Keywords: Nathanaell (Nathaniel) Torriano, Edmund Godfrey & Richard Nicholson
Junr.
India Office Records, British Library, London
G/12/25 China 1726-28
‘Diary and Consultation Book containing Transactions & Management of Affairs relating
to the disposal & Investing of the Cargoe of the Prince Augustus Captn Francis Gostlin
Commander on Account of the Hon.ble United Company of Merchants of England
Trading to the East Indies, Anno 1726 & 1727 during her Voyage from London to Canton
in China, and while she was there, till the Dispatch of the said Ship from thence
homeward bound by Nathanaell Torriano, Edmund Godfrey & Richard Nicholson Jun.,
the Supracargoes thereof…
April 22 We arrived in Batavia.
As soon as we were arrived we made enquiry for some China Man, whom me might trust
with the Secret of our being designed for Amoy, in order to get a Letter sent to Suqua,
Pursuant to the Instructions from the Secrett Committee acquainting him thereof, and
desiring him, or his Partner to meet us at Macao; where if we mett him, we designed to
settle with him the making of such Silks as must be made at Canton, to be sent us to
Amoy, as is mentioned in our Secret Orders, because the Silk Weavers are most of them
gone from thence Canton, since the English left going to Amoy: In 2 or 3 Days we found a
Person who was formerly one of Linqua & Anqua’s head Servants; we acquainted him
with our Business, & gott him to write the following Letter in the China Language to
Suqua at Canton.
They asked Suqua to come down to Macao in order to meet them. The response
should be written (transl.) by a Padre and sent via a Portuguese Ship down to
Macao.
In Batavia the supercargoes met Mr Hugh Naish coming from the Mallacca, Mr.
Mendes and Capt. Hanson who were all passengers of Portuguese ships.
With the Portuguese ships and Chinese junks landing in Batavia, there will be a
great number of merchandise available for purchase (incl. a large quantity of
China Ware and tea)
pp.7-8
The new Fuyen proved to be much more sympathetic to the English merchants,
who had decided after ill treatment from his predecessor to move to Amoy with
their business. The Hong merchants declined the English offers to shift their
meetings with the English to Amoy. The supercargoes managed to make an
agreement with the new Fuyen that assured them a considerable improvement of
their situation in Canton.
‘That we pay no more Customs or Duties nor the Merchants we deale with; either for the
Ships Measurage, or Goods inwards or outwards, than what it set down in the Emperor’s
book. That all Silver be free of duty as formerly. That all necessaries as Wine, Beer,
Butter, Cheese, Pickles & drinking Glasses, & all provisions for the use of the Factory, or
for our homeward bound Voyage, be free of Duties. That we may have the liberty to buy
& sell with whom we please whether Merchants or Shopkeepers, without contraint. And
to choose a Linguist, Compredore, & what China Servants we please… That we may have
liberty to kill Beef for the Factory at Canton and that the Capt. May have the same liberty
at Wampo…
we desired we might have his Chop, to set up as well at our House, as at Wampo, which
he told us, he would send us.’
Canton, 22 June 1727
p.11
The supercargoes came to terms with Suqua, the head of the Hong merchants and
ordered besides tea, considerable quantities of silk goods:
‘1300 P. Taffaties of Several Sorts, broad
100 Ditto Sattin Stripe
100 Shagreens
350 Gorgoroons
350 Poysees Flowered
100 Bed Damasks
150 Sattins
To be all made both the warn & the Shoot of the very best Nankeen Silk; the Colours &
Assortments to be such as we shall give him in two or three days.’
They made similar arrangements with other hong merchants always selling them
English woolen goods in return.
Keyword: gift/present, entertainment on board
p.17
Canton, July 19th 1727
‘Having heard that the Foyens Eldest Son, who is himself a Mandarine, & three other of
his Sons were desirous to see a Ship, we thought it a propper opportunity (sic!) to pay
him a Complement in acknowledgement for his Father’s having allowed us all the
Priviledges & Customs that had been at any time allowed the English Nation. And
therefore invited them to an entertainment on board the Prince Augustus, which they
were exceedingly pleased with; and two days afterwards we made the Foyen a present
of a very fine Piece of Velvet, & to his Eldest Son 3 ½ yards of Superfine Scarlett Cloth.
