Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 444

274
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1933
the Political State of Great Britain, xxv. 184, where he is described as an East India merchant but no note of his burial has so far been discovered.
Of letters written to Scattergood before news of his death reached India there is one from Richard Benyon at Fort St. George, hoping “this will find you well upon your leggs in England " and one from his attorneys, Messrs. Torriano and Morse, dated 5 October 1723 and sent by the company's ship Cardigan, which sailed from Fort St. George for England on the following day. The attorneys gave an account of their management of the business left in their hands and of the efforts they had made to recover debts due to Scattergood. They reported the death of Stephen Orme, and gave it as their opinion that since his uncle, Alexander Orme, had succeeded to the chiefship of Anjengo, the debts of both would eventually be recoverable. The attorneys found Scattergood's gamboge and tea bad investments :
"We have taken all imaginable care and every opportunity of offering it to sale, but tis impossible. The Captains of both these ships (the Carnarvon and Cardigan) have told us they would not carry it home if we would give it them. Your ten chests of tea in Bengal and the 7 remaining here of the same kind no body will touch them."
With respect to Scattergood's orders to advance money to his friend Samuel Court, a free merchant at Madras, and Court's consequent investment in the Nancy brigantine, John Gibbs master, which reached Fort St. George from Surat on 30 May 1723 and sailed for Malacca on 12 August, the attorneys remarked :
" Your orders about Mr. Court have been obey'd. He paid us 73.12.for interest of 1000 page. he had at land interest and desired we would let him have that and another thousand in the stock and block of brigantine Nancy. Your orders were positive to be concern'd 2000 pagodas with him. However, at last we got him to give a respondentie bond for the half, by which, whatever becomes of the stock, we hope you will receive some benefit. He bought his ophium vastly cheap and if any vessel does, must make a good saving voyage, but those projects to the eastward do not all please us."
The last of the letters addressed to Scattergood from India testifies to the esteem and respect in which he was held by the native merchants with whom he had carried on business.
(169) Mr. Scattergood, Sir,
This being the first opertunity I have had of showing my afection and great obligation I lye under to you for your former favers bestowed on me, which is hum(bly] beging (you) to except of this small token of tenn strings of pearle from, Sir, Your morchant and very hum[blo] s[ervant]
MUTABALLCHITE() Fort St Georg(e) February the 18 1723/4.
Per Captain Bottom(2)
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 169.] (1) Mutta Bala Chetti, a member of the Chetti family of merchants with whom Scattergood had had dealings for many years.
(2) Captain Charles Boddam, commander of the Walpole, which sailed for England on 23 February 1723/4.
The last dated document among the Papers is a statement of Scattergood's affairs in India from January to September 1724.
[170] Dr. Estate of Mr. John Scattergood deceased.
Cr. 1723/4
1723/4 Jan. 2d To cash paid Mr.
Jan. 1 By ballance of last Wendey(") .. 800.
# account .. P 3100. 1. 40 Feb. 14 To cash paid him
May 13 By cash received of further .. .. 1000.
Cojee George(). 2300. - -