MADRAS , AND LOUISBOURG.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Among the reviews which appeared in your issue of June 14th last was one upon Louisbourg from its Foundation to its Fall, G15-1758, by J. S. McLennan. In it the reviewer makes the following curious statement regarding Madras: " At the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, Louisbourg had to be given back to France. This was a disappointment to New England, but the British Government were only too ready to agree to a general restoration of conquered colonies, including Madras to counterbalance Louisbourg, on condition that the French evacuated the Austrian Netherlands."
So far as Madras is concerned, the British Government never did any such thing, nor had they ever captured it from the French. Possibly the reviewer confuses Madras with the neighbouring French settlement of Pondicherry, which was thrice taken by the English and as many times restored. As a matter of fact, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle gave Madras back to the English East India Company in 1749. British connexion with Madras dates from 1639, when the Raja of Vijianagar gave a small plot of land to the East India Company. On March 1st, 1640, their agents, Andrew Cogan and Francis Day, proceeded to erect a fortified factory " in or about Madraspatam," at that epoch a small seaport town three miles to north of the walled Portuguese city of San Thome di Meliapor. The English settlement rapidly increased in size and importance under the name of Fort St. George. In September, 1746, Fort St. George surrendered to a vastly superior French force commanded by de la Bourdonnais. Nicholas Morse was Governor at the time. He was a direct descendant of Cromwell, through the Protector's daughter, Bridget Ireton. In 1749 Fort St. George was restored to the English merchants, as agreed in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The French again besieged Fort St. George in 1758-59, but retired on the arrival of a British fleet under Admiral Pocock. A couple of years later Pondicherry was captured for the first time by the English. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763 it was restored to France, together with all French possessions seized since 1749.—I am, Sir, IT. A. NEWELL, Lieut.-Colonel, Indian Army.
Madras, July 24th.
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