Keywords: Piracy, change of flag
p.18
‘This day arrived at Wampo from Bombay the Balls a Ship of about 300 Tons, Capt. Bell
Commr. Mr Wake & Mr. Higden Supra Cargoe’s. They tell us that by two Portuguese
Ships, they spoke with off of Macao, they heard that Capt. Hanson & Mr. Mendes, whom
we left at Batavia, not being able to recover their debts from the China Merchants at that
place; nor from Couloe & others here had seized upon 14 or 15 Junks in the Streights of
Banca, as they were coming from Batavia for Macao & this place and had taken some
money out of each of them, in proportion to what Stock they found they had on board, to
the amount of such a Summ as might be sufficient to answer the debts which they say
are owing to them by y(?) China Merchants here and at Batavia. As Capt. Hanson had no
Commission from any English Settlement in India, and constantly sailes under
Portuguese Colours (tho’ at the same time of his stopping the Junks it is said he hoisted
Malay Colours) we hope that this accident will not bring us into any trouble here.’
Canton, July 26th.
p.38-40
Canton, 20th December 1727
‘The Particular Registers of the Private Trade belonging to Capt. Gostlin & his Officers &
to the Supra Cargoes & Co. of the Prince Augustus Viz.t
To Capt. Francis Gostlin Commr.
China Ware. Viz.
19 Chests
26 Small Tubbs with Garden Potts in 14.
174 Bundles
5 Chests of China ware with Arms of the Lord King’s & some other Gentlemen
Bohea Tea
16 Small Chests
Green Tea
46 Tubbs
28 Chests
18 Small Boxes
2 Small Chests with Cannisters
Silks
8 Chests of Different Sorts
Lackered Ware
13 Cases
Pictures
4 Cases
Rattans
1000 Bundles & 900 Canes
Terra Jappanica
8 Small Cask.
Rhubarb
1 Small Chest
Mother Pearl Shells
200 pecull.
Arrack
20 Leaguers
To Charles Hudson, Chief MateChina Ware
2 Chests
Tea
2 Tubbs
Silks
3 Small Chests
Fanns (Fans)
2 Boxes
To John Aston..2nd Mate
China Ware
1 Chest & 2 Small Boxes
Silks
2 Small Chests
Besides other small Parcells as yet unknownTo Woodward Nicholson 3rd MateChina Ware
3 Boxes
Lackqd Ware
1 Box
Tea
1 Tubb
Arrack
1 Cask
To Nathanael Torriano
1 Chest of China Ware
2 Little Boxes ditto
6 Small Chests ditto
2 Boxes of Rice
1 Case of Fanns
5 Cases of Lacquered Ware
1 Chest of Tea
3 Tubbs
2 Leaguers of Arrack
One Escrutore(?), Two Cloths Chests, & other Boxes with Books, Apparell & Necessary’s
To Edmund Godfrey
5 Small Boxes of Tea
2 Chests of Goushott
1 Box of Fanns
1 Chest & 5 Small Boxes of China Ware
1 Box & 1 Case of Lack.d Ware
2 Cases of Paper Skreens
2 Chests of Apparell(e)
1 Escrutore
To Richard Nicholson
1 Case of Soy
2 Butts of Arrack
1 Tubb of China Ware
2 Chests ditto
1 Chest of Longho Tea
1 Tubb of Hysan Tea
1 Box of Lackd.Ware
3 Tubbs of China Ware
2 Chests ditto
To Nicholas Fazakerley
3 Small Chests of China Ware
2 Small Tubbs ditto
1 Tubb & 1 Box of Tea
2 Cases of Lacq. Ware
1 Box of Fanns
2 Chests Apparell & C. & a Escrutore