Short
extracts from H.E.I.C Letter Books
Source: BL:
IOR: E/3/108 - Dispatches to the East - Letter Books
.
As a class these
are large, leather bound volumes and are absolutely beautifully kept. The
script is genuinely ‘copper plate’ and wonderful to read.
.
Examples:-
On
corruption within the Company...
.
p.275
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‘Information
having been given by Mr George Gabriel Powell one of the Council at St Helena,
that there is a considerable Deficiency in our Cash at that Place, and there
being reason to Suspect that our Stores, Wares and Merchandise are not duly
remaining. We have Judged it highly necefsary to
Constitute and Appoint you Robert Jenkins Supravisor,
to Inspect and Examine into the State of Our Affairs, and accordingly Direct
that you take Pafsage for that purpose on our Ship
Royal George Captain Thomas Field Commander, now bound thither, Enjoying a
strict Compliance with the following orders and Instructions...’.... 28th January 1740
Administrative
detail of note...
.
pp.286-287
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‘List of the Company’s Packet to St Helena by the Ship
Royal George.
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No. |
1 |
Company’s Instructions to Captain Robert
Jenkins Supravisor of |
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...............St Helena Dated the 28th January 1740. |
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2 |
Company’s General Letter to St Helena
Dated the same day. |
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3 |
Copy of the Company’s General Letter to
St Helena Dated the 15th Oct, 1740 |
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...............Sent v India yacht |
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4 |
Invoice of the Ship Royal George
amounting to £5424.9.6. |
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5 |
Bill of lading of Ditto. |
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6 |
Copy of Ship Royal George’s Charterparty, which must be sent with the |
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...............Ship to Bencoolen |
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7 |
Manifest of Goods and Merchandize Licenced to be shipt on the
Royal |
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................for St Helena Sign’d by Mr
Henry Grabb. |
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8 |
List of 42, Soldiers on board the Royal
George for St Helena with an |
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................Account of their Countrey,
Trades and Ages - Signed by Mr |
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................Henry Grabb |
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9 |
Invoices of Medicines, the value being
included in the General Invoice |
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10 |
Patterns of Woollen Goods and Samples of
Paper. |
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11 |
Key to the Medical Chest, in the Bax apart |
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Ex.H.’ |
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..
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Source: BL:
IOR/E/3/110 - Dispatches to the East - Letter Books
.
Example:-
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pp.549-560 (folio 282)
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In total these
form very specific and detailed instructions for business to be conducted on
the orders of the Directors in London. As an extract (relating to one
particular past commission):-
.
p.549
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‘ |
28th Novemr
1750 . |
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Orders and Instructions Given by the |
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Court of Directors of the United Company of |
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Merchants of England Trading to the East |
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Indies unto Mefsrs. Lasco Hide, Samuel Blount |
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Alexander Hume, Nathaniel Garland Junr and |
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William Fead Supra Cargoes of the Ships Lord |
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Anson and St. George. |
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...
..
Expanding on the
last entry, the first paragraph names the above as Supra Cargoes. From this
point, commanders are then given their orders:-
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2. |
.............We have given Directions to Our President and
Council of Bombay upon the expiration |
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of the Ship Lord Anson’s Cruize Captain Charles Foulis
Commander to load a Cargo of Pepper, |
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Sandal Wood and other Articles proper
for the Canton Market, together with as much Silver as |
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will with the said Articles make the
Total amount of her Invoice Two Hundred and fifty thousand |
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Rupees, and consign the same to such
Supra Cargoes at Canton as should have our Directions for |
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for transacting the Businefs
of that Ship, and recommended it to them to be careful that she should |
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be Dispatched in time to get clear of
the Mallabar Coast in all the Month of April at
furthest, you |
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being appointed as beforementioned
our Supra Cargoes for the said Ship, you are to take her or |
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any other Ship that may be sent in her
stead under your Management accordingly, and the Commander |
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is, hereby directed to follow all such Orders as you
shall think necefsary to give him...’ |
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Following is a further example, dealing with
private trade:-
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p.562
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‘.............List of Investment for each of the Casual Ships that may |
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....... .....arrive in China from any of the Company’s
Settlements in India. . |
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China Ware, useful Sorts, chiefly Blue
and White, so much only as with the |
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..............Private Trade will be required for Flooring the
Ship. |
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.............................You must Pack such of the hollow China Ware as you
can |
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..............without dangers of breaking with Sago. |
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Tea Bohea, of
the cheapest Sort that is Sound and Sweet Two thousand four |
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...............hundred peculs...........................................................................................2400 |
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Ditto Singlo,
of the cheapest Sort that is found and Sweet One thousand two |
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...............hundred peculs...........................................................................................1200 |
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................................If you have any Surplus Stock, you must lay it out
in |
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..............Bohea Tea of the same Sort as above directed to fill up the ship. We are |
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London 28th Novemr 1750..............................................................Your Loving Friends |
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Richard Chauncy Chairman |
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Harry Gough Deputy |
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Thos Rous |
Wm Rider |
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Nichs Linnood |
John Payne |
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Charles Cutts |
P. Godfrey |
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Saml Teake |
R. Drake |
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Timothy Tullie |
Whichcott Turner |
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N. Newham Junr |
J. Winter |
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Peter Du Cane |
Henry Plant |
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Charles Gough |
John Hope |
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Abel Tonnereau |
J. Raymond |
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Wm Braund’ |
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