Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 433

SEPTEMBER, 1933 ]
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
263
cent to Captain John Widdrington, master of the Carlisle brigantine,() and four hundred current rupees to Mr. Jos: Lovell, chief mate of the Mary Ann to the Mallabar Coast and Madrass,(") @ seaventeen per cent, both sumes to be paid there to your order, as you'l find by the respondentia bonds inclos'd to your attorney 8).
I am this year bound for England, God willing, but as long as my stay is here, I will let what of your money out I can, and if any remains I'll leave it in good hands at land interest to be paid to your order.
I have not more to add, but to wish you health and prosperity and remain, Sir, Your most humble servant,
MAR: CROMPTON. Calcutta August 23d 1722.
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 156.) (1) Not extant. (*). "Patack" is evidently an error for "chatack," i.e., chatank, the 16th part of a ser (seer).
(3) The brigantine Carlisle, John Widdrington master, had sailed from Fort St. George for Bengal on 20 March 1722. She returned on 4 October (Fort St. George Diary).
(9) The Mary Ann brigantino was Crompton's ship. He arrived in her at Fort St. George from Junk. ceylon on 1 May 1722, and sailed for Bengal on the 7th of the month. When the vessel reached Madras again, on her way to the Malabar Coast, on 24 September, she was commanded by Captain William Shotbolt (Fort St. George Diary).
In a later letter, to Messrs. Torriano and Morse, dated 22 September, Captain Crompton remarked that he had altered his "resolution of going to England this year," an unfortunate decision, for he was murdered on 6 March following (Bengal Public Proceedings, vol. 5, p. 116).
Scattergood's last visit to China afforded him an even more unpleasant experience than the affair of the previous year, since the aggressor in this case was one of the crew of the King George for which he and Hill were responsible. James Naish, the Company's chief supercargo, to whom their instructions for the season 1722-3 were addressed, appears to have taken command of the situation immediately the accident occurred :
[157]
October 29th, 1722. Messrs. Scattergood, Hill and Houghton, Gontlemen,
The moment I heard of the accident, sent my China man, for I cou'd not personally come to you, the mob so great in the street and not one of the gentlemen in the house, all packing tea. Depend upon all the assistance I can give you, and that Suqua(') this moment goes to the Chuntuck(?) and to a!l other Mandarines proper to be apply'd to. I will come to you by water if I hear no disturbance upon [two words illegible) at your back gate.
I am, Sirs, your humble servant
J. NAISH.
(NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 157.) (1) Seuqua or Sueque, alias Conshaw, a Chinese merchant, with whom Scattergood had previously carried on business.
(3) " Viceroy (Trungtu, Tsongtock, Chuntuck, Zuntuck): the highest civil official over the two pro. vinces of Kwangtung and Kwangai (the Two Kwang); his official soat was at Shiuhing, but he was frequently at Canton, where he had a flying office '" (Morae, The . I. Co. trading to China, vol. I, p. xx.)
The affair is thus related in the Canton Diary:
"Two days since the gunners mate of the King George coming up in the long boat, fired at a bird in the paddy ground, where a boy of about fifteen years of age was reaping, and unfortunately received