IOR E/3/105 1730
Orders and Instructions to James Naish, Nathaniel Torriano, Philip Middelton,
Abraham Wessels, Richard Moreton and Thomas Fytche, Council for China 4
Dec. 1730 (13v-23)
Additional Instructions:
Instruction nr. 33
We have suffered considerably by the Breakage of our China War in the voyage, in several of our ships,
to prevent like in future, We direct, That you do carefully examine and ring all the China Ware you buy,
and see that none be Cracked, That the chest it shall be packed in, be made thicker and stronger, but
smaller than usual that one or two Cross Bars of wood be put in the Inside of each Chest, and be Dove
tailed and let in about an inch and half at the top, to prevent the squeezing of the Chest, and thereby
braking the China ware containing therein, that in packing the China ware care be taken it do not lye
above the sides of Chest, but rather half an inch lower than the lid, and that vacuity be filled up with
sago or Paddy dust, that bowls and dishes be not packed in the same Chest, but each sort by themselves
that wherever the Supra Cargos think it necessary the Chest be rattan’d, that the supra cargo’s take care
to advice the Captains to be very careful in the storage of the China Ware, to prevent breaking the
Chests, and let them know, that if any Chests don delivering into the Warehouse appear to be broke
through carelessness, the owners shall be charged with One third of the loss that shall be found in such
broken Chests, That for the better preventing breakage, proper Iron Camps be put on the Corners of the
Chest to hold better together, and we except at your return, that you be present at the opening of the
China Ware, to see whether the Package be as it ought, for if it should not, We tell you before hand,
that we shall expect the damage arising from bad Package to be made by you.
Instruction nr 34
Take care that all the chest wherein the Wrought Silks are packed be made thicker than usual, and
Clamped with iron at the Corners before the Silks are put in, otherwise the nails will damage the Silks, be
very careful that all the Wrought Silks you bespeak are the same lengths and Breadths ordered in the
List of Investment, for some our Super Cargos have not complyd with our Directors on this Head, for
failure therein, both we and they suffered considerably by the bad sale of them in comparison of what
they would otherwise have yielded.
Page 19
Instructions 69
After all we have said, you must govern your selves chiefly by what you find has been don last year. We
can’t doubt all circumstances considered, but that you will be first in China, and if so, we think it will be
prudent to contract for great part of your Tea, at least, with those that undertake to make your silks,
this we say not only on account of the Dutch Ships, but because there is reason to believe that you will
have both French and Danes to contend with you, for large quantities of the same commodities.
Instruction 70
Though we expect you do all you can in a Mercantile way to disappoint both French, Dutch and Dane,
you must always consider, we are in amity and alliance with them here, and therefore you must act so
warily as not t give public offence or occasion any embroil between you, that may bring your selves into
trouble and us into expense.
Page 23
A Compilation of the China Investment to be made at Canton, for the Cargos to be laden on board our
ships Hartford, Macclesfield, Cesar and Harrison, with Orders & Directions relating there to:
See Excel file
p. 24
“Orders & Directions for the foregoing China Investment. To Mr. James Naish Our Chief & Council”
China Ware 3
Since we ordered no China Ware last year, and as that which we now have on hand will in all probability
be disposed of to advantage before these ships return, we have now directed four hundred chests,
which must be of all useful sorts, such as Dishes, Plates, Tea Cups with and without Saucers, Coffee Cups
of several sizes, Chocolate Cups with handles, and no saucers, Slop Basins, Milk Pots and Sugar Dishes in
due proportions for Tea Equipages, Bowls of all sizes from Gallon down to a Sneaker, fewest of the large
sizes and most from two quarts downwards, with any other things you may find that are fit for use, and
always preferring good blue & white, to any other colour that is not curiously well painted and designed.
Page 25
Raw Silk 5
Saying that they have ordered “much larger quantities” than last year because a prospect of “being
relieved with respect to the Dutys in approaching session of Parliament” but any success here pending
on the careful execution of orders...
Finest wide Sample
“The method to know the best China Raw Silk, is by the fineness or smallness of the Thread, the Thread
of the best sort is as fine as a fine hair, vide the sample, which is of a pretty good size, though is finer,
the silk would be more valuable here, provided the Quality be good, of which a judgment may be made
by observing the following Instructions.
