ABSTRACT
Upon receiving from Captain Alves the story of the Negrais massacre the Bengal Council had to decide upon some line of action to be taken regarding the affair. Alves was despatched from Bengal late in February 1760 with instructions to proceed first to Madras in order to secure the joint action of the Fort St. George Council in his mission. Not a word from Gregory: but Alves learnt that immediately on receipt of his letter the Armenian had left Rangoon in haste to be the first to bear to the King the news of the mission’s approach to his shores. A Burmese officer, however, warned Alves to have an independent translation made of the original, when it arrived. On August 22nd, accompanied by Antonio and Gregory, Alves set out for the royal camp. At last on October 9th, Alves carried out the necessary palm-greasing, visiting personally all the officials for whom he had to provide perquisites.
