Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 310

138
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MAY, 1932
[51] Mr. William Phipps. Sir,
I received yours of the 3d the 25th instant and your other of the 15th yesterday. I heartily congratulate your safe arrivall at Amoy but am very sorry to hear that goods are so scarse to be bought, but hope still that you will be able to compleat your business by the middle or latter end of December. I do not remember rightly when you are oblidged to goo away by your contract with the Company; but tis my oppinion that you had better goe away by the time the contract mentions, only with sugar, sugar candy and gold, rather then to stay to indanger your passage and pay God knows how much demorage.
I hear that copper, tutonaugh and quicksilver are little or none to be had. As for China ware, tis not worth carring, so that, as I said before, you had better goe with sugar and gold. I wrote 3 letters adviseing y[ou] when we arrived and what we had done, which hope have reached your hands long agoe. We are now loading our ship, and Anqua and Linqua tells me that we shall be gone with Captain Kesar(') by the first November. Our cargoe will consist in copper, Jappan and Tunkin, 2000 Peculls, tutenaugh 500, quicksilver 200, allom 300, sugar 2000, and some other trifles, as China root, &o.
Tell Mr. Raworth that the Bon Nevas, Favoichs ship, will goe for Madrass by the middle of December() and carry a great deal of goods for the Coast, as well their owners as froight, here being 3 or 4 Arminians that freights a great deal of gruff goods(3) upon her.
I am sorry to hear that Captain Arlond has been ill, but hope he is quite recover'd before this. I have gott for him a chest of Mountain(') which I shall leave at Mallace, if I can, for him. We are now here 3 English ships with ourselves and 2 French. As for news, Mr. Naish(5) tells me that he has wrote all that he knows, 80 shall not trouble you in that subject. I shall not faile of writing you as occation offers, in the mean time remain
Your most humble servant
J. S. Canton 29th September 1714.
P.S. Tell Captain Arlond that by my virgin silver I lose 250 tale, it comeing out so much less then sycee in melting it, which I have done, and tryed 3 or 4 people. Some peices is good syce; other 2 and 3 touch less, and one peice came out in the essay but 69 Touch, allmost half being quicksilver which run away in smoke.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 51.1 (1) Captain Charles Kesar commanding the Company's ship Hester which reached England in May 1715 (Marine Records, Logs).
(8) The Bon Nevas or Bonos Novis, belonging to Manuel Favocho (Favochio) arrived at Madras from Macao on 21 February 1715 (Fort St. George Diary).
(3) Gruff goods, coarse, heavy goods. (*) A variety of Malaga wine, so called because made from grapes on the mountains.
O James Naish, second mate of the Loyal Bliss, appears to have remained in China when that ship sailed to England in 1713.
Scattergood wrote also to Captain Arlond on the same date in a similar strain. He complained that he was a cursedly mauled of " in his virgin silver on which he expected to lose about 250 tales. He added :" I designe to gett this account attested by all the persons that was att the melting of it to see if I can gett any satisfaction at Pondocherry, but I fear it will be to noe purpose."
At this time also Scattergood wrote to his friends John Raworth and Richard Bourchíer, supercargoes of the Ann, at Amoy.