Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 328

156
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1932
In February 1715/16 also, several other letters were addressed to Scattergood from England. His attorneys in London, Osmond Beauvoir and the Rev. James Wendey, reported to him the result of their efforts in his behalf with regard to the settlement of the estate of his mother-in-law, Carolina Burniston. Scattergood's share, or rather that of his wife, amounted to £314. 18. 6, for which his attorneys were compelled to accept a bill payable at the end of six months, for, "if we should go to law, a thousand difficulties might be started ... and you would be engaged in a chargeable, long, and perhaps endless suit in Chancery."
By the same ship, the King George, Scattergood's step-sister, Elizabeth Trenchfield, sent an illspelt missive with the news of the day: "We have had sad disturbance hear ... but wee thought thay ware pritty well over, but now wee hear that the Pretender (James Stuart] is landed in Scotland and God onely knows when thare will be an end put to all this trow bles.” She added the information that John Evans, Bishop of Bangor was transferred to the See of Meath and that" Been Hooadley (Benjamin Hoadley) as got the sea of Bangor."
The King George and Prince Frederick, outward bound ships, were also the bearers of other letters which Scattergood could not have received until the following year. His mother wrote of the welfare of his daughter Elizabeth, then in her care. Anne Wigmore informed him of the receipt of his share of the cargoes of the ships Arabella and John and Elizabeth. Charles Burniston, his wife's uncle, sent a long letter of complaint regarding the Scattergood's attitude in the settlement of the Burniston estate, and this was followed by one from the Rev. James Wendey on the same subject, enclosing a note to Arabella Scattergood en larging on the charm of her daughter Betty (or Elizabeth). The Rev. George Lewis was also loud in his praises of Scattergood's young daughter. He had little doubt that if Scattergood made a fourth voyage to China, with the help of Governor Boone, his "good friend," he would "raise a very plentifull estate." The Rev. gentleman added some useful hints for travellers from India to England. These, however, arrived too late to be of service to the passengers in the Kent :
"If this should happen to meot you in Fort St. George, give me leave, who have so lately come before you, to give you some diroctions, how to fitt your self for your voyage home. Of shirts and sheets mado up and foulled in the voyage, and of Bengall quilts stitchd, you may bring & good quantity. Chints, bring none, except a night gown, or what your Lady hath made up for her own wear. Arrack is a good commodity both on board and a shore. What you design for your own use in England, let it be putt in cases or caraboys (carboys), for what is in casks is liable to be abusd. Of China and Japan waro you may bring a small chest, containing plates and dishes and the furnitury of # thon tablo. Of thea they will suffer little or none to pass without paying of dutys, and therefore, without it be some that is very good for your own use &c., I would not advise you to bring any. A couple of Japan scrutores (escritoires), one at least you may bring; the more old and rustic they appear, the better they will pass. And there are here those who will make them look like new. In fine, I did not find the King's or the Company's officers so hard as they were represented. But when you come to the Downs, do not attempt to bring anything with you over land in the coach, but Larely your nocobeorys, for the officers upon the road will take them from you."
Thomas Pain, Scattergood's cousin, furnished further details of the rising in favour of James Stuart: "The rebels in Scotland are most of them disperst and kill'd and I supoas som will bee hanged which may in some mesur make up for their murder of that honest man Captain Green. I supoas what remains due on that account you may look upon as lost, moast of the pereons concernd beeing dead." The reference to the hanging of Captain Thomas Green on a charge of piracy in 1705, is interesting. For the story, see Sir Richard Temple's New Light on the Tragedy of the Worcester. Pain also commented on the severe winter of 1715-16: “The rigour of the season is pritey well abated but most part of Europe have suffard by it."
A letter from Elibu Trenchfield dated Surat 23 March, written in case he missed his stepbrother at Bombay, contains directions for him to receive the amount of certain respond entia bonds due to Trenchfield, and these also failed to reach the addressee for many months.