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EAP 1364 St Helena
Document Name and Date St Helena-Letters from England 1754-1777
Photographer Aidan Plato
Date photographed 21th June 2022
Additional comments

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Book cover

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WARNING.

A poisonous solution containing

Mercuric chloride has been used in the

repair and binding of this volume.

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Blank page

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Our Governor & Council at St Helena.

1

Our Letter to you last Season went by the Ship Grantham

under Date of the 28th of November 1754 we have the satisfaction to

find it came safe to your hands and that the Ship, after having

Delivered the Consignments intended for the Service of the Island,

was forwarded to her Destined Port, Fort Marlborough.

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She several Letters received from you this year, are of

the 5 of Decr last, the 15 Janry the 21 of Febry the 20, 24 & 26 and

31 of March the 7 of April the 7 of May, and the 23 of the same

Month, the 15 & 2 of July.

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We have the pleasure of acquainting you, that all the Ships

expected this Season, are safely arrived, except the Drakon from Fort

Marlborough which we hope, to hear news of every Hour, from the times of

their respective Arrivals as well as the times when our several Ships

Sailed, We refer you to the accompanying Lists

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The Names and Stations of the Ships we have taken into our

Service this Season are as follows [...]

Ships Ton Commanders Consignments

Drake 499 Benjamin Sichel

Earl of Holderness 499 Matthew Court } for China directly

Prince George 499 Philip Godsell Bencoolen & China

Bombay Castle 499 Thomas Brown

Rhoda 499 John M[c]namara } Coast & China

Prince of Wales 499 William Peck

Exeter 499 William Fernell St Helena & Bencoolen

Margin Notes:

Letters received

Ships taken up

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and shipping.

1: The Court's letter of the previous season had gone out by the Grantham on 28 November 1754, and the Court was glad to learn that it reached St Helena safely and that the ship, after delivering the supplies meant for the service of the island, went on to her destination at Fort Marlborough.

2: The several letters received from St Helena over the past year arrived in good order, dated 5 December, 15 January, 21 February, 20, 24 and 31 March, 7 April, 7 May and 23 May, and 15 and 26 July.

3: Every ship expected that season had come in safely, apart from the Drayton from Fort Marlborough, whose news the Court hoped to hear at any hour, and the Court referred the island to the accompanying list for the dates of each arrival and of each departure.

4: The ships taken into service that season, with their tonnage, commanders and destinations, were as follows.

Drake, 499 tons, Benjamin Sicket, for China directly

Earl of Holderness, 499 tons, Matthew Court, for China directly

Prince George, 499 tons, Philip Godfell, Bencoolen and China

Bombay Castle, 499 tons, Thomas Brown, Coast and China

The Rhoda, 499 tons, was commanded by John McNamara and bound for the Coast and China.

Prince of Wales, 499 tons, William Peck, Coast and China

Exeter, 499 tons, William Fernell, St Helena and Bencoolen

Interpretations

Fort Marlborough was the East India Company's pepper settlement at Bencoolen on the west coast of Sumatra, and the direction to forward a ship there after her call at St Helena shows the island's function as a mid-ocean supply and relay point on the outward route between England and the Company's eastern factories. The heading Coast in the ship destinations meant the Coromandel Coast of south-east India, the Company's main trading front for cotton textiles.

The tonnage figure of 499 recurs against every vessel because ships of 500 tons and above carried a heavier burden of Company regulation and a larger obligatory complement of officers and guns, so owners routinely registered vessels at 499 to fall just below the threshold, and the uniformity of the column reflects that commercial device rather than any real identity of size.

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Hardwicke 499 John Samson Madeira Coast & Bay

Eastcourt 499 Arthur Evans

Duke of Dorset 499 Bernard Forrester } Coast & Bay

Edgcote 499 John Pearse

Streatham 499 Charles Mason } Bombay

Houghton 499 Richard Walpole

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Such Orders as shall be given by Roger Drake

Richard Chauncy, William Mabbot and James Raymond Esqrs

who are our present Secret Committee, are to be duly attended to and

observed by the Governor, or whoever else they may concern.

6

Since the Departure of the Grantham, with our

beforementioned Letter, His Majesty has been most graciously

pleased to order a Squadron of his Ships, with a Body of Land

Forces on board, to proceed to the Coast of Choromandel, to protect

the Company in their Commerce, and their just Rights and

Privileges, the said Squadron consists of the undernamed Ships

commanded by Charles Watson Esqr Rear Admiral of the Blue vizt

Ships Comanders Guns

Kent Henry Speke Sixty four

Cumberland George Pocock Sixty Six

Tyger Thomas Latham Sixty

Salisbury Thomas Knowles Sixty

Bridgwater William Martin Twenty four

Sloop King Fisher Best Michell

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The Body of Land Forces His Majesty was most

graciously pleased to grant to us, as before mentioned consisted

of Colonel John Adlercrons Regiment of Foot of Eight hundred

and fifteen men Officers included, and a Detachment from the

Royal

Margin Notes:

Secret Committee

Squadron of the King's Ships under the command of Rear Adml Watson

Land Forces

Hardwicke, 499 tons, John Sampson, Madeira, Coast and Bay

Eastcourt, 499 tons, Arthur Evans, Coast and Bay

Duke of Dorset, 499 tons, Bernard Forrester, Coast and Bay

Edgecote, 499 tons, John Pearse, Coast and Bay

Streatham, 499 tons, Charles Mason, Bombay

Houghton, 499 tons, Richard Walpole, Bombay

5: Any orders given by Roger Drake, Richard Chauncy, William Mabbot and James Raymond, the Court's present Secret Committee, were to be carefully followed by the Governor, and by anyone else they might touch.

6: Since the Grantham sailed with the earlier letter, the King had ordered a squadron of his ships, carrying a body of land forces, to sail to the Coast of Coromandel to protect the Company in its trade and to defend its lawful rights and privileges, and the squadron was made up of the vessels named below, under the command of Charles Watson, Rear Admiral of the Blue.

Kent, Henry Speke, 64 guns

Cumberland, George Pocock, 66 guns

Tyger, Thomas Latham, 60 guns

Salisbury, Thomas Knowles, 60 guns

Bridgewater, William Martin, 24 guns

The sloop Kingfisher was commanded by Best Mitchell.

7: The body of land forces the King granted consisted of Colonel John Adlercron's regiment of foot, 815 men including officers, together with a detachment from the Royal [...].

Interpretations

The dispatch of a royal squadron under Charles Watson, together with a regular infantry regiment, marked a shift from the East India Company defending its Indian trade by its own means to direct intervention by the Crown's navy and army, a change that reflected the growing conflict with France on the Coromandel Coast in the mid-1750s. Coast and Bay in the destinations meant the Coromandel Coast and the Bay of Bengal, the two principal fields of Company trade in eastern India.

The Secret Committee named in the fifth paragraph was a small inner group of Company directors empowered to conduct sensitive business, chiefly matters of war, diplomacy and dealings with the Crown, without disclosure to the wider Court of Directors, and orders issued under its authority carried the same binding force on the Governor as those of the full Court.

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Royal Regiment of Artillery of Seventy eight Men, likewise Officers

included

8

As the Men of War could not carry that whole Body of Troops, we

were under the necessity of employing three of our own Ships as Transports

Vizt the Kent, London, and Britannia.

9

In our last Letter you were acquainted those three Ships were

Destined for Bombay, we are now to inform you that we took up and

sent to Bombay in lieu of them the Ships

Ship Tons Men Guns Commanders

Prince Henry 499 99 26 Thomas Best

Warwick 499 99 26 Nicholas Webb

Shaftsbury 499 99 26 William Bookey

10

We likewise freighted the old Hardwick, for the run to Bombay

Commanded by Capt Samuel Hough which Ship not being intended

to return Back to Europe, was to be disposed of in India

11

Three of the Men of War and our Three Transport Ships sailed from

Ireland the end of March, but his Majestys Ships the Cumberland and

Tyger did not Sail from Plymouth untill the 9 of May, owing to the

Bristol and Eagle having been Disabled in bad Weather on the

Coast of Ireland, which two Ships were originally part of the

Squadron, and on occasion of this Accident were replaced by the

Cumberland and Tyger

12

As it is probable the said Men of War may touch at St Helena

when they return Home you are upon the Arrival of Admiral Watson

to Salute him with Fifteen Guns, which he will return Gun for

Gun, and in Case the Commodore who wears a distinguishing Pennant

shall arrive with the Admiral, he is to be Saluted with Thirteen Guns

who will likewise return Gun for Gun, and you are to pay to the

Admiral

Margin Notes:

Three of our Ships employed as Transports

Ships sent to Bombay

Hardwick freighted for Bombay

Men of War & Transports when sailed

Directions about Saluting the Admiral & Commodore

The land forces also took in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, 78 men, officers included.

8: As the warships could not carry that whole body of troops, the Court was obliged to employ three of its own ships as transports, namely the Kent, the London and the Britannia.

9: The Court's earlier letter had told the island that these three ships were bound for Bombay, but it now reported that in their place it had taken up and sent to Bombay the ships named below.

Prince Henry, 499 tons, 99 men, 26 guns, Thomas Best

Warwick, 499 tons, 99 men, 26 guns, Nicholas Webb

Shaftesbury, 499 tons, 99 men, 26 guns, William Bookey

10: The Court had also freighted the old Hardwicke for the run to Bombay under Captain Samuel Hough, and since that ship was not meant to return to Europe, she was to be sold off in India.

11: Three of the warships and the three transports sailed from Ireland at the end of March, but the King's ships Cumberland and Tyger did not leave Plymouth until 7 May, because the Bristol and Eagle, originally part of the squadron, had been disabled by bad weather off the coast of Ireland, and the Cumberland and Tyger were sent in their place.

12: The warships would probably call at St Helena on their voyage home, and on Admiral Watson's arrival the island was to salute him with 15 guns, which he would return gun for gun, and if the commodore bearing a distinguishing pennant arrived with the admiral, he was to be saluted with 13 guns, likewise returned gun for gun, and the island was to pay [...].

Interpretations

The distinction drawn in the twelfth paragraph between the 15-gun salute to the admiral and the 13 guns for a commodore reflected the strict gradations of naval honours, in which the number of guns fired marked an officer's exact rank, and the requirement that each salute be returned gun for gun signalled that the Company's island was according the Royal Navy the formal courtesies due between equals rather than a subordinate's tribute.

The decision to sell the old Hardwicke in India rather than sail her home rested on her age and the cost of a return voyage in ballast, since a worn vessel with no homeward cargo earned nothing on the passage back and could be turned to account by disposal in an Indian port where shipping was in demand.

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Admiral all the Honors Due to his Rank, and behave to him

with Great regard and Friendship, you are likewise to behave

with all Due Civility and Respect, to the several Commanders

belong to his Majestys Squadron, and you are to give them as

well as the Admiral all necessary Help and Assistance.

13

In order the more effectually to comply with your Inden[...]

this year, and to send you the Timbers, and as many of the material[...]

for Building the Barracks and Hospital, as possible, we have

entirely appropriated the Peter for those purposes and have

accordingly filled her with them, agreeable to the enclosed

Invoice and Bill of Lading, The remaining materials will be

sent you the next year

14

The said Ship Exeter is to proceed to Fort Marlborough on the

West Coast of Sumatra, as soon as she has Delivered her Cargo to you

which you must be particularly carefull to see performed within

the Charterparty time, & then give the Commander Orders to make the

best of his Way to Fort Marlborough aforesaid, agreeable to the

Instructions we have given for that purpose

15

As we have filled this Ship as beforementioned with Stores

for you, We have laden on the Prince George one of the Ships bound to

China, the several Consignments necessary for our Settlements on

the West Coast.

16

We must do you the Justice to acknowledge, that you have

carefully attended to our Directions for collecting Intelligence upon

the arrival of Shipping, & communicating the same to us, as you

have hitherto Done it to our satisfaction, & we make no Doubt

of a continuance of your care

Margin Notes:

Peter appropriated for carrying the Timber & materials for the Barracks & Hospital

Exeter to dispatch the Exeter to the West Coast after she has Delivered her Cargo

Consignments for the West Coast laden on the Prince George

Collecting Intelligence on the arrival of Shipping to be continued

The island was to show the admiral every honour due to his rank and treat him with warm regard and friendship, and it was likewise to behave with all proper courtesy and respect towards the several commanders of the King's squadron, giving them, as well as the admiral, all the help and assistance they needed.

13: To meet the island's requisition more fully that year, and to send as much of the material for building the barracks and hospital as could be managed, the Court had set aside the Peter entirely for the purpose and loaded her with those goods, as shown in the enclosed invoice and bill of lading, and the rest of the material would follow the next year.

14: The Exeter was to sail for Fort Marlborough on the west coast of Sumatra as soon as she had delivered the cargo consigned to the island, which the Governor was to see done carefully within the time allowed by her charter party, and he was then to order her commander to make the best of his way to Fort Marlborough in line with the instructions already given.

15: Since that ship had been filled with the island's stores, the Court had loaded aboard the Prince George, one of the ships bound for China, the various supplies needed for the settlements on the west coast.

16: The Court owed the island the credit of acknowledging that it had carefully followed the directions for gathering intelligence on the arrival of shipping and passing it on, had done so to the Court's satisfaction and had no doubt the practice would continue.

Interpretations

The requisition for barracks and a hospital, together with the timber and materials shipped out to build them, reflected the arrival of the King's regular troops on the establishment, since regular soldiers required permanent quarters and medical provision of a scale the Company's own small garrison had never needed, and the promise to send the balance the following year shows the building programme was too large for a single season's shipping.

The charter party governing the Exeter fixed the number of days the Company had hired her for, and the Governor's duty to unload her within that time was a direct financial matter, because any delay beyond the agreed period exposed the Company to demurrage, a daily penalty payable to the ship's owners for detaining the vessel past her contracted term.

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As we have, as is beforementioned, appropriated this Ship to carry

the several Good Stores & Materials, for the Service of our Island St Helena

it has given us the opportunity of every fully complying with your

Indents, as will appear upon a Reference to the Invoice & Bill of Lading

But we must here acquaint you, that you are not to expect a continuation

of this method, it being our Intention that one Ship Only, as usual shall

Serve next Season to carry the Consignments intended for our Settlements

on the West Coast of Sumatra, as well as those to St Helena

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By this Conveyance, you will receive Six thirty two pounders Cannon,

with Seventy rounds of Shott, to replace those you sent us by the Walpole as

we sess, which compleats your Indent for that Article, You will also

receive four Iron Carriages made compleat for them, & Two wooden ones

with Iron Trucks, such as are made use of for Service of the Government.

19

Due regard has been had to a proper Sortment of Fish Hooks

agreeable to your Indent, & the Samples sent us in your Packet by the

Boscawen

20

We have consigned to the Deputy Governor & Council at Fort

Marlborough by this Ship, Twenty Chest of Treasure, & as by our

Observation of the state of your Cash we imagine you will have

occasion for no part of it, it must all be continued on board

accordingly unless, contrary to our expectations it may happen

otherways, & then if you are under a real necessity you may detain one

Chest, or so much thereof, as may be wanted, forwarding the rest to

Fort Marlborough with Due notice of what you shall so Detain

21

You must continue to write to our several Settlements in India

for the Sortements of Goods & Stores you shall want, from each of them

respectively, & in particular as you prefer the Fort Marlborough

Sugar to the Bengall, being both better & cheaper, you must

Indent

Margin Notes:

Compleat complying with the Indents on the Peter & advises that one Ship only will supply this Island

Cannon Shott &ca

Fish Hooks

Chests of Treasure to be continued on board

Continuing to write to the several Settlements for Stores &ca in India

17: Having set this ship aside to carry the various goods, stores and materials for the service of the island of St Helena, the Court had been able to meet the island's requisition in full, as the invoice and bill of lading would show, but it warned the island not to expect the arrangement to continue, since it meant only one ship, as usual, to serve the next season in carrying the supplies for both the settlements on the west coast of Sumatra and St Helena.

18: By this ship the island would receive six 32-pounder cannon, with 70 rounds of shot, to replace those sent home by the Walpole, which completed the island's requisition for that article, and it would also receive four iron carriages made ready for them, together with two wooden ones fitted with iron trucks of the kind used for the government's service.

19: Proper attention had been given to a suitable assortment of fish hooks, in line with the island's requisition and the samples sent home in its packet by the Boscawen.

20: The Court had consigned to the Deputy Governor and Council at Fort Marlborough by this ship 20 chests of treasure, and judging from the state of the island's cash it supposed the island would need none of it, so the whole was to stay aboard unless matters turned out otherwise than expected, in which case, if there was a real necessity, the island might keep one chest, or as much of it as was wanted, forwarding the rest to Fort Marlborough with proper notice of whatever was retained.

21: The island was to keep writing to the Court's several settlements in India for the goods and stores it needed from each of them, and in particular, since it preferred Fort Marlborough sugar to that of Bengal, both being better and cheaper, it was to requisition [...].

Interpretations

The instruction to hold the 20 chests of treasure aboard unless real necessity arose reflected the Company's practice of moving silver bullion by sea to whichever settlement most needed working capital, since the settlements had little coin of their own, and the discretion granted to the island to detain one chest shows the Court trusting the man on the spot to judge a cash shortage that London could not foresee at six months' distance.

The two wooden gun carriages fitted with iron trucks contrasted with the four all-iron carriages sent for the cannon, the trucks being the small solid wheels on which a carriage ran, and the mix reflected the practical supply of a remote fortification, where iron carriages were more durable in the salt air but wooden ones with iron fittings were cheaper and could be maintained locally.

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Indent for the Quantity wanted from the former Place, and discontinue

your Indents for that Article to Bengall.

22

We have given Directions to the Supracargoes of the Ships Drake

& Warren & the Prince George & Rhoda to provide & Lade on board

these Four Ships the whole Quantity of China Goods you have Indented

for, you will therefore receive nothing from the other Ships from

China.

23

We now send you a parcel of Fruit Trees & shall continue to do

so, from year to year, when our Plantations are sufficiently Stocked

with them, we would have you Distribute the rest among such of

the Planters, as have Gardens of their own, to the Intent, that our

homeward bound Shipping may be the more plentifully supplied

with the produce of them

24

It is a pleasure to us to observe that the Regulations made for

supplying the Shipping & Market with Provisions have been

very properly carried into Execution & seem to operate entirely to

our Satisfaction

25

We observe Thomas Greentree expressed his sence of our Favour, in

permitting him to remain on the Island, & Promised to be very circumspect

on his behaviour for the future. We must observe further, that in your

Consultation of the 20 of February last Benjamin Maxine Planter

was properly reprimanded for his endeavouring to impose upon your

False Account of Cattle for Slaughter, & as he is there represented to be

of a Factious Disposition & seemed ready to revive Discontent

among the Planters, you must have a Constant Eye upon his

behaviour, & give us an account thereof, that we may give such

Orders with regard to him, as may be for the Common

Benefit.

Margin Notes:

China Goods laden on Four Ships

Fruit Trees

Regulations for supplying the Shipping & Market with Provisions

Thomas Greentree

Benjamin Maxine

The island was to requisition the quantity wanted from Fort Marlborough and stop requisitioning that article from Bengal.

22: The Court had directed the supercargoes of the Drake, Warwick, Prince George and Rhoda to procure and load aboard those four ships the whole quantity of China goods the island had requisitioned, so it would receive nothing from the other ships coming from China.

23: The Court now sent a parcel of fruit trees and would keep doing so year by year, and once the plantations were well enough stocked with them, it wished the rest distributed among such planters as had gardens of their own, so that the homeward-bound shipping might be more plentifully supplied with their produce.

24: The Court was glad to see that the regulations made for supplying the shipping and the market with provisions had been properly carried out and seemed to work entirely to its satisfaction.

25: The Court noted that Thomas Greentree had expressed his sense of its favour in allowing him to stay on the island and had promised to be very careful in his conduct in future, and it observed further that in the island's consultation of 20 February Benjamin Maxure, a planter, had rightly been reprimanded for trying to pass off a false account of cattle for slaughter, and since he was represented as a troublemaker who seemed ready to stir up fresh discontent among the planters, the island was to keep a constant watch on his behaviour and report on it, so that the Court might give such orders about him as would serve the common good.

Interpretations

The Court's plan to ship out fruit trees year by year and have planters with gardens raise them was aimed squarely at victualling the homeward fleet, since St Helena's chief value lay in provisioning ships for the long haul back to England, and fresh fruit was a defence against scurvy on a passage where the disease could cripple a crew, so the horticultural instruction was a matter of maritime supply rather than of settlement agriculture for its own sake.

The order to keep a constant watch on Benjamin Maxure and report on his conduct shows how the Company governed a small and isolated planter community through surveillance and the threat of removal, since a single man judged factious was thought capable of stirring discontent across the settlement, and Thomas Greentree's case in the same paragraph, allowed to remain only after expressing submission, marks the same instrument of control, permission to stay on the island held out as a reward for good behaviour and withdrawable at the Court's pleasure.

