'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎103] (246/1782)

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Prom the Agent and Council at Gombroon to the President and Govemor in
Council, Bombay.
Hon'ble Sir and Sirs,
This address your Honour, etc., will receive vi& Muscat, and is to give you the
disagreeable news of ithe French having taken the Hon'ble Company's Factory An East India Company trading post. ;
they came into the road on the 12th in the evening with four ships under Dutch
Colours, oue of which wa3 a vessel of sixty-four guns, one of twenty-two guns, with
the Mary belonging to Chellaby and the Mamoody belonging to Mahomet Soffy.
On the 13th, early in the morning, they landed to the westward of the Factory An East India Company trading post. with
two mortars and four pieces of cannon, and began to batter ; we, on our parts, did
what the few number of Europeans we had would admit of.* As to the Topasse*
and seepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , few of them would stand to the guns. About 11 o'clock, being high
water, their ship of twenty-two guns hauled within about one quarter of a mile of
the Factory An East India Company trading post. and began to play on us ; at the same time they ashore played on us
with their mortars and guns from the westward.
At about half an hour past three in the afternoon a summons was sent from
the Freuch Camp, upon which the Agent called a Council of War consisting of
himself, William Nash, Lieutenants Bembou {sic) and Evans and Ensign Johnson,
wherein the strength of the House was considered, with the people we had to defend
it, and our being sure of having no succour from Moolah Ally Shaw. Th? Military
Gentleman were of unanimous opinion that the house was not tenable, upon which
it was unanimously agreed to make the best terms we could ; and that night the same
was agreed on as per copy of the capitulation herewith enclosed, but sorry we are
to remark the same has not been observed in the manner we might have expected
from Europeans. They have gone so far as to take away a few liquors we had for
our use and many other things, unnecessary at present to trouble your Honour, etc.,
with ; to be brief they comply with the articles just as they like.
The French are at present embarking the old copper and unloading the Mamoodie,
whose caigoe consisting of Dates they have given to Moolah Ally Shaw, who supplies
them with every thing in his power ; at present, by what we can perceive, their stay
here will be no longer than needs must, ahd will go to some Port in India.
The French had on shore, when they took possession of the Factory An East India Company trading post. , according
to the bast accounts we could take, about four hundred and fifty Europeans and one
hundred and fifty Coffrees; they had brought Bamboes with them and made scalling
ladders, and were determined to have scaled the House on the 13th at night.
On the 12th we had intelligence of the French having been at Muscat and
were bound further up the Gulph, upon which Lieutenant Bembou was ordered to
carry the "Speedwell" to Loft, but before he could ^et under weigh the French
appeared, and prevented his complying with orders ; which being perceived, he was
told to run the ship ashore, but being pursued very close by the twenty-two gun ship,
and tiie Tide flowing and having two sails set, she floated ; and the B rench sent
people and took possession of her, so they have now five ships.
On the 12th, while the French ships were standing into the Road, Moolah Ally
Shaw came to the Factory An East India Company trading post. and gave the Agent all imaginable assuiauces of his
affording us assistance, and that if the French attempted to land he would do what
was in his power to prevent it ; but, on his being sent to in the morning and
* According to Low, Indian Navy, 1. 152, the garrison of the factory An East India Company trading post. consisted
of 16 seamen and some sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. .