Cleanness & Evenness
First by the Evenness and Cleanness, by which is meant when the Thread is free from gouty thick places,
knots, Knobs or nitts, even all alike, of one and the same fineness in
Page 25
All Places, as well in the Inside as the outside of the Bundles, without both which qualities the silk
cannot be good.
Colour & Complex wide Sample A
Secondly the best silk is generally very white, clear & glossy, all the bundles appear of the same colour,
complexion and s Bundle, the inside is found to be of the same sort as the outside in every respect vide
the sample, which is if a good colour &c. But all the good silk is certainly the more valuable for being f a
clean white yet finess, clearness and eveness are qualities of greater importance than the colour for silk
that is fine, clean and even may be very good, though not white, but silk that is not fine clean and even
cannot be good, though it should be ever so white.
Form and Fashion of the Bundles
China Silk is generally made up for Sale in to Bundles for by some called books of which there are three
different forms or fashion viz one called three Mass from its being composed of three distinct masses or
smaller Bundles, another four Mss from its containing four Masses, the other six mass from its having six
of the said masses or packets of a smaller size tied together to make a Bundle which generally (of any of
the fashions) weighs from eight to nine pounds English.
Masses
The Masses are composed of several lesser parcels called Skains, of which there are commonly from two
to five or six in Number in each Mass.
The Skains are the first form into which the silk is reeled or made from the Balls which the Worms spin,
and are generally when opened about a yard long.....
The differences in making up the Bundles is supposed to proceed from the Custom of several parts of
the Country and not to distinguish the quality, because good and bad silk is frequently found in all the
three forms, though in general the three Mass sort has proved much the best of what has been hitherto
imported into England, and therefore ought to be preferred as far as in agreeable to the aforesaid
Instructions, for the Bulk of what is bought for the company. However it would be very proper to have
small Parcels for Trials bought of all other sorts that can be found of seeming good quality.
The Silk made for the warps or webb should be preferred before the sort made for the woof or shute,
the form being necessarily made of much finer and better quality because that only appears in the silk
after woven, and give the beauty, and the latter lies covered under it.
On how to judge the quality, to open up and examine it, and that it “appears to be reasonable to
suppose that in China as well as in all other countrys, the finest and best silk sells at the highest price,
that will be a pretty surest circumstance to direct to the best, especially when confirmed by the
aforesaid rules, and it is certainly the Company’s interest to buy the very finest and best silks that can be
had, because the Custom and Freight are as much on the worst as the best, and the best will certainly
sell here much more above the Inferior sorts than the differences in the cost in China and promote a
much greater consumption thereof.”
Wrought Silks
We are encouraged to demand so large Quantity of Silks, by the Prices they are now at in Foreign parts,
and we make no doubt of their turning to good account if you are careful to procure such as are
perfectly well manufactured, agreeable to the following Directions with respect to the Colours, and at or
about the usual Process as specified in the Computation, though if they can be had cheaper, your merit
will be more conspicuous, those that came home this year are much inferior in goodness to any we have
lately received at the same prices, from whence we cannot but infer that we been abused....”
The Taffatys are the most staple Commodity, one fourth part of the whole number ordered must be
good Blacks of the remaining three fourth one moicty (?) must be of all sorts of Cloth Colours and the
other moicty of lively reds, blues, greens, yellows, and some white, according to the patterns which mr
Torriano carrys with him, the most variety among the cloth colours the better, bring very few Grimsons,
and fever still of the dark dirty greens, all must be of the usual lengths and breaths viz. Ts Thirty eight
Page 26
Covids long and two and two tenth broad.
Though we have mentioned in the list that all the Tassatys should be six threads, yet if you can have
them of four threads, very well made, such as we received in the year 1729, at three Tale a piece, they
will turn to good account and you may bring from to two thousand pieces.
The flowered, striped and spridged Taffatys have of late been dully fancyd, and sold accordingly.
However for variety, we should have one thousand pieces more or less, in hopes you may get them
better fancy’d and perform’d of various stripes, sprigs and flowers, for many pieces of one pattern will
never do.
