Scattergood Papers 2

Mss Eur C 387/2

Accounts and correspondence 1715 – 1727

Typescript

f. 9:

By a letter from a Mr. J. Williamson [one of his close associates] at Fort St George, it is clear Scattergood still has several ventures in play on his return to England. Scattergood has sent ‘Eight or Ten Thousand Rupees to … the Bay [of Bengal] to be Employ’d’ for his own account to Williamson, who says when he receives it he will ‘dispose of it as I judge may be for your Advantage’.

Williamson continues: ‘Our Persia and Surratt Shipping are all Sailed with full Freight and a glorious prospect of good Voyages.’From Fort St George 24 January 1716.

f. 10:

Letter from Henry Albert to JS – makes plain that in their recent joint voyage to Mocha they weren’t able to sell all their goods, so have left 16000 Spanish Dollars-worth there. They managed to make enough to return the investors’ principals however. From Fort St George January 25 1716.

f. 14:

Great letter from Scattergood’s brokers at Canton: 1 February 1716. ‘This is to Returned you our hearty thanks for the many favours and Kindnesses you were pleased to bestow on our China men which went Passengers on your Ship both in thier passage and at Madrasse, and wee assure you that if ever you chance to come againe to this place as wee hope you will, wee shall not bee wantinge as farr as Lyes in our power of makinge you a Suitable acknowledgement for all those favours. … Lincoa and Ancoa{Linqua and Anqua?}Canton 1stFebrury 1715/16.’

f. 28:

George Lewis from London 29 February 1716, to JS:

‘I should be glad to understand that you were in China the last year upon your third voyage, and then I make little doubt but you will proceed there this year also upon your fourth: Your Good friend Mr Charles Boone, being gone out Governour of Bombay this last Year. And in four such Voyages I doubt not, by Gods blessing, but you will raise a very plentifull Estate. And Considering that you love to keep a handsome house, and to have your friends about you, there will require a good Estate to answer the charge of it in this Place. But in case you did not procure a China voyage the last year, I have reason to conclude from your last letters that we may expect you this Year in England; where I do not doubt but a Person of your Genius will find many ways to turn the penny to advantage.’

f. 57:

RE: Investing in China cargoes while is he in London:

Note reading: ‘Received then of Mr John Scattergood two hundred thirty four pound four ounces and ten pennyweight of Crusados which we carry with us to China on Ship Essex Charles Newton and there invest it in Gold for the said John Scattergood’s account deducting ten Per Cent for freight Comission &c. charges (all dangers of the Seas getting on board and shoare to be on the Account of the said John Scattergood) and bring back the said produce of Gold with us to London and deliver it to the said John Scattergood or his Assigns.’ Signed W. Fazacerley and Charles Newton 29 November 1716.

No wonder he was so keen to invest in gold as it was at a very good price:

f.63:

Letter from Edward Fenwicke to Scattergood, December 30 1716: ‘Dear Jack, I writ you of 10th October last by a French ship bound to Cadiz of which the foregoing is a Coppy, least the other miscarry’d. I have now a great hurry of business upon me at the dispatch of these ships Susannah and Stringer therefore desire youl Excuse my not enlargeing much now. Here’s great scrambling for goods amongst so many ships especially gold, which is 115 sicee.’

Insurance policies for two voyages from London outward, ff. 60-62 – I haven’t copied these but they could be interesting to look at?

f.78:

JS sends out some iron ware and elephants teeth with Captain Eustace Peacock to Surat, and asks him to invest the proceeds in ‘any voyage that you shall goe in the Countrey and when you come for England please to gett Mr John Gomes Febos to invest it in small Diamonds for my Account and bring it along with you to England’.

Accounts of John Maubert, Scattergood’s attorney, is at ff. 82-91. Good account of all JS’s ongoingcountry trade dealings. See also f. 104:Letter from John Maubert to JS at Fort St George September 21 1717: ‘I can only say that what I sent to sea on your Account has met with good success; in the Shallam where you were concerned 500 pags. we make 55 Per Cent. the other voyages most of them come out about respondentia.’

ff. 138-139.

His ‘Account of what Money I have sent Abroad, and what Money I have taken up at Interest in London’ amounts to £8592! 2 August 1716 – 12 December 1717.

