I supose our next enterprize will be towards Chottagam, a place neere the coast of Arraccan. The Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ Compᵃ possative orders are for endeavouringe the takinge it; but I feare we shall not have strength sufficient to effect it, the Nabob haveinge sent many thousand of [men] this yeare ther to over run and take the kingdome of Arracan. The king of that country beinge some tyme since dead, part of the people are in rebelion against the present govermᵗ; by whᶜʰ its supos’d the Mogullers will goe farr in takeing that country this yeare, and we frustrated of our designe. Honᵇˡᵉ Sir, I have not writt to any of owners (except the 2 in charty party), beleivinge we shall returne to Madras before the Williamson sailes for England. Our ship is in a very good condition and very thite. I beleive our stay in India will be the extreme of our tyme, for at present noe prospect of a freight for Europe; and I feare the brave trade of Bengall will be lost, at whᶜʰ the Dutch and French rejoyce, that this trade may wholy fall to them. I have not elce to add; only please to present my duty, respects, and love to all our deere relations and freinds. Thus, wᵗʰ my due respects to yoʳ selfe and my good lady sister, doe remaine, Honᵇˡᵉ Sʳ, yoʳ affectionate bro. and Serᵗ, whilst JOˢ HADDOCK. Sʳ I recᵈ yoʳ letter, alsoe one from my wife sent per the Defence; and returne my humble thancks for it. For the Honᵇˡᵉ Sʳ Richᵈ Haddock, at his house on Tower Hill. Present. London. Pʳ the Williamson, Capt. Ashby, Comandʳ, D.G. * * * * * [a] Chuttanuttee, now Calcutta. [b] Early in 1686 the Company fitted out an expedition to retaliate on the Nawab of Bengal for past injuries, and to attempt to seize Chittagong. But before the arrival of the forces a premature quarrel with the natives forced the English to abandon Hoogly and retire to Chuttanuttee. In Sept. 1687, a truce was patched up, but the Company was not satisfied. An armament was despatched under command of Heath. The result was the attack on Balasore, as told in this letter, an abortive attempt on Chittagong, and the abandonment of the Company’s factories in Bengal.--See Mill’s _Hist. of British India_, book i. chap. v. [c] Farwana, the licence granted by a viceroy; as distinguished from a firman, granted by a sovereign. RICHARD HADDOCK[a] TO HIS FATHER, SIR RICHARD HADDOCK. Aprill[b] yᵉ 23ᵈ [1692]; Munday, in yᵉ Hooke.[c] HONOURD Sʳ,