Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 352

180
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1932
that in short all ways are stopt to us India novices from getting a livelyhood in England. It will, however, be some comfort to you to hear that by Keyser and Newton() we make about 27 per cent. This I write you because probably you may not by the convoy hear from your attorney(?) who is now in Wales.
I took a ramble to Lincolnshire this summer with your sister Nanny (4) Mr. Aislaby(6) was with us and we meet with very good entertainment. Your sister s[tjaid untill she was sent for to be at the nuptialls of her sister with Mr. Fenwick(6) which was consummated the 11th instant and in which I congratulate you. There's) nothing like constant prebarvance [sic], as was Mr. Fenwicks, to bring such things to pass.
As for publick news, take it as follows: the preserving of neutrality of Italy, in which our nation was more particularly stirred then any other, is likely I am afraid to draw us into a speedy wart with Spain, whose fleet and forces, instead of attempting Naples, landed at Siscely and had the inhabitants in generall revolt to them, but our fleet, sent into the Mediteranean to preserve peace, meet there and gave them a totall defeat on the last of July (1) so that its thought Siscely and Sardignia will soon again be recoverd. We know not yet how the Spaniards resents it, but its likely they may snarl though they cannot bite, for the Quadruple Allyance between the Emperour, us and France, and all neigh effected with the Dutch,(8) gives hopes, if it be a warr, it cannot last long. The affairs of the North remains still a mistry which we espect shortly will be unveiled by some sudden action of the Czars who has a strong fleet abroad(9)....
(Signed) WILLIAM PRIPPS. Sepr. 16. 1718.
(NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 81.) (") Captain Edward Peirson.
(2) Captain Charles Kesar of tho Townshend And Captain G. Newton of the Sarum. Scattergood WAS interested in the cargo of both these ships which returned from China and Boncoolen in July and August 1718.
(3) The Rev. George Lewis. (') Ann Trenchfield, Soettorgood's step-sister. (6) Willian Aislabie, brother-in-law of Arabella Scattergood and late General of Bombay. (6) Elizabeth Trenchfield and Edward Fenwick.
(1) Phipps is alluding to the attack on Sicily by the Spaniards without any declaration of war and to the defeat of their fleet off Cape Paararo by Admiral Byng.
(8) The Quadruple Allianco, a league between England, France, Germany and Holland to maintain the Peace of Utrecht and humiliate Spain.
() An allusion to the sweeping reforms by which Peter the Groat (1680-1725) was electrifying Russia and surprising Europe.
Among other letters directed to Scattergood at this time was one from Joseph da Costa, who wrote regarding the purchase of diamonds and added"I shall by the next shipping se if I can find any way to send you some silver, but the Company is so very strickt since what happened at Portsmouth, and the captains-fearfull, that I believe it will be impossible.” Katherine Farmerie, Scattergood's widowed aunt, provided him with family and personal news.
[82]
October the 11th 1718. My dearest Nephew,
I hope this will find you in perfect health, as it leaves me and sister,(') with all your family here. Both your wife and childeren has been mighty well ever since the small pox, which they have all had very easey and not at all the worse for, so that fear is over. We all live very kindly together and hope always shall. The dear childeren are very intertaining