Inventory 3843

Ceylon · 1,730 pages · 242 segments · open at the Nationaal Archief ↗

NL-HaNA_1.04.02_3843_0615 view scan ↗

Papers concerning the artillerymen, artillery, and ammunition goods. To Monsieur van de Graaff, Councillor of the Indies, Governor and Director of the Island of Ceylon, etc., and to the Gentlemen of the Noble Council of Regency of the said Colony. Monsieur the Governor, etc., Gentlemen: The Swiss Regiment de Meuron, after a stay of five years at the Cape of Good Hope, could not expect to change garrisons to its disadvantage. It had reason to believe that as it was exposed to new dangers, at a much greater distance from its homeland, it would find compensation proportionate to its privations through another kind of enjoyment and, above all, more advantageous treatment. The Colonel, seeing his hopes vanished, comes with respect to submit to Your Excellency and to the Noble Council of Regency of this Colony that the treatment the Regiment receives in Ceylon differs considerably from what it received at the Cape. 1st: The officers enjoyed an increase granted in September 1783 by the Regency of the Cape and approved by the Noble Direction in Europe. This increase has been cut in Ceylon, although it is more necessary here than at the Cape, where all provisions are cheaper, except wood. 2nd: The non-commissioned officers and soldiers received at the Cape, in board and service money, much more than here: the soldier received 70½ stuivers, while in Ceylon only 48½. This difference is all the more noticeable since the soldier lived well at the Cape without putting any of his pay toward the mess; the arrangements made were in all respects suitable for the good of the service and the soldiers. Here, the soldier's food costs 13 fanams, and he is obliged to add five from his pay toward his subsistence. The difference in the treatment of non-commissioned officers is also very noticeable: at the Cape, a sergeant had 6 rijksdaalders 32; in Ceylon, only 3 rijksdaalders 9½. A corporal had 3 rijksdaalders 14, and in Ceylon only 1 rijksdaalder 32. 3rd: At the Cape, two-fifths of wages, emoluments, and rations were paid in silver, which made it easier for the officers to purchase their necessities from foreigners passing through the Cape; and the burghers preferred paper money to silver because of the ease of counting and transporting it. The balance currently existing between coin and paper is such that every day one can exchange paper or silver for one another. 4th: In addition to these differences, there is another very important one regarding relative value: at the Cape, the ducatoon is valued at 72 stuivers, in Ceylon at 80 stuivers. The current specie brings about two consequent expenses: one, the bags and the deficiency in the contents; the other, the costs of the kangean to count when receiving and paying, and the costs of coolies for transport. From all these differences results a disparity too noticeable for the Colonel, which he cannot bear, much less have the resources to ease the lot of the officers or provide a little more comfort to the troops. The Colonel therefore comes to request of Your Excellency and the Noble Council of Regency of this Colony that Article 6 of the Capitulation be given its full and entire effect, that is to say, that the Regiment be paid in Holland value, the guilder at twenty stuivers current, without any kind of stoppage of account or deduction for exchange; which implies that the Ducatoon, which is the exact standard between the value of Holland and that of the Indies, be accounted for at the rate of 63 stuivers, as is its rate in Amsterdam. By this method of payment, the Colonel will be in a position, taking advantage of the difference in exchange for the account of the proprietor, to return to the soldier the 24 stuivers per month that have been withheld from him from the beginning on his pay, to serve in lieu of exchange, which could not be determined at the Cape for lack of knowledge of the relative value with Europe. That the Officers enjoy the increase that was granted at the Cape in September 1783, namely: To the Captains: 8 rijksdaalders To the Captain-Lieutenants: 10 rijksdaalders To the Lieutenants and Surgeon-Major: 10 rijksdaalders To the Sub-Lieutenants and Ensigns: 8 rijksdaalders To the Second Surgeons: 6 rijksdaalders As is evidenced by the pay roll of the Cape. That the non-commissioned officers have the same emoluments and increase on the island of Ceylon as those they had at the Cape of Good Hope. That the soldiers who have served five years in the establishments of the Noble Company enjoy the pay increase, as is customary to grant to the Company's troops. Article 18 of the Capitulation is explicit on this point; it is, moreover, confirmed in Article 12 of the document marked B, which clearly demonstrates the view of the Gentlemen Directors. The Colonel begs Your Excellency and the Noble Council to attend to the assessment of compensation for the deficiency of the copper money. From whatever point of view it may be considered, it is not possible to delude oneself: it does not replace silver. The Colonel hopes that the justice and wisdom that preside over and form the basis of your deliberations will provide him with an additional motive to redouble his zeal and activity, to prove to you that while on the one hand he wishes to neglect none of the interests of his Corps, neither does he wish that it ever fall behind in any of its duties. At Colombo, 26 December 1788. Signed: P. J. de Meuron Agreed, Wijbrands First Clerk Papers concerning the artillerymen, artillery, and ammunition goods. Letter E