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As you have Writ off in your Books to Account Current London the

sum of One hundred, & twenty two Pounds, thirteen Shilling & three farthings

which was paid into our Cash by Mr Thomas French for the Claim made by

Mr James Du Bois for a Share of his late Fathers Personal Estate in right

of his Child, who is a Grand Daughter of the late Mr French we have

accordingly paid the same

27

We observe what you say with regard to Capt Oliver of the Grantham,

the last year's Store Ship requiring so large a Number of Cattle as Ninety

one amounting in weight, to Ten thousand two hundred and twenty nine pounds

as you represent it to be a Quantity, the Island cannot afford every year to

one Ship, without running the risque of some of our latter Ships wanting, & your

falling short at the Market, We leave it to your Discretion, to regulate the

quantity of Cattle every Ship is to have for the future, in such a manner as shall

best answer our general Intention of supplying the Market, & that every Ship

which calls at the Island, may have a reasonable proportion

28

We are informed that a very bad use has been made of the liberty we

have given to the Inhabitants to purchase what Liquors they please out of

our Ships, by retailing them in a Clandestine Manner, in many parts of

the Island to the great Prejudice of both Blacks & Whites, as the Vice of

Drunkenness is apparently & greatly encreased thereby of late, Our only

intention in granting the said Liberty to the Inhabitants was that they

might be furnished with Liquors from time to time for the use of themselves &

their Families only, & therefore we do Impower & Direct you to take such

Measures as you shall think proper to prevent the retailing of Spirituous

Liquors, excepting at the Licensed Houses, & even at those Houses, you

must take particular care, that Drinking to Excess be Discouraged &

Prevented, & we further empower you to lay such Penalties on offenders

as you shall think reasonable

Margin Notes:

Grantham Store Ship in respect to the Number of Cattle the Island can supply to one Ship

Regulating the quantity of Cattle to be Delivered to each Ship

Preventing the Inhabitants Drinking to Excess in the retailing of Liquors

Regulating the retailing of Liquors on the Island

26: The island had written off in its books to the Court's account current in London the sum of £122 13s 3d, which Thomas French had paid into the Court's cash for the claim made by James Du Bois on behalf of his child, a granddaughter of the late Mr French, for a share of her late father's personal estate, and the Court had accordingly paid the same.

27: The Court noted what the island said about Captain Oliver of the Grantham, whose store ship the previous year had required so large a number of cattle, 61 in all, weighing 10,229 pounds, and since this was a quantity the island could not afford every year to a single ship without risking that some of its later ships went short or the market fell into deficiency, the Court left it to the island's discretion to regulate how much cattle every ship was to have in future, in whatever way best answered its general aim of supplying the market and gave every ship calling at the island a reasonable share.

28: The Court had learned that a very bad use had been made of the liberty it gave the inhabitants to buy what liquors they pleased out of its ships, since they retailed the liquor secretly in many parts of the island, to the great harm of both blacks and whites, the vice of drunkenness having plainly and greatly increased of late, whereas the Court had meant the liberty only so that the inhabitants might supply liquor from time to time for the use of themselves and their families, and it therefore empowered and directed the island to take whatever measures it thought fit to stop the retailing of spirituous liquors, and even at the licensed houses the island was to take particular care that drinking to excess was discouraged and prevented, and it further empowered the island to impose such penalties on offenders as it thought reasonable.

Interpretations

The variation in the cattle drawn by Captain Oliver's store ship, 61 head at 10,229 pounds, against the general run of vessels reflected the special burden a store ship placed on the island, since she carried provisions for a settlement rather than passengers and crew alone, and the Court's response, devolving the rationing of cattle to the men on the spot, shows London recognising that only local knowledge of the harvest and the shipping in the road could balance one ship's demand against the market's capacity, a matter the Company could not regulate from six months' distance.

The distinction the Court drew between private consumption and clandestine retailing marks the point at which a domestic liberty became a fiscal and social problem, since unlicensed resale escaped the control of the licensed houses through which the Company both taxed drink and contained its effects, and the direction to impose penalties shows the settlement's drink trade being brought under a regulatory and revenue regime rather than left to private dealing.

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29

We observe several Parts of the Fortifications & Works have

suffered considerably from the great Torrents of Water pouring upon

them occasioned by Violent Rains, we observe likewise, that you

immediately ordered them to be repaired & for the greater Expedition

employed many of the Soldiery thereon, with an Additional Pay

for their Assistance we entirely approve of the same, & we recommend

it to you to take the utmost care that all the Fortifications on the

Island be kept in the most respectable Condition, this recommendation

is more particularly necessary at this time, that you may be prepared

to Baffle any Attempts upon the Island, if the present Differences

between the English & French should unhappily terminate in a

Rupture between the Two Nations.

30

And here we think, it necessary as a further Security to the

Island & the Shipping that may be riding in the road to Positively

Direct, that from this time forward you observe it as a Standing

Order, that no Ship whatsoever, either English or Foreign be

suffered to pass Mundens Point, & come into the Road in the

Night time

31

As Mr Thomas Frenchs Resignation of our Service makes it

necessary to appoint another Covenant Servant, & as you have

recommended Charles Steward for that purpose as being well

Instructed in Accounts & Writing, & deserving of our Favour, We

have accordingly chosen him a Writer for the term of five years

to commence from the time you first employed him, You must

acquaint him, that he must get Two Persons to give Security

for him here in England in the sum of five hundred Pounds & you

are to cause him to Execute the Covenants, which done, you are

to return them to us by the next conveyance.

Margin Notes:

Fortifications & Works suffered by the great Torrents of Water & to be kept in the best Condition

No Ship to pass Mundens Point & come into the Road in the Night time

Mr Thomas Frenchs Resignation

Charles Steward appointed a Writer

29: The Court saw that several parts of the fortifications and works had suffered badly from the great torrents of water pouring over them after violent rains, and it noted too that the island had at once ordered them repaired and, to speed the work, had put many of the soldiers to it with extra pay for their help, all of which the Court fully approved, and it urged the island to take the greatest care that every fortification on the island was kept in the most respectable condition, a charge the more necessary at that time so that the island might be ready to beat off any attempt upon it, should the present differences between the English and French unhappily end in a rupture between the two nations.

30: As a further safeguard to the island and to the shipping riding in the road, the Court positively directed that from then on the island was to treat it as a standing order that no ship whatever, English or foreign, was allowed to pass Munden's Point and come into the road during the night.

31: Since Thomas French's resignation from the Court's service made it necessary to appoint another covenant servant, and the island had recommended Charles Steward as well grounded in accounts and writing and deserving of the Court's favour, the Court had accordingly chosen him a writer for a term of five years, to run from the time the island first employed him, and the island was to tell him that he must find two persons to give security for him in England in the sum of £500, and it was to have him execute the covenants and return them to the Court by the next ship.

Interpretations

The standing order barring any ship from passing Munden's Point into the road at night was a defensive measure keyed to the threat of war with France, since a vessel entering the anchorage under cover of darkness could not be identified or challenged until she was already among the shipping, and by forcing every arrival to wait for daylight the Company ensured that a hostile ship could not slip in disguised as a friend, Munden's Point marking the northern approach to the roadstead off James Valley.

The requirement that Charles Steward find two sureties bound in £500 before taking up his writership shows how the Company secured the honesty of its junior servants, since a writer handled accounts and cash far beyond his own means to repay, and the bond made two men in England answerable for his conduct, giving the Company a domestic remedy against loss that it could enforce at home even when the servant himself was thousands of miles away.

13

9

32

You are not to suffer our late Surgeon Mr Falconer to continue

any longer on the Island, than is absolutely necessary for the Adjusting

his Accounts with the Inhabitants

33

We have sent you by this Ship, Ten Recruits for your Garrison,

whose names are mentioned in the enclosed List

34

This Ship likewise carries about Fifty Soldiers who are intended

for our Service on the West Coast, you are therefore upon no Account

whatsoever to Detain any of them at St Helena

35

An Act having passed in the last Sessions of Parliament, for

empowering the Company to hold Courts Martial in the East Indies

& at St Helena, which being after the Departure of the Grantham

last Season, we therefore now send you a Separate Packet, containing

the necessary Powers & Instructions, together with a Letter of Attorney

dated this Day for carrying the same in Execution, to all which you

are particularly referred

36

You have, in your Letter of the 15 of July last, given us a full and

satisfactory Account, of the several Claims & Demands upon the Estate

of the late Governor Goodwin together with your opinion upon every

one of them by your said Letter, we find the Claims to be as follows

vizt Captain Hunter Forty four pounds three Shilling & three pence

Richard Geerling thirty two pounds three Shillings & nine pence

half penny, Matthew Curling ten pounds fifteen Shillings & eight pence

Francis Wrangham one hundred & thirteen pounds eleven Shillings

& five pence half penny Richard Beale two Pounds twelve shillings

& Six pence John Doveton six pounds seventeen shilling & a half

penny James Richardson two pounds nineteen shilling & six

pence & the Heirs of Eleanor Worrall Forty one pounds, twelve

Shillings, & two pence, amounting together to the Sum of Two

hundred

Margin Notes:

Mr Falconer late Surgeon

Recruits sent

Soldiers for the West Coast not to be Detained

An Act passed for holding Courts Martial in the East Indies & at St Helena

Concerning the several Claims & Demands upon the Estate of the late Governor Goodwin

32: The island was not to let the Court's late surgeon Mr Falconer stay any longer than was strictly needed to settle his accounts with the inhabitants.

33: The Court had sent by this ship ten recruits for the island's garrison, whose names appeared in the enclosed list.

34: This ship also carried about 50 soldiers meant for the Court's service on the west coast, so the island was on no account whatever to keep any of them at St Helena.

35: An act had passed in the last sitting of Parliament empowering the Company to hold courts martial in the East Indies and at St Helena, and since this came after the Grantham sailed the previous season, the Court now sent a separate packet containing the necessary powers and instructions, together with a letter from the Court dated that day for carrying the act into effect, to all of which the island was particularly referred.

36: The island had, in its letter of 15 July, given a full and satisfactory account of the various claims and demands upon the estate of the late Governor Goodwin, with its opinion on every one of them, and the Court found the claims to be as follows.

Captain Hunter, £44 3s 3d

Richard Geerling, £32 3s 9½d

Matthew Curling, £10 15s 8d

Francis Wrangham, £113 11s 5½d

Richard Beale, £2 12s 6d

John Doveton, £6 17s 6½d

James Richardson, £2 19s 6d

the heirs of Eleanor Worrall, £41 12s 2d

These amounted together to the sum of two hundred [...].

Interpretations

The act empowering the Company to hold courts martial at St Helena and in the East Indies gave the settlements a formal military jurisdiction they had previously lacked, and its timing matters, since the arrival of regular royal troops and the prospect of open war with France meant the Company now needed lawful authority to try and punish soldiers under military discipline rather than relying on the ordinary civil powers of a trading garrison.

The settlement of the claims against Governor Goodwin's estate shows the Company acting as the forum through which a dead servant's debts to the island community were adjudicated and paid, since a governor who died in office left obligations to captains, planters and tradesmen that only the Court in London could authorise against the estate, and the careful listing of each creditor with a precise figure reflects the Company's role in bringing order to the private financial affairs of its officers across the distance between London and the island.

14

10

hundred & fifty four pounds, fifteen Shillings & four pence

half penny, all which after a due examination you admit as

just Debts on the said Estate, & as there appears, by your

last General Books ending the 11 of October 1753 to be a Ballance

of One hundred & forty one pounds ten shillings & eleven pence

half penny due from the Company to the said Governor Goodwins

Estate, we are come to a Resolution to divide among the

several Claimants beforementioned, the said sum of one hundred

& forty one pounds ten shillings and eleven pence half penny

in proportion to their said respective Claims you are therefore

hereby Directed to pay accordingly to all the several Claimants

or their Representatives at St Helena their proper proportions

excepting only the proportion of the late Captain Hunters

Demand, which we intend to pay to his Representative now in

England, You must take Discharges in full of all Demands

from the several Claimants, upon your paying them, & you

are to carry the several Sums to the Credit of Governor

Goodwins Estate.

37

On the application of William More late a Serjeant

in our Forces at St Helena, we have given him liberty to

return in the Exeter and remain there, untill he has

adjusted his depending Concerns, on the finishing of which

Margin Notes:

Concerning the late Governor Goodwins Estate

William More permitted to return to England

The claims came to £254 15s 4½d in all, which the Court, after due examination, admitted as just debts on the estate, and since the island's last general books ending 11 October 1753 showed a balance of £141 10s 11½d due from the Company to Governor Goodwin's estate, the Court had resolved to divide that £141 10s 11½d among the several claimants in proportion to their respective claims. The island was therefore directed to pay each claimant at St Helena, or their representatives, their proper share, except only the share of the late Captain Hunter's demand, which the Court meant to pay to his representative then in England. The island was to take discharges in full of all demands from each claimant upon paying them, and to carry the several sums to the credit of Governor Goodwin's estate.

37: On the application of William More, late a sergeant in the Court's forces at St Helena, the Court had given him leave to return in the Exeter and remain there until he had settled his outstanding affairs, on the finishing of which [...].

Interpretations

The Court's method of settling Goodwin's estate reveals the mechanics of an insolvent account, since the admitted debts of £254 15s 4½d exceeded the £141 10s 11½d the Company owed the estate, so the creditors could not be paid in full and instead received a proportional dividend on their claims, the standard remedy where an estate's liabilities outran its assets, with each claimant taking a fraction of what was owed rather than the whole.

The Court's decision to settle Captain Hunter's share directly with his representative in England, apart from the others paid at St Helena, turned on the practical geography of the estate, since Hunter's heir had left the island while the rest of the creditors remained there, and paying each party where they stood spared the Company the trouble and risk of remitting money across the ocean to a claimant it could reach at home.

15

11

he is to repair back again to England.

We are

Your Loving Friends

Signed

R. Drake

Rich Chauncy

M. Mabbott

P. Godfrey

John Payne

W Watts

Stephen Law

Cha: Gough

Nich Linwood

Hen Crabb Boulton

W Wilberforce Senr

Cha: Cutts

Rob Jones

Willm Burrell

London

7 November 1755

On finishing those affairs he was to return to England.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 5 November 1755, and signed by R. Drake, Richard Chauncy, W. Mabbot, R. Godfrey, John Payne, W. Webb, Stephen Law, Charles Gough, Nicholas Linwood, H. Frankland Boulton, W. Wilberforce, Charles Cutts, Robert Jones and William Burwell.

16

12

Our Governor &

Council at St Helena

1

As we are obliged to keep a Military Force

at the Companys Settlements in the East Indies, and

at the Island of St Helena, and as it is necessary, that

such forces should be kept under proper order and

Discipline, and there being some Doubt as to the

Companys power to exercise Martial Law in time

of Peace, We have obtained an Act of Parliament,

for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and other

offences committed by the Troops, in our Pay at

St Helena, and His Majesty, in consequence of the

Act, has established certain Articles of War.

2

The Act passed so late in the last Sessions

that our Ship was dispatched for St Helena, before

it had received the Royal Assent.

3

We now send you

The printed Act of Parliament with the Articles of War

The Court of Directors Commission authorizing you

to appoint Courts Martial.

The form of appointing a Person to officiate as

Judge Advocate.

Instructions for the proceedings of the Judge Advocate

Form of proceeding at a Court Martial.

4

As the Act takes place from the Time

of the Publication you are, with the first convenient

opportunity

Margin Notes:

Necessity of keeping a Military Force under proper order at the Companys Settlements in the East Indies & St Helena

Acts &ca sent

Instructions sent

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the powers for holding courts martial.

1: Since the Company was obliged to keep a military force at its settlements in the East Indies and at the island of St Helena, and it was necessary that such forces be kept under proper order and discipline, and there was some doubt about the Company's power to exercise martial law in time of peace, the Court had obtained an act of Parliament for punishing mutiny, desertion and other offences committed by the troops in its pay at St Helena, and the King, in consequence of the act, had established certain articles of war.

2: The act passed so late in the last sitting that the Court's ship was dispatched for St Helena before it had received the royal assent.

3: The Court now sent the following. 1: The printed act of Parliament with the articles of war. 2: The Court of Directors commission authorising the island to appoint courts martial. 3: The form of appointing a person to act as judge advocate. 4: Instructions for the proceedings of the judge advocate. 5: The form of proceeding at a court martial.

4: Since the act took effect from the time of its publication, the island was, at the first convenient opportunity [...].

Interpretations

The act marked a constitutional turning point in the Company's authority over its garrisons, since a trading corporation had no inherent power to impose military discipline in peacetime, that being a prerogative of the Crown, and by securing statutory authority to punish mutiny and desertion the Company obtained a lawful footing for the standing military establishment that the arrival of regular troops and the threat of war with France had made permanent.

The careful separation of the enclosed documents into commission, judge advocate's appointment, instructions and forms of proceeding shows the Company transplanting the whole apparatus of English military justice to a remote settlement in a single packet, since a court martial required not only the power to convene it but a trained prosecuting officer and fixed procedural forms, and the island possessed none of these until London supplied them in writing.

17

13

opportunity after the receipt of it, To cause it to be

published, and for that purpose, and to make it as notorious

as possible, Our Governor and Council should assemble

themselves together, with our whole Military Force under

Arms, or so many as can be spared from Duty, And the

Act of Parliament and Articles of War should be publickly

read before them.

5

After the Act and Articles are published, you

must as soon as you conveniently can, cause the Forces

in our pay to be mustered and the Articles of War to be

read over to them, and they must severally be asked, if they

are willing to continue in the Companys Service, subject

to the Articles of War, for the remainder of the time, they

have contracted for, such as do not must be dismissed

the Service, and an Entry must be made of the Names of

such, as shall be willing to continue, and of those that

desire to be Discharged.

6

If any of those who take their discharge shall

afterwards incline to inlist again, the Articles of War

must be read to such person, and his consent and

submission to them had, and an Entry made thereof

and the same method must be observed with respect

to such Recruits or other forces, as we do now, or may

hereafter send you.

7

The appointment of Courts Martial is in

our Governor and Council or major part of them,

who, as often as there shall be occasion, are to signify

their pleasure to the Judge Advocate, either in

writing or by word of mouth to summons a Court

Martial, to meet at such time and place, as shall

be thought proper.

Margin Notes:

Articles &ca to be published as possible

Articles of War to be read to the Military & those who are not willing to continue to be dismissed

The same method to be observed with respect to Recruits &ca which you shall be sent to them and also to all Recruits hereafter to be sent

Concerning the appointment of Courts Martial

After receiving the act the island was to have it published at the first opportunity, and to make it as widely known as possible the Governor and Council were to assemble together with the whole military force under arms, or as many as could be spared from duty, and the act of Parliament and articles of war were to be read publicly before them.

5: Once the act and articles were published, the island was, as soon as it conveniently could, to have the forces in the Court's pay mustered and the articles of war read out to them, and each man was to be asked whether he was willing to continue in the Company's service, subject to the articles of war, for the remainder of the time he had contracted for, and any who would not were to be dismissed the service, and an entry was to be made of the names of those willing to continue and of those wishing to be discharged.

6: If any who took their discharge later chose to enlist again, the articles of war were to be read to that person, his consent and submission to them obtained, and an entry made of it, and the same method was to be followed with any recruits or other forces the Court then sent or might send afterwards.

7: The appointment of courts martial rested with the Governor and Council, or the greater part of them, who, as often as there was occasion, were to signify their pleasure to the judge advocate, either in writing or by word of mouth, to summon a court martial to meet at whatever time and place was thought proper.

Interpretations

The requirement that every soldier be individually asked whether he would continue in service under the articles of war, with his consent entered by name, treated the articles as a fresh condition imposed on men who had enlisted under the old regime, and this careful recording of each man's assent or refusal shows the Company guarding against a later challenge to the legality of any punishment, since a soldier tried under a code he had never accepted might dispute the court's authority over him.

The vesting of the power to convene courts martial in the Governor and Council rather than in any military officer kept ultimate control of military justice in civil hands, since at St Helena the Company's civil government stood above its garrison, and by reserving to itself the decision to summon a court the Council ensured that the machinery of military discipline could not be turned by the soldiery to its own ends or used without the sanction of the island's governing body.

18

14

8

These Instructions together with the Act of

Parliament and Articles of War we now Send you

we hope will be sufficient, to enable you to put the

Act in Execution, and we particularly recommend

it to you always to take care that you strictly and

exactly keep to the Act of Parliament and Articles

of War, and by no means to exceed the power thereby

given.

9

And we direct you to transmit Copies of the

Proceedings of all Courts Martial and of all other

your Transactions, in consequence of this Act of

Parliament and Articles of War, and of these our

Instructions.

