oblige us if you would be so kind as to suggest some means to us by which we might attain the aforesaid earnest desire of ours, being hardly able to believe that our affairs would make no progress in case it should unfortunately happen that the illness of the Governor-General, instead of improving, should grow worse. You will readily believe, Sir, that on the one hand it is with true reluctance that we trouble you in this manner, but on the other hand also that for our own vindication we are obliged to show that we have not merely sat idle here, but have endeavoured on our part to do that which accords with the matter entrusted to us and the orders that have been given to us concerning it. We have the honour to be with respect, Honourable Sir, your most obedient and most humble servants, signed Jacob Eilbracht, Cornelis van Citters, Arnout's son Calcutta, 18 August 1785. Agreed, C. J. van Nierop, First Clerk. No 13. To the Honourable Jacob Eilbracht and Cornelius van Citters, Esquires, Members of the Council of Chinsura. Gentlemen, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of today. I have reason to think that the Governor-General will soon be at the Presidency, and sincerely hope that the state of his health may be so improved as to enable him to fix upon an early date for the consideration of your representations made to the Board. I know that he is very desirous to decide on the subjects thereof as soon as possible, and I hope it will be in my power to inform you in the course of tomorrow what day has been determined for deliberating on

Dutch transcription

292 No 12./. In consequence of what we did Volgens het geen wy de eere ge had hebben Uwel Edele te bedeelen ourselves the honour of informing you by our last letter we retur by onze jongste zyn wy Maandag ned from Chinsura on Monday morgen yongstleeden van Sinsura last in order to wait for the mo„ weder hier gekomen om te wachten ment on which we shouldbeno na het oogenblik dat wy het ge happij as to abtain audiencefor luk zullen hebben van Audientie the deliverij of our Representa te verkrygen ter overlevering tions to the supneme Council van onze Representien aan de we are fully aware that the Hooge vergadering wy bedeffen unhappy indisposition of his ## zeer wel dat de beklagelijke Excellency the Governor Geno, onpasselykheid van zyne Excell: zal is to be considered as the den Heer Gouverneur Generaal Cause of this delay butweteert oorzaak is dat zulx traineert at the same time that you dan wy vertrouwen niet minder will allou of the necepity of uwel Edele zal met ons there is in having once brought toestemmen de noodzaakelyk matters to such a Pitet as „heid van eenmaal ter zaake Aan den Edelen Heer E: Haij Secretarij to the supreme Secretaris van den Hoogen Raad Council of Fort William van het Fort William. To Edward Hay Esqr. Wel Edele Heer. Dir to 7 ten 293 to obtain a determination there te komen om uit alle onzee„ that our affairs would have affaires geen voortgang zouden 't of, more over bicause the time kerheid te geraaken; te meer hebben indien de ziekte van den no progress in Case it should infortunately to happen that for the arrival of our ships de aankomst van onze schepen Heer Gouverneur Generaal in Stee, van te beeteren, ongeluk the indisposition of the Gaver„ draws near and that we have op handen is en wy bereets par„ nor General should increase =kiglyk eens mochte verergee„ already private intellegende ticulier naricht ontvangen of twoo of our Batavia schpo hebben van de aankomstvan in Stead of decrase We bear no doubt su but uw Edele zalk wel geloovenE for Bengall having reached twee te Kormandel van Ba¬ Myn Heer dat wy aan de eene de you will admit of our prio„ the Goart of Cormandel and tavia naar Bengale ge„ kant met wezenlyke oversie '½ testations that it is with the a third from Europe Ceilon destineert en een derde uit Eu„ u lastig vallen op dereweize, ropa te Ceilon welke derhalve greatest reniltance we which of Course may be de„ geve yau so much trouble dog aan de andere kant ook t lay expected and on account dagelyks konnen binnen vallen dat wij ter onzer verantwoor„ an as for our own vindication of which, as long the diffe, en zoo lange de diffferenten ding verplicht zin te doen had we are Obliged to give proof rences about the parging of nopens de betaaling der Tollen taat we have not remained blyken dat we hier niet en„ Dutys are not settled or regu„ ongedecideert en niet geregu„ inactive beet that on our port „kelt stil gezeeten maar van lated new differences maij leert zijn, nieuwe verphillen every endeavour is used of onze kant getracht hebbena arise which we most hearte konnen opleveren die wij perfonning those duties which dat geen te doen, het welk n by wish to prevent- wewill van harte wenschten voor te in Consequence of the Consi„ overeenkomstig is met de therefore esteem ourselves koomen Het zal ons dus zeer greatly obliged to yau ifjore aan uwEd: verplichten indien dence reposed and the orders zaak ons toevertrouwt en de Uw Edele ons eenig middel bevelen welke ons daar om„ will be so hand as to afford „trent gegeven zijn,. us some means by which gelieft aan de hand te geeven neglected. Wy hebben de eere met we may obtain the above om het voorz: ons ernstig ver„ Respect te zijn /:ondersd:/ mentioned over earnest desire lange te verkrygen: quaalijk wel Edele Heer /:lager:/ uwel Ed: 's as we can heardly suppose konnende gelooven, dat de ren. We have the honour to be with great Esteen /:ondersd: / sir /:lager :/ Gjour most Obedient thatt affaires zeer given to us ore not to be & 294 1785 and most humble servants zeer gehoorzaame en zeer nede¬ /:was get:/ Iacob Eilbrachten rige dienaaren /: waagetd:/ Iacob Eilbiacht Corn„s van Citters Corns. van Citters Amt, zoon Am=t zoon /terzyde) Kalkatta „ /: terzijde:/ Kalkatta 18 Aug„s den 18 Aug„s 1785 Accordeerd C: J: Van Nierop. l Clercq Ergrs schildt Cornelius van Citters Cornelis van Citters Members of the Councel Leeden van den Raad Chinsura Sinsura Gentlemen. Myn Heeren. Ihave the Honor to Ik heb de Eerete erken„ acknowledge mij Receipt of nen den ontvangst van uw E your Letter to day Shave Reason brief onder Heeden Ik heb reede to think that the Governor General te denken dat den Gouverneur cerll be soon at the presidency, Generaal binnen korte op de and sincerelij hope that his Hoofdplaats zijn zal en wensch Health may be so improved van harte dat den staat van as to allow of his finingona zyn gezondheid zo veel verbeeterd very eanly Time for the Conside zyn mag dat hy in staat zal ration of your propostions weezen een kort aanstaanden at the Boand. I know that dag te bepaalen ter delibera it this very much his wish tie over de door Uw Ed„s aan to decide on the Subjects den Raad gedaane vertoogen of them as soon as possible Ik weet dat Hy zeer verlangen and I hope to haveit in „de is om de onderwerpen daar my power to acquaint van zoo spoedig mogelyk te beslissen en ik hoop dat ik You in the Course of to mor„ het in myn vermogen zal row what Day is determi„ hebben uw Ed„s tusschen nu ned on for de liberating To the Homble Jacob Eilbracht Aan de Edelen Jacob Eilbracht en N„o 13/ on

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and to be able to report tomorrow which day has been appointed to take into consideration the subjects of your deputation. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant, signed E. Hay, Secretary from the Council Chamber, Foreign Department, 18 August 1785. For the translation, was signed: F. van den Broeck, English Translator. G. Clercq J. van Nierop Agreed. 295. No. 14. Memorandum dedicated and delivered to His Excellency the Governor-General and the Members of the Supreme Council of Fort William, by the undersigned Members of the Council at Chinsurah, for and in the name of the said Council. Honourable Sir and Gentlemen, Having arrived here on the 2nd instant, we had the honour on the following day to deliver to the Governor-General the credentials of our commissioned delegation, chiefly containing that we are empowered to treat with Your Excellencies and, if possible, to determine all such points as, since the reoccupation of our settlements, have already been the subject of several representations made by the council itself. 296. First, we respectfully request permission to remind Your Excellencies of what has been written on this subject by the Chinsurah Council to Your Honourable Board, in letters dated 28 October, 26 November, and 17 December 1784, as well as that of 2 July last, whereby they have renewed their claim to a free and uninterrupted trade, in conformity with the Company's privileges bearing the name of Firmans, Nizams, and Sanads. The first of those points, which is the most pressing for the present and therefore requires an immediate determination, both on account of the daily expected arrival of our ships and the transport of piece goods from the aurangs to our respective factories, is that concerning the customs and the respecting of the dustucks which are granted by the Dutch Director or the Chiefs of the subordinate residencies for the convoy and security of the same. The Firmans granted under the Great Seal of the Empire of Hindustan and that of the Emperor himself—of which, upon the requisition made for that purpose in the year 1775, authentic copies were delivered to this your respectable Board, as well as of all the other patents—allow the Netherlands Company even such extended rights and liberties as the English.

