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Mss Eur Orme OV.289

Record Id:

040-003677764

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

032-002305428

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100104450752.0x000001

LARK:

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

Mss Eur Orme OV.289

Title:

Letters to me at Madras in 1754-55, being helps to the history

Scope & Content:

p. [i]. Endorsement as follows:- "Letters to me at Madras in 1754-55, being helps to the history." p. [iii]. List of Contents.

1, pp 1-2 (31.5 x 20 cm.) Letter, dated Chandernagore, 12 Oct. 1754, from Mons. Duval de Leyrit to Orme. Original in French.
2, pp 5-6 (24.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Pondicherry, 10 Apr 1755, from Mons. Duval de Leyrit to Orme. Original in French.
3, pp. 7-8 (24.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Pondicherry, 20 June 1755, from Mons. Duval de Leyrit to Orme. Original in French.
4, pp. 9-10 (24.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Pondicherry, 6 Sept. 1755, from Mons. Duval de Leyrit to Orme. Original in French. Mentions M. Jean Dumont.
5, pp. 13-14 (24.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Pondicherry, 21 Sept. 1755, from Mons. Duval de Leyrit to Orme. Original in French.
6, pp. 17-18 (31.5 x 20 cm.). Letter, dated Pondicherry, 12 October 1755, from Mons. Duval de Leyrit to Orme. Original in French. Says that he has given Baron Vasserot all the assistance in his power.
7, p. 19 (38 x 27 cm.). Letter, dated Cochin, 25 February 1755, from James Foulis to Orme. Original. Complains of the injustice of the Governor (? of Bombay, i.e., Richard Bourchier).
8, pp. 23-26 (22.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Bombay, 12 May 1755, from James Foulis to Orme. Original. Mentions more quarrels with the Governor; says that they have established a Secret Committee, as at Madras :- "We are very secret, of which I can give you a remarkable instance. On the 29th of April was held a meeting at 9 in the morning, the resolutions of which were not publick till four o'clock in the afternoon the day, Before"; says that, though winter is the proper time for crossing the desert to Aleppo, people generally go in the summer because camels can then be had very cheaply.
9, pp. 29-32 (18.5 x 15 cm.). Letter, dated Bombay, 23 May 1755, from James Foulis to Orme. Original. Says that Commodore James has been very successful against Angria, but that this was due to his exceeding his orders at his own risk; sends copies of the papers connected with the Dorill affair (see 18. 1).
10, p. 33 (22.5 x 18.3 cm.). Letter, dated --, from James Foulis to Orme. Original. Recommends the Baron de Vasserot, Lieutenant in Captain Zeigler's Swiss Company, to his favour.
11, pp. 35-37 (22.5 x 18.3 cm.). Letter, dated Bombay, 25 Sept. 1755, from James Foulis to Orme. Original. Asks for military information regarding Manilla.
12, pp. 39-40 (23.5 x 19.3 cm.). Letter, dated Werriour Camp, 28 Sept. 1754, from Major Lawrence to Orme. Original. Compliments him in a somewhat exaggerated manner. Possibly the letter was written by his Aide-de-Camp, James Repington (see 288. 36), but the signature is that of Lawrence.
13, p. 43 (19 x 15.5 cm.). Letter, dated 25 Oct. 1755, from John Smith to Orme. Original. Asks to be recommended to England.
14, pp. 45-46 (32.8 x 20.3 cm.). Letter, dated Devecotah, 10 Dec. 1755, from John Smith to Orme. Original. Says that he has taken over charge of the Settlement from Mr. Hopkins.
15, pp. 47-48 (38.5 x 24 cm.). Letter dated Devecotah, 17 Dec. 1755, from John Smith to Orme. Original. Wishes to dismiss some of the sepoys, but fears that they will either join the enemy or start plundering on their own account; says that they are good men and have been well taught their exercises by Captain Spear; thinks that Mr. Hopkins' Dubash will be found guilty of oppressing the inhabitants and Mr. Hopkins himself guilty of the charges brought against him; says that he is engaged in repairing the fortifications.
16, p. 51 (24 x 19 cm.). Letter, dated Devecotah, 23 Dec. 1755, from Mr. John Smith to Orme. Original.
17, pp. 53-59 (38.5 x 25 cm.). Letter, dated Devecotah, 31 Dec. 1755, from Mr. John Smith to Orme. Original. Says that he has detected "Comrapah," the Company's Conicopoly, extorting money from the Sepoy officers; that he finds it has been the custom for Civilians, Military, &c., to pay their servants as sepoys; that Mr. Hopkins had, without enquiry, turned off the Chief Peon, “one Latchmiah Reddy who, after the loss of Madras, came to our assistance with 300 Peons," in order to find a place for one of his own servants, a mere boy, and similarly had turned off the Company's translator, “Ramiah," for a favourite of his own; gives further details of Mr. Hopkins' misdeeds in the management of the place, and describes the repairs he wishes to make to the fort, of which he sends a plan. N.B. The plan is lacking.
