A Letter of the Council in Calcutta to Marquis de Bussy, 1784
Summary
This historical study introduces and reproduces a previously unedited letter sent by the Council in Calcutta to Marquis de Bussy in 1784, situating it within the international conflicts of the late eighteenth century. The author explains that wars such as the War of Austrian Succession, Seven Years’ War, American War of Independence and later Napoleonic conflicts had global repercussions that reached India. During the American War of Independence, the Netherlands joined the anti-British coalition, prompting the British to seize Dutch settlements in Bengal, Bihar, southern India and Ceylon. British forces captured Trincomali and Fort Ostenburgh in Ceylon in January 1782, but lost Cuddalore and Permacoil when French forces allied with Hyder Ali later that year. The Treaty of Versailles in September 1783 required Britain, France and Holland to restore conquered territories, yet the actual restitution in India was delayed, leading the Dutch administrations in Colombo and Batavia to protest to the Calcutta Council. The letter, composed by the Council and addressed to Marquis de Bussy, then French commander in India, requested the immediate return of the fort, town and districts of Cuddalore to Dutch agents and expressed frustration at the Madras Government’s reluctance to implement the treaties. The document reveals how local British officials balanced directives from London with on‑the‑ground negotiations with French and Dutch representatives. The article contextualises the letter with references to secret proceedings of Fort William, analyses differences in narratives by historians such as Mill, Fullarton and Thornton, and demonstrates that the eventual restitution was a complex process influenced by individual commanders and shifting alliances. By bringing this letter to light, the study enriches our understanding of Anglo-French-Dutch relations in late eighteenth-century India and shows how global wars impacted colonial politics on the Coromandel and Bengal coasts.
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Conclusion
The reproduced letter illustrates that colonial diplomacy in India was not solely directed by metropolitan treaties but shaped by regional actors who pursued their own interests. The delay in restoring Cuddalore and other Dutch possessions underscores the tensions between British strategic objectives and treaty obligations. By highlighting the voices of the Calcutta Council and Marquis de Bussy, the article offers a microhistorical perspective on the broader geopolitical contest among European powers in Asia. This case study reminds readers that documents from colonial archives can reveal the complexities of imperial policy and the agency of local administrators.