Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/10

 NOTES AND QUERIES. pi> s. m. JAN. 6, 1017.

On Nov. 17 the Governor, Streynsham Master, wrote to the Council at Hugli :

" I am sorry for the death of Mr. Richard Edwards, and by the letter thence of the 4th, signed by himselfe, fear the Honble. Companys cash will fall short, for it is not likely, as indis- posed as he was, that above 8000 Rs. could be wanting and he or they that signed with him not know what become of it, espetially considering that when I was there, myself e with Mr. Mohun examined the Accompt cash and the cash in the chest, and found the mony in the chest to be something more then there should be by the Ballance of the Accompt ; and since that, there has been two months Accompts of cash duly sent thence, so that this I suppose can be noe new errour as is implyed in the letter of the 4th. But Mr. Byam and Mr. Sheppard have done very prudently to clear themselves by writeing that letter whilst Mr. Edwards lived."

On the 28th Master wrote again, directing that an inventory should be taken of TEdwards's effects, but if there were not sufficient time to do this before the depar- ture of the ships for England, then,

" before some sufficient wittnesses, to open all his chambers, clossets, chests, Boxes, and sere- tores [escritoires, desks], that they may see what there is, and then lock and seale them up againe with severall seales, and take a view of his papers, if from thence they can collect where he hath any thing to satisfy the many demands that we now heare are made upon his estate."

A month later, on Dec. 23, 1679, Master reached Balasor on his way back to Madras, and on the following day

" the outcry, or publike sale, was made of Mr. Edwards his goods, which lasted from morning to night, and there was much left unsold, he having more lumber then any man has been knowne to have of his quality or standing ; and there was monys found scattered amongst his papers and other things here and there, a little in silver and gold of severall countrys, which made it evident that he was a careless and a vaine man.

The sale of his goods this day

amounted unto. . . . Rs. 2049.15.00

Silver mony and plate. . . . 1492.14.09

Gold coyne, Buttons, &ca. . . 964.13.00

Rs. 4507.10.09

Besides four horses, four chests copper and many other things remaining to be sold, all which it is supposed will pay what he run out of the Com- panys cash."

The horses and " other things," including some " dear" (deer), were sent up to Hugli and there sold, except his " unsound Ara- bian horse," which fetched Rs. 50 at Balasor. The " outcry " realized Rs. 3168 8 an., ex- clusive of one horse which was retained as a present for the Nawab at Dacca.

On Jan. 5, 1681, the Court of Committees wrote to Fort St. George :

" Wee take notice of Mr. Edwards death and "the Vanity of his life, and desire your further care

to see the Company fully righted out of what he left behind him."

But, since no further claims were made against the deceased, it is to be presumed that the sum produced by his effects covered his liabilities.

As to the fairness of Streynsham Master's strictures on Edwards, those who have the patience to wade through his correspondence will be best able to judge. If he accumu- lated " aboundance of lumber," he at the same time acquired a large circle of friends, and his kindly nature is evidenced through- out his intercourse with all whom he knew.

From the outset of his life in India he seems to have been hampered by debt. He expected golden and quick returns for his investments, and contracted loans which crippled his resources and evidently es- tranged him from his family. His love of fashionable clothes, his desire to live up to his position, his constant endeavours to find some profitable investment to eke out his scanty salary all this comes out in his letters, and few will be found to disagree with Robert Freeman that his " well breed- ing and good disposition and Curtuous Cariage toward all men cannot but win All mens affections," whether of his own time or of the present day.

[Authorities. ' Court Minutes,' vols. 25a, 26 ;

' Miscellaneous,' vol. 3a ; ' O. C.,' Nos. 3255, 3264, 3308a, 3765, 4142, 4676, 4678 ; ' Diaries of Streynsham Master,' ed. Temple, passim.]

R. C. TEMPLE.

(To be continued.)

POEM BY M. P. H. LOYSON.

(See 12 S. ii. 219.)

IN the notice of The Fortnightly Review for September, the Editor of 'N. & Q.' comments upon Sir James G. Frazer's very free trans- lation of M. Loyson's " concentrated and fiery lines." I have tried to make a more metrically and literally close version, which I venture to submit to the judgment of the Editor and readers of ' N. & Q.' :

" POUR UN CHIFFON DE PAPIER." Par Paul Hyacinthe Loyson.

Pourquoi cette trombe enflammee

Qui vient foudroyer 1'univers ?

Get embrasement de 1'enfer ?

Ce tourbillonnement d'arme'es,.

Par mille milliers de milliers ?

C'est pour un chiffon de papier.