Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 373

DECEMBER, 1932)
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
201
By the Brussells galley Scattergood also wrote to his wife telling her what he was se nding to her, his aunts and his young sister-in-law. His indomitable energy had begun to fail him, for he added :
"I am now in China on socond voyage and begin to be weary of India, growing sickly, but must have patience for 2 or 3 years more when hope to gett to old England to lay my bones there, if I don't drop off before."
To his mother, Scattergood commented on the return of her son Elihu and the marriage of her daughter Elizabeth. He hoped that " dear Nancy (Ann) had disposed of hir self to hir satisfaction," but if she had not, "brother Elihu will gett hir one without doubt, for he desings to live grand and keep & world of fine companey."
He also hoped that his " dear Retty improves hirself in everything that is laudable, and that she is very dutiful to you, which I shall be glad to hear."
His health had improved since the departure of the Brussells and he wrote in a more hopeful strain :
"I am now here in China my second voyage, and notwithstanding here are abundance of ships, hope to make a pretty good voyage, and two more such will send me home again. Thank God, I am very well now, but have had two or three little indispositions. Mr. Harris is extreamly well and wears like iron."
In a private letter to his step-brother Elihu, Scattergood commented on the trade of China.
[103]
[Canton, - Nov. 1719.1 Dear Brother Elihu,
I wrote you severall letters, coppies of one another, jointly with Mr. Fenwick about my concerns in England, makeing you two my attornies, which hope will come safe to hand. This being a particular one shall give you an account of China.
We arrived here but a very few days before the Bonita, so that we had but just time to make our contract, on the fotting of which the Bonita made hers. Your letter per said ship have received and am very well satisfied with what you transacted with Mr. Maubert about my affairs att Madrass, but was not a little concerned that Governor Boone should use me 80, in not sending my bills, which I cannot but think a little I cannot tell what name to call it, considering he had my money so long in his hands. I wrote him about it but beleive shall not gett much justice from him.
I have reflected about the 1500 pagodos that I am concerned in the Charlotte, and judge I ought to have paid you that 1500 pagodos in Madrass, but I have given Mr. Curganven and Harnage a note under my hand, wherein I declare that I will make good the interest of the said 1500 pagodos to your attornies on my arrivall in Madrass, which will sett all matters right betwixt us as too that affair.
The trade of China now is goeing to decáy by reason of so many ships comeing here, no less then 11 ships, vizt., two Companeys, a French, four Ostenders, Captain Boone, a Moor man, one of Abdell Gaford(1) bound for Suratt, and our two ships, which makes everything prodegious dear, especially gold, which is 10 above touch sicee, which is prodigious. W. have nothing to trust too but our long stay again, hopeing it may fall, and at last am afrend