Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 377

MARCH, 1933]
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
207
afread, a great wile, but you may asure your selves that as I can meet with people to carry, I shall allways be ready to send; but people in England promises mighty matters and what they will bring for you, but here tell another storry.....
I shall not trouble you with more, but wish you both all health and happiness and a happy meeting once more in old England, remain Gentlemen,
Your most obedient humble servant, J. S.
Scattergood's friends and employers in England were as assiduous in their correspondence as he was himself, and a large number of letters were sent out to him by the ships sailing for India and China in the winter of 1719. Of those preserved, seven are addressed to Scattergood and Harris jointly. Of these, three are from owners of the Bonita, two of whom had entrusted the supercargoes with private trading ventures. Francis Acton, writing on 23 November 1719, gave the dates of arrival of the Company's ships from India and a list of those to be sent out for the season of 1720, with the names of the commanders and supercargoes. Of the Bridgewater, commanded by Captain Edward Williamson, Mr. Somers supercargo, for Canton and Madras, he remarked:
"This is a voyage sett out for the sake of the super cargoe, to whose merritts sopose you are not straingers. I hear the other super cargoes have orders to dispatch him from Canton by the first of December. You are good judges of what may be the effect of that." Then follows an important item of news:
"Within this three monthes has been an alteration in the diamond trade by a demand from France, occasioned by the rise of a stock called Misurys [Mississippi] or India Company, composed of ten millions (nominall) stock, and sell now for 20 for one, but am apprehensive may be liable to very great variety and may in such a case, when it happens, doe the trade more hurt then it hath don good. However, by last years shipping there was good goods came home and much cheaper then of late yeares whether occasioned by the opening of new mynes, as is advised, or other ways, I refer that to you."
Acton went on to instruct Scattergood and Harris to pay to Sigr. Francisco Bernall, a free merchant then proceeding to India, 7000 pagodas "out of the effects you have of mine in your hands," to be invested in diamonds to be shipped home as soon as possible.
Sir Robert Nightingale, writing ten days later, also gave his views on the Mississippi Company and the diamond trade.
[106]
London 2 December 1719.
Messrs. Scattergood and Harris, Sirs,
I receiv'd the favour of both yours dated the 8th July and the 15th November (1), received the 8th and 9th July by the Carnarvan and Derby and was very glad to hear of your safe arrival and that you had so quick a passage, which shows the goodness of the ship, for certainly there never was one better for sailing than she is. I am very glad there was nothing found upon you that might give the Company reasons to suspect your not complying with your covenants which I hope you will always do.(3)
Diamonds begin to rise, that is by the means of Missisippi stock in France, which was at first 37, has been at eighteen hundred, [h]as now come down to a thousand, which you will say is a fine rise, and so people are willing to have something for their money, which makes them buy diamonds. I believe their will be much money wanted at respondentia in