Papers re: Scattergood’s Return to Asia

Scattergood turns freighter himself with voyage in the ‘Bonetta’ [referred to as the Bonita in the biographies of Scattergood] with Thomas Harris. Gets permission from the company to go back out to Asia as free merchant for two years. Insurance policy of the ship at ff.118-120 – could be interesting? Covenant between Harris and scattergood, is ff. 120-123. Free merchants’ covenant, ff. 133-136. John Harry is named as commander of ship (f. 155). Shareholders in the voyage were Robert Nightingale and several other London merchants of Standing. Ship ready to sail by the end of 1717.

Fuller account of the Bonita’s departure from England in Scattergood’s biography in Scattergood Papers 4.

Various accounts detailing what was shipped on board the Bonita:

f. 169

‘The watermans bill for carrying Goods aboard the Bonetta’ 4 January 1717 [the ship he went back to China from London in]

Messrs. Scattergood and Harris

Drs to John Sawley

To wateridge12 Chest[s] Wine

11 Chest }

1 Hogshead } Beer

To ditto16 Chest Wine

40 Chests at 12d …………………………. £2

To ditto1 cask Rice

3 Chests Apparell

1 Box Cards

1 Box Stationery

1 Chest drawers

1Case weather glasse

* The Cask of Rice

is inserted* 7 at 0d. [sic] …………………………… 0.6. –

To ditto WC2 Chests beer

4 ditto Wine

1 Barrell Cheese

1 Trunk stores

1 Chest }

1 Trunk } apparell

1 bin Gingerbread ……………………………….. 0.10. –

……………………………………………………………………………………….. £ 2.16.

ff. 156-174: There is lots more here on things Scattergood and Harris bought for their China voyage.

ff. 174-75:

Invoice of a bulce of rough diamonds sent by Maubert to London for Scattergood, on the ship Hanover capt James Osborne. 1363 Pagodas. January 7 1718.

Seems to have bought some ‘Emrards’ [emeralds?] for his [4th] China voyage as well. 5 stones in total. From a Jewish merchant [it is marked ‘Jews receipt for Amorills’ and marked as being signed ‘ALLEXANDER [? Hebrew signature]’.

f. 191

Invoice of cost and Charges of Shipp Bonita Captain John Harry and her cargoe for India Vizt

The Shipp with stores for the Voyage£ 6200. - . -

The licence from the East India Company£ 200. - . -

Sundry fees and other charges£ 75. 5 . –

Cloath and perpetts£ 771.13 . –

Wine to be takeneatt Madera£ 100. - . –

Scales Waites &c.£ 36. - . –

76297 oz. 12 dwt. Silver in hands J.M. Portsmo.£21100. - . –

£28502.18 . -

[Written on back] In Baggs 20000

In 17 casks 50000

70 000

f. 192

Scattergoods instructions to George Lewis his attorney in London before he leaves.Mentions his stakes in other China voyages in Essex and Townshend ships.

Bonita’s instructions [from the EI Company?] ff. 194-195. 25th January 1718.

f.201: Full account of cost and cargoe of Bonita.

‘You have herewith an Invoice of cost of Shipp and Cargoe of the Bonita fitted for India as neere as can att present calculate it and if any abatements are made on the tradesmens bills &ca. the Shipp and Stock shall have due credit for it, the matteriall parte of the Cargoe is the Forreigne silver which is in the hands of Mr. John MellishattPorstmouth, who will I hope deliver it you safe on board and therefore doe hereunder give you an Account of the whole have sent him att Sundry times which is to bee applyd as under shall be SpecifyedVizt:

38 Cask each qt 3000 oz. …………………………………………………………………………114000 ozs

1 ditto qt 2000 which belongs to Mr. Colebrook and WmCartlitch butt Mr.Mellishhaveingoccatione for ps 8/8 has takene out of said Barr ………………………………………………………5000 oz

Soeremaines in his hands to deliver you upon your arrivallatt Portsmouth which you’l please to observe is to bee apply’dVizt. …………………………………………………………………………………… 109,000

-To compleat your cargoe £2850276297 ozs

-Your owne adventure£600021696

-Jno. Mellish his ditto£3001084

-Capt. John Harry his ditto.£9003254

-Laur. Lane£200723

-Colll. Stevenson£200723

-……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 103779

{therefore there is 5220 remaining}

So there will remaine above what is appropriated which will advise you of before you goe how to be apply’d

-Me Geo Sittwell4000 ozs

-Mr Catesby Oadhums1000

-Mr Fra. Chamberlayne220

5200 ozs

So – this document has the 28502 figure mentioned above – but it is unclear to me how the cargoe has been organised.

f. 202: Her ‘stores’amount to £4400.

