Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 396

226
THE INDLAS ANTIQUARY
[ May, 1933
Besides the Chinese goods noted above and the usual purchases of gold, tea, fans, &c. we find in the Account Book entries of "China paper books, bambou-baskets, a bambou cage, and 300 fishes and 1000 counters." These mother-of-pearl counters, so familiar in the last century to the players of Pope Joan,' are now seldom seen.
In November 1720 Scattergood was busy lading goods in the Prince Eugene, under James Tobin, for sale in Ostend or to be consigned to England, and Tobin also left unsold goods in Scattergood's hands, the produce of which was to be handed over to any Ostend ship which should come to Canton after his departure. Scattergood further sent goods aboard the English and French ships bound home in December 1720 and early in the New Year, but he himself remained in Canton for several weeks after their departure to complete his business.
Before following the Bonita on her return to Malacca and Madras in 1721, the correspondence addressed to Scattergood from England and elsewhere at the close of the year 1720 must be noted. Among the letters from England was one from “Uncle Roger," fol. lowed by a statement of Scattergood's affairs, drawn up by the Rev. George Lewis before Elihu Trenchfield and Edward Fenwick relieved him of the charge. There are, besides letters from other members of his family and from his friends, the Godfreys, William Phipps, Sir Robert Nightingale and Joseph da Costa.
“Uncle Roger,” after retailing family news, added a reference to the excitement caused by what was afterwards known as the South Sea Bubble.
"I could wish, and so doe all your friends and aoquaintance, that you had never gone to the Indios, for you would certainly have doubled what ever you can expect to gitt where you are, for here is severall that has gott £100,000 and more that had not near what you had, nay some scarcely anything (by the South Sea Stock), which is the admiration of most people; but who could foresee what has happend or what may."
The statement furnished by the Rev. George Lewis noted expenses incurred for Scattergood's wife and family and £502. 108. for the purchase of "Bank Annuitys since subscribed to the South Sea," a transference which Scattergood must later on have regretted. The receipts included dividends on ships Essex and Addison, and produce of diamonds in partnership wih John Maubert and Govr. Harrison, leaving a balance of £342 odd to be handed over to the new attorneys.
Joseph da Costa wrote to both the supercargoes concerning the purchase of diamonds and the difficulty of getting them delivered in England :
"When either of you come for England I desire that you may invest five thousand pagodes in diamonds, from 4 to 20 grains or from 7 to 8 carrats, which may be extraordinary good; and if they can come in your name under the Companys register without any risque I shall be glad, for I had reather pay 5 per cent to the Company then rune the hazard of bringing them on shoar, for there is so many cos tome house officers to board every ship that it [is] very dangerous to venture, and as for what is left, that may come by the next shipeing in the same sort of diamonds and maner, in case it can be done : but if you think it dangerous to put them in the Company's register, you may give them to the capteine and agree with him to doliver them to me at my house and he to be at the risque of sesours (seizures)....But in caso what I desire can not be done or diamonds are cery doar, you'l please to remit the mony in bills on the Company, which you may take of the factory there, for, as I am informed, they allways give bills on the Company for what mony they recive theire, at the rate of nine shillings por pagode, and it may come as if it was for your account."
William Phipps sent a hurried note, dated London 15 December 1720, announcing his election as Governor of Bombay with instructions to go thither "by way of Mocho to supervise and settle that factory." The hurry of his departure prevented him from giving "any particular account of publick affairs, which for these six months past has been very amazing."
Sir Robert Nightingale gave details of the "amazing" occurrences.