Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 61
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
________________
JULY, 1932)
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
143
The two French ships are bound for Peru and Duglass for England. He has freighted some green cloth that he could not sell here upon us for Surratt. Captain Kesar and we shall sail from Wampho the 10th instant. This is all the news that I can hear of.
I wrote Captain Arlond and Mr. Tobin the 29th September and gave the former an account that I had some wine for him which I designe to leave at Mallacca or Anjengo, but I do not know if he has received my letter. I am extremely concern'd that you meet with so many difficulties at Amoy. I wish we had come our old voyages and left the Duke of Cambridge to goe for Batavia, but what can not be help'd must be bore with, tho after all, if you truck your goods for sugar and sugar candy and lay out your money in gold, you will not make a very bad voyage, but pray take care you do not stay late for your own security, for if you lose your passage, the greatest lose will be on your self in loseing time.
By this I take leave of you and the rest of my freind., to whom pray give my humble rospects and wish you and them all health and happiness and a happy meeting, remain
Your most H. S.
J. S. P.S. Your Europe letters and a 5 catty pott of the best tea I could procure for your lady I deliver'd Mr. Naish.
Canton the 6th November 1714.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 55.] (1) These letters are not extant.
(2) Captain Charles Douglas is apparently identical with the Charles Douglas, supercargo of the Com. pany's ship Rochester in 1710. He and George Sitwell in a ship whose name does not appear seem, like Scattergood, to have been trading in China as free merchants.
(3) Of the letters enumerated, only that of 29 September exists. Soe Document No. 51. (4) See PS. to Document No. 51. (5) James Stuart, the "Old Pretender," hero of "The Fifteen " Rebellion.
(6) Robert Harley, first Earl of Oxford, who lost his post as Treasurer on account of his sympathy with the Jacobites. The news of the death of Queen Anne, in August 1714, had not then reached India.
(7) William Aislabio.
(6) The Catherine, Captain Edward Godfrey, and the Thistleworth, Captain Daniel Small, were both Company's ships.
This rumour had no foundation in fact, for the Governorship of Fort St. George fell to Joseph Coliet in January 1717.
(10) Robert Hedges had succeeded John Russell as President in December 1713.
Among the private purchases made by Scattergood in Canton, we find noted 10 orange trees (costing 1 tael, 3 mace), 120 packs of cards at 3 canderines the pack and a "tea pott to keep tea water warm," that is, a samovar, the precursor of the thermos, which cost him 3 taels, 4 mace.
While on the eve of departure from Canton Scattergood found time to write several more letters, his correspondents being his mother, sisters, uncle, and his friend Thomas Pain in England. To his mother he sent tea and "fine chintz" and to his two step-sisters each three pieces of the same. The goods were entrusted to Captain Kesar of the Hester who promised to gett them a shoare" without paying duty, " if you doe him the honour to call at his house. He lives within 2 or 3 doors of Stepney Church. You may gett Mr. Fenwick, Padre Wendey, or some other of your friends to gallant you there. His Pursar, Mr. Hide, has a large pott of tea for my mother. If you speak to the Captain, beleive he will gett the tea ashoare too, for he is an excellent man for running things ashoare." To his sisters Scattergood added :" I hope amongst you that you tutor my girl well, for I expect on my arrivall to find her a very genteel little woman, allmost ready for a husband that I shall gett her."
The following account is the last document extant before Scattergood sailed for Canton.