End of Bonita papers

f. 210: Buys a 1/32 share in ship Addison from Capt Zachary Hickes, January 1718.

ff. 212-13: Disappointing letter from J Williamson, February 1718 – a ship Scattergood had invested in, the Happy Return, had been caught in storms and didn’t make the voyage it set out to. JS still ends up with dividend of 1900 rupees although it is not mentioned what the original investment was. Two other ships, the brigantine Success and ship Elizabeth both were bound to Acheen but eventually couldn’t due to delays leaving Madras, they were eventually sent to the west coast, Williamsontells JS that he hopes they will still make a good voyage.

f.217: Another bulce of diamonds sent by Maubert, consigned to Scattergoodin London [presumably these would go to his attorneys there at this point, as JS was back at sea], on board the Duke of Cambridge (capt.Daniell Small) commander, February 1718. It is ’30 Stons wt. 46 1/8 Mangee at 14 pag Per Me = 645.27 [Pagodas]. Mentions in letter (f.216) a previous bulce sent by the Hanover, see ff. 174-5.

Letters from William Phipps, ff. 225-228 describe how there is much shipping from Ostend going out to India 1718/19. Messrs Naish, Peirson and Holland are those mentioned as some of those who are all involved in it. ‘The Company are extremely netled at this trade’ he says, ‘and some thinks through the influence of our Court there will be this year a Stop put to some of their measures, but to prevent any future proceedings of that nature there is a bill brought into the house against any Englishman engaging in that Affair, which its thought will certainly pass.’ (Phipps from London, 29 December 1718, to Harris and Scattergood; a follow up to a letter of 16 September 1718).

Scattergood’s reply to this is f. 371 (JS to Phipps, November 1719): ‘I am heartily sorry to hear you stay in England without any business, but hope this may prove a better year. Truely the Ostend Trade, if it be not stoped, will doe the Company no good nor us here in India’.

Clearly, Phipps, William Aislabie and Scattergood are all veryclosely connected.

f. 235: Amazingly cryptic letter from Francis Chamberlain [whowas concerned in the Bonita’s voyage to Canton] to Scattergood and Harris (? October 1718): seems Scattergood been a bit loose with some of his correspondence re: the silver issue with the Bonita (see above and Scattergood’s biography in Scattergood Papers 4. He doesn’t actually scold Scattergood too much! ‘We receiv’d your letter from the Maderas, and are glad to hear of your safe arrivall there, but can’t but blame your being so very plain in mentioning the Silver; for had your letter fall’n into other hands it might have prov’d of very ill consequence and considering the Alarm given the Company we could not tell what means might have been made use of to intercept your letters, therefore desire for the future you would take no notice of it. You mention the sending it out immediately like men that know not the fatigues and delays of a law-suit, and much less the risque of getting it out after what happened; We won’t trouble you with the particulars but will only tell you that we are now in possession of it {the extra silver that was due to go on board the Bonita} and can do no more then make a Dividend here.’

pp.236-237: Letter from Jason Wendy to Scattergood, following up on a letter jointly written by Chamberlain, Wendy, and Mr Affleck: seems the ships owners (the Bonita) are still concerned that Scattergood is not making the best of things for them, but using the voyage out for his own private advantage. Seem to be concerned by the fact that Scattergood and Harris aren’t directly concerned (financially) in the voyage – they seem to see this as unusual practice, which has set alarm bells ringing – surely if they are not concerned in the voyage itself, they must be planning on making money by taking on freight and receiving payment for this on their own private accounts? Letter has a brilliant explanation of differences between a free merchant ship and a Company ship p. 237:

