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268
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[DECEMBER, 1914.
redress from the grievances imposed on the Company's servants by Malik Kasim, the native governor at Hâgli. A halt was made at Kasimbazár, and Dacca was reached about the end of May.10 Six weeks later March wrote to Edwards that “Business goes on soe slowly in this cursed Durbar," that it would be another month before he could accomplish his mission and be ready to "return for Cassam bazar," when he should leave John Smith in charge of the Company's investments at Dacca.11 At the same time Smith himself wrote to Edwards, posing as a champion of the Company's rights. He regretted that Roger Broadnax was under suspicion of "Treichery" and feared the Company would be sufferers by the “unworthy Dealings" of William Blake, the late Agent in Bengal. During the remainder of the year 1669 he was presumably in sole charge at Daoon. Two letters addressed to him by Edwards at Kasimbâzâr are extant, the one12 acknowledging the receipt of money which arrived too late for the investment of 1669, and the other13 expressing sympathy that "the Mogall who made a bargain with Mr. March... Should t and of coff)."
In the following year, 1670, there is no record of Smith, except in a private capacity, nor any indication to show whether he was as busily employed in the Company's affairs as he was in carrying out his own and his friend's investments. In March he wrote to Edwardsit that he had procured his “Tangeebs” (tanz be) and would shortly forward the “Jelolsies"'15 desired. In reply, he received a letter from Edwards, sent per Thomas Jones, “who is to reside with you,"10 giving directions about the “Jellolsyes" and arranging for the payment of them. Jones fell ill immediately on his arrival, which,"discouraged him soe much" that he returned to Kasimbâzâr. He was, however, sent back a month later, when he was again the bearer of a letter from Edwards to Smith with directions about various "adventures" and "2 ps. braid."17 Edwards had apparently offered to act as matrimonial agent for his friend, for on the 23rd August 1670, Smith wrote, 18 “I humbly thank you for your news and for your kind offer of an English Lady. My confidence in you is great, yet not soe as I can trust you to choose a wife for mee when you are unprovided your Selfe, which want pray first supply, and if there's none left for mee, I'm content to stay till an other Spring."
Beyond a short letter from Edwards, on the 31st January 1671, regretting the failure to dispose of his swords at Dacoa, 19 there is no further reference to Smithuntil December of that year, when he officially informed Walter Clavell, who had succeeded Shem Bridges as "Chief" in "the Bay," that he could find a market for the Company's lead or tin. 20 Smith had apparently realized that the new chief was not favourably disposed towards him, for in January 1672, he wrote to Edwards at Kasimbazár, 21 "I writ severall times to Mr. Clavell for the Bale Silk Mr. Elwaien provided for mee but hee did not deliver it, by
At "Hutohora Hattoo" (Hajrabati) Smith missed his little carpet" which had been left at Klsimbazâr through the "Rougrie" of Edwards' "man." (0.0. No. 3277).
110. O. No. 3306. 12 0. O. No. 3339
13 0. O. No. 3370. 140. O. No. 3411. 15 Fine piece goods, probably jalalshah. Seo Sir Richard Temple's note on this word, Diaries of Stroyneham Master, L. 430n.
18 0. O. No. 3419. 10. O. No. 3436.
10. O. No. 3463. 90. O. No. 3533. Pactory Rooords, Miscellancow, vol. 3, p. 122. 210. 0. No. 3622.
