Mss Eur Orme OV.17

The letters are stated in 134. 96 to be Originals.

pp.[i-ii]. Table of Contents.

1, pp. 1-9 (30 x 19 cm.). Relation de la dernière affair'e de l' Inde qui a mis fin aux troubles (C'est la mort de Nazirjing) décembre 15 1750. Copy. Re-copied in III.11. In the Index to III, Orme notes on this paper: "A French account, I believe by Dupleix, of Nazirjing's death December 4th 1750 which certainly did not put an end to the troubles." In this paper it is stated that Dupleix, having settled matters with Nasir Jang, had sent orders to the French general De la Touche not to attack, but “malheureusement pour Nazirjingue cet ordre n'arriva qu'apres l'action.” Orme does not mention this order in his History (I. p. 158). Possibly this paper is a summary of a portion of a letter from a missionary given in the second part of the Mémoire sur les dernières guerres des Maures aux Indes Orientales. Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses. Aimé Martin. 1839. II, 721. p.10 endorsement.

2, pp. 11-15 (30 x 19.5 cm.). Second list of papers relating to the East India negotiation and the Defense of the East India Company's Settlements given to me by Lord Holdernesse from 1753 to 1758. Copy. pp. 16-18 blank & endorsement.

3, pp. 19-20 (37 x 24.5 cm.). Extract of Governor Saunders's letter to the Company, dated Fort St. George, March 18th 1753. Copy. Copied in III. 10. Gives a few details of the war with the French. pp. 21-2 endorsement.

4, pp. 23-35 (36.5 x•23.5 cm.). Extracts from the East India Company's Advices from their President and Council at Fort St. George, regarding the conduct of the French on the Coast of Choromandel and the Country Government there. Dated respectively 3 November 1752, and 12 and 21 February 1753. Copies. Re-copied in III. 10. The complete letters are to be found in the India Office Records. pp. 36-8 blank & endorsement.

5, pp. 41-85 (30.2 x 19.5 cm.). Narrative of what passed in the Negotiation carried on at London for an Accommodation between the English and French East India Companies, of their "Differences on the Coast of Choromandel, from May 1753 to September 16th 1754. Copies. Re-copied In III. 35. Narrates the negotiations between M. Duvelaar, the French Commissary, and the Secret Committee of the English East India Company, and gives the consequent projects aud counter-projects for a Peace. Incomplete. p.86 endorsement.

6, pp. 91-131 (23 x 17.5 cm.). Reflections on the disputes subsisting between the Companies of France and England trading to the East Indies. Copy. Copied in II. 28, where it has the alternative title of “Idea of a Treaty for India, drawn at the request of Lord Holdernesse in January 1754." Apparently (see 45. p. 6) it was completed in London on 24 November 1753. Orme maintained that in the late war the French Company had been the aggressors, and that “under the pretext of securing the rights and advantages of the Commerce of their Company their intent was no less than to add Provinces in Asia to the Dominion of their Monarch." No treaty, therefore, in his opinion could be satisfactory which did not Incapacitate them from renewing this intent. For this reason he thought the following four points should be insisted on: (1) "That the lands conceded by the Government of the Carnatica and annexed to the Colonies of Madras and Pondicherry be at least of equal revenue and extent." (2) "That Mahomedally Cawn be confirmed the Nabob of Carnatica, even with the concurrence and assistance of the French, as likewise of Tritchanopoly (excepting that the English shall think their interests better confirmed and peace better estab1ished in the former province by curtailing him of the latter)." (3)" That the French shall not maintain at Golconda or in any other place where the Soubah of the Southern Provinces shall reside, or in any other place without the Carnatica, more Europeans than are necessary for the service of a subordinate Factory: at the outmost fourty men. And that the French shall not on any pretence or occasion whatsoever be assisting to the said Soubah or to any other Prince under his jurisdiction with any number of any kind of troops, or with any kind of warlike implements and utensils." (4) "That the French shall not possess at Masulipatam or at any place on the Coast of Coromandel laying to the Norward of Madras more lands than of the circumference of one mile, excepting that the Powers of the Country are brought to conceed(sic) to the English a quantity of lands in the same place of equal value and extent as those given up to the French. And that no fortresses or citadels be built by the French at Masulipatam, or at any place laying to the Northward of Madras, the English not doing the same." A fifth point, he thought, should be considered, viz.: "The English and French shall concur bona fide and oblige the Nabob Mahomedally to give up to the King of Missoor the territory of Tritchanopoly, as engaged by the Nabob, whilst stipulating with that King for his assistance against Chundasaib. On these conditions acceeded to by the King of Missoor, 1st, that the King of Missoor shall pay to the Nabob a sum of money; 2nd, that he shall remain the Nabob's ally, offensive and defensive; 3rd, that he shall make some advantageous concessions to the French and English equal to both in return for their mediation with the Nabob.” This paper contains Orme's estimate of the character of the Nawab (p. 99) :- "The Nabob Mahomed Ally Cawn is a man of very moderate talents, of less resolution, and of no application. The officers of his Court and the dependants which entered the Province with his father Anoroodecawn, are the only friends to his government. The war has drained him of his treasure, and his Ministers have not conciliated to him the affection of his people"; and an almost prophetic forecast of the coming war with Mysore (p. 124): "The King of Missoor's inclinations are so manifest that the only question concerning him will be whether he is in a condition to prosecute his pretensions. The King of Missoor has wealth and territory sufficient to overwhelm two or three such Provinces as Carnatica were but his people souldiers. " The proposals in this paper may be compared with those in II. 53, below, which paper gives Orme's views on the subject in 1762. pp.132-4 blank & endorsement.

