Indian Antiquary Vol 47

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 12

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1918
A Sloop named the Leopold purchased by Him from the Dutch at Surat arrived here the 16th Novembar with a Letter from Him dated at Gogo the 31st October, wherein He complained much of the Treatment He received at Surat, and put two Queries to Us which He requested We would answer. We aocordingly sent Him a Reply by our Secretary.
Whilst Mr Bolts was at Poonah a Packet addressed to him superscribed " on their Imperial Majesty's Service " fell into the hands of Mr Lewis thro' the Mistake of the Pattamars, who thought it his duty to transmit it to Us. The Captain of the Sloop Leopold who had by some means gained Information of the Packet being intercepted, demanded it from us in the Name of their Imperial Majesties, and on Consideration of the matter it was thought best to give it up, but Mr Carnac desired it might be minuted that as Mr Bolts was engaged in a Scheme so distructive to the Interests of the Company, he thought every means should be made Use of to defeat it, and He was therefore of Opinion that the Contents of the Packet should have been inspected, as there was reason to conclude from the Anxiety of Mr Bolt's Agent to recover it that it contained Intelligence of Importance.
Mr Bolts himself arrived here from Poonah the 13th December, when we immediately resolved not to permit of his stay here beyond a reasonable time for procuring the necessary Supplies for the Sloop during her Voyage. He left this place on the 24th when we had determined to require Him to depart, and on that Day He sent in a Lotter and Protest commenting on our reply to his former Letter and protesting against us for the Interception of his Packet. We have to remark in Reply to his Complaint of the Disrespect shewn him by our Angwer being sent thro' the Secretary that however much We might be disposed to pay all possible Respect to a Commision from so illustrious a Personage as the Empress Queen, We could not consistently shew any Distinction to Mr Bolts who may justly be termed an Apostate from the Company's Service. With regard to our Replies to his Queries, We think they were as explicit as the Nature of his Queries required, and in our Interference with the Nabob of Surat to obstruct his commercial Views, We acted in exact Conformity to your commands of the 21st of February which direct Us to make Use of our Influence with the Country Powers to counteract his Designs.
Four British Subjects deserted from Mr Bolts's Ship and have entered into your Service. Having received Information from them of their [sic] being several others on Board, We gave Notice thereof to Sir Edward Vernon38 who has sent the Cormorant Sloop of War to make Enquiry into the Affair. Letter from the Council at Tellicherry to the President and Council
at Bombay, dated 8 February 1778.39 The Resident Richard Churoh) having wrote to the Prince of Cherrika [Chirakkal 1 to send Nanah Putterah 40 hither, as he wanted to communicate to him the Orders received from your Honor &oa.... the latter arrived the 2d Instant ... The Resident
38 Admiral Sir Edward Vernon (1723-1794), Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies, 1776—1781. >Letters Received a Bombay (1778), XLIV, 48–50.
40 Paltar, paffara, Malayalam name given in Malabar to foreign Brihmans, who there are usually traders and money-londere