Indian Antiquary Vol 47

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

Page 61

MARCH, 1918)
AUSTRIA'S COMMERCIAL VENTURE IN INDIA
AUSTRIA'S COMMERCIAL VENTURE IN INDIA IN THE
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. BY SIR R. C. TEMPLE, Bt.
(Continued from p. 34.) III. Obstructive Measures at Madras towards Individuals concerned
in the Austrian Venture. Letter from the President and Council at Fort St George to the Court of
Directors, dated 17 October 1778.81
THE Imperial Ship [Joseph and Theresa] arriving here the 4th Inst., we have given 1 strict orders that there shall be no other Communication with her on shore but for fresh water and Provisions. Letter from Nathaniel Green, Consul at Trieste, to the Earl of Suffolk,s?
dated Trieste, 1 January 1779.83 I have heard talk of an intention to build some large ships; some hint also that they may be of force, but others say thay are to be for the East India trade, which I am told is to be managed by a Company established here some time ago under the title of the Priviledged Company of Fiume, the Adventurers in which are of Brucells (Brussels), Antwerp &ca. I am told that Bolts has certainly been in China and that the ship is on her return destined for this Port, or at least that her Cargo will be sent hither, also that the French will permit ships to be purchased and fitted out at Port L'Orient (Brittany) for carrying on this trade. I have from another part pretty sure intelligence that Bolts was about 6 months ago on the coast of Coromandel and had had some dispute with an English frigate about some sailors; that his agent Ryan died at Madrass; that he sold copper at 12 Per Cent loss, but other goods tolerably well, and that the Dutch caused him much trouble by refusing him Provisions. Letter from Sir Thomas Thumbold 84 and the Select Committee at Fort St. George
to Sir Fdward Hugre8,58 dated 2 March 1780.86 We think it necessary td inform you that We understand Mr Macey, late a Lieutenant in the French Service at Chandernagore, entered in Bengal as an officer on board the small Imperial Ship now in the load, and which is to sail for Europe in a few days. He is said to be an active inteligent man, and as his going from hence at this time may be of prejudice to the Company Affairs, we request you will take measures for preventing his departure in that ship.
81 Madras Letters Receiveo IX. 178.
82 Henry, 12th Earl of S olk, died 6 March 1779, was Principal Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1771-1779.
88 State Papers, Foreign, rmany (Empire), Vol. 221 (Public Record Office). The information in this letter, if exact, W
if Axact. would be most ateresting, as Fiume, now the great Hungarian port, has always been the rival of Trieste, the great Austrian port. I have, however, been unable to trace this Company among the Records in England. From Consul G:een's letter of 11 July 1783 (see infra), the new venture seems to have been styled the Imperial India (ur Asiatic) Company” and to it Bolts resigned the exclusive rights of trade obtained from Maria Theresa in 1775.
u Sir Thomas Rumbold, Bt. (1736-1791), Governor of Madras 1778-1780. 85 Admiral Sir Edward Hughes (1720-1794), commander in the East Indies 1773-1777 and 1778-1783. # Madras Select Committee Consultations (1780), LXIX. 319-320.