Dutch transcription

on the objects of your Deputa en morgen te hunnen benich :ten welke dag men geschikt. heeft om de onderwerpen Uwor Deputatie in overweeging te neemen. I: heb= de Eene te zijn /ondersd:/ Thosaer the Hanor to be Mijn Heeren / Lager:/ /:onders:/ Gentlemen /: Lager:/ UwEd„s zeer gehoorzaame ne„ derige Dienaar /:get:/ E Haysed„t Jaur most obedient hunn„ /:terryde:/ uit den Raad Kamer ble servont /:get:/ E: Hayses J. /:terzide:/ Council Chamber buitent Depart 18„e Aug„s 1785 Toreigen Dept. 18 Aug„s 1785 /:daar ander:/ voor de vertaaling /: was geteekend:/ F„s van den Broeck Eng„s Translateur. G Clercq J : Van Nierop Accordeerd tion 295. N„o 14; Memorandum dedica Memorie van de onder„ ted and delivered To his geteekende Leeden van de Excellency the Governor Ge¬ Raad te Sinsura, uit neral and the Members naam en van wegen die of the supreme Council vergadering gedediceert of Fort William, by the en overgegeven Aan zyne under signed Members Excellentie den Heere of the Council at Chinjura Gouverneur Generaal for and in the name of en de Wel Edele Heeren the said Council. Raaden van het Fort william. Honourable sie of Gentemen HoogEdele Heer wel dele eeren Being arrived here on the Op den 2„e dezer hier aan 2d. Instant, we had the honour gekomen, hadden wysanderen on the next day to deliver to „dags de eere aan den Heer the Governor General the Cre„ Gouverneur Generaal dential of our Commission te overhandigen het Creden„ Chiefly Containing that we=tiaal van de ons gedeman„ are empawered to Treatwith deerde Commissie, hoofd„ Your Excellencies aboet & zaackelyk behelzende om met uwe Exell: en uwel Edelens is possible to determinate alle such Points as since the te verhandelen en des mogelyk rest te 296 lead the attention of Your restoration to us of our settle te determineeren zoodanige verlof uwe Excellentieen uwEd„s ments, have often been the sub„ pointen, als waar over, zeedert Excellencies to the letters wiit„ te herinneren het geen daar Jects of the representations of de weder bezitneeming van on„ over door den sinsuraschen ten on the subject by the Chin„ our Couneil to Jour Houble =ze Plaatzen, reets verscheide ver sura Council under date the Raad geschreeven is by breeven =togen door de vergadering zelf 28t October, 26t Novbr: and 17st van den 28„e October 26 Novbr: gedaan zijl. December 1784, item the 2d ulto en 17 Xbr: 1784, als meede aan The first of those points Het eerste van die pointen by which they have venewved their die van den 2 Julij Hleeden waar which is the most wrying het welk voor tegenwoordig Claim to afree and uninter by de novo, het recht van een for the present, and requires het dringendste is en dus een rapted Trade, in Conformetij vrye onverhanderde Handel an immediate determina„ onmiddelijke dispositie ver„ over eenkomstig met 'sComp„s to the Previledges of the Com„ tion, both on account of the eischt, zoo uit hoofde van de Priviligem, dragende den pany, painted oud by the dif approachang Period in which dagelyksch verwacht worden ferent Firnaunds; Nizauns naam van Firmans, Nizans er= our schips are to arrive and de komst onzer schepen als en Lenneds, gereclameert is and Senneds the inport in our Factories den aanvoer van Lynwaaten geworden. of the Aurung dispatches uit de Arrengs naar onze e By de Sirmans verleend Those Firmaunds granted is that Concerning th Da„ respective Factoryen, is dat onder het groot, Zegel van het eender the great seal of the tys and the paying respect nopens de Tollen en het res„ t Hindostan Empire and that Hindostansche Ryk en dat 7 to the Dustuks which are pecteeren der Desteks die door of the Emperor hunselfoswhich van den Keizer zelve, waar granted by the Dutet Direc„ den Hollandschen Directeeur of and of all other patentsautken, van op het daar toe gedaan hor or the Chiefs of Me Su„ de opperhoofden van de Subal requisit, in den Jaare 1775 „ticq Copies have been delivered bordenate factories for the „terne Residentien, tot geleide Autentike Kopyen aan deze at the requesit of Your baard Security of the same dis van dezelve verleend worden. Uwe aanzigenlijke vergadering ar in 1775, allore the Netherland Company even such extended gezonden zyn, zoo wel als van Rights and libertys as the alle de overige voorzecht brieven Preveoiesly we beg leave to Voor af verzoeken wy eerbidig lead wle Engl: ige board. patehes. 2

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297 the Dutch Company is favored with just as extensive rights and privileges as the Noble English Company enjoyed before the revolution of affairs in the year 1757. The comparison of the Firman which was granted in the year 1716 to the Noble English Company against that which the Dutch Company obtained by an embassy to the Court of Delhi in the year 1712 from the Emperor Jahandar Shah will, at the least doubt, completely convince Your Excellency and Your Honors of the truth. That Firman, by which the much earlier ones of the Emperors Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb are renovated, altered, and amplified, stipulates among other things: that the Dutch, appearing with their ships at Hooghly, Pipli, and Balasore, can let the same anchor wherever they desire; that, after payment of the established toll of 2½ percent, they can and may transport the merchandise laden therein throughout the entire Hindostan Empire, or sell it to such merchants as they see fit, without being permitted to be troubled for any sekoot or rahdari or any other imposts whatever; against which they again can purchase all products which the Hindostan Empire yields, and for that purpose employ such dalals and gomastahs 298 as they judge best to be served by; that on the purchase of saltpetre, opium, cloths, piece goods, silk, sugar, wax, and other goods no more than the established toll of 2½ percent may be demanded, nor the Company be subjected on that account to any improper trouble; that the Regents as little as the shore watchmen may harass the Dutch in going and coming for rahdari, but that the vessels of the Company or of the Company's gomastahs, provided with a dastak of the Dutch Director and laden with merchandise according to ancient custom, going or coming everywhere in the districts of the jurisdiction of His Imperial Majesty, shall not be pressed or detained by anyone whomsoever; so that neither Faujdars, Jagirdars, Zamindars, nor Chaukedars by water or by land may take anything from them or cause them any trouble; and lastly that for that which is traded in the province of Bahar no toll may be asked for the second time in Bengal, but vice versa at Patna or Hooghly the established tax of 2½ percent only once, and nothing more, needs to be paid. The Nishans or patents of the lawful princes of the House of Shah Timur repeat those orders to the respective Regents and their agents both by water and by land, and the Sanads which have been continually, or as often

Dutch transcription

297 Englisch Company possessed is de Nederlandsche Com¬ That Pirmaund, by which those of a much anterior before the revolution of 1757:- „The least doubt there about may be removed and your Encellencies may be fullij Convinced of this fact by Com¬ paning the Firmaun gran„ ted to the English Company in 1716. against mat obtained by the Duteh Companys om bassador to the Court of Dilly from the Emperor Schaan daar Tjah in 1712:— rors Tjah Schaan and date granted by the Empe pagnie gefavoriseerd met even zulke uitgestrek te Rechten en vrijheeden als de Edele Engelsche Compag¬ nie genoot voor de omwente„ ling van Zaaken in Ao 1757 De vergelijking van de Tir„ „man welke in den Jaare 1716 aan de Edele Engelsche Compe„ is verleend tegen die welke de Nederlandsche Compagnie door een Ambassade naar het Dhillysche Hoff in den Jaare 1712. van den Keizer Schaandaar Sjah obtineer „de, zal uwe Encellentie en uwel Edelens by de minste twyffeling, van de waarheid volkomen- overtuuigen. Die Tirman, waar bij de veel vroegere van de Keizers Zjah Jehaan en Aureng zeeb gerenoveert, gealtereert Hurungzeeb, have beenre„ en geamplieert zyn, stapu„ novated, altered and augmen leert onder anderen: dat de ted, Stipulates, amaungst „Hollanders, met hunne schepen other articles, the follawing verscheijnende te Hoegly, Pipelij viz: That the Derteh arri „8 Bella voor, dezelve konnen „ving with thier ships at Hoog „ laaten ankeren, waar zy be„ „bij Pipelij oe Bellarore may „geeren; dat zy de daar in ge„ „anchor where they please, ladene Koopmanschappen; „that theij maij Transport „ na betaaling van den vast„ „the Merchandizes impor„ „ gestelden Tol van 2½ pro cento „ted in those ships throug„ konnen en mogen door het gan= „hout the whole Hindostan „sche Hindoshansche Ryk ver- „Empire or sell them te such „voeren, of verhoopen aan zoo„ „ Merchants as they think „daanige kooplieden als zij „proper, after having paid „goedvinden, zonder om eenige the fined durty of 22 P Cto. „sekoet of Rahdary dan P. C. „ „withant being demanded „wel eenige andere imposten „for any sekoot Rahdarij „vermoeijelijkt te mogen or any other dutys whatwer; „worden; waar en tegen zij that they are allawed to buy „wederom konnen inkoopen alla and every Product of „alle producten die het Hin„ the Hindostan, Empoie and „dostansche Ryk opleverd, daar „fer mhat purpose make eise „toe employeeren de zoodaani„ of all such Dollols and Go„ „ge Dallaals en Gomastons Meweeng en most als 298 als waar van zy oordeelen best mastahs as they may think noi Choukedaars, at water mogen worden geprest of op„ proper that only the fired du gediend te zyn; dat op den inkoop oi by band, shall take any thing gehouden, zoo dat de Pausdaars tij of 2½ pC. t shall bedeman„ van Lalpeeter, Asion kleeden, from them or occasion to thun Saigierdaars, Ziemiendaars ded from the Company on the Lijnwaaten, zynde Suiker, wasch any disturbances whatsoever of Sjaukidaars te water of prince Cost of salpetre opium„ en andere goederen niet meer lastly that no double duty shall te lande him iets mogen afnee„ Clotho, silk Cloths, raysilk als den vastgestelden Tol van be demanded of goods„ i the Bahar Province, but that Uin-men ofte dezelve eenige moeije„ the fined duty of 2 2 pictto lykheid aandoen:endeliyk dat Sugar, naar and other Goods 2½ pC„o mag gevordert, noch van het geen in de Provincie and that the Company stall de Company derwegen eenige Htoll onby be paid once vice Behaar word genegocieert not be disturbed on that onbehoorlyke moeyelykheid versa either at Hooglyo Pat in Bengale voor de tweede maal aan gedaan worden, dat de account, that neither the na and no more. geen Tol mag gevraagt, maar Chiefs nor Monhedanes shall Regenten zoo min als de strand„ vici versa te Pattena of Hoeglij demand from the Dutchany wachters, de Hollanders, in den vastgestelden Tax van 2½ Rahdary, but that the boats het gaan en komen mogen quel„ pC„o maar eens, en niets meer of the Company or of the Com„ len om Rahdary, maar dat betaald behoeft te worden. de vaartuigen van de Comp„t panis Gomastahs having De Nizans of Gunsthree„ Those orders on the respective Dustuks of the Companyand of van sComp„s Gomastahs Chiefs and thier agents both ven der wettige vorsten van according to ancient Customs met een Destek van den Hol„ het Huis van Sjah Tymoor at water and by land wee passing throughout all the =landschen Dirrecteur voorzien herhaalen die bevelen op deres„ repeated by the Nizans distrects or resforts of His en na al oude gewoonte bela¬ or Patents of the Lawfull pective Regenten en haare Emperial Majestij, shall, den met Koopmanschappen Princes of the Sjah Tymoor Agenten zoo te water als allerwegen in de Districten not be pressed er detained hause, and they are renewed te Land ende Senneds welke of het Ressort van zyn Keizer„ by amy body whomsoever door de soubahs der drie ko„ amplifijd and onplicated „lijke Majesteit, gaande of To that, nor Faurdares, by the Senneds which have ningryken, geduurig, of zoo komende, door niemand zullen Pagierdares, Ziemendares non mogen bunn R meen:

