The last weeke, in a news lettr wrote by a servᵗ of yours, one Mr. Edmᵈ Sawkell, there is a scandallous reflection on my honʳ and reputation, by his writeing that Sʳ Rᵈ Haddock wᵗʰ seuerall other seamen were gone into Holland, wᶜʰ I have recᵈ aᶜᶜᵗ of sᵈ letter from 3 or 4 countys, and must beleive it hath flowne all the kingdome over. Sʳ, I was this day to waite on you at yʳ post ofice; but, haveing accᵗ given me that you were in the country, thought fitt, before I spake wᵗʰ Mr. Sawkill, to give you notice hereof, and yᵗ you will readylie conclude I shall expect satisfaction from him for this scandall, at least yᵗ he finds out his author or else must conclud him to be the inventor himselfe. I do presume you know me so well as to beleive, however the King may please to deale wᵗʰ me (wᶜʰ hetherto hath bine extra kind), I shall never forsake my loyalty and duty to him, even to my last breath. Praying a lyne or two in answer, with great respect, I remaine Your very afectᵉ servant, Rᵈ H. TO JN. (_sic_) FROWD, ESQ. * * * * * [a] Postmaster-General. CAPTAIN JOSEPH HADDOCK TO HIS BROTHER, SIR RICHARD HADDOCK. Abord the Ship Princess of Denmark, 17th Xber, 1688. Balasore Roade. Sʳ RICHᵈ HADDOCK. MY EVER HONᵈ BROTHER, My last, of the 7ᵗʰ Augᵗ from Visagapatam, gave yoʳ Honʳ accᵗ of our arrivall Madras and of our affaires to that tyme. The 10ᵗʰ Augᵗ we saild thence for Balasore, wher we arriv’d the 15ᵗʰ; in wᶜʰ bay we have contᵈ and rid out the monsoone, wᶜʰ has prov’d favourabler then expected (beinge leape yeare). The 15ᵗʰ 7ber Capᵗ Heath arriv’d this place, who, by virtue of the President and Counsell of Madras order requir’d my goeinge up wᵗʰ hime to Chuttynutte[a] in the river of Hugly (the place where our Agent and factorie resided), myselfe wᵗʰ the rest of the comandʳˢ of the Europe Shipps then in the river to assist hime in the Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compˢ affairs.[b] In fews days after our getting up to Chuttynutte, a letter was writ to the Nabob of Dacca (the cheife govenʳ of that citty), who had formerly requested our Agent that if we would assist hime wᵗʰ ships to transport soulders and horss from Chottagam to Arraccan (they beinge in warrs wᵗʰ that Kinge), he would give us his Pharwanna[c] of a settlemᵗ of trade, wᵗʰ prevaledges as formerly accordinge to the 12 articles formerly sent hime from our agent &c. Capt. Heath, in the letter sent, condesended to the Nabob’s request, in suplyinge hime wᵗʰ 10 ships and vessells for the Mogull’s occations, to transport ther soulders and horss, provided they would allow of the buildinge of a fortyfiction wᵗʰin the river of Hugly, for the better security of the Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compˢ estate and serᵗˢ; wᵗʰout wᶜʰ grant of a fortyfied place the Compˢ ordʳˢ possitive are, to wᵗʰdraw off all our factory from this place.