We are

Your loving Friends.

Signed

R. Drake

Rich Chauncey

M. Mabbott

P. Godfrey

John Payne

W Watts

Stephen Law

Cha Gough

Nich Linwood

H Crabb Boulton

W Wilberforce Junr

Cha Cutts

Rob Jones

Will Barwell

London

7 November 1754

Margin Notes:

These Instructions with the Act &ca sent

Copies of the Proceedings of the Courts Martial &ca to be transmitted

8: The Court now sent these instructions together with the act of Parliament and articles of war, which it hoped would be enough to enable the island to put the act into effect, and it particularly urged the island always to keep strictly and exactly to the act and articles and on no account to exceed the power they gave.

9: The Court further directed the island to send home copies of the proceedings of all courts martial and of all its other transactions arising under the act, the articles of war and these instructions.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 5 November 1755, and signed by R. Drake, Richard Chauncy, W. Mabbot, R. Godfrey, John Payne, W. Webb, Stephen Law, Charles Gough, Nicholas Linwood, H. Frankland Boulton, W. Wilberforce junior, Charles Cutts, Robert Jones and William Burwell.

19

15

Our Governor &

Council of St Helena.

1

Since the Departure of the Peter last Year, with our

General Letter of the 27 of November 1754, and a Separate

Letter of the said Date, containing Directions for carrying into

Execution the Act of Parliament, for empowering the Company

to hold Courts Martial in the East Indies & at St Helena We

have received your several Letters of the 1 December 1754, of

the 7, 18, 19, 23 and 28 of March 1755, the 2, 14, 18, 20 and 29

of April, the 5, 10 and 23 of June, the 27 of July, & the 3 of

August following

2

We have been extremely happy this Season in the

safe Arrival of the number of Ships from the several parts of

the East Indies, which are mentioned in the accompanying List

3

Besides the Ships mentioned in our Letter by the

Exeter, as taken up for the Companys Service that Season We

freighted the Todington James Samson Commander for the

Coast & Bay, and to stay in India We likewise fitted out Our

own Ship the Dragon Michael Morgan Commander &

Consigned for to Bombay, where she is to be disposed of unless

the President & Council may think it more for the Companys

Service to make use of her on any extraordinary occasion, in

which case, considering the present Situation of Affairs, it is

not unlikely, but that she may return again to England

4

The Times of the Departure of our several Ships

last Season are inserted in the beforementioned List

5

The Ships taken up for the Companys Service

this Season are as follows vizt

Ships

Margin Notes:

Acknowledging the receipt of Letters

Safe arrival of the Ships from the East Indies

Draggon Dragon taken up for the Coast & Bombay

Departure of the Ships

Ships taken up

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and shipping.

1: Since the Peter sailed the previous year with the Court's general letter of 27 November 1754 and a separate letter of the same date carrying directions for putting into effect the act of Parliament empowering the Company to hold courts martial in the East Indies and at St Helena, the Court had received the island's general letters of 1 December 1754, of 7, 18, 19, 22 and 28 March 1755, of 2, 14, 18, 20 and 29 April, of 5, 10 and 23 June, of 27 July and of 3 August following.

2: The Court was very glad of the safe arrival that season of the number of ships from the various parts of the East Indies named in the accompanying list.

3: Besides the ships mentioned in the Court's letter by the Exeter as taken up for the Company's service that season, the Court had freighted the Codrington, James Samson commander, for the Coast and Bay, to stay in India, and had also fitted out its own ship the Drayton, Michael Morgan commander, consigned for Bombay, where she was to be sold unless the President and Council thought it more for the Company's service to keep her for any extraordinary occasion, in which case, given the present state of affairs, she might well return again to England.

4: The dates on which the several ships sailed the previous season were set down in the list already mentioned.

5: The ships taken up for the Company's service that season were as follows.

Interpretations

The discretion left to the President and Council at Bombay over whether to sell the Drayton or hold her against an extraordinary occasion reflected the uncertainty of the moment, since the phrase pointing to the present state of affairs signalled the approaching war with France, and a ship that would ordinarily be disposed of at the end of her voyage acquired a new value as a hull that might be needed for transport or defence if hostilities broke out in Indian waters.

20

16

Ships Ton Commanders Consignment

Harcourt 499 Wm Webber for China directly

Griffin 499 Ro Dethick St Helena & Limpec in China

Carnarvon 499 Norton Hutchinson

Stormont 499 Josiah Hindman

Suffolk 499 Wm Wilson } Fort St George

Godolphin 499 Wm Hutchinson and China

Oxford 499 Thos Stevens St Helena & Bencoolen

Chesterfield 499 Edwin Carter

Walpole 499 Francis Fowler } Coast & Bay

Delaware 499 Thos Winter

Marlbrough 499 Alexander McCleod Madeira

Hector 499 John Williams China & Bombay

Clinton 499 John Nanfan

Royal Duke 499 George Cuming } Bombay

Portfield 499 Carteret Leguyt

6

Such Orders, Directions & Instructions as shall be

given by the Secret Committee for the time being, must be

strictly attended to & Executed by the Governor, or whoever else

they are directed to, The Gentlemen who compose that Committee

this present Season, are Roger Drake, Peter Godfrey, Christopher

Burrow, John Payne, & James Raymond Esqrs

7

Being desirous to forward all, or as large a Sort of the

Materials for Building the Hospital & Barracks as possible,

& likewise to comply with your Indents, particularly that

for Ammunition & all kinds of Military Stores We have

laden the several Store Ship fixed upon the Griffen one of our

China Ships to proceed first to St Helena, with as considerable a

Share of the said Materials, Stores & other useful Articles, as she

can take in the particulars of all which will appear by

the

Margin Notes:

Ships taken up

Secret Committee

Griffen Store Ship

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Harcourt, 499 tons, William Webber, for China directly

Griffin, 499 tons, Richard Dethick, St Helena and Canton in China

Carnarvon, 499 tons, Norton Hutchinson, Fort St George and China

Stormont, 499 tons, Josiah Hindman, Fort St George and China

Suffolk, 499 tons, William Wilson, Fort St George and China

Godolphin, 499 tons, William Hutchinson, Fort St George and China

Oxford, 499 tons, Thomas Reddens, St Helena and Bencoolen

Chesterfield, 499 tons, Edwin Carter, Coast and Bay

Walpole, 499 tons, Francis Fowler, Coast and Bay

Delaware, 499 tons, Thomas Winter, Coast and Bay

Marlborough, 499 tons, Alexander McCleod, Madeira

Hector, 499 tons, John Williams, China and Bombay

Clinton, 499 tons, John Nanfan, Bombay

Royal Duke, 499 tons, George Cuming, Bombay

Portfield, 499 tons, Carteret Leigh, Bombay

6: Any orders, directions and instructions given by the Secret Committee for the time being were to be strictly followed and carried out by the Governor or whoever else they were directed to, and the gentlemen composing that committee for the present season were Roger Drake, Peter Godfrey, Christopher Burrow, John Payne and James Raymond.

7: Wishing to forward all, or as large a part as possible, of the materials for building the hospital and barracks, and likewise to meet the island's requisition, particularly for ammunition and all kinds of military stores, the Court had fixed on the Griffin, one of its China ships, as the store ship to sail first to St Helena with as considerable a share of the materials, stores and other useful articles as she could take in, the particulars of all which would appear by the [...].

Interpretations

The concentration of that season's outward ships on Fort St George rather than the broader spread of Coast and Bay destinations of the previous year reflected the shifting weight of the Company's Indian trade towards Madras, and the choice to route several vessels there together suggests a deliberate massing of shipping at the presidency most exposed to the French on the Coromandel Coast as the two nations drifted towards open war.

The renewed effort to send out the hospital and barracks materials, carried over from the previous season's letter, shows how a large building programme outran the capacity of a single ship, since the Court had promised the balance the year before and was still forwarding it, and the decision to load the store ship Griffin first and fullest for St Helena reveals the island's fortification being given priority over the ordinary China lading she would otherwise have carried.

21

17

the enclosed Invoice & Bill of Lading, The remainder will be

sent in the Oxford, or as much thereof as can be laden, consistent

with the room necessary to be reserved for the Consignments to

the West Coast.

8

As the Griffen proceeds to China upon a particular

Scheme, which may be defeated if she does not arrive there, as

early as the Season will permit, You must therefore use the utmost

diligence in unloading her, that she may proceed on her Voyage

without loss of Time & if possible within the Charterparty Time

You must give the Commander Orders to make the best of his

way to China, agreeable to the Instructions he has received

from Us & from the Secret Committee

9

Should you find the Commander Dilatory or not

sufficiently expeditious in getting out to Sea, you are to Protest

against him, & the Owners of the Ship, for the Damage and

Detriment such Delay may be the occasion of to the Company

10

We intend to dispatch the Oxford the beginning of

December, & as, after the Consignments to you are delivered, she

is to proceed to the West Coast, We give you this previous notice,

that you may have every thing in readiness to forward her

Despatch accordingly within the usual Charterparty, how

11

We cannot take upon us to say what

Quantity of Fresh Provisions any of his Majestys returning

Ships may stand in need of, but in order that they as well

as our own Ships may have as plentiful a Supply, as the

Stock upon the Island can allow of, you must not suffer

any Foreign Ship to be Supplied with more than shall

appear to be absolutely, necessary, & here we cannot but

observe, that the French Ship called the East India

Company carried off no less than Twenty five Head of Cattle

and

Margin Notes:

Evidence to dispatch the Griffen immediately for the prosecution of the Scheme to China &ca

To Protest against the Commander if not sufficiently expeditious in getting out to Sea & the Owners for the delay

Oxford to be dispatched as usual after the Consignments to you unloading her at Bencoolen

Cannot ascertain the quantity of Fresh Provisions the returning Ships may want

Supposing that a French Ship should have as many Bullocks

These particulars would appear in the enclosed invoice and bill of lading, and the rest of the materials would be sent in the Oxford, or as much as could be loaded consistent with the room to be kept for the consignments to the west coast.

8: Since the Griffin was proceeding to China on a particular scheme that might be defeated if she did not arrive there as early as the season would allow, the island was to use the greatest diligence in unloading her, so that she might continue her voyage without loss of time and, if possible, within her charter party time, and the island was to order her commander to make the best of his way to China in line with the instructions he had received from the Court and from the Secret Committee.

9: If the island found the commander slow or not expeditious enough in getting out to sea, it was to protest against him and the ship's owners for the damage and loss such delay might cause the Company.

10: The Court intended to dispatch the Oxford at the beginning of December, and since she was to proceed to the west coast after the consignments to the island were delivered, it gave the island this early notice so that everything might be ready to forward her dispatch within the usual charter party time.

11: The Court could not undertake to say what quantity of fresh provisions the King's returning ships might need, but so that they and its own ships might have as plentiful a supply as the island's stock would allow, the island was not to let any foreign ship be supplied with more than plainly appeared to be absolutely necessary, and here it could not but remark that the French ship called the East India Company had carried off no fewer than 25 head of cattle [...].

Interpretations

The instruction to protest formally against a dilatory commander and the ship's owners was a legal step with real financial consequences, since a recorded protest preserved the Company's right to recover from the owners the losses caused by delay, the charter party having bound them to a timely voyage, and the direction shows the Company arming its Governor with the documentary means to enforce a shipping contract at the far end of the world.

The warning against over-supplying foreign ships, driven home by the example of a French vessel that had taken 25 head of cattle, reveals the strategic dimension of the island's victualling as war approached, since every bullock given to a French ship both drained a limited stock needed for the Company's own homeward fleet and helped sustain a potential enemy's shipping, so the market at St Helena became a matter of national advantage rather than ordinary commerce.

22

18

and if we are rightly, informed a proportionable Quantity

of other Live Stock, when at the Same Time it appears no

one Ship of the Season belonging to Us, the Exeter excepted had

near that Quantity.

12

You did right in demanding & receiving from the

beforementioned French Ship such of his Majestys British

Subjects, whom you were informed were on board, & at the same

Time it was but Justice to comply with the Commanders

Requisition, to have an Exchange of Man for Man out of the

French, discovered on board our Ships there in the Road.

13

It is but reasonable that the Commanders of our Ships

who, for want of proper Boats of their own, make use of Our

Long Boats for Watering & other heavy Work, should if they have

time give an effectual Repair for the Damage they suffer at least

but if that cannot be done, you must charge their Accounts with

such a Sum as you shall judge reasonable, as well for the use of Our

Boats, as the Wear & Tear of them, We have frequently given you

liberty to buy proper Boats of the Commanders of the returning

Ships, we do all accordingly, have you buy them, whenever they

are wanted, as it is difficult to supply you from hence.

14

As we find you have a considerable Ballance of Cash in

your hands, you will not for the present at least, want a Supply, You

are therefore not, to take any Treasure out of these Ships, the Griffen

You are none out of the Oxford, on her Arrival than shall be

absolutely necessary

15

By this Ship & the Oxford you will find your Indent for

Stores & other Articles, as fully complied with as the Stowage in

the said Ships will admit of, & as the Demands for Flower, Beef

& Pork must be, in the present Conjuncture, very considerable

We therefore send you larger Proportions than you write for

16

Margin Notes:

Approving of your demanding such of his Majestys Subjects that were on board the French Ship & to comply with the Commanders Requisition for an Exchange of Man for Man

Concerning the use of the Long Boats & to give an effectual Repair for the Damage they suffer, & to buy proper Boats of the Commanders of the returning Ships

Not to take any Treasure out of these Ships than shall be absolutely necessary

Indent for Stores &ca complied with

The French ship had also, if the Court was rightly informed, carried off a like quantity of livestock, whereas none of the season's own ships, the Exeter excepted, had taken near that amount.

12: The island had done right in demanding and receiving from that French ship such of the King's British subjects as it was informed were aboard, and it was only just to meet the commander's request for an exchange of man for man out of the French found aboard the Court's ships then in the road.

13: It was only reasonable that the commanders of the Court's ships, who for want of proper boats of their own made use of the Company's longboats for watering and other heavy work, should, if they had time, give an effective repair for the damage the boats suffered, but if that could not be done, the island was to charge their accounts with whatever sum it judged reasonable for the use of the boats and the wear and tear of them, and the Court had often given the island leave to buy proper boats from the commanders of the returning ships, so it might accordingly buy them whenever they were wanted, since it was difficult to supply them from home.

14: Since the Court found the island had a considerable balance of cash in hand and would not, for the present at least, want a supply, the island was not to take any treasure out of the ships, the Griffin any more than the Oxford, on their arrival than was absolutely necessary.

15: By this ship and the Oxford the island would find its requisition for stores and other articles met as fully as their stowage allowed, and as the demands for flour, beef and pork were bound to be very considerable in the present state of affairs, the Court therefore sent larger quantities than the island had asked for.

Interpretations

The exchange of prisoners man for man out of the ships in the road shows a formal convention of war being observed even before the two nations were openly at war, since British subjects found aboard the French ship were traded for Frenchmen taken on the Company's vessels, an orderly reciprocity that treated the crews as combatants to be exchanged by rule rather than as captives held at will.

The Court's decision to send more flour, beef and pork than the island requisitioned marked a departure from the usual practice of shipping to the requisition, and the reason lay in the coming war, since a settlement that might face a French squadron or a longer wait between fleets needed a deeper reserve of salt provisions than its own estimate allowed, so London deliberately overrode the island's figures to build a stock against the disruption of hostilities.

23

19

16

Your Military Indents will likewise be fully complied

with, in proper Proportions by each Ship, & all, or so many of

the Timbers, Deals & other Materials, for Building the Barracks

& Hospital, will be laden on the Two Ships, as they can Stow

17

We shall give the necessary directions to the Supra Cargoes

of the China Ships, to comply with your Indent for Tea, Chinaware

and the ther Articles desired from Canton

18

We would have you renew your Indent for Sugar from the

West Coast, & we shall send particular Directions to our Servants

there, to comply therewith, in any Quantitys you shall yearly

write for

19

The President & Council of Fort St George have been

directed to supply you with Coffree Slaves, & in their Letter of

the 16 of November last, they have promised a punctual compliance

therewith, but as you have not yet received them you must, in

your next Application, remind them of the necessity you are

under for about thirty Slaves, & we will enforce our former

Orders for their supplying you, by the first opportunity

20

You must likewise apply to the President & Council of

Fort St George for the Diaper Table Cloths & Napkins you Indent

for, as you may be supplyed by them with those Articles upon

more reasonable Terms than from hence.

21

The Twenty five Musquets, which you call Pattern

Arms, were inserted in the Oxeter Invoice by mistake they being

intended only for Exercising the Soldiers aboard & consequently,

should have been forwarded for that purpose to the West Coast, as

the greater part of the Soldiers on that Ship, proceeded thither

22

As you intimate the said 25 Musquets were too long

for your Soldiery, it has been a sufficient hint for our

ordering the 250 you Indent for to be made four Inches

Shorter

Margin Notes:

Military Indents to be complied with & the Timbers &ca for Building the Barracks & Hospital to be laden on the two Ships

Directions to be given to the China Ships to comply with your Indent for Tea &ca

Renewing the Indent for Sugar

Coffree Slaves to be supplyed from Fort St George

Diaper Table Cloths &ca

Mistake of the Musquets called Pattern Arms in the Exeters Invoice

The Musquets now Ordered to be shorter

16: The island's military requisition would likewise be fully met in proper proportions by each ship, and all, or as many as possible, of the timber, deals and other materials for building the barracks and hospital would be loaded on the two ships as they could stow them.

17: The Court would give the necessary directions to the supercargoes of the China ships to meet the island's requisition for tea, chinaware and the other articles wanted from Canton.

18: The Court wished the island to renew its requisition for sugar from the west coast, and it would send particular directions to its servants there to comply with it in whatever quantities the island asked for each year.

19: The President and Council of Fort St George had been ordered to supply the island with coffee slaves, and in their letter of 16 November they had promised prompt compliance, but since the island had not yet received them, it was, in its next application, to remind them of the necessity it was under for about 30 slaves, and the Court would enforce its earlier orders for supplying them by the first opportunity.

20: The island was likewise to apply to the President and Council of Fort St George for the diaper tablecloths and napkins it had requisitioned, as it might be supplied by them with those articles on more reasonable terms than from home.

21: The 25 muskets the island called pattern arms had been entered in the Oxford invoice by mistake, being meant only for drilling the soldiers aboard, and so should have been forwarded for that purpose to the Coast, as the greater part of the soldiers on that ship went there.

22: Since the island indicated that the 25 muskets were too long for its soldiery, this was a sufficient hint for the Court to order that the 250 the island had requisitioned be made four inches shorter [...].

Interpretations

The coffee slaves the island sought from Fort St George were enslaved labourers to be shipped from Madras for work in coffee cultivation, and the arrangement shows the Company moving slaves between its settlements as a managed internal supply, with St Helena drawing its bonded workforce from the Indian presidencies rather than from the Atlantic trade, and the Court undertaking to enforce delivery against a subordinate settlement that had promised but not performed.

The decision to procure the diaper tablecloths, napkins and sugar from within the Company's eastern settlements rather than ship them from England rested on plain economy, since the Indian and Sumatran sources lay far closer to St Helena and offered these goods on cheaper terms, and the routing of the island's requisition through Fort St George and the west coast shows London using its own trading network to victual and furnish the island at less cost than home supply.

24

20

Shorter, & as we are fully satisfied Wooden Rammers are

better than Iron, we have ordered them to be fitted up accordingly.

23

All your useless small Arms & unserviceable Cannon

must be sent to England, instead of forwarding them to India

to be disposed of at Batavia, as proposed by you, but previously to

your sending them on board any of our Ships you must procure

a Promise from the Commanders to bring them Freight Free

24

We have directed the Materials to be provided for

Building a New Crane, according to your Plan & Indent by the

Winchelsea, in order to send as many of them by the Oxford as can be

procured by the time of the departure, & she can take in You were to

Blame, in not advising us sooner of so necessary a Work, that We

might have had time to prevent the disappointment you will

certainly, meet with in not receiving the whole this Season.

25

We are much concerned at what you write with

regard to the Frequent Mischiefs & Thefts committed in many parts

of the Island by a Sett of young Fellows who associate with the

Blacks, but we do not, (at present at least,) think proper to

apply for Power for inflicting severer Punishment on Offenders

than you are at present authorized to do, but if any of the said

young Fellows prove irreclaimable take the first opportunity

of sending them off the Island

26

We have inspected the List you refer to for the

Manner in which each Person has supplyed the Market,

our own & Foreign Ships with Cattle, it in general meets with

our Approbation, & the same method & care must be steadily

pursued, but you must observe what we have said in the

beginning of this Letter, not to suffer any Foreign Ships

to have a larger Supply than shall be absolutely

necessary.

