Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/9

 12 S. III. JAN. 6, 1917.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

the Business is terminated, wee shall be inforced to pay at least so much ; we shall write about it to Dacca, but have hopes that Bulchund [Bal Chand Rai] if he can will bring the business well of."

Apparently, the local authorities were placated by a substantial present of money, but Edwards was henceforth regarded with less favour by his superiors in office.

In October, 1676, when Streynsham Master made a tour of inspection of the Company's factories in Bengal, he sent Edwards to Rajmahal in charge of bullion to be coined at the Mughal mint, and instructed him to " make a step over to Maulda," twenty miles distant, and report upon the com- modities obtainable there.

Accordingly, on Dec. 6, 1676, Edwards wrote to Kasimbazar giving " an Accompt of Maulda, the Scituation and Trade thereof." This account was drawn up in a concise and businesslike way, and the report was so satisfactory that it led to the establishment of a centre of trade at Malda. It was pro- bably to the commercial acumen then dis- played that Edwards owed his promotion in the following year.

Previous to his visit to Malda, he had served his time as writer and factor, and had " sealed new Indentures " as a mer- chant, one of his securities being his brother- in-law Christopher Tomlinson. He now re- ceived the munificent salary of 301. per annum. In June, 1677, he was appointed " Second " (or accountant) at Balasor, but was detained for some time at Kasimbazar, awaiting the arrival of Edward Knipe to supply his place. In September an urgent summons came from Hugli, the head f acton-, requiring Edwards to be sent immediately to take up his new post (" where the many deaths " from an epidemic then raging had " made him necessary"), and Edmund Bug- den, whom he succeeded, was ordered to give him " all the light " he could regarding accounts at Balasor. This " light " must have been very imperfect, judging by Edwards's failure as a bookkeeper.

For some time Edwards continued to carry out his new duties more or less success- fully, but in December, 1678, he incurred the anger of his superiors, and was sharply reprimanded by Matthias Vincent, then head of affairs in Bengal. John Smith (who had been dismissed the Company's service in disgrace), Edmund Bugden, 'and Edwards had all been concerned in a cargo of goods and the ship that carried it. Smith was anxious to escape from Bengal, and Edwards connived at the sale of the vessel without Bugden's concurrence. Smith effected his

! flight, and Bugden made his complaint against the proceeding. Edwards's credit suffered, and he was henceforth under a cloud. He became careless in the per- formance of his duties, and, in consequence, numerous letters were sent from Hugli in February, 1679, and the succeeding months, reproving him for his " neglectfull way of Correspondence " and his failure to forward a monthly statement of accounts.

In August, Streynsham Master, who had succeeded to the post of Agent and Governor- of Fort St. George, paid a second visit of inspection to " the Bay." He arrived at Balasor on the 20th, and immediately set to work to examine Edwards's books. These were found to be " behind hand in great disorder and confusion," and " such gross Errours to the prejudice of the Honble. Company as we presume cannot be paraleld in any place." Excuses were of no avail, but, having reprimanded the culprit, the capable administrator proceeded to give directions " how to rectifie " the accounts, " that soe they being once put into a Method and order to be understood, you may keep up with them accordingly."

The instructions " for the ordering and methodizing the Companys business and the punishments to be imposed upon failure therein " were clear and minute, and the threat of the loss of a quarter's salary, with the probability of dismissal should he again offend, spurred Edwards to attempt to reform his ways. But his strength was fast failing, and on Oct. 30 it was reported that he was " very ill." On Nov. 4 he signed the " Accompt cash " for October. This showed a balance of Rs. 8236.15.7, but his assistants wrote that

" Richard Edwards disownes to have any Cash in his hands, and they having demanded of him where it is or how disposed of, he returned this answear that by reason of his indisposition, which renders him uncapable of examining his papers and Accompts, he could not at present give any Accompt thereof."

There was, moreover, a postscript " signed by Richard Edwards only," stating that,

" being at present very much indisposed," he " intreats the suspention of Censure till upon the first returne of his health, when he shall not faile to give a more satisfactory accompt."

There was no " returne of .health " in store for Edwards. He died two days later, "about 11 a clock" on Nov. 6, 1679, and " his chamber dore and all other places wherein he hath any concernes " were at once sealed up by Matthew Sheppard and John Byam, his subordinates.