The Gorgorons must be of the same colours as the Taffatys in the same proportions, and no Crimsons,
unless they can be dyed much cheaper than usual.
Of the Poises ordered, two thousand pieces must be of one colour, one third of which we would have to
be cloth colours, of the most variety you can get, no blacks, two hundred pieces of White, and the
remainder of the usual lively Reds, Blues &c, as the Taffatys, and let all the Patterns be of Chinese fancy.
The poises of two colours must be also the flowered with Chinese fancy, and you must take great care in
seeing, that the Weavers shoot such colours as are agreeable to the Warps or grounds of the Silk,
otherwise they will not sell here to advantage.]As to the Goshees, follow the same Directions as with
Poises of one colour.
The Paduasoys if very well performed, at Prices in Proportion, will turn to very good account, the
Colours must be the same with the Taffitys in proportion.
On tea maybe given a bit more freedom
A Sample of such China Raw Silk as the former Instructions refer to
Again some further instructions on how to examine silk where samples are mentioned that illustrates
different sorts of defaults. Discussion of Gum
(27)
“Bastards” or “Bobbys” as signs of deceitful silk and fraudulent practices.
Orders and instructions given by the court of Directors of the United Company
of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies, to Captain Francis Nelly
Comander of the Ship Hartford and to the Comander for the time being
Starts page 30
Instructions 36
On restricting private trade, say that Raw silk is not allowed to bring in, it is an “unlicensed goods”, as is
Java Coffee (instruction 37)
Instruction 43
That there are three Dutch, three French and one Danes Ship “now going to China, and may be expected
in Canton River...”
Page 36
4th of December 1730
President and Council of Fort St. George (Sent with Walpole and Frances)
4th of December 1730
(pp. 37-39)
Instructions 13
“One thing more we would recommend to you as a standing Order, that all goods proving better than
muster, should besides the number upon the Bale, and in the Invoice, be marked with the letter B,
denoting that they are better, and the other with a W, denoting that they are worse, and this will be of
great use and ease to us, as well as our buyers and Warehousekeepers.”
List of goods to be provided on the Coast of Choromandel for the ships going out in the year 1730, 4th
of December 1730
See excel file
Page 39
____________________________________________________________________________________
Orders and Instructions given by the court of directors of the United etc. To
Charles Boddam of the ship Walpole and to the commander for the time being
(starts page 41-46) note also Johan Lawson of the Frances dates 4th Dec 1730
Instruction 13
In case sending letters with meeting VOC ships address it to Mess Andrew Pells and Sons Merchants at
Amsterdam or with the French, to the secretary of the French Company at Paris
Instructions 17
On following private trade rules, the importance of registering every private trade transaction
Instruction 19
On the penalties for 12375 pounds for “sell or deliver out of the ship until her return to England, any
goods laden on board your said ship, lest thereby you bring your owners and us into trouble by causing
the bond given at the custom house to prevent breaking bulk, which...” amount penalty and goods that
run from on board will be sued for (the value of). This needed to be communicated to all staff.
Page 43
Instruction 35
Not to bring in Raw silk or tea privately
Instruction 36
Or Coffee
(46)
____________________________________________________________
President and Council of Bengal London 4 Dec 1730
List of goods to be provided in the Bay of Bengal for the ships going out in the year 1739
Page 49-51 order list see excel
Orders and Observations
About the prices begin higher than “they are in a manner above an European market” and the need to
“bring back your Trade, Merchants and Musters to their old standards”.
Price of cotton being dismissed as a reason,
p. 51
“We strictly order you for this year and the next , without regard to any other Particular Direction
whatever in the General Investment, to pick up every where all the middling and low priced White
Callicoes, which are not thin (and absolutely Rubbish) that you can lay your hands on, at Prices
proportionally to their goodness.”