27

upon

Margin Notes:

Useless small Arms & unserviceable Cannon to be sent to England

Materials for a New Crane sent by the Winchelsea & Oxford

Concerning the frequent Mischiefs & Thefts committed in many parts of the Island & to send such young Fellows off the Island as prove irreclaimable

Approving of the Method pursued in supplying the Market &ca with Cattle

Not to suffer any Foreign Ships to have too large a Supply

The muskets were to be made shorter, and since the Court was fully satisfied that wooden rammers were better than iron, it had ordered them fitted up accordingly.

23: All the island's useless small arms and unserviceable cannon were to be sent to England instead of being forwarded to India to be sold at Batavia as the island had proposed, but before sending them aboard any of the Court's ships the island was to get a promise from the commanders to bring them home freight free.

24: The Court had directed the materials for building a new crane to be provided according to the island's plan and requisition and sent by the Winchelsea, so that as many of them as could be procured by the time of departure might go by the Oxford as she could take in, and the island was to blame for not advising sooner of so necessary a work, since had it done so the Court might have had time to prevent the disappointment the island would certainly meet in not receiving the whole that season.

25: The Court was much concerned at what the island wrote about the frequent mischiefs and thefts committed in many parts of the island by a set of young fellows who associated with the blacks, but it did not, for the present at least, think proper to apply for power to inflict severer punishment on offenders than the island was authorised to give, though if any of these young fellows proved beyond reform the island was to take the first opportunity of sending them off the island.

26: The Court had examined the list the island referred to for the manner in which each person had supplied the market, its own and foreign ships, with cattle, and it generally met with the Court's approval, and the same method was to be steadily followed, but the island was to observe what the Court had said at the beginning of the letter and not let any foreign ship have a larger supply than was absolutely necessary.

Interpretations

The order to ship worn-out arms and cannon home to England rather than sell them at Batavia, the Dutch entrepot in Java, reversed the island's more profitable proposal for a plain reason of control, since serviceable metal and even broken ordnance sold in a foreign port could find its way into other hands as war approached, and the Court preferred to forgo the proceeds and recover the material at home, insisting only that it travel freight free so the recovery cost nothing.

The Court's refusal to seek harsher powers against the young fellows who consorted with the slaves, choosing instead to expel the incorrigible, reveals a settled preference for removal over severity in governing a small island, since exile permanently rid the settlement of a troublemaker without the inflammation that heavier corporal punishment might provoke among a mixed population of slaves and poor whites, and banishment from a place with no way off was a heavy sanction in itself.

25

21

27

Upon inspecting the State of the Military Stores

remaining, received by the Dragon we could not help being surprized

that you had not before apprized us of what were wanting, especially

considering, the Critical Situation of Affairs between the

British & French Nations for a considerable Time past, the

great Importance of preserving the Island from an Invasion by

a Surprize, & as you knew our constant Intention of having, it

always kept in a defensible Condition, our Principal design

therefore in sending, you two Ships & one of them thus early, is

as we have before informed you to supply, you with all the

necessary Military Stores & Twenty Recruits for the Garrison

Forty of which proceed in the Griffen, as p the enclosed List &

likewise to inform you, that Hostilities are commenced between

the Two Nations in America, that a great number of French

Ships have been already, & are continued to be taken in Europe

by our Men of War, but none of them have been condemned, nor

have Commissions been issued for Privateers or any Letters of

Mart yet granted here, there is no account that the French have

as yet issued Letters of Mart or Reprizals, nor have they taken

any British Ships that we know of, except the Blandford

Man of War of 20 Guns, which has been since restored, by order

of the Court of France, as yet there has been no Declaration of

War made by either Nation, under this Situation of Affairs

therefore, It is of the utmost Consequence, to set about & compleat

whatever may be wanting, in all the Fortifications upon the

Island, to Erect Additional Batteries wherever you shall

judge they may be usefull, & in general to put the Island in

the best posture of Defence, which you are hereby advised to

set about immediately, & as you will be in want of hands

we empower you to give the Soldiers such Encouragements

to

Margin Notes:

Surprized that you did not apprize us before of the wanting of Military Stores

Design of sending the two Ships & one of them thus early to supply you with Military Stores & Recruits

Hostilities commenced between the Two Nations in America & French Ships taken in Europe

For Erecting Additional Batteries & putting the Island in the best posture of Defence

To give the Soldiers such Encouragements

27: On examining the state of the military stores remaining after those received by the Drayton, the Court could not help being surprised that the island had not told it earlier what was wanting, especially given the critical state of affairs between the British and French nations for a considerable time, the great importance of keeping the island safe from a surprise invasion and the Court's constant intention, as the island knew, of having it kept in a defensible condition, so its chief aim in sending the island two ships, one of them so early, was, as it had said before, to supply the island with all the necessary military stores and 20 recruits for the garrison, 40 of whom came in the Griffin, as the enclosed list showed.

The Court likewise informed the island that hostilities had begun between the two nations in America, that a great number of French ships had already been and continued to be taken in Europe by the King's warships, but none of them had been condemned nor had commissions been issued for privateers or any letters of marque yet granted, and there was no account that the French had yet issued letters of marque or reprisal, nor had they taken any British ships the Court knew of, except the Blandford, a warship of 20 guns, which had since been restored by order of the Court of France, and as yet neither nation had made any declaration of war.

Given this state of affairs, it was of the utmost consequence to set about completing whatever might be wanting in all the fortifications upon the island, to build additional batteries wherever the island judged they might be useful and generally to put the island in the best posture of defence, which the island was directed to begin at once, and since it would be short of hands, the Court empowered it to give the soldiers such encouragement [...].

Interpretations

The Court's careful account of what had and had not yet happened between the two powers reveals a settlement poised in the narrow interval between hostilities and formal war, since ships were already being taken at sea while no declaration of war had been made and no letters of marque issued, a legal limbo in which captures could not yet be condemned as lawful prizes, and the restoration of the Blandford by order of the French court shows both sides still observing the forms of peace even as they seized one another's vessels.

The Court's sharp surprise that the island had failed to report its shortages of military stores, set against the known danger from France, exposes the central difficulty of governing at six months' distance, since London could only supply what the island told it was wanting, and a settlement that stayed silent about its deficiencies left itself exposed through a whole sailing season, the fault lying with the island's failure to advise rather than with any reluctance of the Court to provide.

26

22

to assist in carrying on the Works, not only the Fortifications

that these necessary ones likewise the Barracks, as you

shall judge reasonable, either by an addition to their usual

Pay, or an Allowance of Provisions out of our Stores, And

here we must recommend to your particular Attention the

Battery at Bankss which you represent to be much out

of Repair.

28

You must likewise keep up the exactest Discipline

among the Soldiery, that they may be expert in their Exercises &

ready upon any Alarm to repair to, & do their Duty wherever

they shall be wanted; The Planters must likewise be armed &

in constant readiness, to Protect & defend their own, & our

Propertys against any Attack of the French.

29

Our intention in sending you Directions, last year,

not to suffer any Ships either our own or Foreign Ships to pass

Mundens Point in the night time, was clearly to prevent the

Danger of being surprized by Ships getting into the Road at

that Time, but as you think it will be more effectual not to

suffer any to pass Bankss We acquiese therewith, as you on

the Spot must be the best Judges, our meaning in general

being, that all proper measures should be pursued, which

tend to the Security of the Island.

30

We send you by this Ship the Griffin about 40 Recruits

for our Garrison, & intend to send you about 30 more by the

Oxford.

31

We are very well pleased, that the generality of the

Military agreed to continue in our Service, subject to the

Articles of War, made in consequence of the Act of Parliament

for Punishing, Mutiny & Desertion & other Offences

committed by our Troops, We are satisfyed of the great

Utility

Margin Notes:

To assist in carrying on the Works & the Battery at Bankss to be repaired

The exactest Discipline to be kept up among the Soldiery & the Planters to be armed for their Defence

The Directions concerning no Ships passing Mundens Point in the night time & to be as you think most effectual not to pass Bankss

Recruits sent

Concerning the Military continuing in our Service subject to the Articles of War

The island might give the soldiers such encouragement to help carry on the works, both the necessary fortifications and the barracks, as it judged reasonable, either by adding to their usual pay or by an allowance of provisions out of the Court's stores, and here the Court had to recommend to the island's particular attention the battery at Banks's, which it reported to be much out of repair.

28: The island was likewise to keep up the strictest discipline among the soldiery, so that they might be expert in their exercises and ready on any alarm to repair to and do their duty wherever they were wanted, and the planters were also to be armed and in constant readiness to protect and defend their own property and the Court's against any attack by the French.

29: The Court's intention in sending directions the previous year not to let any ship, its own or foreign, pass Munden's Point at night was plainly to prevent the danger of a ship getting into the road under cover of darkness, but since the island thought it more effective not to let any pass Banks's, and the men on the spot must be the best judges, the Court agreed, its general meaning being that all proper measures should be taken for the security of the island.

30: The Court sent by this ship the Griffin about 40 recruits for the garrison and intended to send about 30 more by the Oxford.

31: The Court was very well pleased that the soldiery generally agreed to continue in its service, subject to the articles of war made under the act of Parliament for punishing mutiny, desertion and other offences committed by the troops, and it was satisfied of the great usefulness [...].

Interpretations

The choice to shift the night watch from Munden's Point to Banks's reveals the Court deferring to local knowledge over its own standing order, since the two headlands commanded different approaches to the anchorage and only men on the ground could judge which position better closed the road to a ship entering after dark, and the Court's readiness to yield its earlier instruction marks a practical recognition that a defensive line drawn in London might be redrawn to better effect at St Helena.

The offer to reward the soldiers for labouring on the fortifications with extra pay or provisions from the stores shows the Company blurring the line between soldier and workman under the pressure of war, since the garrison was too small to both build and defend, and by paying the troops to raise the very batteries they would later man the Court turned its military establishment into a construction force, the battery at Banks's singled out as the most urgent call on that labour.

27

23

Utility of the said Act, if properly carried into Execution, & with

as much Lenity, as the nature of the Service will admit of, You

must therefore continue to forward to us from Time to Time the

Proceedings of your several Courts Martial for our Inspection,

in the same manner as those received by the Coulchester and

Prince Henry.

32

You may add an Additional Drummer to each

Company if you think it necessary

33

We approve of your sending Muster Rolls of the

Military apart from the Lists of our Civil Servants, in the

manner it is done by the Prince Henry, this method must therefore

be continued for the future.

34

We are willing that Mr Richard Beale, whom you have

appointed Judge Advocate should have an Allowance adequate to

his trouble in that Post, but as we cannot be Judges thereof, We shall

leave it to you, to make him a reasonable allowance, acquainting us

in your next advices, what that allowance is for our Confirmation

35

We are sorry to observe the great damage the young Trees

Suffer in the Longwood, from the great number of Rats & Mice if you

can point out any Assistance that we can give you from hence to

destroy them, we shall readily comply therewith.

36

You have returned to us the Covenants executed by

Messrs Wrangham & Charles Steward Writers, but no Persons have

yet appeared as Securitys for them, They must therefore write

again to their Friends, to give the usual Security, without

further Delay.

37

We have inspected the rectifyed Account of the

distribution of the late Governor Goodwins money amounting to

£141. 10. 11/2, as mentioned in your Letter of the 5 of June

last, & find it right, & distributed agreeable to our Orders, We

have

Margin Notes:

Continuing to send the Proceedings of the Courts Martial

An Additional Drummer to each Company

Muster Rolls of the Military apart from the List of Civil Servants to be continued

Concerning the Allowance to Mr Richard Beale Judge Advocate

Damage the young Trees suffer in the Longwood

Wrangham & Steward Writers to give Security

Concerning the distribution of the late Governor Goodwins Estate

The Court was satisfied of the great usefulness of the act, if properly carried into effect and with as much lenity as the nature of the service would allow, so the island was to keep sending home the proceedings of its several courts martial for the Court's inspection, in the same manner as those received by the Colchester and Prince Henry.

32: The island might add an extra drummer to each company if it thought it necessary.

33: The Court approved the island's sending muster rolls of the soldiery apart from the lists of its civil servants, as was done by the Prince Henry, and this method was therefore to be continued in future.

34: The Court was willing that Richard Beale, whom the island had appointed judge advocate, should have an allowance suited to his trouble in that post, but since it could not judge of this itself, it left the island to make him a reasonable allowance and to state in its next advices what that allowance was, for the Court's confirmation.

35: The Court was sorry to see the great damage the young trees suffered in the Longwood from the great number of rats and mice, and if the island could point out any help the Court could give from home to destroy them, it would readily comply.

36: The island had returned the covenants executed by Wrangham and Charles Steward, writers, but no persons had yet appeared as securities for them, so they were to write again to their friends to give the usual security without further delay.

37: The Court had examined the corrected account of the distribution of the late Governor Goodwin's estate, amounting to £141 10s 11½d, as mentioned in the island's letter of 5 June, and found it right and distributed in line with the Court's orders, and it had [...].

Interpretations

The Court's insistence that the act be carried out with as much lenity as the service would allow, set beside its demand to inspect every court martial's proceedings, reveals a deliberate check on the new military justice, since a distant garrison armed with the power to punish mutiny and desertion might apply it too harshly, and by requiring the records to be sent home the Court kept a reviewing hand over how severely its officers used the authority Parliament had granted.

The damage rats and mice inflicted on the young trees at Longwood was more than a local nuisance, since the tree-planting was part of the island's effort to establish timber and shade on ground long stripped by goats and neglect, and the Court's readiness to send help from home to destroy the vermin shows how a small ecological battle bore on the larger and difficult work of making a barren island productive.

28

24

have paid to Mrs Rebecca Hunter Executrix of Captain

David Hunter deceased the Sum of £24. 16. 0. being the

Proportion of the Deceaseds Claim on Governor Goodwins

Estate, You have done right therefore in directing it to be

wrote off to Account Current London

38

Lieutenant James Scott not being able to produce

either of the two Bills of Exchange drawn by you on the

15 October 1750 for thirty Pounds in favour of his Wife

Mrs Martha Scott, We have upon his earnest application

notwithstanding, paid him the said Sum of Thirty

Pounds, on his giving Security for Delivering, of the

said Bills or one of them properly endorsed and for

indemnifying the Company in the mean Time, and it

appearing, that the Third Bill is still in your Hands,

you are to cause Mrs Scott, to whose Order the Bill is

Payable, to endorse, the Same to be paid to her Husband

and then you are to transmit it so endorsed to us however

you are to keep an authentick Copy of the Bill and

Endorsement thereon, for future satisfaction, if there

should be occasion.

39

After having Shipped one hundred and fifty

Barrels of Gun Powder on board the Griffin in part

of your Military Indent We were acquainted by

Captain Dethick, that there was not room for the Ships

Powder by thirty Barrels, which put us under the necessity

of consenting that he might have Thirty of Our, and as

his Owners have paid us for the Same here; You are

accordingly to let him retain Thirty Barrells out of the

one

Margin Notes:

Concerning the Claim of Captain David Hunter deceased on Governor Goodwins Estate

Concerning the paying Lieutenant James Scott the Amount of a Bill of Exchange & to cause Mrs Scott to endorse the Third Bill

Concerning the thirty Barrels of Gun Powder

The Court had paid Rebecca Hunter, executrix of the late Captain David Hunter, the sum of £44 3s 3d, being the proportion of the deceased's claim on Governor Goodwin's estate, so the island had done right in directing it to be written off to the Court's account current in London.

38: Since Lieutenant James Scott could not produce either of the two bills of exchange the island had drawn on 15 October 1750 for £30 0s 0d in favour of his wife Martha Scott, the Court had nevertheless, on her earnest application, paid him the £30 0s 0d on his giving security for delivering the bills, or one of them, properly endorsed, and for indemnifying the Company in the meantime, and since it appeared the third bill was still in the island's hands, the island was to have Mrs Scott, to whose order the bill was payable, endorse it to be paid to her husband, and then transmit it so endorsed to the Court, keeping an authentic copy of the bill and endorsement for future satisfaction should there be occasion.

39: After shipping 150 barrels of gunpowder aboard the Griffin towards the island's military requisition, the Court was told by Captain Dethick that there was not room for the ship's powder by 30 barrels, which obliged it to consent that he might have 30 of the Court's, and since his owners had paid for the same in England, the island was accordingly to let him retain 30 barrels out of the one [...].

Interpretations

The elaborate care taken over Lieutenant Scott's missing bills of exchange reveals how the Company protected itself against paying the same debt twice, since a bill of exchange was a negotiable instrument that anyone holding it properly endorsed could present for payment, so by paying Scott only against security and an indemnity, and by insisting the surviving bill be endorsed and returned, the Court closed off the risk that a lost bill might later surface in another hand and be paid a second time.

The arrangement letting Captain Dethick keep 30 barrels of the Company's gunpowder, because his owners had already paid for the equivalent in England, shows the practical settling of a stowage conflict through a paper transfer rather than a physical one, since it was pointless to land powder the ship needed only to reship its own, so the island simply credited the exchange, the Company's barrels staying aboard against the owners' payment made at home.

29

25

one hundred and fifty now Invoiced, which we will replace

by the Oxford.

We are

Your Loving Friends.

Signed

R. Drake

P. Godfrey

John Payne

Nath Newnham Junr

Henry Plant

Whichcott Turner

John Boyd

S Sulivan

Rob Jones

John Dorrien

Henry Savage

Charles Chambers

Timothy Tullie

Maximn Westerne

London

6 October 1755

The 30 barrels were to come out of the 150 now invoiced, which the Court would replace by the Oxford.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 6 October 1755, and signed by R. Drake, P. Godfrey, John Payne, Nathaniel Newnham junior, Henry Plant, Wheatley Sumer, John Boyd, S. Sulivan, Robert Jones, John Dorrien, Henry Savage, Charles Chambers, Timothy Tullie and Maximilian Westerne.

30

26

Our Governor and

Council of St Helena

1

We writ to you very fully by the Griffin under

date of the 10 October, a Duplicate of which Letter you

will now receive by the Oxford

2

The Griffin, in company with the Delaware,

sailed from Spithead on the last Day of October, having

been retarded so long by contrary Winds, waiting for

Convoy and other unavoidable Incidents, however We

hope she will have discharged her Consignments to

you and proceeded on her Voyage to China, long before

this reaches you

3

By this Ship the Oxford you will receive as

many of the remaining Stores provided for the Service of

our Island as she could possibly take in for the

particulars and Amount whereof We refer you to the

accompanying Invoice and Bill of Lading

4

We have reason to believe you will have no

occasion to make use of any of the Treasure consigned to

Fort Marlborough, but if you really are in want of any,

you may detain so much as shall be necessary, not

exceeding one Chest, taking care to advise our Servants

upon the West Coast of the exact Quantity you shall

so detain.

5

As we gave you previous notice of the Time we

intended to dispatch the Oxford, We make no doubt you

will

Margin Notes:

Duplicate 1

Sailing of the Griffin & Delaware

Stores by the Oxford

Treasure not to be detained except in want of any, not exceeding one Chest

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's stores and shipping.

1: The Court had written very fully by the Griffin under date of 10 October, a duplicate of which letter the island would now receive by the Oxford.

2: The Griffin, in company with the Delaware, sailed from Spithead on the last day of October, having been held back so long by contrary winds, waiting for convoy and other unavoidable delays, but the Court hoped she would have delivered her consignments to the island and gone on her voyage to China long before the letter arrived.

3: By this ship the Oxford the island would receive as many of the remaining stores provided for the service of the island as she could possibly take in, and for the particulars and amount the Court referred it to the accompanying invoice and bill of lading.

4: The Court had reason to believe the island would have no need to use any of the treasure consigned to Fort Marlborough, but if it really was in want of any, it might keep no more than one chest, taking care to advise the Court's servants on the west coast of the exact quantity retained.

5: Since the Court had given the island early notice of the time it meant to dispatch the Oxford, it had no doubt the island would [...].

Interpretations

The delay of the Griffin and Delaware at Spithead while they waited for convoy marks the change that the coming war had already worked on the Company's shipping, since in peacetime a well-found Indiaman sailed alone on her own account, but with French warships and privateers at sea the Court now held its ships back to sail under naval escort, accepting the loss of a whole season's early departure as the price of safety.

The Court's repeated care to keep the Fort Marlborough treasure aboard and cap any detention at a single chest reveals the discipline of moving bullion between settlements to where working capital was scarcest, since the island's healthy cash balance meant its need was slight, and by requiring exact notice of anything retained the Court kept its accounts between the settlements straight across the distance that separated them.