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as often as a new Nawab came to the government, renew, amplify, or explain the very costly Nesseranes granted to the Company in compensation; whereof the Lenned, issued in the year 1766 by the Brother of the Reigning Nawab Mobarek ud Doula to the Company, being very extensive, deserves no small consideration. Now by virtue of these solemn and very dearly obtained Privileges, our Merchandises are customed at Hoegly or at Pattena. Never until the past Autumn has it been demanded of us by English Collectors that we should give a list of the merchandises that were brought in or sent away again with our ships; much less have we been obliged to let the vessels lie to down the River or at Calcutta, to the considerable interruption and hindrance of our affairs and not without damage or risk, until the Collectors give permission to let them pass, and which License one could not obtain except by acting contrary to what is set down here before from our Privileges, to give a written return of the Cargo of the vessels. All that we previously received or sent away with our ships went free and unhindered up and down the River. The merchandises brought in from outside were stored in the Company's Warehouses. The Toll thereof was never paid sooner than when those same merchandises, whether on account of the Company or indeed by others to whom it had sold them, were transported from Sinsura up the River or inland to the Arrengs or elsewhere. Then first, and not sooner, was it customary to declare the same at the Toll-house at Bachsbender. With the goods from the Arrengs it was handled in like manner, namely by giving a return of the parcels that are successively delivered inward and after that date sent off with our ships. This return is made or ought to be made by a Talica, signed by the Director, of the quantity of the goods and the purchase cost of the same, which, being registered at Bachsbender, a Rowanch is issued for it in accordance with the contents of the Talica. The amount of the Toll we pay directly, whether by installments or indeed once or twice a year, according as the Fausdaars send to ask for it and one could agree with Him; firmly keeping it as a custom to close and settle the Accounts with him Annually after the departure of our ships. This maxim held firm until the breaking out of the unhappy war, whereof the Netherlands Company in this otherwise neutral Land has also had the lamentable experience. At present there is no Paurdaar at Hoegly, but an English Collector stationed there.

Dutch transcription

299 been granted to the Company menigmaal als 'er een nieu„ by the soubahs of the three =we Nawab tot de Regeering Kingdoms, in reward of her quam, aan de Compagnie in vergelding van zeer kostbaare expenseve Nersananies, as often as a new Nabobias Nesseranes verleend zyn, re¬ elected to the throne; witness noveeren, amplieeren of ex„ the Senned, granted to the =pliceeren. dezelve en waar van de Lenned, in den Jaare Companyj in 1766 by the bro„ 1766, door de Broeder van den ther of the than Governing Nabob Mobarik ud Doula Regeerenden Nawab Moba„ which, being very extensive, rek ud Doula op de Compe deservees much Consideration geexpedieert; als zeer uitgebreid geen kleene refferie verdiend In vertue than of those for Uit krachte nu van deze mal Previledges obtained plechtige en zeer duur ver„ with much enpense crepai kregene Grevelegien, worden the Duty of our Merchan onsze Koopmanschappen, te dizes either at Patna or Hoegla of te Pattena ver„ Hoogly-Never before „told. Het is nooit als in het the latter end of the year voorleeden Nayaar door En¬ 1784 has any English Col„ =gelsche Collectors, van ons ge„ lector demonded from us vergt dat wy een opgave zouden doen van de koopman= a List of such Merchandi schappen welke aangebracht zes as were imported er expocted by our ships and of weder verzonden worden met much lefs have we been obliged onze schepen; veel min zyn wij 1: to the greatert interruption verplicht geweest de vaartuige and hinderance of our offairs beneden in de Reveer of te Kal¬ and not without Loss or rick katta tot aanmerkelyke in ever te tauch withour boats terruptie en verhindering down the river or at Calcutta onzer zaaken en niet zonder and to remain there untill schaade of Refico, te laaten the Collector gave them leave aanleggen tot dat de Collectors to pass, which leave hoevever verlof geven om dezelve te laa„ Could not be obtained but by =ten passeeren en welke Lieen acting derogatorij to over Prie „tie men niet kon verkrygen viledges and geving berts of dan met Contrarie het geen the boats Cargos Every thing uit onze Privilegion hier which informertimes we voor ter neder gesteld is, een received or Tranported bij schriftelijke opgave te doen van our boats was earrijd up de Lading der vaartuigen. and dawn the rever frie Al: wat wy voor dezen met and uninterreeptedly The onze schepen ontvingen af ver„ inport Merchandezes were: zouden, voor vry en onverhin„ landed and Carryd in the „dert, de Rivier op - en af De Companys ware hanses. van buyten aangebrachte koopmanschappen wierden No Deety was ever paid opgeslagen in sComp„s Pak„ there of before thase Mer chand =huizen er of e 300 the dutij immediatelij either treert, word daar voor een Ro„ chandizes were exported from huisen. De Tol werd daar van by shares or once or twice a =wanch afgegeeven overeenkoma¬ Chinsura up or down the ni„ nooit eerder betaald, als wanneer ver or in Land, either on account die zelve koopmanschappen het Year, according to when the =tig met den inhoud van de Talica. Het bedragen van de n faurdare sends for it or as of the Campany or the indivi zy voor reekening van de Comp: Tol betaalen wer direct het we Could agree with him, al duals who bought the same dan wel door anderen aan wien ways adhering to the Constant zy by gedeelten dan wel eens It was than onby and notsooner zy ze had verkogt, nat Sinsura, Custom of Settling and leguida„ of tweemaal 's jaars na that they were enteredat the de Rivier op of binnen 's lands ting with him his annual dat de Fausdaars daar om Bachibender Custom Houje naar de Arrengs of elders ge„ accoumt immediatelij after laat vragen en men met Hem The same rules were observed. transporteerd wierden Dan eerst the departure of aur ships- kon overeenkomen; vast voor about the uureing Dispatches en niet eerder, was het gebruike n This marim hept firmuntill een gewoonte houdende om namely, in geving on accoemt- lijk dezelve, aan het Tolhuis te the breaking out af the im„ na het vertrek van onze w Bachsbender, aan te geven Met of the different quantitijs happy was by which the schepen Jaarlyks de Reekes de goederen uit de Airengs delivered in and afterwards ingelijker voege gehandekt met namelijk Netherland Companysus„=ningen met hem te sluitene exported with our ships word, l een opgave te hained so many losses in this en te vereevenen. Deze mac¬ This accaurt is made ov doen van de partijen die succes otherwise neutral Countrij xime heeft stand gehouden ought to be made by a Tolica= sive worden binnen gelevert There is at present no Taurdare tot op het doorbreeken van den of the quantity of the goods en na dato met onze scheepen at Hoogly biet there is an Eng„ ongelukkigen oorlog waar and the prince cort there of verzonden. Deze op gave geschied lesh Collector, stationed thereat van de Nederlandsche Comp„s Ligred by our Director whifl of behoord te geschieden by eene the time where our Possion in dit anders neutraal Land being registered at the Bachs„ door den Directeur geteekende bender is exchanged for a Talica van de quantiteit der were taken who Continee as. ook het beklagelyk gevoel gehad heeft. Tegenwoordig yet to trouble us about the Rawannah agreeing in goederen en het inkoops kos„ contents with the Talica=tende van dezelve, welke te bevind zich geen Paurdaar paying of dity to him, with out that eithier the Nabob te Hoegly, maar een Engel, Bachsbender zynde geregis„ We pay the amaunt of the =treet 81 e =schen E B

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English Collector stationed there when our possessions fell out of our control, continues to this day to trouble us about accounting to him for the toll, without any notice ever having been given to us or brought to our attention either by the Nawab or by the English Government regarding this manner of proceeding, nor that we could settle toll matters with him in the future without disadvantageous consequences. What is more, he goes so far as to refuse to respect our dusteeks and to declare that he can let nothing pass without his rawannah, as recently happened in the case of eight leggers of arrack which one of our subjects, provided with a dusteek according to custom, intended to send to Cassimbazar, or properly Kalkapoer, but which, to no small loss, he had to have returned after being detained for eight days at Hoogly. While we were engaged in unloading the ship Straalen, he constantly demanded a statement from us regarding the vessels and their cargoes, and in order to comply with his wishes and prevent open difficulties, we were unable to discharge them for several days because those statements seldom met his expectations. In addition, there is the apprehension that it seems intended to include the Company and its subjects under that heavy duty which has been laid by this Government on the import and export of liquors, especially Batavia arrack, which on that account would find no sale and become unsaleable, if we might not reasonably assume that, just as was always the custom under the administration of the Moorish Government, all liquors, even arrack, being considered articles of consumption rather than merchandise, the order imposing such a heavy duty, which doubles the selling price that can currently be obtained for a legger of arrack, will not be extended to what is imported thereof by the Company's ships, but that the Company and its subjects shall continue to enjoy that which has been customary up to now in accordance with the privileges or the ancient usage. As all this is now a faithful and true account of that which has been granted and customary to the Netherlands Company and those under its jurisdiction for more than a century and a half, we flatter ourselves, in the name and on behalf of our employers, that the matter regarding the respective tolls, being viewed in its proper light, can be settled very easily, since the privileges granted by the sovereign cannot undergo any alteration except by the sovereign himself, and it is not to be supposed that they will now be altered.

