Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/51

 12 s. in. JAN. 20, i9i7.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

yet unacquainted, b[ut sh]all endeavour [to p]rove my selfe at all times,

Sir Your [friend] and Servant to Command

R[OBERT] EIAVES [Endorsed] For Mr. Edwards

Merchant Present In Ballasore.

LETTER II. John Smith to Richard Edwards.

(O.C. 3255.)

[John Smith, elected factor on Oct. 18, 1667, probably sailed to India in the Blackamore, and thus became acquainted with Richard Edwards. The two corresponded frequently for the first five years after their arrival in India, and were closely concerned in private trade. In April, 1669, shortly after his arrival in Bengal, Smith accompanied John March to the Nawab's court at Dacca, and when March had accomplished his mission there, he left Smith in charge of the Company's investments at Dacca factory. Four years later, in January, 1673, Smith was recalled to Hugll on a charge of negligence, and abuse of the confidence reposed in him. He defied and wrangled with the authorities until November, 1676, when his case was examined by Streyn- sham Master, the Company's Agent and Super- visor. Smith was found guilty of fraud, and was dismissed the Company's service and or- dered to proceed to Port St. George. He evaded this command as long as possible, and then in December, 1678, escaped from Balasor in the Good Hope, with the intention of con- ducting a trading voyage to Kedah and the Malay Peninsula. He was, however, murdered at sea by the captain of the vessel, George Johnson.

A full account of the case- against Smith and an analysis of the evidence on both sides are to be found in the ' Diaries of Streynsham Master,' ed. Temple, i. 156, 164, 411-21, 422-47. A detailed narrative of Smith's career in India was printed in vol. xliii. pp. 267 ff. of The Indian Antiquary (' Some Anglo-Indian Worthies of the Seventeenth Century,' by L. M. Anstey).]

Hugly, March the 13th 166[8/9]. Loving freind

These may serve to acquaint y[ou] of our safe arivall here the 5th Instant Imed[iately] have Endeavored to sell your Sword blades* in [order] to which have treated with the Governor,! an d hee [offered'

was very uncertain. There are various references in the contemporary records to the kinds " vend- ible." Generally speaking, the broad, long blades were preferred.
 * The market for sword-blades from Europe

t The native governor of Hugll at this time was Muhammad Sharif, known to the English as " Mameet Xurife." He was succeeded by Malik Kasim. Both governors were constantly opposing the English with a view to securing bribes.

3 Rupees Per peece for them all to gether, _ jut I am [not] willing to sell at that price. Snowing hee is to g[oe to] Dacka* within "ew day's and wants such a par[cell], doe lope shall bring him to a Rupee m[ore], )ut if not shall let them goe at the [price] Before mentioned. Assure your selfe [I] doe for you as for my selfe, which is all to 'da]y from Sir

Your Loving freind

JOHN SM[ITH] Vly Love and Service ^Endorsed]
 * o all freinds

To Mr Richard Edwards Merchant In Ballasore.

LETTER III.

John Smith to Richard Edwards. (O.C. 3264.)

Hugly, Aprill 15th 1669 Mr Richard Edwards

Esteemed Freind I have indeavor'd what I can to sell [your swo]rd Blades but i[ave not] yet sould ab[o]ve 2 of them, for which I am Indebted to you a hundred and od Rupies which if you have occasion for, may take it up of some one at Ballasore and I shall pay it to them or their order here. I understand by Mr. Jonesf that you are to goe to Cassumbozar.J for hee writes mee to put you in mind of Rack and Lime Water without which hee is not Able to mind the Companys businesse, therefore pray don't let him want them Long least the Company com to damage. I am Sir

Your Loving freind JoHN SMITH

[Endorsed] To Mr Richard Edwards Merchant

In Ballasore [In Richard Ed wards' s writing]

[Fr]om Mr Smith 15th Aprill 1669

Nawab of Bengal.
 * The seat of the court of Shaostah Khan,

t Thomas Jones was elected a factor in the Company's service on Nov. 22, 1667 (' Court Minutes,' xxvi. 67). He appears to have sailed to India with Edwards, Smith, and Vickers. He was employed at Kasimbazar Factory from April, 1669, till April, 1670, when he was sent to Dacca. He disappears from the Records after- 1671. fo)

% Cassumbozar (more commonly Cassumbuzar, . Cossimbuzar), the Anglo-Indian spelling of Kasimbazar, where the Company first established a factory in 1658. | l >4

Rack, i.e., " arrack," Oriental distilled, spirits.