Letter from the Chaophraya Phrakhlang on behalf of King Borommakot Maha Dharmaracha II (1733-1758) to the Supreme Government in Batavia, (received) 29 March 1740, and the answer from Batavia, 28 August 1740

DAILY JOURNALS OF BATAVIA, 29 MARCH 1740

This letter from the Phrakhlang is one of the longest from Ayutthaya to Batavia. It can only be found in the Daily Journals of Batavia Castle. The letter is full of complaints about the VOC’s way of conducting business in Siam. In the formal opening paragraph the Phrakhlang says that the King has ordered him according to the old custom of friendship between the King and the Prince of Orange to note ‘the necessary, all things both right and just’, and to reply to the letters from Batavia point by point.

First of all, the Phrakhlang explains that the previous letter from Batavia was not received in the King’s palace in the usual way, because there was still a dispute concerning the prices of a cargo of textiles delivered with a chialoup (sloop). A lengthy, detailed account follows, in which the Phrakhlang outlines numerous miscommunications and quarrels between the VOC factory and the Khlang, saying that the senior head Theodorus Jacobus van den Heuvel...

…was very angry, indeed so much so that he treated the syahbandar and others with contempt and disparagement, which had never been the case with previous captains. Seeing that in this case and in many other matters the captain did not conduct himself as a reasonable man, but on the contrary as a rash and unstable person, at the time I did not have the letters received in the palace, but only later when he had calmed down. He was told that he had offended against the contract, and if he should display any more unreasonableness, he could be arrested, as in former times when Toeang Sarafien [1] was captain, one Joan Farool Walsiere had also spoken improper words. For this he was fetched out of the Company’s lodge and detained, as was fully known to the Governor-General and members of the Council of the Indies.

However, seeing that he (Van den Heuvel) is now leaving here, the Governor-General and members of the Council of the Indies could ask him what reason he had not to show the syahbandar respect, and also why he did not follow the usages of the previous captains who have successively been in the service of the Company both in Siam and in Ligor. I wish to remind the Governor-General and members of the Council of the Indies how in my various outgoing letters I have often complained about the bad behaviour of the captain. For that reason it is incomprehensible that one can pass over the evil behaviour of the captain so frequently reported, and on the other hand lay this at the door of the Khlang and say that they have done things that are contrary to the customs. In my opinion this is incompatible with a sense of justice.

(The second main dispute concerned the price of textiles which the VOC tried to sell to the Khlang. The Phrakhlang explains in some detail his version of what happened, and why the Siamese did not accept the textiles.)

Regarding the loss of 194 catty, 5 tael, 3 pahas, 3 mas and 550 picis in silver that the Company is said to have made on the linens that were sent for sale in the Year of the Horse, and [the claim] that the Khlang paid arbitrary prices for them, I say the following. The royal servants in person asked both the captain, the skipper and the administrator about the prices of the imported linens. However, the captain put the price of the tapak tjatoer cloths much higher than the one that the Dutch and English formerly [asked] before, and they had made and delivered according to the list with samples. This is why the Khlang did not accept these cloths.

However, I then sent Loeang Tjoedack [2] and Loeang Tabpakdei [3] Choen Keia [4] down to the lodge to tell the captain that I was going to send the merchants down to view and value the linens. Then I got as answer that the captain was not able to be present at the valuation, but would authorize the skipper and administrator. Then the skipper and administrator sent me a sealed letter, in which they approved of my intention. They asked to just send merchants, and when they had made a fair valuation of the linens, to hand them over to the Khlang.

Then I looked for merchants and had them gather, numbering 11 Moorish, 2 Hindu,2 Portuguese and 4 Chinese, in total 19 persons. After that these sailed down to the lodge and valued the tapak tjatoer cloths in the lodge in the presence of 6 persons (3 ship’s officers, the administrator and 2 clerks). The estimate was approved and accepted by everyone. After this they sent it to me by sealed letter, declaring it that the estimate had been carried out in a fair way. Then I gave orders to the Khlang to go and receive the tapak tjatoer cloths for the prices that the letter from the skipper and administrator mentioned.

With regard to the linens the captain also gave a sealed letter to the syahbandar, not only as evidence that the estimate had been made to mutual satisfaction, but also so that in future one could be guided by those fixed prices. It is therefore incomprehensible why the captain could write to the Governor-General and members of the Council of the Indies that the Khlang had valued the linens to suit themselves, whereas the captain himself had approved the estimate made, and sent me the sealed letter [telling me] of it.

