Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 404

234
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
I MAY, 1933
To give you an account of my arrival here, which was the 1st September... When I first arriv'd my mother and sister Nanny were grown so rich by the South Sea Scheem that I expected to be maintain'd by them. One had got her thirty thousand and the other her ten thousand pounds, so I esteemed myself the poorest of the family, but they, not having foresight enuff to sell out at that time, these golden dreams are vanishd, and I wish they be not sufferers at last, tho' I think their loss cannot be very great as they came in the stock on easy terms.
I can't express to you the madness that reign'd at that time. I could not hear of any of my India acquaintance that was not a plum man(2) and some of 'em had gain'd their millions. Change Ally was as much crowded with Stars and Garters as formerly with Stock Jobbers: And all these golden visions vanish'd in two months time when the people began to open their eyes and search in the true value of the stock. Then the fall of it was as sudden and surprizing as the rise, and now you hear nothing but the ruin of several familys, and our credit so sunk that no man whatsomever is trusted for a hundred pounds.
It's impossible for me to give you an exact description of affairs, 80 will refer you for an account to the bearer, and only tell you, whereas the Directors and Managers of the curs'd contriv'd scheem was at first worshipp'd as Demy Gods, are now taken in custody by the Parliament as the worst of knaves and villains, manifest bribery and corruption being prov'd upon 'em. It's confidently reported that all their estates will be confiscated and said by many that the greatest aggressors will loose their lives.
You must beleive in all this hurly burly it was an impossible thing for me to escape being concern'd, but I had the good fortune not to have the command of mony untill the stock was fallen pretty low, and then I could not forbear venturing a small matter, in hopes, when all things were rightly stated, it woud have it's rise again. It's at present like a corrupted body to be inspected by the Parliament, who we are in hopes will apply such healing medicines as to prevent it's being cankerd. It's my comfort, as I am but a small adventurer, I can be no great sufferer.
My brother and sister Fenwick lives very happily together in a house he has bought in Bedford Row. He and Mr. Pitt(3) are the only men of all my acquaintance that have been gainers by all these troublesome affairs; the first I believe has doubled his talent since his matrimony, and the other has pretty well improv'd his fortune......
(signed) E. TRENCHPEILD.
(NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 123.] (1) John Hormonden, supercargo of the Macclesfield, bound to China, with the Morrice, Cadogan and Frances.
(2) Plum' is here used in its slang, and now rare, sense of £100,000. A'plum man' was therefore one worth $100,000.
13) Probably George Morton Pitt, whose bond to Elihu and Anne Trenchfield in 1726 is among the Papere.
In his capacity of attorney, Elihu Trenchfield also wrote a joint letter with his brother-inlaw Edward Fenwick relating to the affaire entrusted to them.