Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 416

246
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JULY, 1933
On 27 November Scattergood sent his interpreter to Captain Harry with orders to send up David Griffin's chost, and the captain returned a note explaining how Griffin came to be on board the Bonita's boat.
[139]
November the 28th 1721. Mr. Scattargood, Sir,
The lingua brings your noat to demand David Griffins chest. Captain Newshams mate brought it on board of us yestarday. I desired him to seale it with his seale in severall places, which he did, and I now deliver it with the seales on to the linguas.
As to the man belonging to our shipe, [it] cant be. I did not designe to shipe him. He tould me he saild some years past with me and desiard me to put him in a way what to dou with his money. I made him answer, affter his shipe was up to Wampo, if he came down again, I would put him in the best way I could, which is the reale facte that I know of the matter. Our shipe is reddy, only wants a pillott. Wishing you well out of this trouble,
I am, Sir, your humble servant,
JOHN HARRY.
Meanwhile, the accident was affecting the interests of all the European shipping in Can. ton as the Canton Diary of 27 November (ibid.) shows :
"The killing the Hoppos officer by an English man in the Bonittas boat, tho' near Wampo, has hinder'd us several days in our business, for altho' no person at Canton could by any rules of right reason or justice be deemed guilty of 80 accidental a thing, especially at the distance of this place from Wampo, which is about 14 or 15 miles, nor ought to be answerable for any action but what a man does himself, nevertheless so unreasonable and arbitrary are the laws or the abuse of those laws in this country, that our friends the China merchants have advis'd us to keep within doors and not stir out for some days, for fear of being mobb'd or taken up by the mandarins, contrary to all reason and justice, Only Mr. Campbel, supracargo of the Hastings, who had all his goods on board, and was ready to go, and having got his grand chop, was permitted to go away the 24 instant and to proceed on his voyage, Ab was also this day the St. Joseph, the 2d Ostender."
In viow of the state of affairs as described above, Captain Newsham's protest to Captain Harry, alluded to in the letter given below, is quite understandable.
[140]
November the 29th 1721. Mr. Scattargood, Sir,
I shall remaine very onpaitient tell see you on board. I have wright you what I knew before and since the action hapned. I yestarday recieved a letter from Captain Newsham by two of his mates in forme of a protest. What he meanes by that I know not. I cant think of any damage she did him. You say the gentlemen at Canton judges that man belongs to us. I must be of a contrary opinion. If he did belong to us, it could be no longer then that time he was in our boat, for as soon as they came on board, Captain Newsham he layed that man and two more under arrest, for what I know not; he knows best. I hear the other two remaines there still. Now, if you judge that man that is under restraignt on board another ship can belong to us, it is very lickly he may.
We have no pillot. I shall rejoyce to see you soon on board and remaine, Sir, you most humble servant
JOHN HARBY.