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
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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1932
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 68.] (1) This letter is not extant. (3) Tuticorin, a port in Tinnevelly District, Madras, then in Dutch occupation.
(3) The Rev. John Evans (800 p. 166) who left the Sce of Bangor for Meath in 1715. He was a guar. dian of John Trenchfield.
(*) Edward Fenwick. See p. 158. (6) John Starke purser of the Averilla. See p. 81.
Scattergood's elder step-brother, Elihu Trenchfield, wrote also from Tellicherry and at much greater length. He announced his intention of making a trading voyage on the Malabar coast to compensate for the loss occasioned by the grounding of the Barrington "on the rocks off Point du Gall," as narrated in his brother's letter (Document No. 68). He attributed the accident to the captain's carelessness and had much to say of his miraculous escape and the kindness received from the Dutch at Colombo and Tuticorin. The necessary repairs Occupied so much time that "it was late " before the ship reached Bombay and it was then impracticable to return to Madras that season.
Trenchfield found "Governor Boone a very generous friend to me and very assisting in the disposall of our cargoe." He expressed his wish to return to England but would not do so until he was "worth fifteen thousand pounds, with which sume I dont doubt of making England very agreeable to me." On his return to Madras he expected to find himself" worth that sum" and should then "stay ashore in hopes of finding an opportunity to remit my money to some advantage, for in that depends very much the estate of a man when he arrives in England." This was a difficult matter, " diamonds not producing any profit, nor will the Europe commanders take money at respondentia."
The remainder of the letter is taken up with comments on the laxity of the Bishop of Meath as guardian of himself and his brother, on his brother's prospects in India and on the Bucoess of Scattergood's "adventure" with Captain Eustace Peacock.
During the year 1717 Scattergood received consignments of diamonds from Maubert, continued his purchases of ivory, and bought extensively such things as telescopes, magnifying glasses, mirrors, etc. (classified as "iron ware"). He also made considerable purchases of books of history, etc. Some of the goods were shipped in the Cardigan, Captain Henry Glegg, bound to Madras and Bengal and in the Morrice, Captain Sustace Peacock for Bombay, With the latter, with whom he had previously traded successfully, he arranged for the produce of his goods to be invested in any voyage Peacock might make " in the countrey."
In the midst of his own business Scattergood found time to attend to the affairs of Elizabeth Browne, to settle with Mrs. Hobday for the sale of her husband's "perriwiggs " and to assist the widowed Elizabeth Langelier, as previously narrated.
The foregoing were only minor incidents compared with the enterprise that occupied Scattergood's time and thoughts during the second year of his stay in England. He had realized that it would be more profitable to trade in a vessel owned by himself and a small syndicate rather than through the intervention of the captains of the Company's or privato "country ships. Therefore, on 26th June 1717, we find an entry in the Court Minutes (Vol. 47, p. 372) as follows:
"Petition of Mr. John Scattergood and Mr. Thomas Harris being read, praying to return to Fort St. George as Free Merchants, and to carry out an English ship of about three hundred and fifty tons to trade with from port to Port, but never to return to Europe. Ordered that it be referred to the Committee of Correspondence to discourse the petitioners on the whole of the request, and report their opinion thereupon."