7, pp. 135-138 (22.3 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated London, March 26 1755, from Mr. Hume to Messrs. Bourchier and Pigot. Copy. Mr. Hume advises the Governors of Bombay and Madras to secure terms from the Marathas disadvantageous to the French.

8, pp. 139-145 (22.5 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. George, 9th November 1754, from Robert Orme to the Earl of Holdernesse, written (see last para.) by an amanuensis, Orme being ill. Copied in III. 36 (4). Points out the friction that will be caused by sending King's Officers to India, and suggests that Independent Companies should be sent which might take service with the Company, or that the Governor and Council should rank on His Majesty's Military Establishment," so that "the troops should lose no honour in serving under the servants of the India Company, but to such distinctions we can have no pretensions, nor in my own particular should I wish for any such, whilst I could with honour remain a private man." See Clive's opinion on this subject 287. 98 below. p.146 endorsement.

9, pp. 147-148 (23 x 18 cm.) . Extract of general letter to Madras from London, 3 April 1754. Copy. Re-copied in III. 39. Concerning the treaty to be made with Pondicherry. pp.149-50 endorsement.

10, pp. 151-232 (23 x 18 cm.). Negotiations between Saunders and Godeheu, 9 December 1754-2 January 1755. Copies. (1) pp. 151-162. Letter, dated 9th December 1754, from Mr. Saunders to Mr. Godeheu. Re-copied in III. 37 pp. 163-4 endorsement. (2). Agrees to an extension of the cessation of arms, and makes suggestions as to a final settlement. (2) pp. 165-171. Letter, dated 15 December 1754, from Mr. Godeheu to Mr. Saunders. Re-copied in III. 37 (3). In French. Discusses Mr. Saunders's proposals. p.172 endorsement. (3) pp. 173-179. Projet de Traité Conditionel, December 1754. Re-copied in III. 40. In French. (4) pp. 181-186. Letter, dated 23rd December 1754, from Mr. Saunders to Mr. Godeheu. Re-copied in III. 37 (4). Acknowledges Mr. Godeheu's letter and Project for a Conditional Treaty, which he accepts with some modifications. p.180 endorsement. (5) pp. 189-195. Letter, dated 25 December 1754, from Mr. Godeheu to Mr. Saunders. Re-copied in III. 37 (5). In French. Sends two copies of the Project for a Conditional Treaty. p.196 endorsement. (6) pp. 197-204. Articles of a Provisional Treaty between Mr. Godeheu and Mr. Saunders, dated Pondicherry, the 20th December 1754. Printed in Aitchison's Treaties, Vol. x., p. 8, Ed. 1909. (7) pp. 205-206. Additional articles to the Truce, dated Fort St. George, 31st December 1754. Printed in Aitchison's -Treaties, Vol. x., p. 16. pp. 207-8 endorsement. (8) pp. 209-216. Articles and stipulations of a Truce between Mr. Saunders and Mr. Godeheu, dated Pondicherry, 26th day of December 1754. Printed in Aitchison's Treaties, Vol. x., p. 12. (9) pp. 217-227. Letter, dated 29 December 1754, from Mr. Godeheu to Mr. Saunders. In French. p.228 endorsement. (10) pp. 229-232. Letter, dated 2nd January 1755, from Mr. Saunders to Mr. Godeheu. Re-copied in III. 37 (6). Acknowledges receipt of the Project for a Conditional Treaty, and suggests some additional articles. pp. 233-4 endorsement.

