Indian Antiquary Vol 47

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

Page 34

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
FEBRUARY, 1918
Read the above-mentioned Orders and Resolution. Resolved that the following Advertisement be now published.
Advertisement respecting Mr Bolts. Fort William 26th July 1779. Whereas the Governor General and Council wero informed by the Honble. the Court of Directors in their letter of the 24th of December 1776 that an enterprize of trade had been undertaken by Mr William Bolts, formerly in their service in Bengal, who had embarked in a large ship, late the Earl of Lincoln, now the Joseph and Theresa, from the Port of Leghorn, or some other foreign European Port, laden with a valuable cargo of merchandize and with ordnance and ammunition and all kinds of military stores to a great amount, which were reported to be destined for the East Indies. In consequence of which information they were pleased to prohibit all commercial and other intercourse of the Company's servants and all others under the protection of this Government with the persons who had the conduct of the expedition or were concerned therein, and to shew a resentment adequate to the nature of the offence, they have been further pleased to command the Governor General and Council &ca. to prevent the latter from being furnished by any persons subject to their authority with money, goods, stores, or any other assistance which may conduce to the success of the undertaking. Of which Orders public notice was given on the 7th July 1777. And whereas the Governor General and Council have received information that the said Mr William Bolts is actually arrived in this river (Hûgli ] on board the said ship Joseph and Theresa, they have thought it proper to cause this publication to be repeated that no persons may plead ignorance of the same, and further to declare their firm resolution effectually to execute the commands of the Honble. the Court of Directors, and to enforce them with rigour against all persons who shall be found offending against them. By Order of the Honble. the Governor General and Council.
Mr Francis.To The Orders are very proper as far as they.go. I myself shall adhere to them literally, but I apprehend they will answer very little purpose, if we do not take other measures. Mr Bolts' ship will proceed to Serampore [ Srirampur ) or Chinsura. He will there unlade his cargo, and thro' the intervention of the Dutch or Danes accomplish every commercial object which he may have in view by coming hither, and which the Company seem to have it very much at heart to defeat. We cannot correspond with their intentions in this respect by any means so effectnally as by using our weight and influence with the Nabob to induce him to order Mr Bolts' ship immediately to leave the river without landing any part of his cargo. No foreign ship can have a right to come into the Bengal River and to carry on traffic here without the permission of the Prince of the Country. This step will be effectual and much less likely to embarrass the Company in its consequences than any thing done directly by ourselves.
The Secretary begs leave to read to the Board the Resolution passed in Consultation the 7th July 1777, which contains an application to the Nabob somewhat similar to that proposed by Mr Francis.
Read the Resolution of 7th July 1777.72
Agreed that the Governor General be requested to write a letter to the Nabob, referring him to the former letter of the 7th July 1777, and informing him that Mr Bolts is actually arrived.
TO Sir Philip Francis (1740-1748), member of the Supreme Council at Fort William. 71 Headquarters of the Danes and Dutch respectively, both situated near Hagli. 72 See ante, p. 29.