Two French East Indiamen returned at l’Orient returning from China according to the Dutch newspaper Oprechte Haarlemsche courant dated 28 June 1766

An item dated Paris, France 23rd reported the arrival at l’Orient of two French East Indiamen returning from China

The French Penelope captured by a Spanish privateer according to the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 25 June 1823

Lloyds received also tidings that the Penelope a French Indiaman destined from Ile Bourbon towards Bordeaux was captured by a Spanish privateer with a cargo valued more as 50.000 (other sources claimed 100.000 pound sterling) assured by the same Lloyds.

New French East Indies Company founded according to the Dutch newspaper Zuid-Hollandsche courant dated 18 March 1785

An item dated Paris, France 10th reported that the French king approved on last Tuesday the foundation of a new East Indies Company. For this company was a fund of 15 million livres needed, 8 millions to be contributed by the board of the company, the other 7 million by the wealthy which asked permission to participate in the new company. The company was allowed to buy so-called Indies stores form foreign companies. The king gave the company some privileges which seemed to be of a huge profit for the participants. The edition of 29th April reported that Giradot, Haller and Comp. temporarily were responsible for the finances until a treasurer was appointed. The board was to number 12 members.

French East Indiaman Duc de Chartres captured by British according to the Dutch magazine Maandelyksche Nederlandsche Mercurius dated May 1759

A tiding received from Lisbon, Portugal reported that a British warship commanded by captain Faulkener brought in the captured French East Indiaman Hertog van Chartres [Duc de Chartres]. The French officers were allowed to keep their clothes and other belongings.(1)

Note.
1. The website http://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=16673 supplies more details dealing with this French ship. She was in March 1749 laid down at the shipyard at Lorient and on 23 December of the same year launched and captured on 27 March 1757. Her dimensions were 111’9” (keel)-128’9” (gundeck) x 36’0”x 16’0” French feet with a burthen of 900 tons and a displacement of around 1,400 tons. Her crew numbered 146 men and her armament consisted of 56 guns. She was captured by the HMS Windsor. This was a 60-gun 4th rate launched ta Deptford on 31 October 1695, on 18 November 1725 ordered to be disassembled and to be rebuilt and again launched at Deptford on 27 October 1729, between 1742 and 1745 for the second time rebuild  and finally broken up in 1777. With a measurement of 910 long tons/924.6 tons were her dimensions 146’5”(gundeck) x 37’9”x 15’8.5” as for the first time being launched, after 1725 951 long tons/966.3 tons and 144 x 39 x 16.5” and finally after 1745 1,201 long tons/1,722.3 tons and 152 x 42 x 17’10”.

Dutch East Indiaman and foreign ships serving at Bengal according to the Generale Missive dated 31 March 1734

In 1733 were 13 ships sent of which 10 along the South side of Sumatra, namely the Duifje, Hofwegen, Sleewijk, Coxhoorn, Herstelling, Wolphaartsdijk, Wendela, Sijbecarspel, Strijkebolle and Adriana and 3 through Malacca Strait, namely the Goudriaan, Susanna and Hopvogel. Despite the Treaty of Vienna dated 16 March 1731 dealing with the end of the Oostendse Company the Dutch East India Company still blockaded the Ganges for all foreign vessels which were not allowed to come there, except the Swedish and Danish companies. Rumours of a chailoup from Oostende sailing with French colours in 1732 were not confirmed. 11 August was decided to stop with blockading the Ganges. The Sijbecarspel, Coxhoorn, Wolphaartsdijk, Sleewijk, Hofwegen, Herstelling, Pallas and Slot Aldegonde transported 9, 15, 16 and 17 January and 16 and 19 February 1734 stores with a total value of ƒ 2.740.044. Seven British homeward bound ships namely the Devonshire, Decker, Britannia, Normanton, Lethulier, Bedford and the Duke of Lorraine loaded with silk, saltpetre, and so on. 6 Other British ships, namely the Devonshire, Decker, Britannia, Normanton, Royal Goudrian and Lethulier arrived with silver. Three French ships, namely the Prince de Conti, Thétus and Jupiter arrived, a fourth one stayed behind. In June 1733 arrived the Portuguese Nossa Senhora d’Adjuda with captain don Marcus Dores Parera loades with 95.880 lb cotton, 72.080 lb pepper and 10.000 lb other spices and which bought in return mainly rough carpets. The Neptunus was broken up at the imperial yard above Banquibazar. The Concordia departed 9 January 1734.

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.