Discusses the article of Gurrahs of which only a third was imported last year, and the lack of good reason
for this, the competitor had succeeded in getting hold of it, maybe private trade was the reason, by EIC
men, must be put stop to. “And as Gurrahs are an article for which large demands have been and
probably will be made for years to come, we earnestly recommend to you wherever it is practicable to
encourage all those merchants whose Fabrics you abate in quantity, to turn their hands to the making of
Gurrahs, and we would also have promoted the increase of that Manufacture about Jugdea and
Ballasore, or wherever else you can do it to advantage, assuring the makers you will take all they can
produce you, which shall be tolerable good for in this article, if you should even somewhat exceed the
Investment, we shall not blame you for doing so.
Complaints about the Cossacs by the Eyles, bad and dear, not selling, and little care in sorting the goods.
And that the Bales from c in a circle No. 331 to 356 where the pieces were between 10 to 15 % shoter,
and also bad quality. No one could have inspected this material, “the inconveniency of such unequal
length” “And in many sorts the uncertainty of breaths are equal cause of Complaint, particularly in the
Fine gold end Cossaes of the yard 3/8 wide sort, some of which are but a bare inch above a yard and ¼
yet that Trisle above ell wide equally subjects us to an additional duty to the Crown, of four shillings
p. 52
and eight pence in every piece, without giving us any advantage in the Price of the Cloth, and on the
contrary, some of the yard 1/8 Cossaes, which happened to be well made, and of good length prove on
strict examination to be about 1/8 part of an inch above Elle Wide, which small excess of breath in
those, has the same ill consequence as the definecy of the others, may the worlds of the act of
parliament are all muslins and calicoes of yard & quarter and upwards shall pay the Calico duty every six
yards as much as then yards under that breath, which is the above. Differences of four shillings and
eight, pence in every piece of Twenty yards long, and the Kings officers insist upon it, if they are yard
and quarter only, and instance of which we suffer this year in the Terrindams.”
Also complaints about packing goods of different lengths and breaths in the same Bale. “We will not
suffer it for the future, on any account whatsoever.”
Highlight also the differences between what was ordered and what they received.
And as we have for your future observation sent you herewith a Printed Sale book, we have therein
struck out such Lots as remain unsold, and put the Prices to such others as went off at or near a bare
advance, with the invoice Marks and Numbers of respective Bales wrote in the margin against the sale
numbers, so that by recourse to them, you may the easer perceive who are the People that have dealt
so ill by us.”
“And thereby you will see that near Forty thousand pieces of muslins are left unsold by the two ships
Heathcote and Eyles only, and this even on a rising Market, and though put up to sale at so bare and
advance as twenty five per cent, and many of them are so bad, that were they put at the Neat Cost they
would not fetch it.”
53
About having been sent goods that no longer is possible to sale:
Allibannies
Atchatbannies
Charconnaes
Elatches
Gingham Coloured
Herba Taffaties
Herba Lungees
Nillaes of low Prices
Peniascoes &
Tepoys
“those kind of goods are become out of use or unsaleable any otherwise than the badness of those sent
to us hath made them so, and which is the only reason they lye by one sale after another useless, but
could you procure them really very good, as they have formerly been, a moderate quantity of each
would do, not exceeding one thousand or fifteen hundred pieces of each sort yearly.”
In other word, bad quality stuff undermines the market.
Also specify a number of fabrics that were to be bought or put on the ships if they needed to top the up.
“Notwithstanding our positive orders not to send us any Cossacs Flowered with Nudda Silk, or to
purchase any silk, flowered goods at Calcutta, we have received a large quantity this year, on which we
shall lose Stock and Block....
Should send them back!
Chints, send some in running flowers, and not in single sprigs, the colours must be full, the Purple lively
and the cloth well Whited, those sent us this year from Patna we approve of.”
We order three fourths of all Chints to be glazed or Conjeed all through the Piece and packed up in Bales
separate from the rest.
Guttannees must be of double stripes.
Ginghams must be of full Cloth colours and few light drabs but no Yellows.
Nillaes we have received too many single stripes, and the colours are dull.
The Tepoys we received by the Aislabie were of good colours but the stripes must be narrower.
Coopees must be of the same check and colours bright as those by the Aislabie.
...
You have not complied with our orders as to the Colours of the Taffaties. We hope to find those you
send us this year to be as directed.
Photaes must be struck close, and the colours brighter, the fine Photaes A No. 1 a 7 by the Eyles, we
approve of but the Bales B & C succeeding, are in proportion much worse.”