‘Another thing talk’d was that if you went a China voyage they expect’d the freight of what gold was carry’s on private adventures, not meaning your own private stock … You know ‘tis usual with Supra-Cargoes from hence to China to charge 11 per cent commission, taking in freight to ‘emselves; but there is a difference between you and a Company’s ship; they pay the owners so much for the freight of the Ship, and they are content’d; and if the Supra-cargoes bring home their Tonnage, the Company is satisfi’d: But your Owners have entrust’d you with a ship to act for their interest as well as your own, and for you not to bring such freight to their account would be to defraud ‘em of their due, and apply their Ship to your private advantage.’ See Scattergood’s reply, around folios 380 onwards.

p. 246: JS following up on progress of the Bonita to Chamberlain: ‘Wehaveing wrote you in a joint letter allreadygiveing you an Account how our Affairs stands, will make me the shorter in this. I suppose Mr.Sittwell has given you an Account whatt a Dismall prospect the Indian trade appears, which hope you will find some way or other to send for us home with security from the Companey (or at least paying over for future); the sooner the better. I hope when you write us next to send full orders what to doe if you do not designe us home or if one or both desire to leave India. If you shol’d send for us home, Let us know if we can bring home all our stock or more in goods on the Bonitta, If we can, send us patterns of silks and Instructions with Price Current of goods &c.’ JS at Canton, ? November 1718.

p. 247: JS to his ‘aunt’ in November 1718: ‘By these ships I have sent you a dark Color Satin peice of silk made up in a night Gown, the easier to get in ashoare and half a dozen grave fans, a double piece of fine plane muslin betwixt you and Aunt Scattergood, and half a dozen fans for hir self. I have recommended them to one Mr.Afflack in London to gett them and send them to you at Lincolne.’

f.251:

Has sent some China silks to London with Messrs Tobin and Wright; who he has asked to dispose of them and remit the proceeds to Messrs Peter Hambley and Miles Barnes. Scattergood asks Hambly and Barnes to invest any amount made from the sale of the silks in Tobin and Wright’s next voyage back out to China, leaving the money to lay at interest if they are not going back out until next year. If they remain together as a pair, Scattergood wants to invest all the money in their ship; if they split up, he asks Hambly and Barnes to invest half with Tobin and half with Wright. If neither of them are going back out to the East Indies he says, just remit the money to either Madras or Canton.

Makes over 11000 Rupees on a concern in Elephants Teeth with Captain Eustace Peacock, December 1718. Sold 740 pieces for 35673 Rupees in Surat, that had been bought in England (!) for £3082 in March 1717 (24658 Rs). ff. 252-53.

f.256:

Takes the following goods on the Bonita to Canton [that I presume he must have picked up in Madras on the way]: Tin, Olibanum, Sandal wood, Iron guns, ‘Soape’; as well as putchuck and Lead taken on at Malacca. Amounts to around 20,000 Pagodas with various charges.

f.268:

Looks to me like JS arranges for the Bonita ships some Chinese goods to Malacca for three (Chinese?) merchants. 15 chests Bohea tea for Hinqua, 11 chests Bohea and 35 tubs Green tea for ‘Cudgen’, and 14 tubs Bing tea for Chunqua. January 28 1719. Account of what laden on Board the Bonita, Jan 28 1719.

JS back in Madras by Spring 1719.

f.276:

JS says here that ‘I find am very unfortunate in my adventures, but hope my future may succead better.’ Explanation for his continued voyages? Rather than coming home. Appeared to say to many correspondents last time he was in England that he would go straight out to China and come back to London; clearly this didn’t happen. Letter to Mr. Williamson, 16 May 1719.

f. 279:

Letter to Mr Bonnel (presumably Jeremiah Bonnellat Surat), 25 May 1719.Shows that Scattergood is concerned between 14 and 15000 rupees in the William with Mr. Wake. Says he is going to Canton again, having been in Madras just a brief time. That would be his fifth trip to China.

f. 281: Scattergood to Sir Robert Child, May 25 1719:

Shows that last time he was in China, Scattergood had picked up and pays for some bespoke China ware for Sir Robert Child, with his crest on, that was not ready for the previous years’ shipping. Scattergood took this with him to Madras, consigned it to Capt. John Martin to take to England. Writes to Sir Robert to pay Reverend George Lewis in London for their cost (£49 9s and 4d).