Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 348

176
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1932
(NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 77.) (1) Sco documont No. 73. (3) William Colobrooke, purser of the Bonita, (8) Seo document No. 70. The namo is spolt variously, Oaztlidgo, Cartlish. (4) Laurence Lane, a London merchant and one of Scattergood's attorneys. (6) This individual's namo does not appear again in the Papers. () See noto on document No. 75. (7) Catesby Oadham had held tho post of Assay master at Fort St. Georgo since July 1715. (8) Francis Chamberlain, owner of a fifth part of the Bonita, a cousin of Catherine Godfrey.
An Inventory of the Bonita's stores with her cost," furnished by Scattergood and Harris, amounted to £4,400. Everything was now in readiness and the supercargoes set out to join the ship, but before relating the untoward occurrences attending their departure, news sont from India to Scattergood in 1718, may be noted, though it could not have reached him until a year lator. John Maubert, his indefatigable agent and attorney, forwarded a further statement of accounts showing the progress of the investments entrusted to his care during the previous twelve months and his employment of the socruing profits. At the same time he wrote with regard to diamonds shipped to England in accordance with Scattergood's orders. A lotter from Richard Horden brought the news of his appointment as Deputy Governor of Divi Island, of which place Scattergood had already heard much (see pp. 93 ff.). It also informed him of the death of Mrs. Ramsden, in whose care Scattergood had left his infant daughter Frances, and the transfer of the child to the care of Mrs. Horden.
From Bengal James Williamson wrote of the joint concerns of Scattergood and himself. The Happy Return had met with a storm which “carried away all her masts" and she “became a wreck off Zeiloan. Hor people were sav'd by a miraculos scoole of fish, otherwise must have perished for want of provision, every thing being washt and hove over board." The Success and Elizabeth, both bound to Achin, "with great prospects, upon invitation from the King to trade free as formerly," found many competitors," which was the entire over setting of each other." In spite of these misfortunes, Williamson reported a "first dividend " due to Scattergood of rs. 1900. 38. 9p. The accident to the Happy Return is briefly recorded in the Fort St. George Diary of 30 March 1717 :"Ship Happy Return, Captain William Gill, that sail'd out of this road the 14th ultimo, bound to the Malabar Coast, arriv'd here, being drove back by a violent storm. There is no mention in the Fort St. George Con. sultations of 1717 of the abortive attempt to trade with Achin.
As stated above, the main portion of the Bonita's cargo was silver bullion, and it is evident from what follows that her owners and supercargoes were anxious to get it on board without attracting the attention of the customs authorities. It was accordingly decided that it should be assumed that the ship was in the Downs and would sail from Deal, whereas, in reality, she had been sent to Portsmouth where Scattergood and Harris were to join her. All might have gone well, had not the Company's secretary, Thomas Woolley, at the last moment, requested Harris to carry a packet (in addition to a letter already entrusted to the supercargoes) to Deal. Harris appeared to assent, but when the letters reached his address he and Scattergood were on their way to Portsmouth. Their action roused Woolley's wrath and he represented it in a very unfavourable light to the Company. A copy oi the doenment carried by the Bonita is to be found in Letter Book, vol. XVI, p. 386 (India Office records) and is reproduced below.
[78]
To Mr. Joseph Hayward
merchant at Madeira. Sir,
We some time [ago) acquainted your father that we should have occasion for one hund. red pipes of Madeira wine and desired him to give you early notice of it that it might be