Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 303

MAY, 1932]
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
[47]
13i
[4 June 1714]
Honble. Sir [Wm. Aislabie](1)
I do myself the honour to write you this to acquaint you of our arrivall here the 19th of the last month. We have changed all our Rupees for Dollers with the Governor for the same rate as the Dollers would make in coyning them into Rupees, by which we save 4 per cent. coynage. Mr. Phipps changed his at Pondecherry much at the same rate. The Governor() was pleased to come in 16500 Rupees into the Stock, 10000r. under me and 6500 in his own name, and 5000r. for Mr. Adams, by which means the Duke of Cambridge Stock was increased 11500r. more then it was in Bombay. Captain Peacock and Collett will sale the 15 of July next.(3)
Here arrived a small Seperate Stock ship from England called the Mercury, Captain George Lytton, (*) that came out in October last, who informs us that next year will come out 2 shippes to your Honour out of which I hope you will save us some Dollers if your Honour dont deprive us of your good companey at Bombay. But if I shall not have the happiness of seeing your Honour at Bombay hope (as your Honour once told me) you would leave some small share of your money to employ the Amity one voyage more, by which means hope to be enabl'd to meet your Honour in England, for I am resolved to goe after another voyage. I would fain leave of the sea, it being very tiresome to me if I could perswade my wife to come to Bombay to live there but for 2 or 3 years the most; but all the reasons in the world wont prevail, for she says she shall surely die if she comes, tho at the same time she says that if she was sure your Honour would continue, that would perswade her more then anything else, but why she should remove from hence when she is to goe for England so soon as in two years she cant understand, when she flatters herself to enjoy your Honour[s] com. paney for which she express[es] great concer[n]ment.
If your Honour do goe for England, hope you will not forgett Mr. Burniston['s] business(") with the Companey, and whatever you shall spend on that account I'll oblidge myself to make good my share of the expences.
Mr. Phipps sayled yesterday() and I shall goe in 3 days more. I have no more to add but to wish your Honour all health and happiness and a good voyage if you goe for England,
remain
Your Honours most affectionate brother and most oblidged humble servant
J. S.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 47.]
(1) Brother-in-law of Scattergood's wife and head of Bombay Factory. (3) Edward Harrison, Governor of Fort St. George.
(3) Captain Eustace Peacock in the Somers and Captain Jonathan Collett in the Grantham actually sailed for England on 18 July 1714 (Fort St. George Diary).
(*) The Mercury, under Captain George Lytton, arrived at Fort St. George on 29 April 1714, having touched at Fort St. David on her way. Her burthen was 215 tons and she carried a licence to trade, under the Act of 1698, up to the value of £3007. On 2 June she sailed for Batavia and carried a letter from Madras to the Company's settlement at York Fort, Bencoolen, on the island of Sumatra (Fort St. George Diary).
(5) The business relating to John Burniston, Scattergood's father-in-law, who died in Bombay in 1704, and whose indebtedness to the Company was the cause of much correspondence before his affairs were settled.
(") This settles the date of the letter as 4 June, since the Duke of Cambridge sailed on the 3rd of the month (Fort St. George Diary).