I have told both the new captain [5] and the new administrator that, if they adhere to the content of the contract and the ancient customs in Siam, I would always protect them. And as for the request for a new contract including the prices of the wares in order to prevent disputes and disagreements, I asked both the captain and the administrator on what basis the Company wishes to regulate the prices of the trading goods, and also in what way the said new contract should be made. To this they have supplied a reply by sealed document. However, with regard to the purchase of tin at Ligor it is just the same as the old contract. I have, however, said that with respect to whether a new contract can be made relating to the buying of tin at Ligor I would submit that to His High and Distinguished Majesty.

And in view of the business matters that have caused the great blockage in the friendship, which consist of many points and which I have dealt with at length in this letter, then I say again that if the Company wishes to show an interest in our mutual friendship and alliance, and as a consequence wishes to direct and administer the affairs in Siam in keeping with fairness and rightness, then I on my side shall also submit the request for renewal of the contract to His High and Distinguished Majesty, and furthermore have the new points entered at the bottom of the old contract, following the example of what was stated in the letter from the Governor-General and the members of the Council of the Indies.

Written on Tuesday the 14th day of the second month in the Year of the Goat 1127.

Answer from the Supreme Government in Batavia to King Borommakot Maha Dharmaracha II, 28 August 1740.

DAILY JOURNALS OF BATAVIA, 28 AUGUST 1740

To the King of Siam

The Governor-General Adriaan Valckenier and the members of the Council of the Indies on behalf of the state of the general United Netherlands East Indies Company, residing in Batavia Castle, send this letter to His High and Distinguished Majesty the King of Siam, Somdat Boeram Boepid Praoepa Detjoe Djoehoewan, who is forever awe-inspiring and feared by his enemies, and who rules his kingdom with wisdom and providence, and who is wished long-lasting good health by the Governor-General and members of the Council of the Indies; and [they pray ] that the [6] all-governing God of Heaven and Earth will let His Majesty triumph over all his enemies, and bring blessing with a happy and peaceful government to the well-being of his lands and subjects.

That all trade is conducted for the sake of mutual advantage and amenity is a matter that Your Majesty cannot consider as being other than in accordance with the truth and fairness. Also that if it should happen that on the part of one of the two sides this aim, for which he is carrying on trade, comes to be absent, he is then free, indeed is obliged to break off that commerce, if he does not wish to inflict loss upon himself instead of profit.

The Dutch Company, which has now extended its trade in the Kingdom of Siam for almost a whole century under Your Majesty’s excellent forbears, has never been able to boast much of those extra-ordinary advantages that were gained thereby, but at least has kept a balance [between profit and loss], excepting now these ten years past, of which the last five have been the worst. This is because the profit on all the merchandise [which the Company] transported thither [to Siam], added to the [profit on the] exported [wares], even though [these] have been sent to nearly all corners of the world, have not been able to cover the cost of maintaining [Company] servants, fitting out ships and so forth.

In addition to this there is the constant wrongful and contemptuous treatment by Your Majesty’s ministers regarding the servants of the Company, and the continual growth of the State deficit through the scanty deliveries of tin, sappan wood and so on. We have therefore finally resolved to halt the trade in Your Majesty’s territories in Siam and Ligor and to recall our servants from there. Hence we hereby inform Your Majesty of this, with the request that Your Majesty should kindly extend them a helping hand in this, and put in order the payment and complete settlement of the debts of the [Siamese] kingdom and the merchants [to the Company], so that all business may be properly liquidated, and when they peaceably depart, will be able to give us an account of their actions as is fitting.

In the meantime, however, we continue to be obliged to Your Majesty for the declarations of friendship that are conveyed in Your Majesty’s highly esteemed missives, as well as the return-gift of tin and sappan wood accompanying them.

Written in Batavia Castle on the island of Great Java, in the kingdom of Jacatra, on the 28th day of August 1740, (below) the Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies, (signed) A. Valckenier (to the side) the Honourable Company’s seal in red sealing wax (under this) by decree of Their High Honours (signed) C. Cluysenaer, secretary.

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[1] Toeang Sarafien, “Luang Surasen” was one of the usual titles for a Dutch opperhoofd.

[2] Luang or Okluang Choduk Ratchasetthi, Chinese syahbandar.

[3] Luang Thep Phakdi (?).

[4] Khun (?).

[5] Name? Not mentioned in B. Ruangsilp (2007), p. 261.

[6] From fol. 625 the copy in the NA has been consulted.