Dutch transcription

501 or the English Governmentesche Collector, aldaar geplaatst has ever given en any Intel„ toen onze Bezittingen buiten us that we meight with Lase, cert tot heeden, met ons lastig tij settle all Custom -mat„ te vallen, over het verantwoor„ ters with him infuturer„den der Tol aan Hem, zonder Naij what is moie the Col„ dat ons oort, door den Nawab lector proceeds so for as to re, zoo min als het Engelsche Gou„ juse to pay respect te our Dus, vernement van deze wijze tuks and to declare thathe van doen eenige kennis is ge„ ean not passamy goodswilk „ geven, of onder het oog gebracht ont his Rawannah, en in„ dat we zonder nadeelige Con„ stance here of happened sequentie, der zaaken raaken lately about eight leggers „de de Pol, voortaan met Hem konden afdoen, wat meer is, of Arack which one of our Inhabitants wished to Lend ky gaat zoo ver van het res„ up to our settlement Cal „pecteeren van onze Desteks capoie at Cossembuzaar, te weigeren en te verklaaren occompanyd only, according van niets te konnen laaten te Custom, by a Dusteek but passeeren, zonder zyne Ro„ was obliged te order back waneh, gelyk dat noch on„ agden, to his great loss, after langs gebeurd of het geval having been detained erght geweest is nopens agt Leg„ days dt Hoogly. - Atthe tinne„gers Arak die iemand onzer ligence thereof, or informed onze macht geraakten, Continie when we wene unloading the onderhoorigen, volgens usantiero„ ship Straalen the Collector van een Destek voor zien, naar always demanded on account Kassembazzaar eigenlijk of the boots and thier Cargos Kalkapoer dacht te zenden, and the landing of those goods doch tot geen geringe schaade, has been often manydays deser te rug heeft moeten laaten ko„ red because those accountr sel„=men, na dat ze agt dagen te dom met with his approba„ Houglij zyn opgehouden tion- Add to this the pre„ van de vaartuigen en haare sumption that there seems Ladingen, heeft hy in die lyd, to be an intention of Compre„ dat we berig geweest zijn, hending the Company and her met het schip Straalen subjects under that heavigtan te lossen, geduurig van ons which is laid on Liquors afpeci, een opgave gerequireerd, en we ally the Batavia arakwhich hebben, zonder hem ter voorko„ on that account can not bedis„ning van oopenbaare moeije„ posed of and which bianck of lykheeden, te wille te zyn, de Trade would be entirely an„ zelve in verschiede dagen niet nihilated if we Could not konnen ontlossen, om dat die reasonobly suppose that, even opgiften zelden aan zyn in„ as under the native Govern„=tensie voldeeden Daar by komt ment has ulways been the Cus noch de vrees dat men de Compre tom, to Consider all Liquors en haare onderhoorigen ook schynd te willen begrypen onder and even arak rather as whon onder= Pred die 302 Customs. D Provisions than Marchan, die zwaare import welke bij dat de Comp„e en Haare onderhoo„ dizzes, the order geven to Lo =rigen zullen blyven Jourisseeren dit Gouvernement gelegt is van het geen over eenkomstig met heavey atar as to double op den in- en uitvoer van Dran„ the price for which at pre„ ken, inzonderheid de Bata„ de Previlegeen ofte de aloude viasche Arach welke daar rent the arack may be„ usantie tot nu toe, is gebruake„ sold will not be erhended door geen aftrek vinden buiten =lyk geweest. to the quantehys nmported debiet zou genaaken indien As now this is a farthfull Daar dit nu alles een ge„ by our Companijs ships we niet billyk mochten and true statement of Pre„trouw en waarachtig verhaal but that the Company voor onderstellen, dat even ge„ viledges and Customs uhich is van het geen aan de Ne¬ and her subjects will Con„lijk onder bestier van het Moor„ have been in force amoeingst derlandsche Compagnie en tinue to enjoy of those sche Gouvernement, altoos the Netherland Company die onder haar Sorteeren, is rights which are Concor de usantie geweest is van alle and her subjects more than toegestaan en gebruikelyk ge„ dant wilh her Previled dranken, zelfs de Arak, te one age and a half, weflatter=weest meer dan onderhalve owe selves for and in behalf Eeuw, vleyen wy ons uit naam ges and the most ancient Considereeren als Articulen of our employers, that the en van euegen onze Commit¬ eerder tot Consumptie dan serbject of Dertij, berng Consi„tenten, dat de zaak nopens tot Negotie aangebracht dered in it proper light will de respective Tollen beschound wordende, de gestelde order be easily, settled; because the wordende in haar eigenlyk tot een zoo zevaar accups, als de prys die tegenwoordig bij Previledges granted by the Licht, zeer gemakkelyk is souereign: Connet be altered, te vinden, nademaal de verhoop voor de Legger Arak but bij the Sovereign hunself Priviligien van den Louverin te maaken is, niet zal wor =den geextendeert tot het geen and that it is not to be sup„ geen verandering konnen daar van aangebracht word ondergaan, dan door den sou„ posed that they will now be met Comp„s scheepen; maar =verein zelve en het niet te put out of force or altered dat in voorn

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presume that, since they have remained in existence for such a long series of years, they will now be rendered powerless or altered to our prejudice. We have on more than one occasion recognized the influence and the power that the Honorable English Company has on and over the government of this country's affairs, bearing the title of Diwan of the Khalisa Sharif. However, as the President and Council at Chinsurah have never been informed of the distinction between the Diwan and the sovereign or his representative, and as they hitherto know no differently than that the respect due to his character is owed to the Nawab as representing the Emperor, especially when one must still view him in that same light as in the year 1766 (one year after the administration of the revenues with the title of Diwan was conferred upon the Honorable English Company, when, as mentioned above, he endowed the Company with his sanad); it was therefore deemed necessary, at the same time it was resolved to treat with Your Excellencies and Your Honors, to give him notice of the step we were about to take and request his concurrence with his permission and to authorize us, by a parwana, to treat with Your Excellencies and Your Honors on matters that are territorial and thus not national, and to make such transactions or arrangements as we were formerly obliged to conclude with him or his authorized agents, especially regarding the negotiation on the validity and value of our privileges, as not knowing how far the Diwan is authorized to undertake anything in that regard. We have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of the letter written to each of the Nawabs separately. We trust that this precaution will be approved by Your Excellencies and Your Honors, taking into consideration how necessary it is to know in whom the legislative power resides, and that it would be improper, without knowing how far the Diwan may be authorized to act, to decide upon matters that have been left undecided by those whom they concern. We request therefore a favorable reflection on this, and that both on account of the connection of the Nawab with this respectable Government and the effective inclination of our employers to bring matters onto a desired footing, Your Excellencies will be pleased to give the prince a full idea of what is desired and sought between both nations, for the immediate settlement of everything relating to the toll that is practicable and in conformity with our privileges; in the meantime countermanding those orders by virtue of which we are troubled by collectors of that Government for the sake of these matters.

Dutch transcription

303 series of years. voorenderstellen is dat, daar dezelve een zoo lange aan een schaakling van tyd in wezen zyn gebleven men die nu krachteloos maaken of tot ons nadeel veranderen zal been respected for so long a in our Prejudice after having Wy hebben by meer als eene More than one opportunaty has offered by which wehave gelegenheid erkend de influ„ acknawledged the influince, entie en het vermogen dat de which the English Company Edele Engelsche Companie has on and over the Government heeft op en over het bestier of this Countrij, bearingthe van slands zaaken, den titul tittle op Duwan of the Challik voerende als Dewaan van Sheresch however as the Pre„ de Chalsyk Serifch maar vident and Council at Chinsura nadien de Presidenten Raad have never between the Du„ te Sinsura nooit zyn ge wan and the Lovereign or informeert van de destinctie his representative, and die 'er is tusschen de Dewaan that as yet, they have no en den souverein of syn Re¬ other notices but that all presentant en zy tot nu toe respect due to his Coractor niet anders weeten of men is to be payd to the Nabob, is de Nawab representee¬ as representing the Empiror, rende den Keiser, het Respect espeaally if he is still te becon„ verschuldigt dat aan zyn Corar„ sidered in the same laghtasin ter behoord, inzonderheid wan¬ 1766 /:one ajear after the Eng neer men Hem noch moet bi„ lish Company has been inves schouwen in dat zelve Licht ted with the Collecting ofthe als in A„o 1766/: een jaar na revenues and the tittle of Duwan: dat de administratie der when he has granted the above Revenuën met den titul van mentioned senned to the Com Dewaar aan de Edele Engelsche Comp: is gedefereert / wanneer:/ pany; it was thought necessery at the sometime when were„ zoo als hier voorgemeld staat solreed to treat with your Encel Hy de Compagnie met zijn lencies to gevie notice of our senned begiftigt heeft; zoo is, intentions to the Nobob, to re ter gelyker tyd dat beslooten quest his Permissen and Con„ is met uwe Excell: den uweled„s currance for the purpose and te handelen, noodzaakelijk to authouise us by a Perevan„ geoordeeld om Hem kennis nah to trent with gour En„ te geeven van de stap die cellencies abont those Matters wy stonden te doen en ver„ which are Ternitorial and zoek gedaan van daar toe not National ands to make te willen Concureeren met such regulations and werenge, zyn toestemming en ons, door ori ments with you as informer een Perwanch te authea= times we vere obliged to make seeren, om over affaires, die with him Lelf or his Agents Territoriaal dus niet Nationael ver: zyn esp erp: 304 wan my beauthornd to treat doen especiallij about the force and zyn, met Uwe Excell: en uw Ed„e erronaus in eisto decide mat van Zaaken te beslissen, die valve af our Priviledges not te konnen handelen en zoedaanig ters which remain as yet door den geen die ze aangaan¬ Transactien of schikkingen te undecided by those who it zelve noch onbeslist getaaten maaken als we te vooren ver¬ zyn. Conaren. =plicht waren met Hem of We beg therefore that Wy verzoeken derhalven zyn gevolmachtigde af te Yaur Excell: will faverally hier op een gunstige reflevie doen, inzonderheid de onderhan„ Cansider there about and en dat zoo door de Connedie van =deling over de kracht en waarde that you will be pleased, den Nawab met dit Respec„ van onze Privilegien als niet both on account of the Con tabel Gouvernement, als de weetende hoe verre de Dewaan nection which the Nobob effective geneigtheid van onze geauthoriseert is van daar om¬ has with this Flanble Go„ Committenten, om dezaaken „trent het een of ander opzich vernment and the realin„ te brengen op een geweinschte te neemen elination of our employers voet, uw Excelb: ter daadelijke Wy hebben de eere om Copij te bring matters on a settled schakking van alles wat no„ Ih here with a Copy of the letter van de Brief aan ieder der Na„ fogting, to geve the prince=pens de Tol practicabel en fe which has been sent to both wabs in het byzonder geschreven a perfect Idea afthe objects overeenkomstig is met onze ha the Nobobs each seperately hierneven te voegen wy ver„ mutually de wied by both Previlegien, den vorst een vol„ wo we trent that this fecantion trouwen dat deeze precoutie Nations, that there by everij komen ide gelieven te geven hie will be approved af by your door uwe Excell: en uwel Ed„s van het geen tusschen beidede thing irelating to the Customs th Excell:, not doubting butyon zal worden goedgekeurt in Natien verlangt en begeert may be regulated in Con„ of will Conseder the necessity aanmerking neemende hoe word: inmiddels Contraman¬ formity with oure Previ„ re there is to know in whom noodwendig het is, te weeten ledgen: issuing in the mean-deerende die orders uit hoofde is the legistative power resides by wien de wetgevende macht van dewelke wy door Collectors time out of force those de„ as and that it would be greatli resideert en dat qualyk zonder rections by which the Collerton van dat Gouvernement om de knawing in how far the De„ tir Wy hare the honouwre to deliver erro doen van wille be Seve there abaut. oft

