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172
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY..
(JULY, 1905.
Directors, in the hope of expediting matters, ordered that Jearsey's business should be settled as soon possible without further reference to them.
All this time, the disgraced chief was living at Fort St. George in comfort, being treated with the respect due to a merchant of considerable standing. In 1672 he proceeded to add to his house, "Mr Wm. Jenrsey going about to build adjoyning to the house he dwells in, called Agent Greenhill's house, and to carry it up much higher then the old one now is, without leave either asked or given for although he shewed some of us the Plat [? plan] of his design he never gave the least notice of the rise intended, and observing it hath been the constant policy of this place not to suffer any house within the Town walls to be raised higher then a ground floor, except the proper dwelling houses of the Agents Chambers, Greenhill and Winter built during their own Agencys untill Agent Foxcroft his time, who being ordred home was not so much concerned for the future, and the Lieutenant Sutton and Gunnor Hugh Dixon and Serjeant Richardson being Consulted with and declaring it to be ansafe for the Fort, sad that, the old part it selfe was too high, It is Resolved that, to shew Mr Wm. Jearsey that we act not with any malice to him, whatsoever his mind and Carriage be to us, that hee shall bee suffered to build up the new Part as high as the old; and noe higher ... but with this Caution that on any occasion of danger of Enemyes it must and may be taken down, for the better defence of the Fort, and in case he shall offer to raise it higher notwithstanding this order and his promise sent by his servant Pattans, to forbid and cause him to forbear."
The new Governor, Sir William Langhorne, was less friendly to Jearsey than Foxcroft had been. In letter to the Court of the 1st Jan, 1678, be speaks of Jestsey's "troubles with the French," and says he is " person so full of bitterness, and his house the Center where all the ill humours meet and Caballe, old and new." The French had seized Jearsey's ship Ruby at St. Thomé, but Langborne remarked there was neither License, Passport, nor dispatches aboard her to prove her English, the Marriners most part Moors and Gentues." Langhorne declared that he had done bis best to help Joarsey in the matter, but got only "clamours" instead of thanks, and that he had vainly "begged bins and his wife both to refrain their tongues." He also accused Jearney of undue intimacy with the Dutch (his brother in law was chief of the Dutch factory at Sadraspatam), and taunted him with having taken six years to finish his Masulipatam books. About this time Jearsey also lost the York Ormaze, which ran ashore at Balasor.
In 1674, five years after his dismissal, Jearsey had still taken no steps to produce his accounts, and the Directors at bome became querolous and blamed their servants at Fort St. George for the delay. All the notice that Jearsey took of these complaints was to counterclaim for his goods seized by Moban. One of Jearsey's securities, Mr Eugh squire, appears to have used his influence in England on Jearsey's bebalf, with the result that, on certain conditions, the offending merchant received permission to remain one year longer in India. Sixteen years later he was still at Fort St. George! One of the conditions of Jearsey's remaining in India was that he should send home “2000 pagodas in Callicoes &c or to embark for England." In answer he sent in " list of pretences" purporting to have a far greater sum in the Conpany's bands. At the same time the Masalipatam books from July 1670-1674 were said to be "wanting." The next year, 1675, the Directors again protested about the delay in settling Jearsey's accounts, and remarked that he had outstayed the time he first desired."
It was in 1675 also that a protest was entered at Fort St. George about the possession by Jearsey of a private gate to the river: - "The Jetty built by Mr William Jearsey into the River, without nay against the Governours order, being a blind to the two points opon the said River, hindering the Gunns from clearing alongst the town side to the river, is concluded to be unsafe and not to be suffered. The Doore which he still keeps to the River contrary to the Agents order, and many friendly advertisements from him to shut it up and offers of all possible accommodation for it either the next postern or the water gate both so near his bouse, and whereof very evill use appears
