Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 311

JULY, 1932)
THE SCATTERCOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
139
[52]
(Canton 29 Sept. 1714] To Messrs. John Raworth and Richard Boucher Gentlemen
Your two letters of the 3d and 15th instant I received, one yesterday and the first two or three days before. I heartily congratulate your safe arrival at your desired port of Amoy and hope it will answer your expectations in everything, tho' I hear that goods are something scarse and dear, but if you buy gold cheap, it will doe. That commodity is at 100 doller silver here, by reason that the Chuchin China jonks are not arrived. Here is now 2 French ships bound for Peru and two English ships for England and our selves. I have spoke to the Gentlemen(1) about your proposition of touching at Maccoa if they could make it worth your wile, but they answer they have not above an 100 shooes to send to Madrass, and if they had more they could not send then on your ship except you was to be at Moccoa before they went, to give them a bill of loading, which will be impossible, for Mr. Middleton's ship(?) goes with us by the beginning of November, and as for leaving any money with a person at Moccoa, they tell me that they can not answer it. So you may rest satisfied and goe to Mallacca without touching here: besides I hear that Favochio sends his ship the The Boa's Nova's,(3) on which will goe a great deal of goods, as tutenaugh and quicksilver, for besides what he sends on his own account, there is 3 or 4 Armenians that came from the Menilla the last year that will freight a quantity of those goods for Madrass.
I received all the letters that you mention and have deliver'd them. The Padres return thanks for your care and trouble. Mr. Lifesay(*) not being here, I return you his letter again. He will make a miserable hand of it, not being able to sell one chest of ophium at Batavia. I wonder wben you sent me so many letters of other peoples you should keep mine from Governor Harrison. I can not tell what orders I may have in it to write you and to gett an answer from you, which I might by this conveyance, after which I can not stay to gett any answer from you from any other letters that I shall write you, for I shall certainly goe away by the beginning of November. I have allreedy half my goods aboard.
I write you no Europe news by reason you heard all at Madrass by the Averille(5) but I miss your good companey very much here, but business comeing on so fast keeps me imployed: otherwise I should miss your good companey very much here. Pray give my service to Capt. Jones &c. freinds, remain
Your most humbel servt.
J. S. Canton the 29th [Sept.] 1714.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 52.) (1) Apparently the commanders of the English ships (of which the Hester was one) are meant.
(9) Philip Middleton, who had come to China as & passenger in the Heater, and later served as supercargo in the Stringer Galley, commanded by Captain John Clarke.
(3) See Document No. 51 and note (?). (*) William Livesay, supercargo of the Dolben.
(5) The Company's ship Averilla, Captain Robert Hurst, arrived at Madras on 20th June (Fort St. George Diary), before the Ann with Raworth and Bourchier sailed for Amoy.
On October 1714 the Rev. George Lewis, who had returned to England, wrote news of his family to Scattergood who, however, did not receive the letter until April 1715.