The second French East India Company according to the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 30 April 1785

This newspaper published a item dated Paris 22 April dealing with a royal decision to found a new East India Company. The decision consisted of 57 articles, the most important was the article that the privilege was for a period of 7 years in peace excluded the years when an eventual war broke out. The nationals of the several harbours within the French empire were allowed to transport all kind of stores excluded from the above mentioned privilege. In case voyages were all ready prepared of when ships were underway to the East Indies was execution supplied for a period of 24 months to complete their business and than to return to l’Orient. The French crown handed over the use of this harbour included all stores, warehouses, yards, etc. after a thoroughly restore of their condition paid by the crown which was also responsible for the maintenance. The company was to have a capital of 20.000.000 livres of which 6.000.000 from the 12 directors (called bewindhebbers) and 14.000.000 consisting of livres of each 1.000 livres offered to anyone interested in participating in the new company.

Note

1. La Compagnie française des Indes orientales or Compagnie française pour le commerce des Indes orientales. The first company was founded in 1664 and in fact a fusion between all ready existing companies, namely the Compagnie de Chine, the Compagnie d’Orient and the Compagnie de Madagascar. This company due to financial problems stopped in 1769 while a year later all properties were handed over to the crown in return for the promise to pay the debts and obligations. In 1785 was a new company founded as the newspaper reported. The privilege was indeed for a period of 7 years for the area beyond Cape of Good Hope. Due to the French Revolution came an abrupt end to the privilege caused by a decision of the French Assembly dated 3 April 1790 that such a monopoly was incompatible with the equality principle. A decision of the Committee of Public Safety dated 24 August 3 years later ended all joint-stock companies including this East India Company which was liquidated in 1794.