Also more raw silk, particularly from Gussarat and Comercolle
__________________________________________________________________________________
President and Council of Bengal London the 12 of February 1730
100-110
“Thirdly touching our investment of Goods proper for Europe”
Instruction 24
We highly approve of your ordering Mr Bucknall from Judgdea to Chittagoing for the purpose mentioned
in your 50th Parc. Though the project did not succeed, for want of a perwanna from the Nabobo, which
we observe you had however hopes of obtaining and it will be a great pleasure to us to find that you
have the article of Gurrahs really at heart, for we are well assured you may and can increase quantities,
in several parts of the country, but more particularly that if you would set about it, you may by degrees
bring them to be more in your own bounds, as well as Photeas and Sootie Romalls this said there are
several large spots of ground now employed in Gardens, that might be advantageously turned into
buildings proper for weavers, and other useful and necessary Inhabitants, nothing is more certain that
that an increase of those must be attended with great convenience and advantages both to you and us,
therefore it is that we earnestly recommend this matter to your serious consideration, as one of the
most important services you can render us, if it can be brought to any perfection by time and
application.
Instruction 26
Complaints about the amount of fine cloths, expensive, a loss to the company
Instruction 27
Raw silk too expensive although good quality.
Instruction 28
“And to your 53 Parc. A all we shall say is, that if you cannot come up to that nice exactness in sorting
and packing the Gurrahs, and other goods as we have required, it is no argument for your having sorted
and packed them worse than ever, of which we have said enough before.”
p. 103
___________________________________________________________________
President and Council of Bombay London 12 of March 1730
114-132
Thirdly touching our investment of Goods proper for Europe
Instruction 35
In answer to the several part of your Letters relating to the White Goods of Anjengo, we are sorry to find
the Chitty has hitherto only amused us with vain hopes and supplied us with so inconsiderable a
quantity fineing him for non compliance with his contract, we fear will not answer your ends nor ours,
there is and has been a large demand for Long cloth and Sallampores in Europe, chiefly occasioned by
the small quantities imported from Madras last year and the year before and we should have been
much better please d had they taken all the goods the Chitty brought in, though they might not have
come up to muster, and abated him of the Prices in proportion,....
Instruction 40
About the Niccannees ordered but not received, surprise and not good, since “a great demand for them
for the Guinea Trade”
Page 118
“List of Goods to be provided at Bombay for the Ships Stretham & Oakham going out in the year
1730/31”
See Excel sheet
p. 133
_________________________________________________________________
President and Council of Fort St. George
p. 162-64
List of Goods to be provided on the Coast of Chormoandell for the ships going out in the year 1731
See excel sheet
p. 164-65
_____________________________________________________________________
President and Council of Bengall 3rd if December 1731
p. 167-69
Instruction 11
“The badness of the Goods sent us for two years past having
p. 168
not only raised a general Clamour among the buyers but also great uneasiness in the Proprictors of the
Company’s stock and we being convinced that there has been a culpable neglect in the Managment of
our affairs by the unequal sortment of goods, Deficiency in their lengths & Breaths, and excessive high
prices, together with the vast quantities of fine unvendable articles sent us contrary to our orders...
Plus lots of orders not met, hence dismissing Mathew Wastell and Richard Bourchier and John Sainsbury
Lloyd.
Instruction 15, also a new book keeping system to make sure merchant brings in the right quantities and
qualities of stuff
p. 169
List of goods to be provided in the Bay of Bengall for the ships going out in the year 1731
See excel sheet
p. 170-172
Mention same complaints as last year, particularly for muslins, had not opened everything then, but
having opened more now, the problem with the length, “being longer than yard and eights and yard
wide Cossaes chiefly of the Oruea sort appears to extend to many more than we did at the time
imagine.”
Not better prospect this year, looking at the Grantham goods, “for as the cosaes by the Craggs and the
Tanjeebs, Doreas etc. By the for which have been
(172)
exposed this sale, no more than 48 lots out of 146 of Cossacs by the former and but one lot out of 12 of
Doreas by the latter are sold, and though more of the Taneebs are sold, it is at a very small advance.
