[AFTER compliments]. You write “that the Bouparies* of the port “of Pondicherry, who come into our dominions to purchase articles of “merchandize, are, on their return with their goods, molested by the “Taalûkdâr of Selim, who will not suffer them to proceed; in consequence of which, you request of us to direct him to let the aforesaid “merchandize pass.” It is known: and, agreeably to your desire, we enclose an order to the Taalûkdâr of Selim, commanding him to release the goods in question. Let the same be forwarded to him.
In future, when you dispatch Bouparies into our dominions to purchase goods, you must give them a letter from yourself to the Taalûkdâr, written either in Urwy* or Telingy;* when he will, in conformity with your desire, suffer the specified articles to pass. The reason of the orders which we have issued on this subject is, that of late certain strangers have come into our dominions; where borrowing money of the Ryots* and others, they have been guilty of various unwarrantable practices. Always continue to delight and rejoice us with accounts of your welfare.
As a personal compliment to the Governor of Pondicherry (whom he probably, at this time, wished to conciliate) we here see the Sultan relaxing, in some degree, the severity of the regulations spoken of under the nineteenth letter. It is most likely, however, that the concession was only temporary, and that the French governor was frequently obliged to renew his present application.
The allusion to strangers is, no doubt, pointed at the English, and thesubjects of the Carnatic. It is not equally certain, that the cause here assigned by the Sultan for the prohibition in question was the real one, or that the accusation, thus made, had any foundation in truth.