[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 346.1 # Storia do Mogor 346.1 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 346.1 - **Language:** English ### [346.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.1) \[In Phoosen's defence of his conduct submitted on January 15, 1706, to Joan van Hoorn, Governor-General, and Council at Batavia, in compliance with their resolution of December 21, 1705, there are some details worth preserving — (1) about the fight at sea; (2) about the negotiations for a local truce. Phoosen sailed from Malacca on January 19, and reached Balasor roads upon March 18, 1704, on board the Ellemeet, having in company the Goude Vogel Phenix and six other vessels. After loading new goods on the Goude Vogel Phenix, and transferring to her the cargo of the Ellemeet, Phoosen and some other officials set sail in her for Negapatam on December 30, 1704, while the Ellemeet and Molenwerf started for Batavia. A French vessel, which was hovering about off the coast, got away in advance of them, and no doubt conveyed to the French the news of their approach. On the morning of January 12, 1705, the high land near Palicāt was in sight, and about noon they passed Geldria, the Dutch fort there. Towards evening they were off Madras, and before sunset they sighted the hills behind Sadrāspatanam. They then stood out to sea in the hope of passing the fortress of Pondicherry without being perceived. ### [346.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.2) As day broke next day, January 13, when they were about fourteen miles from the coast, they made out four sail to the north-west at a distance of four or five miles. Guessing them to be French, they made all sail, but the pursuers overhauled them hand over hand. About ten o'clock the nearest ship displayed a red ensign as a signal to one of the other ships. All four ships now flew white flags, the admiral coming up on the port and the second in command on the starboard. Owing to its position the Dutch could only attack the second ship with their swivel guns and musketry. Meanwhile the Goude Vogel Phenix fought the enemy's principal ship with all available cannon. But owing to their being so heavily laden, only four of their lowest tier of guns on either side could be discharged. The French fired broadside upon broadside into them, a portion of their rigging and a good deal of their shrouds being shot into tatters so that they could carry no sail. The topsails were shot into bits and fell overboard; a large part of the tiller was destroyed. They drifted helplessly between the two largest Frenchmen, while the remaining two ships of their fleet were drawing close. ### [346.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.3) The skipper, Hendrik Mondiger, had fought on for nearly one and a half hours against an overpowering force. Many of the Dutch were killed, including Gerrit Katt, the third mate, whose leg was shot off early in the fight when standing near Commissary Phoosen, who all through the fight stuck to his place on the upper deck. The master now reported the impossibility of holding out longer. The casualties had induced a slackening of effort among the crew, and it was impossible to guide them to fight their guns. The commissary himself saw that out of twelve men only two stood to their work. Two or three times Cornelis de Graaf jumped down and tried to drive the men back to duty. Things being in this state on board the Goude Vogel Phœnix as seen by the commissary and councillors themselves, the master, H. Becker, was pressed to say whether more could be done to save the ship from the enemy. His words were that to fight longer was mere stubbornness and obstinacy; the men would be butchered, and the end would be the same. The councillors expressed their agreement with the skipper. ### [346.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.4) It was resolved to strike the flag of the Goude Vogel Phœnix. 'I (Phoosen) went to the poop to be ready, when from the French admiral came a broadside to salute us, one ball of which passed through the mizzen-mast and struck H. Mondiger and under-merchant Jaan Oosterling both in the breast, the first-named also having his left arm shattered. Both fell on the deck together dead. Undersigned was wounded by a splinter in the face, arm, and breast, but not dangerously.' The flag having been struck, the French continued to call on the Dutch to launch their boat and come on board their ship. The tackle and ropes had been destroyed, and they could not comply; the French were forced to send boats to bring them off. Thus after resisting for two hours they had been forced to surrender, having thirteen men killed and about twenty severely wounded. They were received by the admiral, Baron de Pallières. From the chief surgeon the commissary learnt that his captors were L'Agréable, La Mutine, L'Aurore, and the St. Louis, the details being the same as already noted from Dr. Jules Sottas' work. These ships had left Fort Louis in April, 1704, and in November, upon reaching the coast of Malabar, had taken one English and two Portuguese ships, of which the first was ransomed, and the larger of the other two sent to Goa with both the Portuguese crews on board. ### [346.