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will be so ready to receive her Cargo ashore, that she may

prosecute her Voyage without losing Time, this we earnestly

recommend to your Care and Attention, as her early Arrival

upon the West Coast will be of great importance to the

Company, The Commander must have Orders as soon as the

Cargo is delivered to make the best of his way to his consigned

Port agreeable to Our Instructions, and those of the Secret

Committee

6

The Stone Work for your intended new Crane is all

shipped on the Oxford, but We much doubt whether she will

be able to take in the Wood Work part of it, if therefore you

do not find all or any part of it included in the Invoice,

you will know the reason, and must not expect it untill

next Season

7

In consideration of the long and faithful Services of

Lieutenant Thomas Easthope, We do agree to allow him Two

Shillings & six pence a Day for his Life, to commence from

the Day you discharge him from his Post of first Lieutenant of

one of our Companys which you are hereby directed to do, as soon

after the Receipt of this as you think fit, And as this

discharge will occasion a Vacancy, you are further

directed to give a Commission to Mr John Bazett, to be

Second Lieutenant in one of the Companys, who is well

recommended by you for that Station

8

The Right Honble the Lords Commissioners of the

Admiralty, will order a Convoy for the Homeward bound

Shipping at St Helena the ensuing Season, of which

the

Margin Notes:

Cargo to be soon prepared to be received to enable the Oxford to prosecute her Voyage & the Commander to make the best of his way to his consigned Port

Stone Work for the new Crane

Concerning the Allowance to Lieutenant Thomas Easthope & a Commission to Mr John Bazett as second Lieutenant

A Convoy to be ordered for the Homeward bound Shipping

The island would be so ready to receive her cargo ashore that she might continue her voyage without losing time, which the Court earnestly recommended to the island's care and attention, since her early arrival on the west coast would be of great importance to the Company, and the commander was to be ordered, as soon as the cargo was delivered, to make the best of his way to his consigned port in line with the Court's instructions and those of the Secret Committee.

6: The stonework for the island's intended new crane was all shipped in the Oxford, but the Court much doubted whether she would be able to take in the woodwork part of it, so if the island did not find all or any part of it in the invoice, it would know the reason and must not expect it until the next season.

7: In consideration of the long and faithful service of Lieutenant Thomas Easthope, the Court agreed to allow him 2s 6d a day for his life, to begin from the day the island discharged him from his post of first lieutenant of one of its companies, which the island was directed to do as soon after receiving the letter as it thought fit, and since this discharge would create a vacancy, the island was further directed to give a commission to John Bazett as second lieutenant in one of the companies, being well recommended by the island for that post.

8: The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty would order a convoy for the homeward-bound shipping at St Helena the coming season, of which [...].

Interpretations

The life pension of 2s 6d a day granted to Lieutenant Easthope on his discharge shows the Company assuming a continuing obligation to a long-serving officer beyond the term of his active duty, a form of provision that bound the servant's loyalty over a career and eased the removal of a man grown old in a post, the vacancy his retirement created being filled at once by an officer the island itself had recommended.

The Admiralty's undertaking to provide a convoy for the homeward fleet at St Helena confirms the island's altered footing in wartime, since the returning Indiamen laden with eastern goods were now prizes worth a French squadron's attention, and the naval escort gathering the ships at St Helena for the last leg to England shows the Crown's fleet drawn into protecting a commerce the Company could no longer trust to sail home unguarded.

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28

the Secret Committee will particularly apprize the

Governor and give him the necessary directions.

9

You will receive by this Ship a Chest of Fruit

Trees, to be disposed of in the manner directed in our

Advices last Season

10

In our Letter by the Griffin, We gave you a

General View of the Situation of Affairs, between the

British and French Nations, We have only to add

thereto, that Hostilitys are carried on, with Vigour, in

America, That our Men of War in Europe take all the

French Ships they meet with, of which Great numbers

now lay in the several Ports of his Majestys Dominions,

but none are yet condemned, No Declaration of War is

made by either Nation, No Commissions for Privateers, or

Letters of Marque have been granted or issued here, and so

far from any being issued by the French Court, all

British Merchant Ships are suffered to go in and out

of their Ports without molestation, However the French

continue to exert themselves in encreasing, with the

utmost diligence, both their Land and Sea armaments

and have drawn down a great number of their Forces

to their Coasts, and it is generally beleeved are meditating

some Grand Effort, on the other hand, the most

vigourous measures are taken in England to be

prepared against all manner of Attempts, and it is

with great pleasure the whole Nation sees the

Parliament

Margin Notes:

Fruit Trees

Grand View of the National Affairs in respect to the English & French

The Secret Committee would particularly inform the Governor and give him the necessary directions.

9: The island would receive by this ship a chest of fruit trees, to be disposed of in the manner directed in the Court's advices the previous season.

10: The Court's letter by the Griffin had given the island a general view of the state of affairs between the British and French nations, and it had only to add that hostilities were carried on with vigour in America, that the King's warships in Europe took all the French ships they met, a great number of which now lay in the several ports of the King's dominions, but none were yet condemned, and no declaration of war had been made by either nation. No commissions for privateers or letters of marque had been granted or issued in England, and so far were the French from issuing any that all British merchant ships were allowed to go in and out of the French ports without interference. The French nevertheless continued to exert themselves with the utmost diligence in increasing both their land and sea armaments, had drawn a great number of their forces down to their coasts and were generally believed to be planning some grand effort, while on the other hand the most vigorous measures were being taken in England to be ready against every kind of attempt, and the whole nation saw with great pleasure the [...].

Interpretations

The strange asymmetry the Court described, in which British warships seized French vessels while French ports still let British merchantmen come and go freely, captures the peculiar character of an undeclared war, since neither crown had yet issued the letters of marque that would formally licence private captures, so the two nations hung in a state of hostilities without war, seizing ships at sea while the ordinary forms of peacetime trade continued at the quaysides.

The Court's report that the French were massing forces on their coasts and probably meditating some grand effort explains the urgency running through the whole letter, since a settlement at St Helena reading of a great blow being prepared in Europe could not know where it might fall, and the intelligence justified to the island the heavy emphasis on fortification, stores and convoy that the Company would otherwise have had no cause to press so hard.

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29

Parliament most heartily concurs therein with his

Majesty; This being the present Situation, you must

carefully observe the Directions, we gave in our

beforementioned Letter by the Griffin, to be in a proper

Posture to Defend the Island, in case the French shall

make any attempts against it

We are

Your Loving Friends

Signed

R. Drake

P: Godfrey

John Payne

Nath Newnham Junr

R Bootle

Charles Chambers

Wm Chipps

Thos Rous

H Crabb Boulton

Henry Plant

Rob Jones

Henry Savage

Timothy Tullie

John Manship

Char Gough

John Dorrien

Lawy Sulivan

Maximn Western

Cheast Burrow

London

3 December 1755

Parliament most heartily agreed in this with the King, and such being the present state of affairs, the island was to observe carefully the directions the Court had given in its earlier letter by the Griffin, to be in a proper posture to defend the island in case the French made any attempt against it.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 3 December 1755, and signed by R. Drake, P. Godfrey, John Payne, Nathaniel Newnham junior, R. Bootle, Charles Chambers, Thomas Phipps, Thomas Rous, H. Crabb Boulton, Henry Plant, Robert Jones, Henry Savage, Timothy Tullie, John Manship, Charles Gough, John Dorrien, Lacy Sulivan, Maximilian Westerne and Christopher Burrow.

34

30

Our Governor and

Council of St Helena.

1

Our General Letters to you last Season went by the

Griffin & Oxford, that by the first named Ship, was dated the 10

October 1755, & by the other the 3 of December following, & we

have the satisfaction of being informd that the said Ships

arrived in safety although the Oxford was very late.

2

We have received this Season your General Letters of the

11 of March, the 10 & 15 of April the 8 & 23 of May the 15 & 24

of June, & the 21 August last.

3

In our advices beforementioned you were in general

apprised of the Situation of Affairs between the British & French

Nations, which was such as in all probability would draw on

or hasten an open War, the Event has proved so, as you will observe by the

accompanying Declarations, His Majesty having proclaimed

War against France on the 18 of May last, which was likewise

done soon after by the French King against his Majesty

4

On this important Event we most earnestly recommend

it to you, to exert yourselves, in putting the Island in the best

Posture of defence, as well as with regard to the Fortifications the

exact Discipline of the Garrison, the forming the Planters into proper

Partys & keeping them in constant Exercise, to be ready whenever

there may be occasion for them, but also in general doing whatever

you shall judge necessary, for the Security of the Island & the

Shipping which are at any time in the Road in case of being

Attackt by the Enemy.

5

And

Margin Notes:

Letters sent

Receipt of Letters

Declaration of War against the French

Earnestly recommending to put the Island in the best posture of defence &ca

Directions to be given for putting the Island in the best posture of Defence

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and the outbreak of war.

1: The Court's general letters of the previous season had gone by the Griffin and Oxford, that by the first ship dated 10 October 1755 and that by the other 3 December following, and the Court was glad to learn that both ships arrived safely, though the Oxford was very late.

2: The Court had received that season the island's general letters of 11 March, of 10 and 15 April, of 8 and 23 May, of 15 and 24 June and of 21 August.

3: The Court's earlier advices had given the island a general view of the state of affairs between the British and French nations, which was such as would in all probability draw on an open war, and so it had proved, as the island would see by the accompanying declarations, the King having proclaimed war against France on 18 May, which was likewise done soon after by the French King against the King.

4: On this important event the Court most earnestly urged the island to exert itself in putting the island in the best posture of defence, both as to the fortifications and the exact discipline of the garrison, forming the islanders into proper parties and keeping them in constant exercise to be ready whenever there was occasion for them, and in general doing whatever it judged necessary for the security of the island and the shipping at any time in the road in case of attack by the enemy.

Interpretations

The formal proclamations of war on 18 May 1756 by the British Crown, answered soon after by France, converted the long twilight of undeclared hostilities into open war and transformed the island's position at a stroke, since the seizures and preparations described in earlier letters had proceeded without legal sanction, whereas now captures could be condemned as lawful prizes and St Helena stood exposed as a declared enemy's possession on the sea road the French might strike.

The Court's direction to form the islanders into parties and keep them in constant exercise shows the settlement's whole population being drawn into its defence, since the regular garrison alone could not hold the island against a determined squadron, and the mustering and drilling of planters and inhabitants turned a trading community into a militia, the civil society of St Helena reorganised for war by the same authority that governed its commerce.

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31

5

And as in the present dangerous conjuncture the Committee of Secrecy

for the time being will send the necessary Instructions to the Governor,

or whoever else they shall think proper, the Orders & directions therein

are to have the same regard paid to them as if they were signed by the Court

of Directors, The Gentlemen who compose that Committee the present

Season are Peter Godfrey, John Payne, Christopher Burrow, Roger

Drake, William Mabbott & James Raymond Esquires any three of

whom are a Quorum

6

You have in general given us a good Account of the Intelligence

collected upon the arrival of returning Shipping, it is at all times

material, but much more so at this Juncture, We shall therefore

expect a careful continuance of this Practise, and you must let no

Ship come from the Island without sending us a Letter

notwithstanding she proceed in Company with other to prevent

the disappointments which we have experienced in two or three

Instances this Season, occasioned by some Ships arriving before

those on which you sent your Packets, your Letters are generally

short & therefore this will not be found a difficult Task, We must

likewise recommend it to you to be more explicit in your abstracts

of the Cargoes of our returning Shipping especially, of those from

the Coast & Bay by being particular in describing the several

Species of Goods, which you will easily Collect from the Copys of the

Bills of Lading, to be produced to you by the Commanders

7

You must give directions to the Commanders of each Ship to

send up your Packets, under the care of a trusty Person to the East

India House from the first Port he shall arrive at in great

Britain or Ireland, & you are to give the like directions for

his

Margin Notes:

Orders of the Secret Committee to be duly attended to

Approving of the Intelligence collected & to expect the same to be continued

To write by every Ship that leaves the Island

Directions about your Packets under the care of trusty Persons to be sent to the East India House

5: In the present dangerous state of affairs the Secret Committee for the time being would send the necessary instructions to the Governor, or whoever else it thought proper, and the orders and directions in them were to carry the same weight as if signed by the Court of Directors, the gentlemen composing that committee for the present season being Peter Godfrey, John Payne, Christopher Burrow, Roger Drake, William Mabbot and James Raymond, any three of whom made a quorum.

6: The island had generally given a good account of the intelligence gathered on the arrival of returning shipping, which was always useful but much more so at that juncture, so the Court expected the practice to be carefully continued, and the island was to let no ship leave without sending a letter by her, even though she sailed in company with others, to prevent the disappointment the Court had suffered in two or three cases that season when a ship carrying the island's packets arrived before those on which they had been sent, and since the island's letters were generally short this would be no difficult task. The Court likewise urged the island to be fuller in its accounts of the cargoes of the returning shipping, especially those from the Coast and Bay, describing the several kinds of goods, which it could easily gather from the copies of the bills of lading that the commanders would produce to it.

7: The island was to direct the commanders of each ship to send the packets, under the care of a trusty person, to the East India House from the first port they reached in Great Britain or Ireland, and it was to give the like directions for [...].

Interpretations

The instruction to send a letter by every departing ship, even one sailing in a convoy, arose from a hard lesson in the unreliability of sea communication, since ships that set out together seldom arrived together, and a packet entrusted to a single vessel might reach London weeks after a faster consort had made port, so the Court's remedy was redundancy, duplicating its correspondence across every hull to ensure that news reached home by whichever ship came first.

The heightened demand for detailed accounts of the returning cargoes, especially from the Coast and Bay, reflected the Company's need to track its eastern trade closely as war disrupted the sea lanes, since the value and nature of the goods flowing home bore directly on its commercial position, and by drawing these particulars from the bills of lading the commanders carried, the island could furnish London with an early and independent check on what its homeward fleet was actually bringing back.

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32

his sending up all the Indian Packets those large ones only

excepted which contain the Books of our Settlements, the

want of which Packets this Season have laid us under many

difficulties.

8

We have been very fortunate hitherto in the Arrival of

our Shipping this Season, although in general very late, We

enclose a List of them in which are mentioned the different

Ports they arrived at, previous to their Arrival in the Downs, We

likewise now send you a List containing the times of the Departure

of the several Ships of last Season, since the date of that you

received last from us.

9

We have taken into our Service this Season sixteen Ships

whose Names & Destinations are as follows vizt

Ships Tons Commanders Consignments

Onslow 499 Thos Hinde St Helena & China

Triton 499 Francis Harris

Sandwich 499 John Curling } China directly

Boscawen 499 Benjn Braund

Tavistoch 499 Benjn Jenkins

Norfolk 499 Pinson Bonham

Princess Augusta 499 Thos Braddison } Fort St George & China

Falmouth 499 James Dale St Helena & Bencoolen

Warwick 499 Nicholas Webb Madera & Coast & Bay

Ilchester 499 John Sead

Grantham 499 John Oliver

Fox 499 Her Hume } Coast & Bay

Worcester 499 Edward Siddeman

Princes Edward

Margin Notes:

Duplicate 2

Fortunate Arrival of the Ships this Season & sending a List of them & a List of the Departure of the Ships last Season

Ships taken up

The commanders were likewise to send up all the Indian packets, those large ones only excepted that contained the settlements books, the want of which packets that season had put the Court to many difficulties.

8: The Court had been very fortunate so far in the arrival of its shipping that season, though generally very late, and it enclosed a list of the ships showing the different ports they reached before coming into the Downs, and it now sent as well a list giving the dates on which the several ships of the previous season sailed, since the date of the island's last letter.

9: The Court had taken into its service that season 16 ships, whose names and destinations were as follows.

Onslow, 499 tons, Thomas Hinde, St Helena and China

Triton, 499 tons, Francis Harris, China directly

Sandwich, 499 tons, John Curling, China directly

Boscawen, 499 tons, Benjamin Braund, China directly

Tavistock, 499 tons, Benjamin Jenkins, Fort St George and China

Norfolk, 499 tons, Pinson Bonham, Fort St George and China

Princess Augusta, 499 tons, Thomas Braddison, Fort St George and China

Falmouth, 499 tons, James Dale, St Helena and Bencoolen

Warwick, 499 tons, Nicholas Webb, Madeira and Coast and Bay

Ilchester, 499 tons, John Sedd, Coast and Bay

Grantham, 499 tons, John Oliver, Coast and Bay

Fox, 499 tons, Alexander Hume, Coast and Bay

Worcester, 499 tons, Edward Siddeman, Coast and Bay

The Princess Edward [...].

Interpretations

The exception made for the large packets holding the settlements books, kept back while all other Indian packets were sent ahead, reveals the different weight the Company placed on its two kinds of correspondence, since the current advices carried the news that governed decisions and had to travel by the fastest ship, whereas the bulky account books recorded a settlement's finished business and could safely follow at leisure, the previous season's want of the ordinary packets having taught the Court how costly a gap in current intelligence could be.

The clustering of that season's ships on Fort St George and the Coast and Bay confirms where the war pressed hardest on the Company's trade, since the Coromandel Coast was the front line against the French in India, and the weight of shipping directed there reflected both the commercial importance of the region and the need to sustain a presidency that stood in the path of the enemy's operations in the East.

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33

Prince Edward 499 James Haldane Persia & Bombay

Hawke 499 Richd Drake

John Foot } Bombay

10

Upon the Wars being declared against France, We immediately

purchased a Vessel to carry the necessary Orders thereupon to our Settlements

in the East Indies, she is called the Prince Henry Packet is

Commanded by Captain John Mumford & Sailed from the Downs on the

5 of August, should she touch at St Helena in her return from India

You must send by her all necessary Intelligence, the Governor must do the

same with regard to what may be of a Secret Nature, in an Address to

the Secret Committee for the time being

11

We last Season consigned two Ships to St Helena, in order to send

the Materials for Building your Hospital & Barracks, & a sufficient

supply of Stores & necessarys, & it being of great importance to comply

as fully as possible with your Indents this Year, & to Recruit your

Garrison with as many Men as can be conveniently Transported, We

intend this Season likewise to send you two Ships viz The Onslow by

which you will receive this Letter, & the Falmouth which will be

Dispatched about the middle of December, This Ship the Onslow will

bring all the Recruits, together with as large a part of the Stores &

necessarys as she has room for, the particulars of which will appear

in the accompanying Invoice & Bill of Lading, the remainder will be

laden on the Falmouth.

12

The Onslow is, as soon as she has delivered her Cargo designed for

St Helena to proceed to Batavia & from thence to Lingo in China to

prosecute a Scheme we have much at Heart, we mean the establishing

a Trade in that place & as her early arrival is of the greatest consequence

We must earnestly recommend it to you not only to give them utmost

Assistance

Margin Notes:

Prince Henry Packet purchased as an Advice Vessel

Indents complied with

The Onslow to proceed to Batavia & from thence to Lingo to prosecute a Scheme we have much at Heart

The Prince Edward, 499 tons, was commanded by James Haldane and bound for Persia and Bombay.

Hawke, 499 tons, Richard Drake, Bombay

Hawke, 499 tons, John Foot, Bombay

10: On war being declared against France, the Court had at once bought a vessel to carry the necessary orders to its settlements in the East Indies, called the Prince Henry packet, commanded by Captain John Mumford, which sailed from the Downs on 5 August, and should she call at St Helena on her return from India the island was to send by her all necessary intelligence, the Governor doing the same as to anything of a secret nature in an address to the Secret Committee for the time being.

11: The Court had the previous season consigned two ships to St Helena to send the materials for building the island's hospital and barracks and a sufficient supply of stores and necessaries, and since it was of great importance to meet the island's requisition as fully as possible that year and to recruit the garrison with as many men as could conveniently be transported, it likewise intended that season to send two ships, the Onslow, by which the island would receive this letter, and the Falmouth, which would be dispatched about the middle of December, and the Onslow would bring all the recruits together with as large a part of the stores and necessaries as she had room for, the particulars appearing in the accompanying invoice and bill of lading, and the rest would be loaded on the Falmouth.

12: The Onslow was, as soon as she had delivered her cargo meant for St Helena, to proceed to Batavia and from there to Canton in China, to prosecute a scheme the Court had much at heart, namely the establishing of a trade at that place, and since her early arrival was of the greatest consequence, the Court most earnestly recommended it to the island not only to give her the utmost assistance [...].

Interpretations

The Company's purchase of a dedicated packet vessel the moment war was declared shows how communication itself became a strategic instrument once hostilities opened, since ordinary trading ships sailed on their own commercial schedules under convoy delays, whereas a fast packet carrying nothing but orders could reach the eastern settlements with the news of war and the Company's directions far ahead of the fleet, the difference in speed measured in the survival or loss of a factory caught unprepared.

The scheme to establish a trade at Canton that the Court held much at heart, driving the instruction to speed the Onslow on from St Helena to China by way of Batavia, reveals the Company pursuing commercial expansion even under the pressure of war, since the wartime disruption that threatened its Indian trade also opened opportunities in the eastern seas, and the island was pressed to subordinate its own unloading to the larger design of opening a new branch of the China commerce.

