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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1908.
In England, the report of Salisbury's character by the “Unknowne Writer "61 bad borne fruit. At "A Court of Committeer, holden the 30th of September 1669, [it was] Ordered that it be referred to the Agent and Councel to send for Mr Niclaes and examien the particulars objected against him, as also against the said Mr Nelthorp, Mr Fleetwood, Mr Arnold, Mr Salusbury and Mr Farley, And if they be satisfied thereof by any particular information or by the common report that goes of them, That then they be sent home for England by this yeares Shipping." In consequence of this resolation, the Company wrote, in their " Generall" to Fort St George of the 7th December, 1669, [We]" doe require that you send for Mr Nicklaes and examine the particulers objected against him, And also against Mr Robert Fleetwood, Mr Ambrose Salisbury and Mr Henry Arnold, whome wee have discharged our Service, being represented to be persons of very prophane spiritts, scandalous in theire bebaviours and notoriously wicked. And if you are sattisfied thereof by any perticuler information or by the common report you have of them, Wee then require that they be sent for England by this yeares shipping with all others in our imployment that are guilty of the like disorders. But if it appeares otherwise, and that any of them are reformed, Then wee would have them sent for to the Fort and remaine in India till we have an accompt of their behaviours."
Salisbary's reluctance to leave Peddapalle for Masulipatam may have arisen from the fact that his accounts would not bear investigation. On the 12th January,-1670, Mr Smithson, who had been entrusted with the inspection of the Peddapalle books, wrote to the Directors in England: "Mr. Salusbury att his coming hither [Masulipatam) promised to Deliver his Books to me within four dayes but I could never obtayne them though he had remayned there Two Moneths. He doth absolutely refuse to give any Answere to what Concernes him in the paper for the Extra Expence and wrongs done to the Company bat only this that his Bookes were passed and allowed by the then Agent att Fort and therefore he is not further concerned in them. All that is materiall which is charged against them is in the Bookes Letter E which will not be found att Metchlepatam nor Pettypolee and it is certain they are not att the Fort, Dilligent search having bin made for them." 64 The inference in this letter of Smithson's is that the books had been wilfully destroyed or concealed.
The Company's letter containing Salisbary's dismissal arrived at Mesulipatam in July, 1670. At a Consultation held on the 5th July, it was "Resolved that the paragraphs notifying his discharge be read to Mr Salisbury." On the 14th July, Richard Mohan, who had succeeded Jearsey as Chief at Masulipatam, wrote to the Company, "Wee shall come now to speake of Mr Jearseys disbursements upon this Comodity (Saltpetre) which is alredy 11000 pagos, new, besides 3000 more required to redeeme 600 Candy now made, [in] which Mr Jearseys and Mr Salusburys credits are engaged."66
On the 16th July, 1670, Mohun wrote to Fort St George, "Ay for those persons discharged from our Masters Service and required to bee at the Fort, wee doe not thinck fitt to acquaint them with it yett not haveing conveighance for them, being well assured that theyle not bee at the travell and Charge of an overland Journey voluntarily ... as for Mr, Salusbury, wee have not yet seene him."67
When the news of his dismissal reached him at Peddapalle, Salisbury wrote to Masulipatam as follows: "Worshipfull Sir, &c. Councell, I have letely writt in Generall to Mr. William Jearsey &c.," acquainting them of the Saltpetre affayre, to which having not received reply, therefore now direct my letter to your Worship, &c.
1 See ante, p. 224. . Court Minutes, Vol. 36, fol. 176.
65 Letter Book, Vol. 4, p. 288. O Pactory Records, Miscellaneous, Vol. 3.
& Factory Recorda, Manulipatam, Vol. 1. 06 Factory Records, Masulipatam, Vol. 5.
67 Factory Records, Yasulipatam, Vol. 5. This letter does not exist.
