IOR/L/PS/9/76/1

Two letters from William Digges Latouche, Resident at Bussora [Basra], to the Court of Directors for Affairs of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies [East India Company].

The first letter, dated 23 January 1781, forwards intelligence received from India, Muscat, and Aleppo. Subjects covered include:

• Conflict with the Mahrattas [First Anglo-Maratha War, 1774-1783] around Basseen [Vasai] and the hostility of Hayder Ali [Ḥaydar ‘Alī, Ruler of Mysore]
• Reports of the seizure of English ships in the Indian Ocean by French vessels, and in the Mediterranean by the French and Spanish fleet
• Difficulties in communicating with Aleppo
• The Basha’s [Büyük Sulaymān Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] preference for the construction of his own gallivat ships to protect Bussora’s trade rather than relying on loaned ships from the East India Company
• The dispatch of arms to the Basha to combat the Ghesaal Arabs [Khazā’il tribe].

The second letter, dated 19 February 1781, covers subjects including:

• The movements of the ship Morning Star, including consignments of textiles and instructions from Bombay [Mumbai] regarding secure arrangements for the transit of mail.
• The arrival from France of a scientist, M Saury, seeking letters of recommendation and passage to India.

Another copy of the same letter can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/2.