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34

Assistance in your Power to unload her in the Charterparty time, but to

see likewise that the Commander uses the greatest diligence to the same

purpose, in failure whereof you are to protest against him & his

Owners for all Losses which may accrue to the Company from his delay, We

must here acquaint you that in order to obviate the loss of time which

frequently happens by Ships taking in ballast at St Helena, We have

permitted Capt Hinde to carry out about forty Tons of Flint to be disposed

of in China, this is intimated that you may make the proper use of

the information, if you find the Commander makes any Stay longer than

is absolutely necessary under a pretence of wanting more Dead Weight

13

As the Falmouths Departure from hence will be later than

We could have wished, & being to proceed to the West Coast of Sumatra

with the Annual Supplies for our Settlements there You must take

care to be prepared to give her likewise the Quickest Dispatch.

14

The Commanders of both the said Ships must have their

Dispatches within the Charterparty time, as We make no doubt of their

being then entirely delivered, & they are each of them to be directed therein

to make the best of their way on their respective Voyages agreeable

to our Orders & the Instructions they receive from the Secret Committee.

15

We approve of your Conduct in preventing the Dutch Ship

mentioned in your Letter of the 8 of May, coming into the Road in

the night, contrary to the notice the Governor signifyed to the

Commander of her, & your Vigilance in this Instance was extremely

right & we make no doubt of a continuance of it, especially in the

present Circumstance of a French War.

16

Whenever you want a Boat or Boats you have had & shall

continue to have our permission for buying them upon the best

terms you can of any of the Commanders of our Shipping, who can

spare

Margin Notes:

The Capt permitted to carry out about forty Tons of Flint to be disposed of in China

Falmouth to be dispatched to the West Coast with the Annual Supplies

Dispatches of both the said Ships to be delivered within the Charterparty time & the Commanders to make the best of their way on their respective Voyages

Approving of preventing the Dutch Ship coming into the Road in the night

Whenever you want Boats to be bought of the Commanders of our Shipping

The island was to give the Onslow every assistance in its power to unload her within the charter party time, but likewise to see that the commander used the greatest diligence to the same end, and failing that it was to protest against him and his owners for all losses the delay might cause the Company. The Court had to tell the island that, to avoid the loss of time that often happened through ships taking in ballast at St Helena, it had allowed Captain Hinde to carry out about 40 tons of flint to be sold in China, and this was mentioned so that the island might make proper use of the information if it found the commander stayed longer than was absolutely necessary on the excuse of wanting more dead weight.

13: Since the Falmouth would sail from home later than the Court could have wished, and was to proceed to the west coast of Sumatra with the annual supplies for the settlements there, the island was to be ready to give her likewise the quickest dispatch.

14: The commanders of both ships were to have their dispatches within the charter party time, which the Court had no doubt would then be entirely delivered, and each was to be directed to make the best of his way on his respective voyage in line with the Court's orders and the instructions received from the Secret Committee.

15: The Court approved the island's conduct in preventing the Dutch ship mentioned in its letter of 8 May from coming into the road at night, contrary to the notice the Governor had given her commander, and the island's vigilance in this instance was extremely right, of the continuance of which the Court had no doubt, especially in the present circumstance of a French war.

16: Whenever the island wanted a boat or boats it had had, and would continue to have, the Court's permission to buy them on the best terms it could from any of the commanders of its shipping, who could spare [...].

Interpretations

The 40 tons of flint allowed out in the Onslow to be sold in China served a double purpose that the letter exposes with unusual candour, since a ship sailing without enough cargo had to take in stone ballast to keep her stable, and a commander could linger at St Helena on the plea of needing more such dead weight, so by loading saleable flint as ballast the Company both removed that excuse for delay and turned an otherwise dead necessity into a small trading profit at Canton.

The Court's warm approval of the Governor for turning away a Dutch ship that tried to enter the road at night reveals how the wartime rule against night entry was enforced against neutrals as much as against the declared enemy, since a vessel of any flag arriving under cover of darkness could not be identified until she was among the shipping, and the Dutch, though not at war with Britain, were held to the same discipline that the danger from France had made absolute.

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35

spare them for the season we approve of your purchasing Capt Glover's

Long Boat.

17

Whatever relates to the Convoy of our returning Ships the next Season

& their security in general will be communicated to the Governor by our

Secret Committee

18

Upon comparing the Invoice of this Ship & that which you will

receive by the Falmouth, with your Indents you will find we have very

fully complied with them

19

We have likewise given the necessary directions to the Supracargos

of the China Ships going out this Season to provide all the Articles you

Indent for from thence, which will be Laden in proportions on the

several Ships

20

The sending you a Pipe of Madeira Wine every other year by the

Ship that touches at that Island is impracticable but in order to

comply with your Request you will receive, half a Pipe by this Ship &

the other half by the Falmouth, both Bottled off & Packed in Chests.

21

Agreeable to your request we now send you the several Books

mentioned in the List transmitted to us in the Packet by the Bombay

Castle

22

We are sorry to acquaint you, that the President & Council of Fort St

George, inform us they cannot supply you with the 30 Coffree Men Slaves

we have given them directions to send to St Helena, We are sensible this

will be a disappointment & in some degree retard the carrying on the Works

the only method to supply the want of Slaves is to continue to employ

the Military on the Fortifications & Works, until they are in all

respects put in a proper condition for an effectual defence against

any Attack, & in order thereto We shall leave it to your discretion to

give them all fitting encouragement, by additional Pay or in any other

Shape

Margin Notes:

Relating to the Convoy of our returning Ships to be communicated by the Secret Committee

Indents complied with

Indents to the China Ships ordered to be complied with

Wine sent

Books sent

Coffree Slaves wanted from Fort St George not sent

Where the commanders could spare boats that season, the Court approved the island's purchase of Captain Glover's longboat.

17: Whatever related to the convoy of the Court's returning ships the coming season, and to their security in general, would be communicated to the Governor by the Secret Committee.

18: On comparing the invoice of this ship and that which the island would receive by the Falmouth with its requisition, the island would find the Court had very fully met them.

19: The Court had likewise given the necessary directions to the supercargoes of the China ships going out that season to provide all the articles the island had requisitioned from there, which would be loaded in proportions on the several ships.

20: Sending the island a pipe of Madeira wine every other year by the ship that called at that island was impracticable, but to meet the island's request it would receive half a pipe by this ship and the other half by the Falmouth, both bottled off and packed in chests.

21: In line with the island's request the Court now sent the several books mentioned in the list transmitted to it in the packet by the Bombay Castle.

22: The Court was sorry to tell the island that the President and Council of Fort St George reported they could not supply the 30 coffee slaves the Court had directed them to send to St Helena, and though sensible this would be a disappointment and would in some degree hinder the carrying on of the works, the only way to meet the want of slaves was to keep employing the soldiery on the fortifications and works until they were in every respect in a proper condition for an effective defence against any attack, and to that end the Court left it to the island's discretion to give them all fitting encouragement, by additional pay or in any other [...].

Interpretations

The failure of Fort St George to supply the 30 coffee slaves exposes the fragility of the Company's plan to move bonded labour between its settlements, since Madras, itself hard pressed by the war on the Coromandel Coast, could not spare the workers it had been ordered to send, and the shortfall threw the whole burden of the island's fortification back onto the garrison, so that the want of slaves at St Helena was in effect a direct consequence of the military pressure on the presidency that was to have supplied them.

The pipe of Madeira split across two ships and bottled off before shipment shows the practical adaptation of a small luxury to the hazards of wartime carriage, since a whole pipe entrusted to a single vessel might be lost with her, and by dividing the wine between the Onslow and the Falmouth and bottling it into chests the Company both spread the risk of capture and protected the wine from the spoilage that a broached cask would suffer on a long and uncertain passage.

40

36

Shape you shall think will make them go to Work with Alacrity &

Chearfulness.

23

We hope the Deputy Govr & Council at Fort Marlborough will

every Year be able to supply you with a good quantity of Sugar, You

must therefore every Season make the necessary Indents, but we must

caution you at the same Time not entirely to rely upon a single Ship

the arrival of which from common accidents & the Chance of War

may be precarious therefore it will be prudent to continue your Indents

for proportions of the Article from Bengall & China, the latter of which

we shall give directions for agreeable to the Indent you transmit to us

24

You are not upon any Account whatever to take any of the

Treasure out of the Onslow, but if upon the Arrival of the Falmouth

you shall want a supply you are to detain out of that Ship what may

be necessary not exceeding one Chest, in the Whole, of which you are to

give due Notice to the Deputy Governor & Council of Fort Marlborough

as the whole quantity will be consigned to them

25

We send no Bouge Barrels this Season as it appears by the Account

of Remains that there were 65 in the Stores.

26

The Intent of having Account of Remains of Goods & Stores

transmitted to us, is to give an exact view of what may be really

necessary to send you, together with their Sortments Sizes Natures &c

but as your Accounts are in several Instances deficient herein, we

recommend to you to give the necessary directions that they may for the

future be drawn up with more precision, We shall only mention a

few to shew you what we mean viz, There are inserted in your last

Accounts 448 Yards of Broad Cloth, 18 Yards of Cambles & 8 yards

of Shalloon but the Colour not taken notice off, 135 Gun Carriages are

inserted as compleat but the nature of them is not described, or whether any

Margin Notes:

Sugar will be sent from Fort Marlborough but not entirely to rely on a single Ship for that Supply

Treasure not to be taken out of the Onslow but out of the Falmouth then not exceeding one Chest

Bouge Barrels

Concerning your Account of Remains &ca to be drawn up with more precision

The island might give the soldiery encouragement in whatever form it thought would make them go to work with alacrity and cheerfulness.

23: The Court hoped the Deputy Governor and Council at Fort Marlborough would be able to supply the island with a good quantity of sugar every year, so the island was to make the necessary requisition each season, but the Court cautioned it at the same time not to rely entirely on a single ship, whose arrival, given common accidents and the chance of war, might be uncertain, so it would be prudent to keep requisitioning proportions of the article from Bengal and China, the Court undertaking to give directions for the China supply in line with the island's requisition.

24: The island was on no account whatever to take any of the treasure out of the Onslow, but if on the arrival of the Falmouth it wanted a supply, it was to detain out of that ship whatever was necessary, not exceeding one chest in the whole, of which it was to give due notice to the Deputy Governor and Council of Fort Marlborough, since the whole quantity was consigned to them.

25: The Court sent no beugh barrels that season, as it appeared from the account of remains that there were 65 in the stores.

26: The purpose of having accounts of the remains of goods and stores sent home was to give an exact view of what might really be needed to send the island, together with their assortments, sizes, natures and so on, but since the island's accounts were in several instances deficient in this, the Court recommended it give the necessary directions that they be drawn up in future with more precision, and it would mention only a few instances to show what it meant. There were entered in the island's last accounts 448 yards of broadcloth, 18 yards of camlet and 8 yards of shalloon, but the colour was not noticed, and 135 gun carriages were entered as complete, but the nature of them was not described, nor whether any [...].

Interpretations

The caution against relying on a single ship for the island's sugar, with its explicit reference to the chance of war, distilled the central logistical lesson of the whole correspondence, that a settlement dependent on one vessel for any necessary was hostage to that ship's fortune, and by keeping parallel requisitions open on Bengal, China and Fort Marlborough the island spread its dependence across several sources so that the loss or delay of any one would not leave it wanting.

The Court's insistence on colours, sizes and the exact nature of goods in the remains accounts reveals why precise stock records mattered to a supplier ten thousand miles away, since London could only replace what it could identify, and an entry of so many yards of cloth without its colour or so many gun carriages without their pattern left the Court unable to send matching goods, so the demand for precision was a demand that the island's paperwork be exact enough to be acted upon at a distance.

Camlet was a fine cloth, originally of Eastern origin and made from a mixture of wool and other fibres such as silk or goat hair, valued for its close weave and used for outer garments and hangings. Shalloon was a lightweight twilled woollen cloth, chiefly used for the linings of coats and other garments, taking its name from Chalons in France where it was first made.

41

37

& what Number are Mounted, 274 Rammer Heads, 104 Cartridge Cases &

some Gunners Ladls, their Natures are not described & the sizes of these formers

are omitted.

27

Our Intention is to send you by this Ship 60 Recruits for your

Garrison but whether we shall be able to raise so many is doubtful

We must therefore refer you to the accompanying List, both for the Number &

their Names.

28

The Directions we gave last Year, & that is mentioned in the

begining of this Letter will be sufficient for your compleating the

Fortification & Works with the utmost diligence; & We have the

satisfaction of being strongly assured in your late Letters that we may

depend upon your best endeavours for the Security of the Island in

every respect.

29

As you have given it as your Opinion that £40 a Year is a

reasonable allowance to be given to Mr Rich Beale for doing the

Duty of Judge Advocate, We confirm that Allowance.

30

We have no objection to your confirming Solomon Jacobs in the Post of

Adjutant, upon the Suspension & coming away of Mr Mowatt if you are

satisfyed of his Abilitys & fitness for that Post.

31

Mr Mowatts behavior was such, according to your representation

as we think justly drew on him a suspension as he could be of no further

Service to us upon the Island, you did right in permitting him to return to

England, & indeed if he had signifyed an intention to have continued, it

would not have been proper to have suffered it, And for the future We give

you leave to send to England if you think fit any Person or Persons who

shall in such manner disobey your Orders

32

It was highly improper that your Surgeon Ingle should

continue any longer upon the Island, for whatever skill he might

have

Margin Notes:

Recruits referred you

Fortifications & Works to be compleated with the utmost diligence

Mr Beale Salary

Solomon Jacobs Adjutant

Mr Mowatt suspended

Governor & Council have leave to send home such who shall disobey their Orders

The account failed to state what number of the gun carriages were mounted, and there were entered 274 rammer heads, 104 cartridge cases and some gunners ladles whose natures were not described and whose sizes were left out.

27: The Court intended to send by this ship 60 recruits for the island's garrison, but whether it would be able to raise so many was doubtful, so it referred the island to the accompanying list, both for the number and their names.

28: The directions the Court gave the previous year and those mentioned at the beginning of the letter would be enough for the island to complete the fortifications and works with the utmost diligence, and the Court was glad to be strongly assured in the island's late letters that it might depend on its best endeavours for the security of the island in every respect.

29: Since the island had given its opinion that £40 a year was a reasonable allowance for Richard Beale for doing the duty of judge advocate, the Court confirmed that allowance.

30: The Court had no objection to the island confirming Solomon Jacobs in the post of adjutant, on the suspension and departure of Mr Mowatt, if it was satisfied of his ability and fitness for the post.

31: Mr Mowatt's behaviour, by the island's account, was such as justly drew on him a suspension that left him fit for no further service to the Court on the island, so the island had done right in allowing him to return to England, and indeed had he signified an intention of staying it would not have been proper to allow it, and for the future the Court gave the island leave to send to England any person who disobeyed its orders in such a manner.

32: It was highly improper that the island's surgeon Ingle should stay any longer on the island, for whatever skill he might have [...].

Interpretations

The Court's grant of a standing authority to send home anyone who disobeyed orders in the manner Mowatt had shows a settlement hardening its disciplinary powers under wartime strain, since the ordinary machinery for dealing with a refractory officer was slow and uncertain at such a distance, and by giving the Governor a general licence to expel offenders the Company armed him with a swift and final remedy that dispensed with reference home in each case.

The confirmation of Richard Beale's £40 a year for the judge advocate's duty, fixed on the island's own recommendation and ratified from London, illustrates how the Company set the value of a new office through a dialogue across the ocean, since the Court could not judge from England what the trouble of the post was worth, so it delegated the assessment to the men on the spot and reserved to itself only the formal power of confirmation, a division of judgement that recurs throughout the settlement's administration.

42

38

have in his profession, the general resentment against him for his

late behavior would have rendered it of little use, upon his coming

away therefore & likewise his Mate Mr Evans, You inform us that

Mr Robert Barclay Surgeon of the Ship Warren at your request

consented to stay in the room of Mr Ingles, if he could be certain

of being confirmd & recommending him as a sober Diligent Man

& perfectly well Qualifyed in all respects to discharge every part

of the Duty, We do accordingly agree & direct that Mr Barclay

be established principal Surgeon of our Island at the usual

Salary & allowance

33

We give you liberty to fix upon a proper Person for a Surgeons

Mate out of any of our returning Ships, & if you approve of him & he

is willing to serve in that Capacity, to settle on him the usual

Salary & allanances

34

In answer to the 31 Paragraph of your Letter dated the 10 of

last April, The Act of Parliament takes effect from the publication

of it in this Island, & the 15 Sect: of the Articles of War ordains that

they shall be read & published once in every two Months, & as the

directions of this Act & Articles of War have been exactly pursued & the

Soldiers have continued to receive their Pay, We think they are

compleatly Listed & in case of misbehavior are liable to be proceeded

against & punished in such manner as is prescribed by the Act and

Articles

35

Agreeable to your recommendations We have permitted Mrs

Deborah Leving to proceed to her Husband Geo Leving the

Companys Carpenter, at St Helena & she will accordingly take

her Passage on the Onslow.

36

Since

Margin Notes:

Mr Barclay continued Surgeon in the room of Mr Ingles

A Surgeons Mate to be appointed

Act of Parliament concerning the Soldiers

Mrs Deborah Leving

Whatever skill Ingle had in his profession, the general resentment against him for his late behaviour would have made it of little use once he came away, and the same held for his mate Mr Evans. The island had reported that Robert Barclay, surgeon of the ship Warren, had at its request agreed to stay in Ingle's place if he could be sure of being confirmed, and it recommended him as a sober, diligent man perfectly well qualified in every respect to discharge every part of the duty, so the Court accordingly agreed and directed that Barclay be established principal surgeon of the island at the usual salary and allowance.

33: The Court gave the island leave to fix on a proper person for a surgeon's mate out of any of its returning ships, and if it approved of him and he was willing to serve in that capacity, to settle on him the usual salary and allowances.

34: In answer to the thirty-first paragraph of the island's letter of 10 April, the act of Parliament took effect from its publication in the island, and the fifteenth of the articles of war ordained that they were to be read and published once every two months, and since the directions of the act and articles had been exactly followed and the soldiers had continued to receive their pay, the Court held them to be completely enlisted and, in case of misbehaviour, liable to be proceeded against and punished in the manner prescribed by the act and articles.

35: In line with the island's recommendations the Court had allowed Deborah Levinz to proceed to her husband George Levinz, the Company's carpenter at St Helena, and she would accordingly take her passage on the Onslow.

Interpretations

The Court's reasoning that Ingle's skill was worthless once the settlement had turned against him reveals how far a small isolated community depended on the personal standing of its officers, since a surgeon distrusted by those he was to treat could not function whatever his competence, and the general resentment against him became itself the decisive ground for his removal, professional ability counting for nothing without the confidence of the people he served.

The Court's careful ruling that the soldiers were completely enlisted and so liable to military punishment closed the legal loophole that had troubled the new discipline, since the whole force of the articles of war depended on the men being lawfully bound by them, and by resting that binding on the twin facts of the articles being regularly read and the pay being continuously received, the Court established the two conditions that made the garrison answerable to military justice beyond any later challenge.

43

39

36

Since Writing the beforegoing your General Letter of the 21 of August

last by his Majestys Ship the Hampshire came to hand, some parts

whereof we shall now take notice off, & shall reply to the rest by the

Falmouth, first informing you that the Hampshire with the Ships Duke

of Dorset, St George, Delham, Stretham & Exeter under her Convoy got

safely to the River Shannon near Limerick on the 27 of last Month, the

occasion of their putting in there was an Account of the St Georges springing

a Leak & being in danger of loosing her Rudder.

37

We shall endeavour to send you on the Falmouth a Mason in the room

of Mark Hawkins who you have dismissed as being from his Idleness

Negligence & drinking unfit for further Service.

38

We send you by this Ship as many Recruits for your Garrison as we can

possibly raise, Your Request for adding a Lieutenant more to each Company

it will be considered, & our directions thereupon sent by the Falmouth.

39

You may Debt upon your Books the settlement of Fort Marlborough

for all expences you may be at upon account of Noqueadah Pohallum the

Mallay Man Transported from thence to St Helena by order of the Deputy

Governor & Council.

40

We observe that the Damages arising from an extraordinary Shower

of Rain on the 28 of July had prevented you carrying on any other Work

than repairing the Fortifications, it was right to turn your whole

Strength to that very material Object by employing the Soldiers

therein, with as many of our Slaves as could be spared

41

We shall endeavour to find out in what Ship your Carpenters

Mate Thomas Eastwood made his Escape, & if we find it was done with

the Consent or connivance of the Capt or Officers a due resentment shall be

shewn in order to prevent such desertions in future

42

In

Margin Notes:

Acknowledging the receipt of another General Letter by the Hampshire

A Mason will be sent in the room of Mark Hawkins

Recruits sent, & adding a Lieutenant to each Company to be considered

Fort Marlborough Settlement to be Debited for the Expence of Noqueadah Pohallum the Mallay Man

Damages arising from an extraordinary Shower of Rain

Concerning Thomas Eastwood Carpenters Mate who made his Escape

36: Since writing the foregoing, the island's general letter of 21 August had come to hand by the King's ship Hampshire, some parts of which the Court would now notice and reply to the rest by the Falmouth, first telling the island that the Hampshire, with the ships Duke of Dorset, St George, Durham, Streatham and Exeter under her convoy, got safely to the River Shannon near Limerick on 27 last month, the occasion of their putting in there being an account of the St George springing a leak and being in danger of losing her rudder.

