Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 417

JULY, 1933]
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
27
247
Nothing further regarding the imprisoned members of the Bonita's crew nor of the close of the incident transpires in the Papers, and we are indebted to the India Office Records for the end of the story. On 29 November 1721, the Canton Diary (ibid.) records :
“Yesterday Mr. Colebrook was Intt out of prison, and this day Mr. Scattergood and the said Mr. Colebrook went away from this place [Canton] in order to proceed on their voyage to Surrat, after having paid, as we are informed, above 3000 (taels to comprize the affair of the death of the China Man."
The enforced delay to accommodate matters prevented Scattergood from sailing, as he had intended, in company with the Hastings, for that ship, as stated above, got away safely on 27 November. The Bonita apparently followed on the 30th. After that date we hear nothing of Scattergood until February in the following year, but a good deal of the correspondence addressed to him in the intervening months has been preserved.
There are accounts of the sale of tea and other goods by James Tobin of the Prince Eugene at Ostend, which resulted in a net gain for Scattergood of f. 22074. 6.
In December 1721 a sixteenth part of the Lyell, Captain Charles Small, was purchased for him by his attorneys at a cost of £550.
As usual, by every shipping, the Trenchfields and his daughter Elizabeth supplied Scat. tergood with family news.
Elihu Trenchfield commented on the Company's instructions to their supercargoes bound to China and, in his capacity of attorney, on Scattergood's affairs in his hands.
[141] Extract of a letter from Elihu Trenchfield to John Scattergood,
dated 11 December 1721.] The footing Mr. Naish goes now upon(") is a certain instance of the Companys jealousy least a combination should be made among the China merchants, and they think by this method of making but one interest among the supra cargoes to be the properest means of destroying their project. ..
Your adventure by Messrs. Penicote and Cocks will I believe at last answer pretty well when all accounts are adjusted. I beleive in your last account you was advis'd of our having received four hundred pounds. The other day receiv'd four hundred more and expect a further sum in a few days to be paid us. The reason of this delay is that some part of the adventure was sold to one Vandermersh, a merchant in Holland, who fail'd thro' the misfortune of his correspondance in England. His creditors thro' the hopes of his being able to retrieve himself, granted him time to adjust his affairs without declaring him a bankrupt. You must expect to be a sufferer in this affair, tho hope to no great amount.
Tobin is safe arriv'd but makes a very indifferent voyage. The gains on the stock is calculated at 15 pr. ct. He has sent me an account sale of the 500 ps. of taffatys amounting to 10630 stivers : 10: 2. He has given me a power to draw on him for the amount of both your silk and interest in his voyage, but the exchange at present being very much to your disadvantage, am advis'd by my friends, as you desire the mony to be kept in England, to wait for better opportunity. The mony is sure and I shall doe the most for your service.
Severoll of the things you sent by Captain Pennel have received, as I shall the rest when the Company sale for private trade is ended. I doe not know what to doe with the cinnamon oil, it bearing no price in England ; that you sent to Mr. Hambly is not yet dispos'd off. I have desir'd him when ever he can meet a purchaser to dispose of both the parcells. All