Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 443

NOVEMBER, 1933)
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
.
[168]
Sir,
I received yours of the 10th of November(?) the 18th past. I am very sorry to hear you were troubled with the gout but hope Old England will have the desired effect. I shall by the first opportunity write Mrs. Taylor about what you desire me, and am glad you did not concern me any thing in the Lusitania, I return you many thanks for your promised care of the memorandums I gave you for my wife and for what you write me you intend to carry her,
Your quick silvor I havo sent to Cambay, as such a small quantity would do better there than at Surat : as soon as sold, shall bring it to your credit. Dabbadies accounts of the John ketch() Mr. Hope advises me are near made up, when he will receive for me your dividend, and I observe your having bought Capt. Harry's part. Mr. Wyche will not pay me your account, but on the contrary sends me one wherein he brings you in debt to him 717 rupees, copy thereof is enclosed.(3)
Your concern in the King George I will receive and also Mr. Morooms respondentia, and pay Mr. Lowther yours. Your bill in favour of Mr. Hill I have discharged. I observe the King Georges detention was by the accident befallen the China boy.() Her demorage we have remitted and the money advanct by the Bupra cargoes deposited here in treasury at the rate of 3 rupees per tale, till the affair is decided by the Company in England, which you must use your endeavours to gett done in favour of the freighters,
I have concerned you 10000 rupees in the Boone,(5) agreeable to your directions to me if Mr. Hill went, As Mr. Wake() goes supra cargo, whom I beleive you think much more capable.
The canes 6975 of 30 inches sold for 13 rupees per 100; the remainder of the 8000 is so short and broke that Mr. King says he has not yett sold them. He likewise informs me that he, Mr. Hill and [Capt.) Say, bought a quantity of wax of you amounting to 3500 and odd rupees, and that on its being to be sold at Surat it would not produce more than 1100 rupees, occasiond by the quantity of dirt that was mixt with it. He therefore demands an allowance for the same and desires I would write to you about it to empower me to adjust it. I shall do nothing herein till I have your orders, but certain it is, if there is dirt mixt in it, an allowance ought to be made them for the quantity of the dirt at the rate they bought it of you.
The bad gucceas I have had hitherto in my private trade will keep me longer in India than I expected, the Boone having been an heavy stroke to me, for out of an invoice in Persis of 72,000 rupees, her cargo in Surat wont fetch 20,000, so that I shall want all my friends good offices to continue my stay here a little longer to retrieve my heavy losses, and I dont doubt the continuance of your friendship.
When I can gett a captain a little better temper'd than Pitt(8) I shall send you a hogshead of arrack, as you desire, and continue to supply you therewith by every good opportunity. I wish you a perfect enjoy. ment of Old England and am, Sir,
Your affectionate humble servant
WILLM. PHIPPS.
Parell() April the 15th 1723
Thro' the badnoss of the market at Surat the King George's voyage will not come out so well as expected, tho' believe may be upwards of 20 per cent.
i
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT NO. 168.] (1) Not extant. () See document No. 153.
(3) The account gives details of transactions between Seattergood and Wyche as supercargoes of the Amity in 1715, and shows a balance due to the latter, as stated by Phipps. At the end of the account, dated in Surat 5 March 1722/3, Wyche added the following note: "There are other mistakes in the putchuck Account which he is to be debtod for, but not being able to have my accounts, I must let this remain till the time comes I have them."
(*) See ante, pp. 263-268.
(5) The Boone frigate, owned by Charles Boone, late Governor of Bombay and now commanded by Captain John Standard, arrived at Madras on her way to China on 26 May 1723 (Fort St. George Diary).
() William Wake, a free merchant. (7) Hezekiah King, Company's servant at Surat. (5) Wentworth George Pitt, commander of the Stanhope. (9) Parel, a suburb of Bombay.
As stated above, the Lyell was off Portland Bill on 2 June 1723. At Portsmouth she landed her passengers, among whom was John Scattergood, a very sick man, and there, a few days later, on 12 June, he died. His death is recorded in Musgrave's Obituary and in