37: The Court would try to send on the Falmouth a mason in the room of Mark Hawkins, whom the island had dismissed as being, through his idleness, negligence and drinking, unfit for further service.

38: The Court sent by this ship as many recruits for the island's garrison as it could possibly raise, and the island's request for adding a lieutenant more to each company would be considered and directions sent by the Falmouth.

39: The island might charge on its books to the settlement of Fort Marlborough all expenses it might be at on account of Noquedah Johallum the Malay, transported from there to St Helena by order of the Deputy Governor and Council.

40: The Court saw that the damage from the extraordinary shower of rain on 28 July had prevented the island carrying on any work other than repairing the fortifications, and it was right to turn the whole strength to that very material object by employing the soldiers on it, with as many of the Court's slaves as could be spared.

41: The Court would try to find out in what ship the island's carpenter's mate Thomas Eastwood made his escape, and if it found it was done with the consent or connivance of the captain or officers, a due resentment would be shown to prevent such desertions in future.

Interpretations

The charging of the Malay Johallum's transport costs back to Fort Marlborough shows the Company operating a careful internal accounting between its settlements, since the man had been removed from Sumatra to St Helena by order of the Deputy Governor there, and the principle that the settlement ordering an action bore its cost kept the books between the scattered factories in balance, each place answerable for the expenses its own decisions generated.

The Court's threat to show a due resentment against any captain who connived at the escape of the carpenter's mate reveals the difficulty of holding skilled men to a remote posting, since a tradesman who wished to leave could bargain passage with a ship's officer against the settlement's will, and the only check the Company had was to make its displeasure felt on the commanders themselves, whose future employment depended on the Court's favour, so the discipline of the crews became the instrument for retaining the servants ashore.

Noquedah was a title rather than a name, denoting the master or owner of a native trading vessel in the eastern seas, so the man was a Malay ship's captain removed from Fort Marlborough to St Helena by order of the settlement there.

44

40

42

In answer to your request to have a Surgeons Mate sent you from

England, you will observe we have given you liberty in the 33 Par

to entertain one out of any of the returning Ships & this method we are

still of Opinion is the best, & therefore shall not send one from hence

43

To prevent as much as possible the Demands of our Shipping

for Fewel which you say, if continued will exhaust the Island of

Wood so as not to have a sufficient Quantity for the Consumption of

the Inhabitants We have this Season inserted a Clause in every

Commanders Instructions & shall continue it in future to direct that

they supply themselves before their Departure from India with as

much Fewel as will serve for their homeward bound Voyage allowing

for an extraordinary Stay at St Helena or elsewhere, We have

given the same Instructions with regard to their laying in a sufficient

Stock of live Provisions to prevent their distressing you likewise in

this particular.

44

We shall pay a due regard to your Additional Indent & in particular

for the Salt Provisions, which latter we are sensible will be much

wanted, upon reference to the Invoices of this Ship & that intended by

the Falmouth, you will observe how far we have or shall be

able to supply you

45

We shall not be able to send the Cutt Timber indented for of His

Majestys Ship Hampshire, you are therefore to make use of the

Timbers Plank &ca sent by this Ship & the Falmouth, for the Repairs

of the Fortifications, till we can supply you by the next Years

Ship with Materials for the other Buildings.

46

You took a very proper measure to obviate the bad effects which might

have been the consequence of a Report on board his Majestys Ship the

Hampshire, that there was plenty of Cattle upon the Island for Slaughter

if you would permit them to be sold, And we could have wished you had

found out the Person who you say belonged to the Island & was the

Author

Margin Notes:

Surgeons Mate

Concerning Fewel &ca

Ships to be supplied with Fewel in India for preventing the like

We shall pay a due regard to your Additional Indent for the Salt Provisions

Cut Timber indented for of His Majestys Ship Hampshire not sent & to make use of other Timbers &ca sent by this Ship & the Falmouth for the Repairs of the Fortifications

Approving of the measure to obviate the bad effects of a Report &ca

42: In answer to the island's request to have a surgeon's mate sent from England, the Court had given it leave in the thirty-third paragraph to take one out of any of the returning ships, a method it was fully of opinion was the best, and so it would not send one from home.

43: To prevent as far as possible the demands of the shipping for firewood, which the island said, if continued, would strip the island of wood so that there was not enough left for the inhabitants consumption, the Court had that season inserted a clause in every commander's instructions, and would keep doing so in future, directing that they supply themselves before leaving India with as much firewood as would serve for the homeward voyage, allowing for an extraordinary stay at St Helena or elsewhere, and it had given the same instructions about their laying in a sufficient stock of live provisions, to prevent their distressing the island likewise in that particular.

44: The Court would pay due regard to the island's additional requisition, and in particular for the salt provisions, which it was sensible would be much wanted, and on referring to the invoices of this ship and that intended by the Falmouth the island would see how far the Court had been able, or how little, to supply it.

45: The Court would not be able to send the oak timber requisitioned for the King's ship Hampshire, so the island was to make use of the timber, plank and so on sent by this ship and the Falmouth for the repairs of the fortifications, until the Court could supply it by the next year's ship with materials for the other buildings.

46: The island took a very proper course to head off the bad effects that might have followed a report aboard the King's ship Hampshire that there was plenty of cattle on the island for slaughter, if the island would permit them to be sold, and the Court could have wished the island had found out the person who, it said, belonged to the island and was the author [...].

Interpretations

The clause inserted in every commander's instructions to lay in firewood and live provisions before leaving India addressed a slow environmental crisis that the war had sharpened, since a treeless island stripped of its wood by passing ships could not sustain its own people, and by shifting the burden of fuel and provisions onto the ships themselves before they ever reached St Helena, the Company protected the settlement's scant resources from being consumed by the very fleet it existed to serve.

The Company's concern over a rumour aboard the Hampshire that the island had cattle to spare reveals how dangerous loose talk about the island's stores had become in wartime, since a report that provisions were plentiful could draw demands the island could not meet and expose the true state of its resources, and the Court's wish to identify the islander who spread it shows the settlement's victualling treated as sensitive intelligence to be guarded rather than an open matter of trade.

45

41

Author of that Report in order for your shewing a resentment suitable to the

Malice & Falsity of it

47

We have given repeated Orders for your sending to England our late

Surgeon Samuel Falconer we find he evades leaving the Island under frivolous

pretences, altho he has been indulged with a sufficient time to settle

his private Affairs, We therefore positively order that you oblige him to

return to England upon the first Ship that Sails after your receipt of

this Letter.

48

If the Earl of Holderness has been at St Helena it is likely a Letter may

be left with you for the Supra Cargos of this Ship or at least you may in

conversation have gathered something material for Bencoolen information, you

are therefore to deliver such Letter or communicate such conversation to

that Gentleman accordingly, And as it is very probable We may continue

the method of ordering the Limpo Ship to call at St Helena outward bound

you must observe it as a Standing rule to call up the Supra Cargos of the

returning Limpo Ship every Season, to lodge with you a Letter to be

delivered to the Supra Cargos of such Outward bound Ship wherein they

are to give a Summary Account of their Transactions together with all

such informations as may be useful & necessary for their future proceedings

We are

Your Loving Friends.

Signed

Lau Sulivan

Henry Plant

Charles Chambers

John Dorrien

Timothy Tullie

H Crabb Boulton

Thos Rous

Rob Jones

Christr Burrow

P Godfrey

John Payne

J Raymond

M Impey

Maximn Western

Stephen Law

Henry Savage

London

17 Novr 1756

Margin Notes:

Samuel Falconer late Surgeon positively ordered to return to England upon the first Ship that Sails after receipt of this Letter

Concerning a Letter from the Earl of Holderness for the Supra Cargos of this Ship &ca

The island was to identify the author of that report so it might show a resentment suited to its malice and falsity.

47: The Court had given repeated orders for sending home its late surgeon Samuel Falconer, but found he evaded leaving the island under various pretences, though he had been indulged with enough time to settle his private affairs, so it positively ordered the island to oblige him to return to England by the first ship that sailed after the letter reached it.

48: If the Earl of Holderness had been at St Helena, a letter might have been left with the island for the supercargoes of this ship, or at least the island might have gathered something material in conversation for the Court's information, so it was to deliver such a letter or pass on such conversation to that gentleman accordingly, and since it was very probable the Court would continue the method of ordering the China ship to call at St Helena outward bound, the island was to observe as a standing rule to call on the supercargoes of the returning China ship every season, to lodge with the island a letter to be delivered to the supercargoes of such outward-bound ship, giving a summary account of their transactions together with all information useful and necessary for their future proceedings.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 17 November 1756, and signed by Lacy Sulivan, Henry Plant, Charles Chambers, John Dorrien, Timothy Tullie, H. Crabb Boulton, Thomas Rous, Robert Jones, Christopher Burrow, P. Godfrey, John Payne, James Raymond, M. Impey, Maximilian Westerne, Stephen Law and Henry Savage.

Interpretations

The standing rule that each returning China ship should lodge with the island a summary of its transactions for the next outward-bound ship reveals the Company building a relay of commercial intelligence through St Helena, since the supercargoes going out to Canton needed the freshest knowledge of prices, conditions and dealings that only a homeward ship could carry, and the island's position on the sea road made it the natural point at which the returning fleet's experience could be handed to the outward fleet, closing an information gap that the length of the voyage would otherwise leave open.

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42

Our Governor and

Council of St Helena

1

The Ship Onslow which carried our last Letter

under Date of the 17 of Novr, sailed from Spithead on the 3 of Dec

with a fine gale of Wind, which continued so long as We hope the near

will be the occasion of her arrival at St Helena in good time for

delivering her Cargo, & proceeding on her destined Voyage for China

By this Ship the Falmouth you will receive a Duplicate of

the said Letter.

2

Besides the Ships mentioned in our last Letter

We have taken up the three undermentioned & fixed their Voyages

as follows viz

Ships Tons Commanders Consignments

Elizabeth 499 Robt Burdett Coast & Bay

York 499 Peter Lascelles

Lord Anson 499 Edwd Lord Chich } Bombay

3

By this Ship the Falmouth we send the

remainder of the necessaries & Stores intended this Season for

our Island St Helena, as by the accompanying Invoice & Bill

of Lading

4

You were empowered in our Letter of the 17 of Novr

to detain a part of this Ships Treasure not exceeding one Chest in

the Whole, We now confirm the Same & agreeable to what we then

directed you are to give the necessary notice to our Deputy Governor

Council at Fort Marlborough of the Quantity you shall so detain.

5

You must give all possible Assistance for the speedy

unloading of that part of the Falmouths Cargo consigned to

you

Margin Notes:

Duplicate 1

Ships taken up

Stores sent

Treasure to be detained not exceeding one Chest in the Whole

Directions concerning the unloading the Falmouth

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the season's shipping and stores.

1: The ship Onslow, which carried the Court's last letter under date of 17 November, sailed from Spithead on 3 December with a fine gale of wind, which the Court hoped had continued long enough to bring her to St Helena in good time to deliver her cargo and go on her destined voyage to China, and by this ship the Falmouth the island would receive a duplicate of that letter.

2: Besides the ships mentioned in the Court's last letter, it had taken up the three named below and fixed their voyages as follows.

Elizabeth, 499 tons, Robert Burdett, Coast and Bay

York, 499 tons, Peter Lascelles, Bombay

Lord Anson, 499 tons, Edward Lord, Bombay

3: By this ship the Falmouth the Court sent the rest of the necessaries and stores intended that season for the island, as shown by the accompanying invoice and bill of lading.

4: The island had been empowered in the Court's letter of 17 November to keep back a part of this ship's treasure not exceeding one chest in the whole, and the Court now confirmed the same, and in line with what it had then directed the island was to give the necessary notice to the Deputy Governor and Council at Fort Marlborough of the quantity retained.

5: The island was to give every possible assistance for the speedy unloading of that part of the Falmouth's cargo consigned to [...].

Interpretations

The Court's fixing of the three additional ships' voyages to the Coast and Bay and Bombay, added to a season's list already dispatched, shows how the Company built up its shipping through the year rather than committing the whole fleet at once, since the demands of the eastern trade and the tonnage available shifted as the season advanced, and a settlement reading the running total could see the weight of the year's commerce still pressing on the Indian coast where the war with France was fought.

47

43

you & see that the Commander likewise uses the utmost dispatch

for the same purpose, that he may proceed on his Voyage without

loss of time & you must not fail of giving him his Sailing Orders

within the Charterparty time.

6

So what regards the proper measures to be taken for or

the Security of our homeward bound Shipping the Governor has the

necessary Directions from our Secret Committee by the Onslow & this

Ship, & here it may be necessary to acquaint you that William

Mabbott Esqr One of the Gentlemen mentioned in our last

Letter to be of that Committee has since quitted the Direction

7

The accompanying List will inform you of the

number & Names of the Recruits on this Ship for the Service

of our Garrison at St Helena, all the rest being destined for our

Settlements upon the West Coast of Sumatra you are on no account

to Detain any of them

8

In answer to the 3 Paragraph of your Letter by His

Majestys Ship the Hampshire, We send you this Season as large a

proportion of Recruits out of the number raising for our Settlements

in India as can be possibly spared, If you find it really necessary

to encrease your Number of Officers, but not otherways We give you

leave to add a Lieutenant to each of the four Companys, to be chosen

by you out of the most promising & best qualified young People upon

the Island, And as you have recommended Richd Beale who has

carried Arms in Our Service several years as a Cadet to be very capable

& deserving of that Station, he is to be one of the first you Grant a

Commission to

9

We have not been able to send you by this Conveyance

a

Margin Notes:

Directions concerning the Commander using the utmost dispatch

Directions concerning the Security of our homeward bound Shipping given by the Secret Committee & William Mabbott quitted the Direction

Recruits sent

Concerning the encreasing the number of Officers & to add a Lieutenant to each of the four Companys & Richd Beale to have a Commission

The island was to see that the commander likewise used the utmost dispatch to the same end, so that he might proceed on his voyage without loss of time, and it was not to fail of giving him his sailing orders within the charter party time.

6: As to the proper measures to be taken for the security of the homeward-bound shipping, the Governor had the necessary directions from the Secret Committee by the Onslow and this ship, and here it might be necessary to tell the island that William Mabbot, one of the gentlemen mentioned in the Court's last letter as being of that committee, had since left the direction.

7: The accompanying list would inform the island of the number and names of the recruits on this ship for the service of the garrison at St Helena, all the rest being intended for the settlements on the west coast of Sumatra, so the island was on no account to keep any of them.

8: In answer to the third paragraph of the island's letter by the King's ship Hampshire, the Court sent that season as large a proportion of recruits out of the number raising for the settlements in India as could possibly be spared, and if the island found it really necessary to increase its number of officers, but not otherwise, the Court gave it leave to add a lieutenant to each of the four companies, to be chosen out of the most promising and best qualified young people on the island, and since the island had recommended Richard Beale, who had carried arms in the Court's service several years as a cadet as very capable and deserving of that post, he was to be one of the first the island granted a commission to.

9: The Court had not been able to send by this ship a [...].

Interpretations

The Court's authority to add a lieutenant to each company only if the island found it really necessary but not otherwise reveals the constant tension between military readiness and the cost of the establishment, since every new officer meant a permanent charge on the Company's accounts, and by hedging the permission with that condition the Court left the judgement to the island while guarding against an unnecessary swelling of the paid officer corps under cover of the war.

The promotion of Richard Beale from cadet to a lieutenant's commission, resting on years of carrying arms in the ranks, shows the path by which the Company's garrison filled its junior officer posts from within, since a young man who had served as a cadet had proved himself under the eye of the settlement, and the island's recommendation carried such weight that London directed he be among the first commissioned, local knowledge of a candidate's fitness again governing an appointment the Court could not judge for itself.

48

44

Carpenters Mate or a Mason but the Soldiers in this Ships designd

for St Helena having been bred Carpenters, Bricklayers &

you may employ them in the Works, making them the

usual Allowance that is given to the other Soldiers when

employed for our Service.

We are

Your loving Friends.

P Godfrey

John Payne

R. Drake

J Raymond

N Newnham Junr

M Impey

Henry Plant

L Sulivan

John Dorrien

Rob Jones

Henr Savage

Thos Rous

Cha Gough

Timothy Tullie

H Crabb Boulton

Stephen Law

Christ Burrow

Charles Chambers

John Manship

M Westerne

London

29 Decr 1756

Margin Notes:

Carpenters Mate not sent

Soldiers bred Carpenters &ca may be employed in the Works

The Court had not been able to send by this ship a carpenter's mate or a mason, but since the soldiers in this ship meant for St Helena had been bred carpenters, bricklayers and the like, the island might employ them in the works, making them the usual allowance given to the other soldiers when employed for the Court's service.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 29 December 1756, and signed by P. Godfrey, John Payne, R. Drake, James Raymond, N. Newnham junior, M. Impey, Henry Plant, L. Sulivan, John Dorrien, Robert Jones, Henry Savage, Thomas Rous, Charles Gough, Timothy Tullie, H. Crabb Boulton, Stephen Law, Christopher Burrow, Charles Chambers, John Manship and Maximilian Westerne.

Interpretations

The decision to draw the island's building tradesmen from among the soldiers sent out, rather than ship a carpenter's mate and mason as separate craftsmen, shows the Company making a single body of men serve two functions under wartime scarcity, since recruits already bred to the building trades could take up the tools when not under arms, and by paying them the usual working allowance the Court turned its garrison into the labour force that raised the very fortifications and buildings they were posted to defend.

49

45

Our Governor and

Council of St Helena.

1

Since our last orders to you dated the 29 Decemr

1756 by the Ship Falmouth, we received yours several

Letters of the 3 of November 1756, 10 February 11 March

14 and 30 April 21 and 25 June 20 July and 9 August

1757, Whereon we shall now give our Sentiments and

directions with the Necessary informations for your

Government in the Administration of our Affairs

2

It is with great pleasure We can now Inform

You of the safe Arrivals of all Our Expected Ships this Season

from the several parts of the East Indies which with respect

to those that had not the benefit of Convoy, is the more

Agreable, the present dangerous Situation of Affairs by the

Continuance of War between the British and French Nations

being Considered, You will be acquainted with the Places

and Times of their reaching the Different Ports by the

inclosed List, Our particular thanks are due to Captain

O'Brien for his great Care and Attention to the Safety of

the Fleet which Came under his Convoy.

3

The unhappy Scituation of our Concerns in Bengall

on the Sloop Superb, Coming from thence requiring the Speedy

Conveyance of the proper orders for retrieving the on this

Expedition Packett, Captain James Warton employed on that

Service Sailed from the downs the 14 August but unhappily

falling in with a French Privateer was taken the 29 and

Carried into Vigo, where Captain Warton and the Vessels

Crew were set at Liberty

4

To carry on our Commerce We have this Season

entertained in the Companys Service the following Ships

viz

Margin Notes:

Acknowledging the receipt of Letters

Pleasant News of the Arrival of Ships from India

The Advice Packet sent to Bengall but was taken by a French Privateer

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and shipping.

1: Since the Court's last orders of 29 December 1756 by the Falmouth, it had received the island's several letters of 3 November 1756, of 10 February, 11 March, 14 and 30 April, 21 and 25 June, 20 July and 9 August 1757, on which it would now give its views and directions along with any information the island needed to govern the Court's affairs.

2: The Court was very glad to report the safe arrival that season of all the ships it expected from the various parts of the East Indies, which was the more welcome, in the present dangerous state of war between Britain and France, for those that had come without escort, and the island would learn from the enclosed list where and when each reached the different ports, the Court owing particular thanks to Captain O'Brien for his great care in protecting the five that sailed under his convoy.

3: The troubled state of the Company's affairs in Bengal, reported by the sloop Superb arriving from there, called for the speedy carriage of proper orders for their recovery, so the Expedition packet under Captain James Warton, employed on that service, sailed from the Downs on 14 August, but unhappily fell in with a French privateer, was taken on 29 August and carried into Vigo, where Warton and the vessel's crew were set at liberty.

4: To carry on its trade the Court had that season taken into its service the following ships.

Interpretations

The loss of the Expedition packet to a French privateer within a fortnight of leaving the Downs, and its diversion into the Spanish port of Vigo, exposes how the war had made even a fast dispatch vessel vulnerable on the approaches to the Channel, and the timing matters, since the packet carried urgent orders for retrieving the Company's position in Bengal, so the capture meant not merely the loss of a ship but a dangerous delay in reaching a settlement already in crisis.

