Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 358

186
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
( DECEMBER, 1932
he was "working here to gett a little, through fear and trembling. India is become now a Bad and dismall place in profits and everything else, which will keep me here longer than did designe. However, I scramble and gett neighbours fare." This last expression does not appear to be recorded in the 0. E. D., but Scattergood evidently meant that he was getting as much as his fellow merchants.
Elihu Trenchfield, Scattergood's step-brother, was more fortunate, for his trading ventures had brought him "& pretty good future, about 30,000 pagos. or more." He therefore returned to England with “Uncle Roger" and Scattergood gave him an introduction to Sir Robert Nightingale, a Director of the E.I. Co.
[89] To Sir Robert Nightingale, Honoured Sir,
This short letter only serves to introduce my brother Trenchfeild into your presence, who can inform you fully how all India matters stand on all sides, he haveing been in all parts and being thoroly acquainted with all persons and affairs. By him have sent you eight small Jappan dishes for fruit, they being all that I could gett of Jappan ware in China, and a small box qt. [containing] 10 bottles of stone finely cutt to putt essence in and to lye upon a ladies toilet.
Your cloth is working in Bengall and Mr. Williamson writes he will send it you from thence.
I am now hurrying away from hence to goe on the Ann to China to prepare matters against the Bonita comes with Mr. Harris, who stays till the Company's ships arrives to bring the silver.
My brother can informe you how bad India trade is, but thank God, the Bonita scrambles through as well, if not better, then her neighbours. I shall not trouble you with more now, designing to write from China, which letter will reach your hands the same time as this, if not before.
Please to give my humble services to all freinds, especially at Rag Fair (') and tell them that Mr. Harris will send them all that they injoin'd us.
Tomorrow or next day I goo aboard,(*) so will conclude, Honoured Sir, your most oblidged and most obedient humble servt.
J.S. Madrass the 29th May 1719.
(NOTES ON DOCUMENT NO. 89.) (0) Apparently a jocular allusion to a club or coffee house frequented by Scattergood and his friends, situated in Houndsditch, near the market for the sale of old clothes. Lator on he writes of joining his friends“ near Rag Fair."
(°) He did not, however, sail until at least two days later as there are papors bearing his signature, datod at Fort St. George, on 1 June.
In spite of the hurry of his departure, Scattergood found time to arrange for the transit of some 'bespoke china ware" with his crest on it for Sir Robert Child, to appoint his brother Elihu and brother-in-law Edward Fenwick his attorneys in place of the Rev. George Lewis, and to order“ a good quantity of rangoes (beads of rough cornelian) and beaser [bezoar).... at reasonable rates" to be procured for him by Jeremiah Bonnell at Surat for the following year. To Bonnell he also wrote regarding his share in the William in which he was conoerned with John Wake.
Peter Curgenven who had been associated with Scattergood in Persia in 1707 (ses p. 55) was left at Madras to assist Thomas Harris and receive the silver expected from Europe by the Company's ships.