ABSTRACT
David Hunter’s official instructions as head of the expedition to take possession of the island of Negrais display clearly the predominance of the political over the commercial motive in the enterprise. He was also instructed to demand “suitable satisfaction” for the outrages perpetrated by the Armenian Coja Nicous against British subjects. The requisite artificers and labourers for building the new station had to be impressed, a “very despotick act”, as Thomas Saunders expressed it in his instructions to Hunter, but one which was forced upon him by the exceptional circumstances. On April 26th, 1753 Hunter’s expedition arrived at the island and anchored off the spot indicated by Thomas Taylor as the best site for a settlement. Hunter’s death brought a most unwelcome problem before the Madras Council. Although David Hunter reached the island on April 26th, 1753, he was living on board ship on September 20th, when he despatched his first report to Madras.
