India Office Records, British Library, London
E/3/105ff. 1
Orders and Instructions given by the Court of Directors of the United Company of Merchants of
England trading to the East Indies, To Mr John Starke and Captain David Wilkie- Supra Cargoes
of the Ship Heathcote bound for Mocha in the Red Sea
‘We the said Court of Directors reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Ability and
Integrity, have appointed you John Starke to be our First, and you David Wilkie to be our Second
Supra Cargo. To take Charge of the Treasure, Goods and Merchandize on board the ship
Heathcote, which We- have caused to be consigned unto you, as will appear by the Invoice
herewith enclosed, to be disposed of, and the Produce to be invested in such Goods and
Merchandize, and according to such Directions as We have given, and do now give you for that
purpose, and you are to do such further Acts and Things, as We shall hereunder or hereafter
Order and require for the benefit and advantage of the said United Company’
(all instructions given by the court of directors starts with this paragraph reminding its servants of
their duties)
4th November 1730
Every instruction given by the Court of Directors starts with a reminder how to behave in
general and how to conduct trade in particular. i.e
Under point 4. p.6
‘We exhort you to a sober and orderly behaviour, and respectful Carriage towards one another
during the Voyage. We particularly forbid all manners of Gaming for Money or Goods.’
Under point 14: p.7
‘Advise us by all Opportunitys in your Outward and Homeward bound Voyage, and during your
stay in the East Indies, of all Occurrences worthy our Notice, directing your Letters to Us in
London. If you meet with any Dutch Ship, Send by her, putting your Letter under Cover, To
Mess.rs Andrew Pells and Sons Merchants at Amsterdam.’
Under point 28. P.9
‘We hereby peremptorily Order, That you do not suffer any Rattans to be put on board your Ship
to be brought for England, above the Quantity of Two hundred Bundles for every hundred Tons
the Ship is let for, which shall be computed at Two hundred Weight and a Quarter for every
thousand Rattans, and is fully sufficient for answering the end of Dunnidge’
Under point 29. P.10
‘It being represented to Us, That several of the Captains of the Companys returning Ships have
imported exorbitant Quantities of Arrack, to the imminent Danger of the Ships, by storring it
between Decks, or elsewhere out of the Hold, whereby they become Crank, not capable of
carrying Sail, or of taking in sufficient Quantities of Water, and the Mariners have not sufficient
Room to lie in…’
Under point 36: p.11
‘We have for divers good reasons lately Us thereunto moving, resolved to restrain all our
Captains from bringing in Private Trade, any Raw Silk or Tea for Europe for the future,
excepting only Tea for their Private use in theVoyage and therefore we hereby order, That you
take care neither your self, nor any others do load on board your Ship, any Raw Silk or Tea,
except so much only as you may reasonably expect to expend in the Voyage.’
Names of Captains and their ships for 1730
Captain John Balchen of the James & Mary
Captain Francis Nelly of the Hartford
Captain Robert Hudson of the Macclesfield
Capt. William Mabbot of the Caesar
Capt. Samuel Martin of the Harrison
Capt. Charles Boddam of the Walpole
Capt. John Lanson of the Frances
All dated 4th December 1730
Capt. Benjamin Braund of the Duke of Cumberland
Capt. George Pitt of the George
Dated the 12th February 1730
E/3/105ff. 13Orders and Instructions Given by the Court of Directors of the United Company of Merchants
of England Trading to the East, To Mess.rs James Naish, Nathaniel Torriano, Philip Middleton,
Abraham Wessell, Richard Moreton and Thomas Fytche
Torriano, Fytche and Pigou take passage on the Hartford (Capt. Francis Nelly)
Philip Middleton on the Caesar (with Capt. William Mabbott)
Mr Wessell on the Macclesfield (with Capt. Robert Hudson)
Mr Moreton on the Harrison (with Captain Samuel Martin)
‘We propose all the Ships shall call at Batavia, five or ten Days stay there will be sufficient for
Wood, Water and Refreshments, if the Men are in health, if not! more will be required, but of
this you will be best able to judge, and if you find any of the Captains making unnecessary Delays
for Private Ends, you must protest against him or them for so doing.’ P.15
Under point 11:
‘We direct that you keep one General Sett of Books as well as one entered every Days Buying,
Selling, or other Mercantile Affairs proper to be inserted, keep also a regular Account of all Silver
and Goods delivered out or received in for Our Account, and of all particular Disbursements and
Expenses, and be as frugal in your Presents as the Nature of the Case will admit.’ P.16-17