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DECEMBER, 1917)
AUSTRIA'S COMMERCIAL VENTURE IN INDIA
279
In his History of the Mahratlas (II. 345), Grant Duff pays the following tribute to the ability of the emissary of Austria :
"Mr Bolts, originally in the Company's service in Bengal, who was in Poona at the same time [1777] as an avowed agent of the house of Austria, received no such civilities [as those aocorded to the adventurer, St. Lubin, French ambassador). Nana Furnuwees [Nâni Farawis) probably perceived that St. Lubin was a fitter tool ; and Mr Bolts, who was early dismissed, might have viewed that circumstanoe as complimentary to his charac
ter."
The Company's instructions to their three Presidencies of Bengal, Madras.
and Bombay, to obstruct the Austrian enterprise.
Letter, dated London, 24 December, 1776.4 We are informed from unquestionable authority that an enterprize of trade is in agitation by Mr William Bolts (formerly in our Service in Bengal ) under Imperial Colours, and the protection of the Queen of Hungary, in a large ship, late the Earl of Lincoln, now named the Joseph and Theresa, which towards the end of June last imported at Leghorn from Lisbon, where besides considerable quantities of goods before shipped, ordnance, ammunition and all kinds of military stores to a great amount were received on board, with a very valuable proportion of merchandize, consisting principally of copper, iron and steel brought thither by two Danish and Dutch ship[ ] from Trieste, and as the Florentine Gazette, published by authority, avows "belonging to & Company erected in Germany to carry on commerce between Trieste and the Coast of Coromandel, where the House of Austria means to establish a new Factory." We are also given to understand that a number of Austrian soldiers, Lutherans, were to be embarked at Leghorn on board the said ship, which left that port the 25th of September last with her consort, an English brigantine, laden with provisions for the voyage, and that both were from the Canary Islands to continue their course to the Coast of Choromandel.
It remains for us by the present opportunity in the strongest manner to recommend to your serious and speedy consideration either separately or conjunctively with our other presidencies, to pursue the most effectual means that can be fully justified to counteract and defeat the same, observing at the same time that this commerce is not contrary to any Treaty at present subsisting.
It will be particularly necessary to counteract this scheme in the beginning, because if the adventurers meet with but indifferent success in this first essay, it may discourage them from future attempts
If their design to settle shall prove to be in the neighbourhood of your presidency, we particularly rely on your weight and efforts with the Country (Native ) Powers to render their scheme-abortive.
We further especially recommend the stopping all commercial and other intercourse of our covenant servants and all under our protection with the persons who conduct this expedition or are concerned therein, and to prevent the latter from being furnished by any persons subject to your authority with money, goods, stores, or any other assistance conducive to the execution of their plan, and in case of the breach of any orders issued in this behalf, it is left with you to show & resentment adequate to the nature of the offence.
Bengal Despatche, VIII. 271-274. The same instructions were sent to Madras and Bombay early in 1777.
