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i c 



1916.] Some old Records of the Madras Army (1757-1759). 277 



out of the River, before //every Article of the Peace was fulfill'd [P. 2.] 

 and their Fortifications pat into a better Posture of Defence. 



The Apprehensions you are under for the Compy.'s 

 Settlements on the Coast are so very different from the Opinion 

 of the Governor and Council at Madrass ; that I cannot help 

 sending you an Extract of their Letter to me in Answer to 

 representations I made them relating to their Settlement if the 

 whole Squadron should proceed on this Expedition and a French 

 Squadron arrive in my absence. They say : 



''We are obliged for your Representations of our Situa- 

 tion here; we have seriously reflected on the Subject, we 



shall leave ourselves with a Garrison sufficient for our 

 " Ground, and with the Rise of [a?] Fortifications cannot say 



that we fear even an Enemy [as?] powerful as has been 

 " represented to us from Europe/' 



From such an opinion founded too after a Serious Reflec- 

 tion on their Situation I can have no good great Reason to 

 suppose they have need of any Assistance from/ this Squadron. [P. 3.] 

 However give me leave to assure you if everything here was 

 settled in the manner you represent, there was also a possibility 

 of getting the large ships ready to go out of the River this 



Season, and I tho 1 ^ my Appearance at Madrass would be of 

 service to the Company I would with Pleasure proceed there. 

 But considering the time of Year and the Condition of the 

 Squadron, it is now become impossible to get the necessary 

 Repairs done to enable them to proceed to the Coast, and the 



Imprudence of such a step l before the Neutrality 



was firmly se(ttled) with the French, would be the height of 

 Folly, it being so far from a certainty that such a Treaty will 

 be concluded that the Council at Chandernagrore are not 

 invested with Powers to settle it. 



I believe I shall have occasion to send the twentv Gun 

 Ship and Sloop to Madrass very soon, if you have any commands 

 to the coast that I can comply with, I will gladly give their 

 Captains orders accordingly. 



I am, 



Sir, 



Fort William. Your most obedient humble Servant, 

 TdhFeby. 1757. Chas. Watson. 



To Col l Clive. 



[Endorsement] : No. 5, Copy of Admirl. Watson's Answer 



to Colo 1 Clive To be entd. in Comm. 18th Apr. Enid. 

 Charles Floyer / S. L. Douglas./ 2 



~ 



l Two words illegible. 2 S. J. Doug] a ? S. P. Douglas 1 