Dutch transcription

Papieren betreffende de arthilleristen en Artillerie en ammonitie goederen A Monsieur van de Graaff Conseiller der Inden, Gouverneur &a Directeur de liste de Cey¬ lon; Et à Messieurs du Noble Conseil de Regence de ludite Colonie. Monsieur le Gouverneur &a Messieurs Le Regiment suisse de Meuron, aprés avoir fait un sejour de Cinq aus au cap de bonne Esperance, ne pouroit pas sattendre à Changer de garnisoen desavantageument, il avoit tien de Croire quamisure quon téxposoit à de nouveaux dangers, á un éloignement beaucoup plus grand de sapatrie, quil trouveroit un dedomagement proportionné a sexprivations, par un autre genre de jouissancer et surtout un traitement plus avantagena. Le Colonel voyant ses espérances evanories, vient avec respect exposer à votre Excellence & au Noble Conseil de Regence de Cette Colonie, que le traitement que le Regiment recoit à Ceijlon, différe considerablement de celiu quil recevoit du Cap. 1: Messieurs les officiers jouis soient dune augmenta„ tion faite en September 1783: par la Regencé du Cap &=a aprouvée par la noble Direction d' Europe; Cette augmentation se trouve re= tranchéé à Ceijlon, quoi quelle y soit plus necessaire Troisiome qucestions. necessaire quan Cap, ou toutes les denrées à meillena marché, excepté le bois. 2e: Les bas. officiers &: soldats recevoien L au Cap, en kost &c: dienst geld, beaucoup plus quicij, Le soldat 70. Stuivers ½. â Ceijlon seulement 48. ½. Cette différence est d'autant plus senciblé que le soldat vivoit bien au Cap sans rien mettre de son pret à l'ordinaire, Les arrangements pris Convenoient à tous eijards au bie, du services &a. aux soldats; sei la nourritnae du soldat coute 13. Exalins, et il est obligé d'en ajouter Cinq de son pret à sa subsistance. La diffirence du traitement des bas- officiers est aux Ce tres sensible, Au cap un sergent, avoit 6. Rijksr: 32: â Ceijlon seulement 3. R=s 9½. in Caporal 3. Rd:s 14. &:a Cerlement 1. R=da 32. = 3. Au Cap, tes deus Cinquiemes des gages, Emo= lumens & a rations etoient pajés, en argent, ce qui faciliteit Messieurs les officiers pour lachat de leurs besoins, des êtrangers qui pas¬ soient au cap, et les bourgeois preferount le pa¬ pua monnoge à l'aagent, par la fucilité de le Comptex &: le transporter; Lequilibre qui existe actuellement entre le numeraire it le papier, est tel, que tous les jours ton peut echan¬ ger papier ou argent contre tun ou lautre. 4e: A: ces differences, il qen a encore une trés importante sua la valina relative; au Cap le ducatoz ert donné pour J2 - a Ceijlon pour 30. S. Lespecé Courante entraine deux depenses con¬ sequentes, lune les sacs & mon-valeur dans le Continu, L'autre, les fraix de Cancaple pour Compter en accevant 4 ppaijant Papieren betreffende de arthilleristen en Artielerie en ammonitie goederen & payant, et les frais de Coulis pour le transport De toutes ces differences, il en resulte une trop sen„ sible pour le Colonel, quil ne peul supportea, moins encore avoix des reosouaces pour adelicia le sort de Messieuas les officier Ordonner un peu plus dai¬ sance à la troupe Le Colonel vient donc sollicitea de vota Excelleme Erda Noble conscil de Regence de Cette Colonie, que l'aatile 6„e de la Capitulation sorte son plein en„ lica effet, cest à dire que le Regument soit paije valeux d' hollande, le florin à vingt sol cou¬ rank, sans aucune espece de actenne des compte ne deduction de Change; ce qui emporte que le Ducaton, qui est l'espéce de juste raport entre la Valeur d'hollande & Celle de lynde, soit Comp¬ „te sux le pied de 63. solx tel quest son Couas à Amsterdam. Par Cette maniére de payer, le Colonel Scra à mune, en profitant de la difference du Change pour le Comple die proprie taike, de aendre au soldat¬ les 24. stuveas pax mois qui lui sont actenus de= puis l'origine sua Conpaet, pourtenia tieu de Change, lequel na pu etre deteaminé au cap¬ faute d'avoir eu Connoissance de la valeur rela„ tive avec l'Enaope. Que Messieurs les Officiers jouissent de laugmenta¬ tion qui fut faite au Cap en September 1783. ja„ à MeM: les Capitaines 8. Rd:s - à MeM: les Capitaines Liehtenans 10. „ à M M: les Lieutenans, & Chiruagie major. . . . . 10. „ à MM: les sou Lieutenius &Ensiignes. . . . 8.„ aux Chiaurgiens en second 6. 6 : Ninsi que Cela est Constaté par le tabliau de pajement du Capn. que les bas officiers ayent les memes Emolumens Naugmentation dans l'isle de Ceylon, que cenx quil avocent au Cap de bonne Esperance. voir 2898 que —. „ Troisiame qucestions. que les soldat qui ont seavi cinq ans dans les etables, sement de la noble Compagnie, jouissent de l'angmenta„ tion de solde, ainsi quil est d'usage de l'accorder aux trou„ pes da la Compagnie L'aatiele 18e: de la Capitulation est foamel la dessus, il est, outre cela, confiainé dans l'daticle 12e. de la piéce Cottée B: qui annonce Claire, ment la facon de pensea de Messieurs les Directeurs Le Colchel supplie votae Excellence & le Noble Conseil, de soccuper de l'apaéciation d'une indemnisation sur la non-valeur de l'augent Cuivae. sous quel proint de vue quil puisse êtae envisagé, il nest pas possible de se faiae illusion, il ne remplace pas l'aagent. Le Co„ lontel espire que la justice & la sagesse qui precident & font la baze de vos deliberations, lui procureront un motif deplus à cedoubler son Zéle Ason activi¬ te pour vous prouver que si d'un coté il nevent negliger aucun des Interets de son Corps, il nevens pasnon plus que celui ci reste jamais en arriere dans aucuns de ses devoir. A Colombo le 26. Decembre 1788. /:signe:/ P: J: de Meuron Accordeert Wijbrands Egklerk Papieren betreffende de arthilleristen en Artillerie en ammonitie goederen L:a E: -