Storia do Mogor 17.p6

17.p6

One point connected with the history of François Martin may be commented on here. Monsieur Weber, in his 'La Compagnie Française des Indes' (1904), pp. 181, 182, states that on the capitulation of Pondicherry in September, 1693, F. Martin 'était revenu en France où le roi l'avait traité avec honneur.' This is evidently an error, probably due to a confusion between François Martin, the Director-General, and Jean Baptiste Martin, the Second in Council at Pondicherry in 1693. It is clear from the tenth article of capitulation that François Martin begged to be allowed to remain in India. But this request was refused. His wife and granddaughter with their servants and baggage were recalled from San Thomé, where in July, 1693, they had been sent for safety, and they embarked with Martin for Batavia. The Dutch ships from Pondicherry passed Fort St. David on their way to Negapatam on September 15, 1693 (O.S.), and the English write 'we hear Monsieur Martin is in the "Admirall."'
From a resolution of the governor-general and Council at Batavia, dated November 5, 1693, it appears that the French captives had recently arrived there on the Beurs and the Maas. Among them were Director François Martin and his family, consisting of his wife and the daughter of the French director in Bengal, 'Monsieur de Lande,' by their (the Martins') daughter, one French servant, one Armenian, two slave men, and two slave girls. These were accorded quarters in the governor-general's house, and the Martins were to eat at his table.
On November 9, the governor-general reported that F. Martin earnestly prayed to be spared the long journey to Europe on account of the advanced years of himself and his wife, and begged permission to proceed to Bengal. The matter was deliberated on.
Next day (the tenth) a petition from F. Martin was produced before the Council. It recites the fact that Laurens Pit, governor on the Choromandel coast and commanding the troops at the taking of Pondicherry, had referred the question of Martin's destination to the decision of the Batavia Council. During the negotiations he had asked to be allowed to depart either to Masulipatam or to Bengal, where the French Company had factories. This petition was refused, and in order not to break off negotiations, he withdrew his demand, on being given hope that at Batavia the article would be reconsidered. He appeals to the precedent of San Thome (1674), when Baron, director-general of the French Company, had been allowed to withdraw to Surat by land or water with forty-five to fifty persons. He pleads his own great age and the infirmity of his wife, who was not likely to survive a journey to Europe, and prays for terms similar to those accorded to Monsieur Baron. After deliberating the Council resolved, on perusal of the conditions allowed to Monsieur Baron, to grant Francois Martin's request on account of his age, and he was permitted to embark with his family for Bengal via Malacca on the flute Walenburg. We have already referred to his correspondence from Hughli, between 1694 and 1698. He sailed thence for Pondicherry on board the Gaillard in January, and arrived on March 8, 1699. On March 21, 1699, the English governor and Council at Fort St. George wrote to the French director-general and Council at Pondicherry, 'congratulating him on his restoration and being in quiet possession of that place once lost in war.'