We are thus particular on the article of Cossace, not only because it is the largest of all the Muslins, but
also as it is one in which all the defects we have complained about centre.
And here we must observe, that though we last year advised you that we had put up the Muslins in
general, at so small an advance as 25 per cent on the first cost, you will find in comparing this book with
that then sent you, that we have been obliged this sale, to lower all the common sort of thick Muslins,
two and three shillings per pec, and all the think sorts four to five and six shillings per piece, and the fine
muslins of all sorts, from ten to twenty shillings per pec, and the Humhums four, three and two shillings
per pec in proportion to their costs, so that humhums and thin muslins, the whole 25 per cent advance
is now taken off, and from the Cosaes and Tanjeebs about half as much, and yet even after all this
abatement about two thirds of the whole remain unsold, such is the sad effect of your overloading us
with bad, dear and unsaleable goods.”
More on defects, not getting stuff or getting the wrong stuff, allt this suggesting that they did not
listened.
_______________________________________________________________
Orders and Instructions given by the Court Directors of the .... to Mess
Nathanael Torriano, etc. 10th of Dec 1731
(177-189)
pp. 177-189 instructions, very similar to those for last year.
Instruction 91
The Italian Raw Silk Sir Thomas Lombe acquaints us are now sold so cheap, that unless our silk can be
bought better and out do theirs in goodness, it cannot be worthwhile to buy any great quantities, the
samples now sent are the best he could pick out of our silk by last year’s shipping, but are not so good as
he could wish, and therefore what you purchase must exceed them, as much as possible in goodness, or
else send no great quantity.
p. 189
List of investment for the ships Lyn and Richmond
See excel sheet
Page 190
Orders & Directions for the foregoing investment
China ware 3
“Must be of all useful sorts, such as Dishes, Plates, Tea cups with and without Saucers, coffee cups of
several sizes, chocolate cups and saucers, chocolate cups with handles and no saucers, slop basins, milk
pots and sugar dishes in due proportion for tea equipages, bowls of all sizes, and most from two
quarters downwards, with any other things you may fit for use, and always preferring good blue and
white to any other colour that is not curiously well painted and designed.”
Wrought Silk 6
We made no doubt of their turning to good account if you are careful to procure such as are perfectly
well manufactured agreeable to the following directions with respect to the colours and at or about the
usual prices, as specified in the Computation, though if they can be had cheaper, your merit will be more
conspicuous, those that came home the last two years, are much inferior in goodness to any we have
lately received
p. 190
at the same Prices from whence we cannot but infer that we have been abused and therefore caution
you against putting too much confidence in those Persons that provide them. With respect to the
colours of your silks, we refer you to the Patterns delivered to Mess Arbuthnott and Turner, together
with the Directions contained in a letter from one of the Principal buyers, enclosed under No. 14, which
you are hereby required to observe and comply with in the same manner as if they were inserted
verbatim in these Instructions, and notwithstanding Bed Damask are omitted in the List of Investment,
we hereby permit you to purchase four or five hundred pieces, as also any new Fabrics which are well
fancied, paying due regard to the above Directions.”
Follows instructions about Raw silk inspection, much along the same manners as in previous order to
china.
p. 191
“In Compliance with your Request, I freely give you my Opinion concerning your Investing of China
Wrought Silks, and to begin with the Taffaties plain. Suppose then you would buy ten thousand pieces of
China Taffaties plain, I am of opinion they should consist of the following sortments
Ps. 1000 (2000 ps Black, 500 pc White, 300 pc Crimson in Grain as per Pattern No. 15, 7200 pc in sixty
chests of 120 pces each chest)
to be sorted according to the patterns fixed and numbered as enclosed paper, which is as follow viz.
120 ps.
p. 192
Secondly, as to the articles of Gorgorons Plain.
Suppose you would buy one thousand pieces, I shold desire you to govern your self for the colours,
according to the Paper of Pattern above mentioned.
Gorgorons plain
1000 pieces (300 Black, 700 Coloured, sorted in lots of 30 pieces each, as they are sold by the Company
viz.
