Chappuis & Du Buc

Answers to Questions Put to the French Generals by the Chiefs of the Sircar

[At Seringapatam, June 1798]

... The French Generals having nothing more at heart than to give to the sircar of the pacha, Tippoo Sultaun, the explanations and information which it is their power to afford, as to the dignity and the object of their mission, answer to the first question.

1. That the Governor-general Malartique, representing the French republic in his government of the Isle of France, has dispatched us to the pacha, in the quality of envoys from the French republic, as has also Rear-admiral Sercey, to represent them at the court of the pacha.

2. The Governor-general Malartique, and Rear-Admiral Sercey, have sent us to serve the pacha in arms, according to our respective ranks and professions.

3. We have full power and authority, in the name of the French republic, and in the names of the generals who represent the republic in the Isle of France, to treat with the pacha, and with his durbar, of an alliance between the two nations, which is to serve as the fundamental basis for all the great objects which we may have to propose; and all our treaties shall be presented to the national convention, and ratified by the executive power at Paris.

Done in the camp at Seringapatam, 1st Thermidor, in the 6th year of the French Republic, one and indivisible, corresponding with the 20th June 1798, O.S.

(Signed)
Chapuis
Du Buc

Source:
Asiatic Annual Register 1799 p.229.