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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1314

(x) India
Cochin
1776 (10 June) Letter from a Dutch East India Company officer to the King of Cranganoor, a town located a few kilometres north of Cochin. Writing in Dutch, he warns "I cannot let Your Highness have a written answer because of the unfaithfulness of Your Highness' Ministers, who blab all we write to Your Highness to Chawacatty, as we have let you know already earlier". Apparently the Dutch knew that a palace coup was going to take place or, at the very least, that various ministers intended to attack Dutch interests. He suggests, "I feel that it should happen in this way only, namely, that your Hon. tries to get all ministers, belonging to that faction, with some others, in order not to rouse reflection [suspicion], into the fort; on the pretext of having to tell them something on behalf of the Comp.[any] and then, after having told them something, announce to these people with bad intentions, that it is my order that they must come to Cochin". The letter ends with him stating that regular troops would only be sent if absolutely necessary so that the conflict could be resolved through less turbulent means. Provided with English translation; 2pp, 4to, foxing and other small faults.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£500 to £600

Starting price
£450

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