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.5) We come next to events at Pondicherry, and the course of negotiations there. The French ships with their prize anchored off that settlement on the afternoon of January 18, 1705. On the 20th Phoosen was landed, and taken to Governor Martin in the fort. A dwelling was assigned to him there, and sentries were posted. The chief Dutch officials and ship's officers were sent to other quarters. Some of the crew were locked up in a warehouse on the beach, and the rest of the common sailors were put aboard the two-masted French vessel from Bengal already referred to. On the 22nd two Dutch envoys arrived from Negapatam — Hendrik Grousens, chief administrator, and Hendrik Becker, then Fiscal and subsequently Extraordinary Councillor. They were authorized to treat for the release of the prisoners. On the envoys being received by Governor Martin, Phoosen was sent for. De Pallières and Du Dresnay took him apart, and a letter was given him from the Governor and Council of Negapatam, dated January 18, 1705. After he had read the letter, Du Dresnay whispered to him to keep up his spirits. This remark was communicated by letter to Governor Conans on January 23 as showing they had hope of success. ### [346.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.6) But almost from that moment the French began to tell Phoosen that he must agree to a cessation of hostilities in India. The affair was conducted by Du Dresnay through one of the Dutchmen, Johan de Wolf, who knew French. They dwelt on the inconveniences to both nations from hostilities in India, and said that ratification and approval of the sovereigns on both sides could easily be obtained. Phoosen sent back word that he was in no way empowered to treat, but on reaching Negapatam he would consult with the Governor and Council there. Du Dresnay hinted that this refusal would not help on the release of the prisoners. De Wolf said the two things had not the remotest connection. Meanwhile the Dutch learnt from Negapatam that everybody said that Ariahpa, an interpreter, was very busy trying to thwart the efforts of the Dutch envoys. On their side they employed a native called Letje to find out what was going on. Through him they learnt that a leading merchant of Pondicherry, called Cammer Appa Chetty, was using influence against them with Governor Martin, and they were told at second or third hand that this man had offered Governor Martin 8,000 or 9,000 pagodas if the Dutch prisoners were sent to France, a proposal which Martin indignantly refused. ### [346.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.7) On the morning of January 24 (1705) the Council assembled at the Governor's house, and the Dutch envoys when called in presented the Negapatam letter. After perusing it the Council pointed out that on the taking of S. Thomé \[1674\] and Pondicherry \[1693\] the Dutch sent their prisoners to Europe, De Flacourt, second in Council, having been one of those deported in spite of his protests. The French said they would gain reputation with their monarch by following the same course. As an alternative they urged Phoosen to agree to a truce both north and south of the equinoctial line, subject to the subsequent approbation of their respective sovereigns. ### [346.1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1.8) The Negapatam envoys tried to draw a distinction between former events on land and the present capture at sea. claimed that Phoosen should be treated as Martin was the surrender of Pondicherry \[namely, he was released and allowed to proceed to Hugli\]. Secondly, they pleaded want of authorization, and requested that Phoosen might be for, Phoosen repeated the claim to be treated as Martin had been, also relying on an agreement between the two States made in the mutual release of prisoners, and as the themselves acted to the English after the capture But all this was like knocking at a deaf man's door. The cartel referred to was confined, the French to the previous war, and had not been renewed. They that a truce would be favourable to the Dutch. The Dutchmen denied the fact, for they were incomparably the in those regions. The Frenchmen met this by dwelling on the better sailing of their ships, which redressed the balance while on land they had nothing to fear. Their of defence the Dutch could see for themselves. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.346.1) · Pramāṇa