Page:History of the French in India.djvu/618

 592 APPENDIX A. sum besides that publicly stipulated by the articles (of ransom) which affair, as it required privacy, was by the Council referred to myself and Mr. Monson to be negotiated.' "Mr. Monson, in a letter to the Court of Directors (21st December, 1748) says : * I am to acquaint you that, in treating for the ransom of the place, we were soon given to understand that a further sum was necessary to be paid beside that to be mentioned in the public treaty. You will easily imagine from the nature of the thing that it required to be conducted with some degree of secrecy. There was, however, a necessity for acquainting the Council with it, though for form's sake and to preserve appearances with the person (we were) treating with, it was referred to Mr. Morse and myself to settle the matter with him ; I can, nevertheless, with great truth assure you that all the gentlemen of the Council were constantly faithfully acquainted with every step that was taken in the matter, except Mr. Edward Fowke, who, from the beginning of the treaty about the ransom, declared that he would not join us in any of these measures, which by all the rest were thought absolutely necessary at the juncture It remains for me to acquaint you that we had no possible means for raising the money but by giving the Company's bonds for it ; and this negotiation was not kept secret for those who supplied the money on this occasion, as they were to a man informed of the use it was borrowed for, before they lent it, and thought by lending it they did a meritorious piece of service to the Company ; bonds were accordingly given for so much as we could borrow under the Company's seal and signed by Mr. Morse and the rest of the Council, except Mr. Edward Fowke. Part of the money thus borrowed was actually paid to the person treated with, and the rest was disbursed in defraying the charges of the garrison until the French broke the capitulations and turned us out of the town.' "Folio 4. — Mr. Monson in his letter (3rd May, 1748). . . . after excusing himself from declaring to whom .... this money . . . was given, says : * I hope I shall stand excused if I declare no further than that part of the money was appropriated to pay six months' salary and two months' diet to your covenant servants, with a month's arrear to the garrison, besides sundry payments to the officers and sailors of the Princess Mary, to your officers and military that were going to Cuddalore, and some little advances we judged necessary towards our future re-establishment, the rest of the money, with the diamonds, was actually and bona fide applied to the purpose already mentioned (the payment of that person) which in the opinion of those concerned in the business would have redounded very much to the honour, the credit, and the real advantage of the Company.'