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305 whether on account of toll or otherwise, to trouble us or demand more from us than we are obliged to pay, with the assurance that our superiors as well as the aforementioned our constituents will be rejoiced if matters can be regulated and determined in such a manner that regarding this, neither now nor in the future, the least harmful consequences are to be feared or expected with those who constitute the supreme power, wherefore we further request that the Collectors may be immediately instructed to allow our merchandise, goods, liquors, and other necessities to pass unhindered from now on, without detaining them on account of any declarations, because, as demonstrated, such has never been customary regarding the cargoes of our ships, and regarding everything that we transport from Chinsurah, the presentation of the dustuck that serves as a passport was sufficient, while the toll can be accounted for and satisfied as of old regarding that which is now uncertain, as soon as one shall have arrived at such a footing as will cause all concerns and anxiety among us over harmful consequences to cease, now and forever. In this reasonable expectation we have the honour to remain with the utmost respect. Below stood: Right Honourable Sir and Honourable Gentlemen. Lower: Your Excellencies and Your Honours very obedient and very humble servants. Was signed: Jacob Eilbracht and Cornelis van Citters, Arnoutszoon. In the margin: Calcutta, the 12th of August 1785. Lower: a True Translation, signed: Johannes van den Broeck. Underneath: Collated, Agreed: was signed: F. van den Broeck, Pieter Eduard Gaspard Clercq, C. D. Van der Hop. Agreed: G. Clercq. No. 15 Second Memorandum from the undersigned delegated Members of the Council at Chinsurah to His Excellency the Right Honourable Governor General and the Honourable Members of the Supreme Council of Fort William. Right Honourable Sir and Honourable Gentlemen, We now come to that principal point, namely the demonstration of the right to a free, uninterrupted trade for the Netherlands Company in this country, amongst other products also in opium and saltpetre. In the letter which the President and Council at Chinsurah had the honour to write to Your Excellencies and Honours on the 2nd of the past month of July, in reply to that from this government under date of the 27th of June prior, it was among other things demonstrated how, in order not to lose these two articles entirely, namely opium and saltpetre, or to see the Netherlands Company deprived thereof, one had been obliged, before the recently arisen war, to acquiesce in the successive arrangements made thereon and to be content with such quantities of those articles as were allotted to us by the English Company, without ever however acknowledging its right to act in such manner. 306

Dutch transcription

305 of this Government are authori wille van Tol als anderzints b. Jed to tranble en about the Iuty vermoeyelykt of meer afge„ s oe to demand moce thanweare vergt worden als wy verschul„ obliged te pay-webeg leave digt zyn onder verzeekering to assure your Excellencies dat onze superioien zoo wel that our serperions bothathome als vooirz: onze Committenten and here will be teighlypleased vheugd zullen zyn wanneer of matters Can be regulatedand de zaaken indiervoege konnen h. determind in sucha manner worden gereguleert en gede„ al that no the least bad Consegueues termineert, dat daar om„ i may be feared or expected trend nu of in het toekomende he there about with thore who met den geen die de opper„ are invested with the supreme, macht uitmaakt, geen de to power, and for this reason minste nadeelige gevolgen we further request that the te duchten of te verwachten Collector may receive imme, zijn waarom wy al verder he diate orders, from this time verzoeken dat de Collectois w to allaw a fiee passage to onmiddelyk mogen worden h all over merchandizes, Goods gelast om van nu of, onze to Lequors and other Provisions koopmanschappen, goederen op without detaining them Dranken en andere noodwen= for the sake of amy lists digheeden onverhindert te is what ever; it having, as be laaten passeeren zonder ae foie mentioned, never ban ze om de wille van de een of Sir & Gentlemen /:lager:/ Your Excellencien mort Esteem /:onderstond:/ Hlouble to remain with the greateft In this reasonable Expec„ customary to Thew anyaboect the Caagos of our ships and abaut the goos Exported from Chinsura it was al¬ ways Lufficient to shew the ters which are nau uncer„ o footing as will remove from: us all nietij &„a un cariness a bout prejudicial Consequonces. andere opgiften, op of aan te hou =den, dewyl, als vertoond, zulx nopens de Ladingen van onze schepen noort gebruikelijk en wegens alles wat wy uit Lin„ daan het behoord, zoo dra men is op een zodaanigen voet zal gekomen zyn, die by ons alle bekommeringen onge„ rustheid voor nadeelige ge„ =volgen voor nu en altoos, doet ophouden. In deze billyke verwachting hebben wy de eere van met het uiterste respect te ver„ blijven. /:onderstond:/ Hoog Edele Heer en wel Edele Heeren /: lager uwe Exeelb: in uw Ed„s Deistrcks that accompany =surah vervoeren, voldoende the Same - The dutij will geweest is de vertooning van be accounted for and paijdr het Destek dat ten gelerde dient as formerly at its proper konnende de Tol als van ouds place, as soon as Mose mat„ verantwoord en voldaan worden toin will be settled on such nopens het geen nu onzeeker Aidton andere obd„se zeer 1 7. tance we have the honour obedient and most humble zeer gehoorzaame & zeer Lervants /:was geteekend:/ Ja„ nederige Dienaaren /:was getd:/ cob Eilbracht & Corn„s van Jacob Eilbracht en Corn„s van Citters Amt zoon /:terzijde :/ Citters Amt zoon /:terzyde:/ Calcutta the 12:t Meg„s 1785 Calcutta den 12e Aug„s 1785 /:lager:/ a True Translation /: getd:/ J„s van denbroeck /daar onder:/ Gecollationeerd Accordeerd : / was geteekend:/ F„ van den broeck P„r E: G: Clercq C:D: Van ier op Accordeerd G GClercq 1„ No: 15 second Memorandum from the under Twede Memorie van de Ondergetee¬ Signed Members of the Council at Chinsu kende gecommitteerde Leeden van „ra to his Excellency te Honourable Gover den Raad te Sinsura Aan zyn Excel nor General and the Members of the lentie den Hoog Edelen Heer Gouverneur Supreme Council o Port William Generaal en de wel Edele Heeren van den Hogen Raad van het Fort William Honourable Sir & Gentlemen Hoog Edele Heer en Wel Edele Heeren We now Come to that material article Wy koomen nu tot dat voornaam point Vizt the Eight which the netherland Com de Vertooning van het regt tot een Vrye on„ pany has to a free and uninterrupted verhinderde koophandel voor de Ne„ trade in this Countrij and amoungst the derlandsche Compagnie hier te lande other Product there of in Epium and Calpetra onder andere ook in Afioen en salpeter Thas been represented to Gour Ecellencies By de brief die de president en raad by the letter which the President and Council te finsura op den 2 der gepasseerde Maand had the honoar to writte to gou under the 2d. July de Eere had aan UW Odcell: en Weld: Ultimo in raplij to ijour Javeroy the 27 Juni te schryven in antwoord op die van ditm that in order to Prevent aventire loss of those gouvernement, onder den 27 Juny besas two branches of trade the opinm and salpetre-rens, is onder andere Vertoond hoe men or not the deprive the Netherland Company om deeze beide Artikelen de Afioenen entirely there of we had been obliged to rest sa, Salpeter namelyk niet ten Eenemaalte tisfyd a bout, the different regulations made missen of de Nederlandse Comp: daar on the subject and te Content ourselves with van Verstooken te Zien, Zig voor den Jong: the quantitijs alloted to us of those articles ontstaane borlog had moeten laten wele n by the Englis Company. never houeverwe gevallen de Successive daar op gemaakt have achnouwledged herright te act in such te schikkingen en te treede zyn met zo Manner het 306

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manner, nor have we ever been satisfied with what was allocated to them of those articles by the English Company. The right thereto was however never acknowledged, much less was satisfaction taken with the unequal quantity which was allocated to us yearly from the cultivation or harvest. The Director and Council have always complained thereof, and continually reclaimed the right of the Company's privileges and the undisturbed exercise of the same. The difference thereabout was in the year 1776 left to the decision of the mutual Gentlemen Principals, without our having as yet been informed whether that has been discussed in Europe, and what the consequence thereof is. War subsequently broke out, and the President and Council at Chinsura believe that by the recently concluded peace all infractions and abuses about which one so often had to make complaint are entirely destroyed and abolished. At least the position taken in the year 1776, as if one judged the Dutch Company to possess no right or privilege to their own free collection of opium, may be maintained to be groundless and of no value, both through a more than one hundred and fifty years' exercise of that right, as well as what was asserted regarding an unlimited free trade in all products that the Hindostan Empire yields in the firman of the year 1712 cited in our first address, and even from this is to be deduced that it was thereby expressly established that of the gathered opium no more than the fixed toll of 2½ percent was to be paid for duty, which would have no connection or sense if the Emperor's intention had been to exclude the Company from the trade in opium, whereof, if the position taken is to be of any value, another proof other than the notion of the government in the year 1776 would have to be shown; before that time, and notwithstanding the revolution of about ten years before, we exercised that right in the most extensive sense; we advanced money to the assamies and our wants were supplied. It is true we met since 1762 with uncommon hindrances by these practices of others and the preferences which each separate English merchant claimed as his due, but we have always made the strongest protestations against this behaviour, although we have ever since remained the suffering party.