See List 1 (excel)
Thirdly, suppose you would have 600 pieces of Paduasoy, the best colours are vis.
Ps 600 (150 ps black, 450 ps coloured and sorted in lots of 30 pc each, in manner following:
See list 2. Excel file
Fourthly, suppose you would buy tds
Three thousand Pieces of Poises, take them as follows:
500 ps of Plain
1500 ps of Flowered, one colour
500 ps D, flowered, two colours
500 ps Bed Damask, of 15 yards
______
3000 pieces in all sorted as follows, vis
First Poises Plain, of 18 Yards, in Lots of 30 pieces each:
See list Three Excel
Secondly, the 1500 p. Pieces Poises flowered and one colour, maybe sorted in Lots of 30 pieces, each
Lots viz.
See list Four excel
p. 193
Thirdly, as to the Poises flowered of two colours, they may be sorted as follows, for 500 pieces
See list five Excel
p. 194
Fourthly, as to Bed Damasks, they being designed for Furniture, they must be noble large Patterns, with
a Grand air, I have seen some of the kind twenty years ago in the China Taste, which pleased
wonderfully, you must remember to have ten or twelve Pieces of Each colour and Pattern exactly
matching. The best colour are,
Sky Blue, as p. Patterns no. 2
Blue, as p. Pattern 3
Yellow, as p. Pattern 5
Scarlet in Grain, as p. Pattern 9
Green, as p. Pattern 10
Crimson in Grain, as p. Pattern 15
All the above colours for your Bed Damasks are very vendable, but pray bring no other Colour
whatsoever. Lastly, your flowered Goshees of eighteen yards should be sorted exactly as the flowered
Poises.
I must advice you to follow the Paper of Colours herto subjoined, and by all means avoid stran colours,
Budds, Pale Greens and Lemon Colours, which are almost unvendable. I must also acquaint you that the
last Taffatys and Gorgorons which the Company recived from China, where made with very course Silk,
without gloss, which made them look very heavy and dull, especially the Gorgorons. If the Hon. Court
should think it fit to permit you to bestow something more in the price of the said Silks in general, I am
sure it would tend to the advantage of the Company.
It is my opinion, the the many spotted and mildewed silks we received from China, is occasioned by their
being papered and packed up before they be thoroughly dry after being gurrid and stiffened, which is a
great fault.
As to the Pattern of the Poises and Goshees flowered you shall buy in China, I must tell you that the
Gentlemen employed in the buying of them these twenty years past and upwards have always brought
us European patterns with little or no variety. Wheras if you could bring Patterns in the true China taste,
I am sure the Company would reap a great benefit thereby in the sale of said Poises and Goshees. I do ot
pretend to say, but that some bold European Patterns mixed with the others may do well, your good
taste must be your guide in that. There are many other Fabrics of silks in China, as Striped Taffatys, Ditto
Stripped & Flowered the same in Sattins, fine Nankeen Silks in small Mosaick Patterns would do very
well, or any other new thing that has not been seen in Europe before.
I hope these remarks may answer the end intended and I wish you with all my heart a safe and
prosperous voyage and a happy return, having the honour to be
Your most humble Servant, A. Frederick Pigou, London 2nd December 1731
________________________________________________
Our President and Council of Bengall
11 of Feb. 1731 (213-31)
Thirdly, Touching our investments of Goods proper for Europe
pp. 219 ff
instruction 58.
“We expect to find the nasty dead Colours of all prohibited goods amended, the value of those
commodity’s depending as much upon the stripes and colours as the Fabric.”
Instruction 77
See complaints about prices paid for Humhums
Instruction 78
“In the packet under N. 15 by the duke of Lorrain, we send you a sample of Marseilles Quilting, which is
worked upon a Mooree split (?) through in the middle, and if you can get this work equally well done
with you, we believe it will turn to good account here and therefore we have ordered a bale of Moorees
to be sent you from the Fort_ which we would have you make a Tryal of, to be sent us by the first ship,
not doubting but you will get them worked as cheap as possible.”
p. 222
List of goods to be provided at Bombay for the Ships Greenwich & Marlborough going out in the Year
1731/32
see excel
p. 251
Signed London March 1731