Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 362

190
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1932
for 300." He informed Harris that Captain Thomas Boone had forestalled him and that, on arrival, he found "no canes nor any thing else to be had," Boone having “carried away every care that was in the place.” He added that he had enquired of his agent, Adrian Meeke, why no rattans had been reserved for him and Harris," but he made answer that our orders was for small and thin canes, which he could not get ;-80 you may thank your selfe for it, for you would have me put in the order, small and thin canes." However, Scatter. good admitted that he had left money in Joao de Matt's hands to be invested in "canes" as soon as procurable, and to be ready when the Bonita returned from China.
Scattergood's letter to Maubert shows that he was carrying on considerable private trade as well as furthering the interests of the owners of the Bonita.
[93]
Mallacca July 16. 1719. Mr. John Maubert, Sir,
The bearer hereof, John de Matt, is a particular freind of mine. Ho brings with him some gold. How much I cannot just tell, but whatever he brings, he has orders to deliver to you, which pray receive and invest, or coin it in Madrass pagodos ; but doe it with all 8(e)crocy, and if you can get him a small house by you, or let him have a small room in your garden house, pray doe it. He designes to lay out about 8000 pags. in paintings (printed cloth] and Cootelore Cuddalore) blow and white cloth. If he has not mony enough, pray advance him mony on my account and help him what you can to lay out his mony. He knows what sorts will doe. When I come from China, will let you in the secret, and if you have a mind to be concerned, you may ; but above all, you must manage it with a[U] secrecy you can I have no more to add, but remain
Your most humble servant
J. S.
To James Williamson at Calcutta Scattergood wrote requesting him to send to Madras 25 or 30" chests of opium of the cast out, but not the worst sort of all."
To Governor Joseph Collet, who had succeeded Edward Harrison as President of Fort St. George, Scattergood repeated the substance of his letter to Thomas Harris and added : “There is no manner of news only the maloncholy one of Mr. Cookes leaving Bencooley, which they could not tell us perfectly. I doe not question but your Honour has all the particulars long before this." The disaster alluded to was the capture of the settlement of Fort Marlborough at Bencoolen by native forces, the expulsion of Thomas Cooke, Deputy Governor, and his Council, and the murder of other Europeans on the West Coast.
From Malacca Scattergood seems to have sailed to China in the Charlotte with Peter Curgenven and John Harnage, but we hear nothing of the voyage and only know that he arrived in Canton a few days before the Bonita. There he received a letter from Richard Horden at Fort St. George telling him that he had news from the Cape of the Derby and of Scattergood's young daughter Frances, who was "in good health.” Horden added : “My spouse desires to be kindly remember'd to you as indeed doth all Charles Street. I omitted in the memorandum I gave you to mention smoak'a ducks and goese, which makes good tiffing bills."
A letter, which also followed Scattergood to Canton, written by Chan Jounqua (endorsed "from John Yomgqua), the “Captain Chinaman" at Malacca, gives some idea of the busy merchant's many schemes and of the numerous and diverging threads of business controlled by his capable hands.