Dutch transcription

307 Manner, nor have we ever been Satisfijd with het geen haar Van die Artikelen door de limited Trade in al the Products of the Windsten inzaam van Afioen te bezitten mag me„ the umproportioned quantitij which was allo„ Engelsche Compe: is toegedeelt. Het legt Empire, it beeing there by Epreslij stipulated beweeren vragteloosen van geener Waar„ ted to us as our share of the yearly Prodicts. The daar toe is echter nooit erkend veel min that no more than the fijed 2½ pC:o Dutij de te zyn, zoo door een meer dan hondert Director and Council have always Complained the, genoegen genoomen met de ongelyk ma should be payd on the opium which was gathe Vijftig Jaarige oeffening van dat regt re of and theij have ofter repeated their Claimto tige quantiteit, welke ons Jaarlijks uit ted, and which Clause would have been entire als het geen wegens een onbepaalde Vrye the Rights of the Companys Creviledges and an de Cultirie of recolte is toegedeelt. De ly superflecious or bear no Connextion to the koophandel in alle producten die het uninterrupted Use there of. – The differences there Directeur on Saad heeft zig daar over former Contents, Af it had ever been the Jntention Hindostante Ryk opleeverd, by de in ons about have in 1776 been defared to the decision altoos beklaagt, en geduurig gerecla of the Emperor to preclude the Company from eerste Adres geciteerde Firman van of our Mutual emploijers without that we have as meert het regt van s'. Comps: Previlegien the trade of opium and should this idea still pre den Jaare 1712 betoogt en zelfs hier yed been informed whelter this Matter has been ende ongestoorde oeffening derzelve sail we Conceive that in support there of other uit afteneemen is, dat daar by wel hi descussed in huropa or what have been the Conse Het Verschil daar over is in A:o 1776 00h proofs but the hare opinion of this Govern„ =pres is gestatueert dat van de inge quences there of. – Wer has fince broke dit and verbleeven aan de decisie van wederzyd ment in 1776, ought to be produced, before Zaamelde Afioen niet meer dan de it is the opinion of the President and Council at =sche Heeren Principalen, Zonder dat that time and not withstandig the revolu „ Vastgestelde Tal van 2½ pC:t tot be„ Chinsura that all infractions and Misuses about wy voor als nog zyn geinformeert, of daa tions, of near ten Jaars backwards we Ree=hoeft betaalt te worden, dat geen Con which we have so ofter been obliged to Eepeat our over in Europa gehandelt is, en wat daarcised those Previledges in the most Effensive nexie of zin zou hebben, indien des ka„ Complaints, are entively remored and annihai van het gevolg zy. De Oorlog is daarop sance of the word. We advanced money to =zers intentie geweest waare om de Com¬ lated by the laete Eeestablished peace. At last uitgeborsten de President en Raad te the assamies and our wants weere supplid: pagnie van den handel in afioen uit the opinion sug gested in 1776, as if the Retherland Sinsura gelooven dat door de na onlangs It is Frue we met since 1762 withun „ tesluiten, waar van ook zal het gesus„ Companij had no reght or Priviledge to a free gat getroffenie Vreede vernietigt en op gehee common Hinderrances by these Practices tineerde van eenige waarde zyn, een hearing of opiuim, may be freely declared to be dfno ten zyn alle infractien en misbruiken of others and the preferences which each ander bewys als het begrip van het god force ortalue bolh on account of ter having expree, waar over men zoo dikmaals zyn behley separate English Merchant Claimed as =vernement, in Ao: 1776 Zou moeten ge eed those Eights mone than ohne hundred and heeft moeten doen. Althans het ge„ nis due butwe have alwaijs made the toond worden, voor die tijd en onaange„ fiftij Hears and on account of the theremns men sustineerde in A:o 1776 als oordeelde strongest protestations against thus beha„ Zien de omwenteling van omtrent tier, ttioned in the Fermaund of 1712 quoted by our men de Nederlandsche Comp: geen viour altho we have ever since remained Jaaren bevorens oeffende wy dat regt in first Memorandem abauta free and un regt of Privilegie toteen eigen tryen the Party sutfarers. den uitgestrektsten zin, wy avanceerde limited inzaam geld

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money to the Assamese, and what we needed was supplied to us. It is true, since the year 1762 we have met with extraordinary opposition through the intrigues of others and the precedence that each English merchant demanded for himself, but our side has always made the strongest protests against this, even though, notwithstanding that, we remained the suffering party. Regarding the saltpeter, for the right to our own free collection of it we would not need to look further back than the period since the Honorable English Company in Europe itself renounced the exclusive privilege that had accrued to it in the year 1758 through the then authority of Lord Clive; this renunciation occurred in the year 1761. The following year, it pleased His Britannic Majesty explicitly to command that the trade of the Dutch Company in this country should enjoy equal freedom, safety, and protection as that of the Honorable English Company, and these so favorable orders were renewed and repeated in the year 1775. The trade in opium or saltpeter is not exempted from this; on the contrary, the highly respectable orders include everything that can possibly be comprehended under the name of commerce. It is true, we have seen little or no effect from this; we have, notwithstanding, been kept in a degree of dependence that is inconsistent with, and entirely incompatible with, a free and privileged trade. One might have considered these highly distinguished orders as suspended by the war, had not the recently concluded peace restored to them the very same force, as we have previously maintained regarding our privileges in general. The Articles of Peace themselves confirm us in this opinion, so that according to the manner

Dutch transcription

308 geld aan de Assamies, en het geen wy Thee from to the Contrari those most Eespac¬ als die der Ed: Eng: Compagnie Zougenie¬ ted orders include every thing which may benoodigden wierd ons bezorgt. Het =ten, en deeze zoo favorabele beveelen zyn be in any manner Comprehended amouret Vernieuwd en herhaald in Ao: 1775, de is waar wy vonden zedert A=o 1762. een ongemeene tegenstaad door de Woelin Trade. - Htis True, ve have Esperieneedle Afioen of Salpeter handel is daar van gen van andere en de Voorrang die ry little or no Effect there of. - we have not niet uitgezondert in tegendeel de hoo ieder Engelsch koopman Voor zig be„ withstanding those directions, always been=ge respectabele beveelen includeeren geerde, Maar ook daar tegen zyn van kept in a Legree of dependance entirelydis alles wat maar onder den naam onse zyde altoos gedaan de kragtig, agreeing er inconsistent with a freeand van koophandel kan worden be„ „ste Protestatien, Schoonwe, des onaan Greviledges Trade. Ameight be alled god greepen. Het is waar wy hebben gezien de lydende Parthy Zyn gebleven that those ominend orders had been sus daar van weynig of geen Effect As to the salpetre weneed not look farther Belangende de salpeter-Het pended by the War, if they were not resto gezien, wy zyn des onaangezien go back, for the Eight to a free gathering there regt tot den Eigen vryen inzaam zouden red to their full force by the late teestably houden in een graad van afhange¬ of, but till the perriod and which the En¬ wy niet verder behoeven te zoeken, als hed peace in the same manneraswe=lykheid, welke met een Vrye bevoor glisch Companij in Europa has renounced Zeedert dat tydstip dat de Edele Engel„ have here to fone stated with respect te our regte koophandel onovereenkom the Exelusive previladge which le obtained, sche Compagnie in Eieropa Zelfs heeft previled ges in general we are Confirmed stig en ten eenemaal onbestaan in 1758 by the Authority which Lord Clive gerenuntieert van het uitsluitend Int„ in this opinion by the Articles of the Treatij baar is. Door den oorlog Lon men than had. - this Eenunciation was made -gelegie dat haar in A:o 1758 was toe„ of Peace it self because it is the absolute deeze hoog aanzienlijke beveelen in 1761. - st pleasedhis great Brittaniek, gevloeit door het toenmaalig gezag van will and desire of the sleigh Contracting konnen aanmarken als gesuspon„ Majestij to order the Next following ijeae Lord Clive, deeze renuntiatie geschie¬ parties that in the first Placa, their les=deert soo niet de onlangs getroffen that the Trade of the Netherland Company de in Ao: 1761, s jaars daar aan be¬ spective subjects Shall Contribute every Vreede daar aan weder dezelve in this Country should have aqualliberty haagde het zyn groot Brittanische kragt gaf, als wy hier voor reets Thing which may tend to the promo¬ Safaty and protesion with that of the En„ Majesteit, naadrukkelyk te beveelen ting of Mutucal Glory, Intrestand pro hebben gesustineert nopens onze glish Company, and those Javorable or„ dat de koophandel Van de Neder= fit. – Words that allow of not other dif Previlegion in het generaal De¬ ders have been rapeated in 1775. - the landsche Compagnie hier te Lande, finition but that of a Mutual obliga„ Vreedens Articulen Zelve, steaken Trade in op isgon or Saltpatre is not preelud, gelyke Vryheid, Giligheid en bescherming tion forboth Nation to proceed in such ons in dit gevoelen om naa dat there als manner de