11, pp. 235-306 (23.2 x 18.5 cm.). Letters from Orme to the Earl of Holdernesse. Originals. (1) pp. 235-257. Letter, dated Madras, January the 5th 1755. Copied in III. 36 (1). Describes the negotiations with M. Godeheu for a Provisional Treaty, and discusses the terms of the Treaty concluded. p. 258 endorsement. (2) pp. 259-266. Letter, dated Madras, March 11, 1755. Copied in III. 36 (3). Considers it possible that the influence of Dupleix will prevent the ratification of the Provisional Treaty, and encloses a copy of pp. 267-276. A Description of Golcondah from a Surgeon's mate. Copied in II. 54. In 45, p. 93, Orme describes this as "A description of Golcondah in 1754, to which is joined an account of the state of the French affairs and forces under the conduct of Bussey, composed by a surgeon's mate, an Englishman who came to Madras in 1755 and gave the account to R. O. The description of Golcondah takes up only one page." In the letter to Lord Holdernesse, it is described as "description of Golcondah by a renegado." The writer mentions among other things "a strong company of different nations commanded by Captain Buck, formerly a mate on one of the Honourable Company's ships, among whom there were near sixty English and Irish," also a "private soldier named De Volton," who "deserted from Pondicherry and went to Agra in Delhi (sic), where he has been ever since in great favour with the Grand Mogul, rising to be his principal Physician and of the Privy Council," and a "European renegado called - Abdullah now Rumi Can." pp. 277-8 endorsement. (3) pp. 279-285. Letter, dated Madras, October 26th, 1755. Copied in III. 36 (2). Mentions Heron's expedition to Madura and Tinnevelly and Bussy's success in the Deccan; considers that the Provisional Treaty saved the English from being cut off from Trichinopoly and the South by the French. p. 286 endorsement. (4) pp. 287-306. Letter, dated Fort St. George, March 1st 1756. Copied in III. 36 (5). Makes very unfavourable reflections upon the Governor and Council. Describes how Murtaza Ali was tricked out of more than 3 lakhs of rupees by Dupleix, and how his own mission to Vellore failed; encloses a copy of No. 12 below.

12, pp. 307-312 (37.8 x 23 cm.). Letter from Presidency of Madras to Presidency of Bombay on an expedition from Bombay with the Morattoes against Bussy and Sallabud Jang, Fort St. George, November 30th 1755. This letter was written by R. O. Copied in III. 36 (5) as an enclosure to to 11 (4) above. Explains the Company's intentions regarding, and destination of, the armament which accompanied Colonel Clive from England to Bombay; suggests an alliance with the Marathas against Salabat Jang, Subah of the Deccan, so as to obtain the expulsion of Bussy and the French. pp. 313-4 endorsement.

13, pp. 315-355 (23 x 18.5 cm.). Letters from Orme to Lord Holdernesse. Originals. (1) pp. 315-324. Letter, dated Madras, October 27, 1756. Copied in III. 36 (7). Mentions the wreck of the Doddington, the quarrel between Salabat Jang and Bussy of which the English fail to take advantage,the loss of Calcutta, and the expedition for its recovery. pp. 325-6 endorsement. (2) p. 327. Letter, dated Madras, July 28, 1757, to Mr. Fraser (Lord Holdernesse's Secretary). Acknowledges explanation of Lord Holdernesse's non-reply to his letters. pp.328-330 endorsement & blank. (3) pp. 331-345. Letter, dated Madras, July 30th 1757. Copied in III. 36 (6). Mentions Clive's failure to send back the troops he took to Bengal, the failure of the attack on Nellore, the great advantages of Vizagapatam, which had been taken by Bussy, as a port, the necessity of reinforcements from England, i.e., of soldiers but not of officers, at any rate of higher rank than captain, the immense cost of Adlercron's regiment. p. 346 endorsement. (4) pp. 347-350. Letter, dated Madras, November 15, 1757. Copied in III. 36 (8). Mentions the arrival of the Lorraine Regiment at Pondicherry; "Col. Clive has made his fortune at Bengal, and writes me that he is no longer a cross to my views in the succession to this Government." pp. 351-2 endorsement. (5) pp. 353-355. Letter, dated Madras, March 13th 1758. Copied in III. 36 (9). Recommends Captain Speke to his Lordship's notice. p. 356 endorsement.

14, pp. 357-359 (37.6 x 23.2 cm.). Translate from the French of the Copy of an intercepted Letter wrote from Pondicherry the 15th March 1758, received from Lord Anson the 22nd-September following. Copy. This letter is an exposition by Lally of the state of affairs in India at this time from the French point of view. It is interesting, as showing how much he relied upon intrigues amongst the native powers. p.360 endorsement.