Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 414

244
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JULY, 1933
spending some money; otherwise, as I write above, it may cost the owners or yourself 10 or 12 thousand tales, besides the trouble that I, Mr. Colebrooke and Mr. Gibons(*) will come to. Therefore do not dally, for the business requires heast. Mr. Gibons() is now in chains. You may show this letter to Captain Newsam for the man must be produc'd that did the
fact.
I am your humble servant,
J. SCATTERGOOD.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 134.) (1) The South Sea "ship may be the "Moorman" mentioned in the Canton Drary of 22 August (p. 240) and it is evident, from what follows, that the offender, David Griffin, had been one of her crew.
(2) William Colebrooke and Elihu Gibon (or Gibbons), officers in the Bonita.
(8) William Colebrooke was also imprisoned with Gibbons, as we learn from the following letter, and apparently Robert Crawford alao.
(135)
Sir,
The Mandareen that brought me here wants Cowlow old man(') to stand security that when he wants any of us three, that is Gibbons, Crawford() or my self, we may be forth coming which, if is not done, I dont know when shall come out.
The Mandareen wants now Davey's chest(3) aboard of Captain Newsham with atout 600 dollars [1], so that the linguist is to go and fetch it along with Crawford, which will take up about 2 or 3 days more, but I cant see but that Gibbons and my self may come out.
I beg of you to hurry the linguist that he may come here, and go along with Crawford for to fetch the aforesaid chest and money, and that I may go out today, or else dont know when shall come out, if Cowlow dont come to the Mandaroen and pass his word for us. Pray speake to Mr. Morrice(') to send me one of his Guardians(5) to read. Here is 3 persons of us so want a supply of victualls and drinke- and pray you answer the bearer.
Your humble servant
WILLIAM COLEBROOKE() Sunday morning 8 o'clocke.
Pray send me one of your monthly Mercurys.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 135.] (1) Apparently Cowlo senior. Cowlo was one of the principal Chinese merchants with whom Scatter. good had dealings.
(3) Robert Crawford, one of the crew of the Bonita. (3) David Griffin. (6) Arthur Morrico (or Morris) junior, one of the supercargoes of the Morrice.
(6) The Guardian, which had beon sot on foot by Steele in 1713, ran to 175 numbers, ending in October of that year.
() This letter is written with a blush on Chinese paper.
News of the untoward accident that had befallen those concern'd in the Bonita reached the Cadogan on the day it occurred and is thus related in the Canton Diary (Factory Records, China, vol. 22):
"The supracargoos of the Cadogan packd 38 chests of Congho tes at Comshaws, and whilo wo were there we were informed that some of tho Bonittas people had shot a China man about Wampo, in the service of the Hoppo, and that Mr. Scattergood had withdrawn himself from his own house to the United English Factory to escape (tho' entirely innocent) from falling into the hands of these