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to be entitled to a free trade, then to please give us such an explicit declaration thereof as, if required, may enable us to see that right finally decided once in Europe, inasmuch as the reasons given on that subject in the year 1776—namely that the Honorable English Company in its capacity as Dewan was permitted to make such arrangements and regulations as it deemed expedient for the benefit of the country—were at that time contradicted by the Director and Council with this most incontestable proof, namely: that however much those arguments might in a certain sense be valid and admissible, they nevertheless lose all their force when it comes to the preservation of the privileges obtained from the Sovereign, which no one but the Sovereign himself can alter, not to mention that his representatives, whether the Nawab or the King's Dewan, instead of altering or diminishing those privileges, should rather be considered as bound and obliged to favor and maintain the same. In the express will and desire of the High Contracting Parties, in the first place everything must be applied by their respective subjects that can serve to promote fame, interest, and advantage. Words that allow of no other interpretation than the obligation to act with one another in such a manner that no one's interest, namely trade, is lost sight of, and consequently that of the Netherlands Company may be promoted, favored, and established on such a footing by Your Excellency and Your Honors, contributing your share thereto, as may in fairness be expected by virtue of the frequently cited privileges and what has further been alleged in its favor. We request hereupon in the name of our principals a real and favorable consideration, and should Your Excellency and Your Honors not be able to agree with this our opinion of being entitled to a free trade, we further request that you will be pleased to give us such explicit declarations thereabout as may enable us, if necessary, to get our claims to those rights at last once finally determined in Europe, because the reasons given on the subject in 1776, as if the English Company in its capacity as Dewan was allowed to make such regulations or directions as it might deem proper for the benefit of the country, have been at that time contradicted by the Director and Council by this most incontestable proof, viz: that although those reasons might in some measure be acquiesced to, yet they lose all their force as soon as they are extended to the privileges obtained from the Sovereign himself, that no one can make any alteration thereabout, and that his representatives, either the Nawab or Dewan, instead of altering or declining those privileges, may rather be considered as bound and obliged to favor and maintain the same.

Dutch transcription

309 van tot een vrije koophandel gerechtigt te zijn, als dan daar Manner as not the Negleet each others In de Expresse wil en begearte der Hooge we further, request that you will be pleased Van die Verklaaring gelieve te geevene trest, namely Trade and Consequently not Contractanten, in de Eerste plaats to give us sach Explicit declarations there welke ons, die Vereischt wordende, in door de respective onderdaanen al ^ about as may Enable us of necessary to get staat stelt om dat Recht eenmaal that of the Netherland Company, which is to be promoted favoured and reëstablis les moet worden aangeweend het geen outt Claims to those Eights at last once fi, in Europa te zien beslissen, nade nally determined in Europa because the-maal de daar van in A:o 1776 gegee„ hed, on such a footing as, in Virtue of the strekken kan tot bevordering van above, mentioned regulations and allega Roem, belang en Voordeel. Woorden Eeasons given on the subjects in 1776; af = ven reeden als konde de Edele En¬ die geen andere uitlegging inslute f the English Companij in hir Capacitej =gelsche Compe: in haar Hoedanig¬ tions may be resonably respected from Your Excellencies performing their share als de Verpligting om met elkander as Duwan was allowed to make suchteyu, heid van Dewaan zoodaanige schip of the above mentionad Espres will of oue Zoo te werk te gaan, dat een ieders be Cations or directions as she meight doem: kingen en Reglementen maaken, lang den koophandel naamelijk poper for the benefit of the Country hare als zy ten Oorbaar van het land dien niet uit het oog verlooren, en dus dat been at that time Contradicted by the direc„ stig oordeelde, te dier tyd door den van de Nederlandsche Compagnie tor and Council by this most incontestable Directeur en Raad is tegengesproo¬ door Uw Excellt: en Uwel Edelens, proofWiz; thataltho those teason meight ken, met wel voornaamelyk te be„ daartoe het haare Contribueerende in some measures by acquieseed to yet they: weezen dat hoe zeer die leeden in lose all their force as soon they are Eflen, zeekere zin zou konnen en moo¬ bevordert, bevoordeelt en op dien Voet gesteld worde; als uit kragte ded to the Priviled gas obteined f om the gen gelden dezelve egter van geen van de dikmaals geciteerde Pre sovereign him Lelf Jan make any alle kragt kan zyn wanneer het aan „vilegien, en het geen verder in haar lation there about and that his represen komt op de stand houding & andes Souverains Verkreegene Previlegien faveur gealle queert is met billigh tatires either the Nobob or Duwan in stead of althering or deelining those Px die niemand als de Souverain zelve „heid mag verwagt worden. — ith Webeg in the Name of our Employers Wy Verzoeken hier op in den Viledges may zather be Consideredas Veranderen kan om niet te zeggen safe a real and favourable Consideration there naam van onze Principaalen, een bound and obliged te faevour and Main dat zyne representanten het zijde Nawab 't zy koonings Dewaan in steede Van die voorregten te alte reeren ofte declineeren veel eer ge glisz: about, and should it so happen that your wezenlyke en gunstige reflexie en tain the same. ders Excellencies differed with as in this our dat, the Rcell: on Ulwel Edelens neet respective sovereigns Trad: opinion of beeing antelled to afree Trade, konnende koomen in dit ons gerael we¬ Van reekend

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We could proceed with still stronger arguments on this subject if we were not already fully convinced that the judgment and wisdom of Your Excellencies is too enlightened and too penetrating to require any further proof of our real right to a free trade, and the more so if the flourishing of the State and the prosperity of its subjects is considered in a great measure to depend on that trade. However, if all this should find no admittance and Your Excellencies should incline to a continuation of the method that has been assumed, and consequently that no other channel be left open to the Netherlands Company for acquiring their needs of opium and saltpetre except by the orders of this respectable government, we take the liberty in the most civil manner to request in the name of our employers that at least regard may be had to the true and real needs of the Company. And that, in consequence thereof and in conformity with the positive orders of the Supreme India Council at Batavia to the President and Council at Chinsurah, instructing them to request an increase in the usual quantities in their name, the saltpetre for this year may be fixed at at least 30000 maunds and the opium at at least 800 to 1000 chests. It is further requested that for that purpose the necessary orders may be sent to Patna so that we may be able to dispatch them next season, and above all things the opium not later than February or March. We have no doubt that all this will deserve your reflection if Your Excellencies will be pleased to consider that whatever the terms may be on which Your Government may settle with ours at Batavia for future payment, the trade cannot be postponed on that account for this season without great prejudice to the Company. And consequently, if our double request should not be granted, it ought at least to be placed on the same footing as before the war, without prejudice, however, to our right which has heretofore been circumstantially described.

Dutch transcription

310 We Could pro Ceed in Arguments of still: Eeekend konnen werden gehouden en fally Convinced that the Judgment and „seeren en te maintineeren Usual quantitijs so that the saltpetre for this Edele Hooge Ind: Regeering te Bata¬ Wisdom Af yjour Reellencies is too Brich Wy zouden hier toe nog kragtiger Ae reason may be fired on at lest 30000 maunds =Via den President en Raad te sinsu en lightened and to pronetrating to re gumenten konnen by brengen zoo het and the opiumon at least 800 or 1000 Chets = la gelast heeft, uit haare naam Uwe quire any further proof of our real light niet bekend waare dat het Oordeel van it being further requested that for that pie Excell: en UWelEd: eene vermeerde to a free Trade, and the More so, if the flo¬ Uw Excell: en Uwel Edelens te Verligt pose the necessary orders may be fint tho ring der geeoone quantiteit le Ver rishing of the State and the prospecitij Afits en te doordringend is, omsterken of patna so that we may beable to dispatch zoeken, zoo, dat die der salpeeter subjets is Considered in Agread Mesure to meerder bewys tot een waare Vryheid them, next saason and for all things the dit Jaar mag worden bepaald op Depend on that Trade, Howerer if all this in den koophandel te pretendeeren opium not leeter than february or March 36000 Mrns ten minsten en de afioen fould find no admittance and that Your Efcel voor al wanneer Ze den bloey van We bear no doubt but all this will deserve op 800 a 1000 kisten waar toe alver lencies should incline to Continuation of the den staat en de florisantie van dies on„geur reflection if jour Ecellencies will - der word verzogt de afvaardiging Methold which has been assumed and Consequen der hoorigen ten doel en grondslag heeft be pleased the Consider that what ever the der noodige orders naar Pattena thy that noother Channal be left opun to the Dan bij zoo Varre dit alles geen ingang Torms may be on which Your Government in diervoegen dat wy dezelve in het Netherland Company af aquiring their kan vinden, en dat uw E: en UweEEd: may settle withours at batavia for the naaste saisoen de afioen Vooral wants of opium and saltpatre but by the Verkiezen te blyven by de geassiomeer¬ payjement in future, Gestrade Cannotbe niet laater als in februarij of maart orders of this respectable gevernment konnen erzenden, „de methode en dat de Nederlandsche postponed on that account for this season aanstaande zullen. Al het welke in s we take the liberty in the Most Cirilman Compagnie overzulx door geen ander withotet great prejudice to the Company by Uwe Excellentie en UW eled: Zeeker¬ Igner to request in the name of our Emplo Canaal als door de beveelen van dit and Consequently that of our double te reflexie zal Verdienen in Aammer¬ respectabel gouvernement aan hare thad yers, that at least reguard may behad to quest schould not begranted, it ought atle; king neemende dat welke schikking„ benoodigtheid van asiaen en salpeter int the true and real want of the Company ast to be brought on that footing as be ernopens de betaaling met de Ed: Hoge say and that in Consequence there ofand in kan geraaken neemen wy in den Jnd: regeering te Batavia ook voor fore the war, un prejudiced how ever gli Conformité with the positive orders ofthe naam Van onze lastgeevers de Vry= our light whieh here to fore has been het vervolg mogte te maaken zyn, der supreme Jndia Council at Batavia on heid beleefdelyk te verzoeken dat zr den Handel voor dit Jaar niet dan Circumstantialy discribed.. — Fra the Presiclant and Coronal at Chinsura ten minsten legaad mag worden tot groot nadeel Van de Compagnie more force on this subjects o we weere not verpligt te zyn, om dezelve te favore geslaagen op s' Compagnies waare en cellencies will allow us an augmentation of the Wezentlyke behoodigtheid, en gelyk de A en 17. than to make this request in their name, your Ex¬ geslagen kan get the to pexpors

