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JANUARY, 1918)
AUSTRIA'S COMMERCIAL VENTURE IN INDIA
15
commands of the 19th March 1778 respecting the trade of foreign ships, applied to us to be informed whether he should be allowed the benefit of those orders, or whether there was any exception against the subjects of their Imperial Majesties ... [In ) our answer ... which...is of a general nature we have declined granting him any intercourse of trade, for as the year before we had received very particular and special orders respecting the persons concerned in this enterprize, we were not altogether satisfied that those orders were superseded by your present commands, being inclined to think that if such had been your intention you would have said so expressly. We also hoped soon to be favoured with your particular instructions on this head in consequence of the representations we have before made to you. Letter from the Resident at Onore to the President and Council at Bombay,
dated 8 September 1779.62 The Austrian Vakeel at Carwar, Lazimicant Sinoy, who was formerly in the Company's employ at that place and this Factory, has been very industrious for several months in sending agents to Soundah, Bilgey, Sorebaw and other adjacent ports13 for making purchases of pepper, and he has even offered six and eight Rupees per Candy (Port. candil, candi, about 500 lbs.] more than the price the Company purchase this article for, and as farther encouragement he has promised to supply those parts with broad cloth, iron, lead and other Europe staples, which he gives out the Austriaa ship will bring to Carwar in the month of November next, but we are happy to acquaint your Honor &ca. that all Luximacants endeavours have hitherto proved fruitless, which we chiefly attribute to the low state of Mr Bolts's finances at Mangulore and Carwar, tho' we are apprehensive this Factory will feel the ill-consequence of these measures by raising competition among the Pepper Contractors. At the same time, we beg leave to assure your Honor &ca. that we constantly keep a vigilant eye on this material object of our Honble. Masters Interest. Letter from the Council at Bombay to the Court of Directors,
dated 30 April 1780.C Mr Bolts in the Austrian ship Joseph and Theresa sailed for Bengal the 5th of May (1779). The papers and Diary transmitted by the Haroke on her former dispatch contain the only information we are able to afford respecting the right asserted by Mr Bolts to Delagoa and the circumstance of his removing the English Colours. We however now send another copy of the letter from the Commander of a Country Vessel, which related the facts mentioned in our address of the 30th November 1777 and also of the letter from Mr Bolts dated the 31 October, containing his relation of the same circum statices. The factory left by Mr Bolts at Delagoa is we understand nearly if not entirely deserted.
(To be continued.)
.61 Letters Received at Bombay (1779), XLV, 246-247.
6 Sonda, Bilgt and ? Siddapar in North Kanara, famous for pepper garden 3. "Ports" is evidently A copyist's error for "parte "as all three places are inland.
64 Bombay Letter Received, Vol. VI.