Folio (ca. 32 x 21 cm or 12 ½ x 8 ¼ in). 8 pp. Brown ink on watermarked creamy laid paper. Paper slightly age-toned, occasional creases, tears and losses on extremities, but overall a very good manuscript.

A period manuscript copy of the “Capitulation [Treaty] de Pondichery.” The treaty was signed on 17 October 1778 after the Siege of Pondicherry (21 August – 19 October 1778), where Britain successfully seized the French-controlled Indian port of Pondicherry (now Puducherry, Union Territory of Puducherry, located on the southeastern coast of India). The siege was the first act of hostilities between France and Britain on the Indian subcontinent during the Anglo-French War (1778-1783).

The treaty consists of twenty-six articles, written out on the right side of the document with amendments on the left, and signed by the British commanders “Hector Mouro” (General Sir Hector Munro, ca. 1726-1805) and “une Hedouard Verno” (Admiral Edward Vernon, 1684-1757) and French commander Guillaume Léonard de Bellecombe (1728-1792). Articles from the treaty include terms stating that Bellecombe was not obligated to leave Pondicherry until his designated embarkation, which could not be during the month of January; that French structures were to be left in their original state and not suffer any degradation; and that French sailors will be sent to the Isle of France as well as that documents taken from Bellecombe are “faithfully returned,” which was marked “inadmissible” on the lefthand side of the treaty.

Overall, a historically importnat document providing information on the capitulation of the French to the British after the Siege of Pondichery in 1778.

Excerpts from the document (spelling original):
“Art 8 [right side]
“M. Debellecombe ne sera pas oblige d’aller a Madras ny dans une autre possesion anglaise et ne quittera pondichery que le jour de son embarquement qui ne pourra passer le mois de janvier. S’il ne peut pas avoir lieu plutost et personne ne sera logé dans l’hotel de gouvernement avant qu’il soit party il y conservera tous les honneurs…”
“Art 13 [right side]
“Les fortifications le gouvernement [M..?] et autres edifices apartenants au Roy feront conservés dans leur etat donc il sera donné par L’ingenieur en Chef de cette place… et il ne sera fait aucun degradation.”
“Art 24 [right side]
“La presente capitulation s’entendre pour les articles qui sont susceptible et tout cequi a raport a [gen…?] et autre comptoirs francais au Bengale, [Janou?], Karikale, donc les anglais se sont emparés et a la loge de [M…?] comme aussy aux vaux francais qui ete pris dans le gange sous la Coste Coromandel depuis le premier je dis tous les matelots, ainsy que tous ceux qui se trouveront dans la place seront transportés aux isles de France les papiers et lettres qui se trouveront a l’adress de M. bellecombe et qui ont ete pris sur les [Bla?] seront fidellement rendus."