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If our twofold representation should not be taken into consideration at all, it ought to be placed at least on the footing on which it stood before the war, without prejudice to the right that has been presented and argued in detail in this matter. Furthermore, it is in the name and by the express order given by the Honourable Supreme Indian Government at Batavia to the President and Council at Chinsura that we take the liberty to request of Your Excellencies and Your Honours to be informed whether, besides the engagement—which is not within the power of the said President and Council—to pay for the opium and saltpetre with bills on Canton in China, any other conditions for mutual service, convenience, or ease may be proposed of such a nature that they could provisionally be agreed upon between the respective assemblies, regarding which we dare take upon ourselves to assure you that there is nothing that can prevent such an agreement, except that which might be completely prejudicial to the Company and tend to the diminution or decline of its privileges. Treating of the freedom of trade in general, we find ourselves, although this address was properly only intended to demonstrate our right regarding the gathering of our own opium and saltpetre, in the disagreeable necessity of adding hereto the complaints which a few days before our departure from Chinsura were submitted to the President of the Council by some of the Gomastahs of our cloth suppliers concerning hindrances in the collection thereof. We have the honour to attach hereto translations of those complaints as they were received from Mohanendpore and Baddel Gassie. From Mohanendpore it is mentioned how, after the advancing of money on account of the Dutch Company to the assamies

Dutch transcription

311 kan worden opgehouden, en overzulx we wel op ons durven neemen te versee in dien onse twee ledige instancie al =keren, dat er niets is dat zulx kan weder =houden als het geen volstrekt schadelyk in geen aanmerking mogt koomen voor de Compagnie en tot drenking of gesteld dient te worden voor het minst op dien voet als ze geweest is declin van haare Previlegien mogt Voor den Oorlog: Ongepraejudicieert weezen. — Treating about the liberty of Trade in gene¬ het regt dat in deezen omstandig Over de Vryheid van den koophandel zul we are sory to find our self in the disagre in het generaal handelende, zyn wy Voorgedragen en betoogt is Wet is overigens nog in den naam able Necessity, altho this Memorandum was hoe zeer dit Addres eigentlijk maar We are further uthorised by the Expres) Com¬ mands given to the President and Council at Chin; en op Expres bevel Van de Ed: Hoge Jnd:s only intended to demonstrate our right to a was geschikt ten betooge van het regt sura bij the supreme Jndia Council of Batavia regering te batavia aan den Presi„ free gathering of opiumandsalpetre, to addl noopens den Eigen inzaam van afioe„ to request thatijour Excellencies will to us the Ja dent an Raad te sinsura gegeeven to this the Complaints which a few daijs be en salpeter in de onaangenaame nood¬ dat wy de Vryheid gebruiken Uw Excd:s fore our de parture from Chinsura have Zaakelykheid, hier by te Voegen de klag dor of informing us wether besides the agree„ ments for paying the opiumand saltpetre in en UWelEd: te Verzoeken van te mogen been preferred to the President of our Coun, ten die wynig daagen voor ons Vertrek the Bills on Canton in China, which is entirely out worden geinformeert, of or buiten de al by some of the Gomastaks of our Contrac, van Sinsura aan den President van den 17. of the power of the said president and Council niet in het vermogen van gem: Presetors for Cloth about the hinderances which Raad gedaan zyn door sommige der any other Conditions for mutual use ease or dent on Baad staande verbintenis they meet in the procurance there of. We Gomastahs & an onse lynwaat bezorgers tot betaaling van de afioen en falpe have the honour here with to deliver trans wegens Verhinderingen in den Cnzaan„ Convenience are to be proposed, which are of Ma. na. such a Nature as to allow of a Privisional tee met wissels op kanton in China lations of those Complaints so as they have De Vertaalingen van de klagtschrif„ that ye Convention between the respective boards, as ook eenige andere Condition tot been received from Mohanendpore and „ten zoo als ze ontvangen zyn uit Ma„ in t the in such a Case we freele make bold to assure dienst, gerief of gemak voortestellen Baddel Gassie hanend poer en Baddel gassie, heb say ar. your Ecellencies, that suchan agreement zyn van die natueur dat dezelve ben wy de Eere hier neeven te Voegen glir Cor Can not be prevented by any thing not absolu by provisie sou konnen werden ge Van Mohaenend paer word gemeld From Mohanendpore it is mentioned der seer telij Prejudicial to our Company ortending to convenieert tusschen de wederzyd that money having been advanced to the hoe naa het verstrekken van geld voor Fratt. „sche Vergaderingen, waaromtrend assamies on account of the dutch Company reek: van de Hollandsche Comp: aan decline ordimunist her Previledges, we the de A3 aen thar in

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Almost the same injustice took place at Baddal Ghassi. An English Gomastah named Joggoo Mohun Bendo Paddia, who resides in the factory at Saam Ginds, having come to know that money was advanced on account of the Dutch Company for the delivery of linens, gave public notice by drum-beat on the 4th of the Bengal month Jeeth in all the surrounding places, as well as where the gomastahs of our suppliers reside, that the weavers should not deliver a single piece of linen to foreign merchants, likewise under threat of severe punishment or fines. And in order that his orders should take immediate effect, he placed guards on the pykars and weavers whom our gomastahs employed, to prevent them from coming together. At Mohamandpoer, the second of English Bazar, currently at Soeroep Gonds, had on the 31st of the month Jeeth or the 10th of June last publicly or by drum-beat prohibited anyone among the weavers from making any linens for the Dutch, under penalty of being severely chastised by fines or otherwise, and that the servants whose duty it was to prevent this, if failing therein, would be heavily punished and then driven away, to which they were also bound by a written agreement, formally obstructing the progress of our business by hindering the weavers and others from entering into any negotiations with the Company's gomastahs and their servants, as well as by putting seals on the linens that were already started for them, in order to prevent their further manufacture.

Dutch transcription

312 the second of Englisch Bezare as present de Assamies, de secunde Van Englisch Al most the same Injustice take place at Te Baddal Ghassi heeft genoeg„ 2 at foroop Gensje had on the 31 of the Month Pazaar tegenwoordig te Soeroep Gonds Baddal Ghassie. - An English Gomastah =Zaamt dezelve onreedelykheid plaats Yearth or the 10 July last publicklijfr op den 31 Van de maand feeth ofte den named Joggoo Bendo Paddia who lives in Een Engelsche Gomasthain naame bidding by drumbeating that no weeven 10 Juny J:t. leeden te Mohamand poer the factorij at saam Gunsje having been in Toggae Mohun Dindo Paddia die of Mahanendpore and the districts be ende daar onder sorteerende plaat¬ formed that money was advanced for Cloths on in de loge te saam Ginds( zyn ver longing there to should make any Clottis Son publiecq of by Tromslag had laten) account of the duteh Company gave publicq blyfhoud te weeten gekoomen zynde for the dutch on pains of being severely verbieden, dat niemand v an de werers Notice by drum. beating on the 4sth of the dat er voor reekening van de Hol¬ punished by finis or other wise and that eenige lynwaten voor de Hollanders Bengal Month Teath at all the villages landsche Comp: geld geadvanceert the servants whose duty it was to prevend mogt aanmaaken, subpeene van there about and likewise at that were our Go, was op leverantie Van Lynwaaten, this should by faclure there of be severely door boede als anderzints streng ge mastats reside, that No Weavers should de heeft den 4e: Van de Bengaalsche Asd punished and afterwards thast twind out kastyd te zullen worden, en dat de liver a single piece of Cloth to foreign Mer Maand feeth in alle de daar om Eac of service they having been obliged to bediende wier pligt het was dit te „chants on Pain of severe Punishments ar fi„ streeks leggende plaatsen, zoo veel A, sign a written agreement forthat pur belette hier in manqueeren de swaar nes; and in order to give immediaty effects to als daar de Gomastatis van onze ghi pose in Consequence of which they ento „ gestraft an dan weg gejaagt Loude those order, he put guards on the Pykares leveranciers zig ophouden by trom the y rely put a stop to all our transactions worden, waar toe zy ook onder een and Weavers, which weze Employed by our slag laaten bekend maaken dat de in 17. both by hindering the Weavers and others Schrifte lyke nerbin tenis gebragt wa Gomastaks to present their mesting to gethen weevers geen stuk lynwaat aan thar in making any agreements with the ren, stremmende ore ryaelks formeel Vreemde kooplieden zouden heb„ in V. n gomastaks of our Company or theirter den voortgang van onse affaires zoo ben afte geeven almede onder drei¬ Mad vants and by putting seals onthose Clottn, met de weevers en andere te belellen =gement van Zweare straf of Boete„ stad e, wttich has been Commenced on their eenige onderhandelingen met s' Comp en op dat zyne orders dadelyk Effect Gomastiehs en hunne bedienden aan int accound in order to prefend. the Zoude hebben, heeft hy op de Pijkaars say afineshedig there of. te gaan, als het sjappen der lynwaten en weevers die onze Gomastans am„ die reets voor haar begonnen waren =ploijeerden wagters gesteld ten om de verdere aanmaaking te einden hun te beletten by elkande te koomen verhinderen. Te tot

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