18, p. 61 (30 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 16 Sept. 1754, from [Captain] Henry Speke to Orme. Original.
19, pp. 63-65 (30 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 18 Sept. 1754, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Says that he is uneasy at having received no reply to his last letter to Mr. Saunders, and advises Orme to keep on good terms with that gentleman, of whom he appears to have a very good opinion.
20, pp. 67-68 (30.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 22 Sept. 1754, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Says that he has heard from Mr. Saunders, who had been told that Orme had tried to do him ill service; and that he had done his best to disabuse him of this belief.
21., pp. 71-73 (30.5 x 18 cm.). Letter, dated "Kent," in St. David's Road, 17 May 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Says that he is so bored at Fort St. David that he prefers to stay on board his ship, that the Admiral (i.e., Charles Watson) is weak in allowing the Council to send the fleet thither, and that if, in case of action, the Council attempts to impose their plans on the Admiral, he will do his best to oppose his complying with the Council's wishes.
22, p. 77-79 (25 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 9 June 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Asks news of the political relations with France, sneers at the Hero (? Clive):- " I have heard a great deal about the Hero (who will lose his election) which I will show you when we meet to make you laugh. I think you need not entertain any fears of his rivalship. His reputation dwindles very fast."
23, pp. 81-86 (23 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 24 June 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Says that he is disgusted at the Admiral's preference for Fort St. David over Madras; asks Orme to get him some shirts and one of those "new-invented spying glasses," which had come out by the Bombay Castle; sneers at Clive's prospects, "Will there be no envy attending the Hero who saved the Capitol? Will his folly be deemed Humour and his Ribaldry Wit?"
24, p. 89 (23 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St David, 4 July 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original.
25, pp. 93-95 (24 x 18.7 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 8 July 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Asks his good services for Mr. John Call, "a very worthy as well as very ingenious young man; possessing much knowledge, adorned with great modesty"; informs him that the "black people, shroffs" have put about a rumour that Mr. Orme's mouth had been stopped by a bribe of 4,000 Pagodas from one "Lingachitty" in the matter of the debasement of the coin by Mr. Saunders.
26, p. 97 (30.3 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated 11 July 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original.
27, pp. 99-102 (30 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated 18 July 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Says that he is unable to trace the origin about the scandal connected with the debasement of the coin and suggests that Orme should put an end to it by having some Pagodas tested.
28, pp. 103-104 (23 x 18.5 cm.). Letter, dated Fort St. David, 8 August 1755, from Henry Speke to Orme. Original. Says that the date of their departure from Fort St. David is still uncertain. 29, p. 107 (32 x 20.5 cm.) Letter, dated "Kent," Fort St. David Road, 17 Sept. 1754, from Charles Watson to Orme. Original. Congratulates him on his arrival at Madras and thanks him for his offer of service.

Collection Area:

India Office Records and Private Papers

Project / Collection:

India Office Private Papers

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-002305428
033-003394094
040-003677764

Is part of:

Mss Eur Orme : Robert Orme papers.
Mss Eur Orme OV. : Orme Various

Mss Eur Orme OV.289 : Letters to me at Madras in 1754-55, being helps to the history

Hierarchy:

032-002305428[0001]/033-003394094[0260]/040-003677764

Container:

View / search within Archive / Collection: Mss Eur Orme

Record Type (Level):

File

Extent:

1 volume, pp. [iii], 108.

Digitised Content:

Languages:

English
French

Scripts:

Latin

Start Date:

1754

End Date:

1755

Date Range:

1754-1755

Era:

Access:

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User Conditions:

Physical Characteristics:

Dimensions: Various sizes, up to 38.5 x 27 cm.

Binding: Vellum-bound volume.

Material Type:

Archives and Manuscripts

Legal Status:

Not Public Record(s)