No. 37.-1888.] capture of Colombo. • 369 



All the merchandise and effects of the Company which 

 were at Tuticorin were transported to Colombo : some 

 families also came to seek refuge there. It [Tuticorin] was 

 entirely evacuated, and the English took possession without 

 firing a shot. 



While these events were proceeding, two merchant vessels 

 arrived from Batavia, which were fortunately laden with rice 

 and various other provisions. They brought also despatches 

 for the Governor which confirmed the alliance of Holland 

 with France, and the news of the departure of the Stadt- 

 holder and his family for England. These vessels were to 

 have been reloaded at once and sent away to the Isle of 

 France [Mauritius], but the difficulty of finding coxitis or 

 slaves, or other cause not possible to get at, delayed their 

 departure. 



The Governor had assuredly many means of provisioning 

 his Fort and posts and securing against the misfortune 

 which befel merchandise worth immense sums, but he 

 appeared not to care to profit by any of them. 



M. Cheniete, Viceroy (lieutenant du roi) at Tranquebar, 

 •came during the month of August and offered to supply all the 

 provisions which might be required, in exchange for country 

 produce. His offer was fruitless, either in consequence of 

 the season being unseasonable, or because they did not come to 

 terms about the price. He also offered to purchase the two 

 merchant vessels which had just arrived, to place them under 

 the Danish flag, and to buy up for their cargo all the Com- 

 pany's goods, giving Bills of Exchange on the Royal Treasury 

 of Denmark, taken up by the Governor of Tranquebar. 

 These proposals were not accepted. 



Pierre Monneron subsequently arrived from the Isle of 

 France with two vessels under the flag of Tippoo Saib. His 

 cargo consisted of Madeira and Bourdeaux wines, which were 

 nearly all purchased by the Governor. Monneron offered to 

 transport to the Isle of France, to be warehoused there, all the 

 goods, or even to purchase them, but being unable to agree 

 about the price, these offers were equally resultless. 