The release of Captain Warton and his crew at Vigo, a neutral Spanish harbour rather than a French one, reflects the legal position of a capture made before the prize could be condemned, since the privateer could seize the vessel but had to bring her into port for adjudication, and the freeing of the crew in a neutral place shows the customary usages of maritime war still operating even as the Company's communications were being cut.

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46

Ships Tons Commanders Consignmt

Hardwicke 499 John Samson Coast and Bay

Prince Henry 499 Thomas Best St Helena and Limp

Osterly 499 Fredk Vincent China Directly

Rhoda 499 John McNamara

Tilbury 499 Roger Manwareing

Britannia 499 John Blewet

Winchelsea 499 Thomas Howe } Fort St George

Shaftsbury 499 Cornelius Inglis and China

Prince of Wales 499 William Roberts

Warren 499 Alphonsus Glover

London 499 Richard Ullwright } Coast and Bay

Drake 499 Benjn Foxbee

True Briton 425 Thomas Crichton

Prince George 499 Lorenzo Collim } Bombay

Bombay Castle 499 Richard Dowston

Egmont 499 John Fennery St Helena & Bencoolen

The Ship Pitt let for 600 Tons to Carry 250 Men with 30 Guns

Commodore William Wilson Commander is likewise taken up

and consigned to Fort St George, As you will observe there is

a Ship of Force the Secret Committee will Inform the Governor

what Service she is designed for besides her Employ in as in

the Mercantile way.

There is also building and Nearly Compleated for our

Service a Three Deck Ship 1000 Tons Burthen to mount 24

Guns and Carry Men Answerable she will be named the

Admiral Watson and is to Commanded by Captaine Cook

being principally intended for an Advice Vessel her destinate

and Departure are not yet determined upon

What orders may be received by the Governor or any other

Person from John Payne Laurence Sulivan, Peter Godfrey

Christopher Burrow and James Raymond Esqrs the

Secret Committee for this Year or any three of them

for

Margin Notes:

Ships taken up

The Ship Pitt employed in the Companys Service in a Warlike & mercantile way

A Three Deck building for an Advice Vessel

Orders of the Secret Committee to be duly attended to with punctuality

Hardwicke, 499 tons, John Sampson, Coast and Bay

Prince Henry, 499 tons, Thomas Best, St Helena and Bombay

Osterly, 499 tons, Frederick Vincent, China directly

Rhoda, 499 tons, John McNamara, Fort St George and China

Tilbury, 499 tons, Roger Manwaring, Fort St George and China

Britannia, 499 tons, John Blewet, Fort St George and China

Winchelsea, 499 tons, Thomas Howe, Fort St George and China

Shaftsbury, 499 tons, Cornelius Inglis, Fort St George and China

Prince of Wales, 499 tons, William Roberts, Fort St George and China

Warren, 499 tons, Alphonsus Glover, Coast and Bay

London, 499 tons, Richard Ullwright, Coast and Bay

Drake, 499 tons, Benjamin Sicket, Coast and Bay

True Briton, 425 tons, Thomas Crichton, Coast and Bay

Prince George, 499 tons, Lorenzo Collins, Bombay

Bombay Castle, 499 tons, Richard Dooston, Bombay

Egmont, 499 tons, John Vennerg, St Helena and Bencoolen

The ship Pitt, let for 600 tons to carry 250 men with 30 guns, William Wilson commander, and consigned to Fort St George, had likewise been taken up under Commodore William Wilson, and the island would see there was a ship of force, the Secret Committee informing the Governor what service she was meant for besides her employment in trade.

There was also building and nearly finished a fifty-gun ship of 1,000 tons burden, to mount 24 guns and carry men accordingly, to be named the Admiral Watson and commanded by Captain Cook, but since she was chiefly meant for an advice vessel, her destination and departure were not yet settled.

Whatever orders the Governor or any other person might receive from John Payne, Lacy Sulivan, Peter Godfrey, Christopher Burrow and James Raymond, the Secret Committee for the year, or any three of them, [...].

Interpretations

The building of a fifty-gun ship the Admiral Watson, intended chiefly as an advice vessel, marks how far the war had pushed the Company towards maintaining armed ships of its own, since an advice vessel carried urgent dispatches and needed the force to fight her way past privateers of the kind that had just taken the Expedition, and the naming of her after the admiral then commanding in Indian waters ties the Company's shipbuilding directly to the naval campaign in the East.

The taking up of the Pitt as a ship of force under a commodore, with the Secret Committee alone to inform the Governor of her real purpose, shows the Company folding a fighting vessel into what looked like an ordinary trading voyage, since her armament and complement far exceeded a merchantman's needs, and the reservation of her true service to the secret correspondence marks the point at which the Company's commerce and its war effort became deliberately indistinguishable to any outside eye.

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47

for the Security of the Island and Safety of our Shipping

are to Meet with the Strictest Attention and due obedience

The full and particular Intelligence regarding our

own as well as foreign Ships conveyed to us in your

Correspondence this year Merits Commendation, and as you

seem so well Convinced of the Importance of such Accounts by

the Earliest and Secret means, it appears unnecessary to

repeat the injunctions given for their Continuance

In order to Supply you with Stores agreably to your Indent

as far as they can properly by Compleed with and the Number

of Recruits procurably for the Garrison, the Ships Prince

Henry and Egmont are this season Consigned to the

Island the former is from the Motives you were last year

apprized of by the Onslow ordered in the same Manner to

Limpo the Directions then prescribed as to the Latter must

be punctualy followed with respect to the Prince Henry whose

Outset being later there will be greater Necessity in Forwarding

her despatch with all Expedition to Batavia in the way to her

Consigned Port, and it must be your Care to make the Ship

and Commander Answerable for the least Delay

The dispatch of the Egmont with the other part

of the Islands Stores being fixed for the Latter End of next month

and her timely arrival on the West Coast of meet Importance

as well in point of the Stores she Carrys as that she may seasonably

and without Risk be dispatched home renders your disembarking

the Supplys she brings and Charging the Commander with his Sailing

orders for Fort Marlborough within Charter party time a measure you

are by no means to fail in and which may more readily be done from

being thus Early apprized thereof

Margin Notes:

Approving of the Intelligence received and Orders to continue it

Ships Prince Henry & Egmont consigned to the Island

The Prince Henry to be dispatched with all speed to both destined Ports

Egmont to be dispatched as expeditiously as possible

Those orders for the security of the island and the safety of the shipping were to be followed with the strictest attention and obedience.

The full and detailed intelligence about the Court's own and foreign ships, sent in the island's letters that year, deserved praise, and since the island seemed so well aware of the value of such accounts by the earliest and most private channels, there was no need to repeat the directions already given for keeping them up.

To supply the island with stores in line with its requisition as far as could properly be met, and with as many recruits for the garrison as could be got, the ships Prince Henry and Egmont were consigned to the island that season, the former for the reasons the island had learned the previous year by the Onslow, and she was to be dealt with in the same way then laid down. As to the Egmont, since she set out later there was greater need to speed her dispatch, so she was to be forwarded with all haste to Batavia on her way to her consigned port, and the island was to hold the ship and commander answerable for the least delay.

The dispatch of the Egmont with the rest of the island's stores was fixed for the latter end of next month, and her timely arrival on the west coast mattered as much as the safety of the stores she carried, so that she might reach home in good season and without risk. This turned on the island unloading the supplies she brought and ordering the commander to sail for Fort Marlborough within the charter party time, a step the island was on no account to neglect, and one made easier by this early notice of it.

Interpretations

The Court's stress on speeding the Egmont to Batavia and on holding her commander answerable for any delay reveals how the war had tightened every link in the shipping schedule, since a ship that lingered at St Helena risked missing the season for her onward voyage and her safe return, and by giving the island early notice the Court armed it to enforce the timetable before the ship even arrived, the whole chain of dispatch now run on a margin too narrow to absorb the old delays.

52

48

11

Messrs George Mandeville and William Mackenzie

Supra Cargos of this Ship are on her Arrival to have the Letter Left

by Messrs Fitzhugh and Torin for them as Supra Cargos of the expected

Ships for Limpo, and as any Ships from that Port shall touch at St Helena

you are, in Our name to remind their Supra Cargos of leaving in your

hands the most Explicit Accounts regarding their transactions for the

Information of such Persons to whom the Management of our affairs in

that part of China may hereafter be Committed, your being sensible of the

Utility of this Order will engage your constant attention thereto and

leave us no room for a repetition

12

Supposing the purchase you made of Captain William

Hutchinson of a Long boat for our Service with its Sails and Furniture

as immediately necessary, and that the Cost was moderate therein

no objection thereto yet you are to take it with you as formerly enjoined

that such Ships for whom our boats are employed must repair the

Damages it is observed they frequently meet with, and allow an equitable

consideration for their Wear, imagining that must be the Case, when

some of them have no Longboat as you hint, we also acquiesce in your

paying a proper boat of Captain O'Brien for the Governors Visitting the

Fortifications in the rather considering the importance for the use it is

designed for

13

The Shipping in General which came to the Island seem

to be largely supply with Fresh provisions, it will be very agreable to find the

favourably Season you enjoyed on the last Ships departure may put it

into your power to do the same next year the thriving State our own

Stock, Pastures and Plantations is not unmixed and afford a happy

prospect in this interesting Concern for so far as depends on us your wants

of Salt Provisions and Flour shall be removed and the Commanders of

our outward bound Ships are this season directed to provide for themselves

so Sufficiently with Live Stock, on their return that they may not put you

in any distress

14

Your Letter of the 18 February last in its Duplicate

Margin Notes:

Letter left by the Supra Cargos to be here it Recommended to the Governor & Council to be careful in gathering all Intelligence in respect their Concerns in China

The purchase of a boat by approved of & Captains of Ships to repair the Damages when to be at Britain they employ

An objection & former Ordered to be punctual

Pleasant News of the prosperous State of the Island

Ships to be supplied further with Provisions in India to prevent Distressing the Island

11: On her arrival the supercargoes of this ship, George Mandeville and William Mackenzie, were to receive the letter left for them by Messrs Fitzhugh and Torin, the supercargoes of the ships bound for Canton, and since any ships from that port might call at St Helena, the island was, in the Court's name, to remind their supercargoes to leave with the island the fullest accounts of their dealings, for the information of whoever might later be given charge of the Company's affairs in that part of China, the island being aware of the value of this direction and so needing no repetition of it.

12: Supposing the island had bought Captain William Hutchinson's longboat with its sails and gear for the Company's service as immediately needed, and the cost was moderate, the Court had no objection, so the island was to take it as directed before, that ships whose boats the Company used should repair the damage they often suffered and allow a fair sum for their wear, which the Court supposed must be the case where some of them had no longboat, as the island had said, and it likewise agreed to the island paying a proper sum to Captain O'Brien for the boat used by the Governor in visiting the fortifications, given the importance of the purpose it served.

13: The shipping in general that came to the island seemed to be well supplied with fresh provisions, and it would be very welcome to learn that the favourable season the island enjoyed at the last ship's departure might let it do the same the next year, since the thriving state of the island's stock, pasture and plantations gave a happy prospect in this matter, for as far as depended on the Court the island's wants of salt provisions and flour would be met, and the commanders of the outward-bound ships were that season directed to provide themselves sufficiently with livestock for their return, so as not to distress the island.

14: The island's letter of 18 February last, in its duplicate [...].

Interpretations

The instruction that ships borrowing the Company's boats must repair the damage and pay for the wear reveals a careful apportioning of a shared resource, since the island's boats were in constant demand from vessels that carried none of their own, and by charging each ship for the harm it did the Company recovered the cost of maintaining craft that served the whole fleet, the arrangement turning a common convenience into a properly accounted expense.

The Court's satisfaction at the thriving state of the island's stock, pasture and plantations marks a turn from the anxious victualling of earlier letters, since a settlement that could raise its own provisions and let the ships supply themselves for the return voyage relieved the pressure that war had put on its stores, and the improving husbandry of a once-barren island is presented as a matter of real strategic worth rather than mere good farming.

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49

reached us the 15 June following but the original by the Sophea & Magdelena

came not till the 15 August We cannot Accompt for such behaviour

of the Danes having last year intimated the Loss of a Letter intrusted to

them by you it is proper to take and send us receipts for the Packets

transmitted by Foreign Ships that we may be enabled to make a more

particular demand of them as no opportunity should be committed

of giving us the needfull advices that may be safely Conveyed by such

Ships

15

It surprized us the Prince Henry Packet had been

at the Islands and as it appears by Captain Mumfords Letters that

he put in for Water and to refresh his Crew We suppose his Stay with you

for Ten days were necessary or that if you had found any needless delay

on his part he would have received a Suitable Admonition thereupon

16

That other Commanders may be deterred from Clandestine

bringing our Servants and Soldiers from the Island, We have given Captain

Allwright a Particular Mark of our resentment, though it does not appear the

Carpenters Mate was on board the London with his privity We would have

some more effectual Methods pursued than have hitherto been followed for

preventing our People leaving you, the Commanders too should be informed

before they quit the Shore, that We can allow of no excuse in this behalf

And as we find a Soldier deserted on the Hampshire you must when any of

his Majestys Ships are in the Road acquaint the Captains with the prejudices

we sustain in such respect and with, our hopes that they will forbid their

Officers receiving or conniving at the Escape of any of our Dependants

17

The Indents made this Season have been duly regarded

and will be Complyed with by this Ship and the Egmont the proportions put

on board the former the accompanying Invoice and Bill of Lading will

particularly shew

18

Although it has been so frequently recommended that

the

Margin Notes:

Cannot accompt for such behaviour of the Danes and to take & send us receipts for the Packets intrusted to their charge

Receipt of Packets & to be punctual when intrusted to Foreigners else taken

Surprized that the Stay of the Prince Henry Packet being ten days was necessary in refreshing &ca

Concerning preventing our Dependants from the Island

Indents complyed with

The duplicate reached the Court on 5 June following, but the original by the Sophia Magdalena did not arrive until 15 August, and the Court could not approve such conduct by the Danes, who the previous year had reported the loss of a letter entrusted to them. The island was to take receipts for the packets sent by foreign ships, so the Court might make a fuller demand of them, and no chance was to be missed of sending the needful advices that could safely go by such ships.

15: The Court supposed the Prince Henry packet had reached the island, and from Captain Mumford's letters it appeared she put in for water and to refresh her crew, and it took her stay to have been necessary for ten days, so if the island had found any needless delay on his part he would have received a suitable reprimand for it.

16: So that other commanders might be deterred from secretly carrying off the Court's servants and soldiers from the island, the Court had shown Captain Ullwright a particular mark of its displeasure, though it did not appear the carpenter's mate went aboard the London with his knowledge, and the Court wished some more effective method could be followed than had been used so far for preventing its people leaving the island, since the commanders too should be warned before quitting the shore that no excuse would be allowed in such a case, and if a soldier deserted, as had happened aboard the Hampshire, the island was, if any of the King's ships were in the road, to tell the captains of the harm the Court suffered in such matters, in the hope that they would forbid their officers to receive or connive at the escape of any of the Court's dependants.

17: The requisitions made that season had been duly attended to and would be met by this ship and the Egmont, the proportions loaded aboard each shown in detail by the accompanying invoice and bill of lading.

18: Although it had been so frequently recommended that the [...].

Interpretations

The Court's demand that receipts be taken for every packet handed to a foreign ship reveals how far its wartime communications depended on neutral carriers it could not fully trust, since the Danish ships that lost or delayed its letters were beyond its discipline, and a signed receipt was the only leverage the Company had, converting an informal courtesy of the sea into a documented obligation it could later press when a letter went astray.

The mark of displeasure shown to Captain Ullwright, even though the deserting carpenter's mate had probably boarded the London without his knowledge, shows the Company holding commanders answerable regardless of personal fault, since the loss of skilled servants from a remote island could only be checked by making every captain fear the consequences of a desertion from his ship, so the penalty fell on the office rather than the man as the surest deterrent to connivance.

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50

the most exact description should be given of the different Articles which

may be necessary, yet the Sorts or Numbers of the Canvas and Cumables

written for are ommitted

19

The Six pieces of Oak of Twenty four feet Long

and too feet Diameter indented for are of such extraordinary

demensions as not to be readily procured, besides the difficultys that

would arise in the Conveyance of them make it proper that we should

be informed of the uses they are intended for and whether Timber

of less demensions may not Answer your purposes

20

In Compliance with your large demand for

Cash and to avoid the risks of the whole by one Conveyance only two

Chests of Treasure by this Ship the other two Chests should you be

in real want of so much are to be taken from the West Coast Consignment

by the Egmont giving advice thereof to our Settlement there accordingly

the Chests by the Latter which contain the small money that is

inconvenient to you are distinguished by the Word Estimates being

cut thereon so that you will be easily enabled to pitch upon what is

most preferable, On this occasion We must express our reliance on your

utmost Care and Œconomy in disbursement thereof for the Companys

service always remembring the annual heavy Charge of the Island

to us.

21

The ample Supply of Salt Provisions and Flour

wherewith you will be furnished this Season must remove all

apprehensions in those respects yet to avoid the desagreable Consequences

arising from scarcity the most prudent precautions on your part will

doubtless be exercised for the proper and necessary manutenance of our

numerous Garrison and Dependants should the remotest prospect of

want present it self the Expedient formerly practiced of having recourse

to our Commanders of our homeward bound Shipping for all such Articles

as they can possibly Spare for your Relief at the most reasonable rates

as a Ship that will in the first place occur and we recommend to your

practice

22

Flour being at this time generaly prohibited

Margin Notes:

Indents not sufficiently descriptive

Oak Timber not sent

Cash sent by this Ship & if in want more to be had from the West Coast

The Consignment of Fort St Helena two to be distinguished thereof

No more to be kept than necessary

The Supply of Provisions sent this year sufficient

Vizt

The most exact description should be given of the various articles the island might need, yet the sorts and numbers of the canvas and chinaware were still left out.

19: The six pieces of oak, 24 feet long and two feet in diameter, that the island had requisitioned, were of such unusual size as not to be readily got, and the trouble their carriage would cause made it proper the Court be told what they were meant for and whether timber of smaller size might not serve.

20: To meet the island's large demand for cash and to avoid risking the whole in one ship, two chests of treasure came by this ship, and the other two, should the island really need so much, were to be taken from the west coast consignment by the Egmont, notice of it being given to the settlement there. The chests by the Egmont, holding the small money that was awkward for the island to use, were marked with the word Estimates cut on them, so the island might easily tell which was most convenient to draw on. On this occasion the Court pressed its reliance on the island's utmost care and economy in laying it out for the Company's service, always remembering the heavy annual charge the island was to it.

21: The ample supply of salt provisions and flour the island would receive that season must remove all fear on those heads, yet to avoid the disagreeable effects of scarcity the island should still take the most prudent precautions for the proper maintenance of the numerous garrison and dependants, and should the least prospect of want appear, it was to use the method practised before of drawing on the commanders of the homeward-bound shipping for all such articles as they could spare, at the most reasonable rates, from whichever ship arrived first, a practice the Court recommended to the island.

22: Flour being at that time generally prohibited [...].

Interpretations

The device of marking the awkward chests of small money with the word Estimates cut into them shows the practical management of bullion moving between settlements, since coin of low denomination was cumbersome for the island to disburse, and by labelling the chests so the island could pick the more convenient treasure the Company eased a real difficulty of handling cash at a place where the right sort of money was as important as the amount.

The Court's repeated reminder of the heavy annual charge the island represented, pressed even while granting its demands, reveals the underlying tension in the Company's view of St Helena, since the settlement earned no trade of its own and existed to serve the fleet, so every chest of treasure and shipload of provisions was a cost to be justified, and the insistence on economy marks a possession valued for its strategic use yet resented for its expense.

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as its exportation, though with an exception in the Companys favour

by act past last Sessions of Parliament enclosed it is very necessary that

you should and we enjoin your strictest obedience thereto and that you are

minutely Conform your Selves in returning to us the necessary Documents

in Triplicate for the Satisfaction of the Officers of the Crown and in the

discharge of the Security given on this occasion according to the accompanying

Paper of Instructions for your Conduct therein

23

The Indean Stores and those from China indented

for will be provided in all probability according to your demands from them

made since the date of your Letter of the 21 June, the prosperous turn in

our affairs in Bengall have taken, make the additional Supply of Rice

and Paddey from the other Capital Settlements needless whereas the very large

Quantity of Sugar and Candy requested has excited our Surprize and can

be accounted for, as far as appears to us by no other reason than the Caution

given last year for your not fixing your Dependance for the former

Article Solely on the West Coast, by the Precarious Conveyance of a Single

Ship whereof only half the Quantitys ordered from China

24

For your most Vigorous defence of the Island in

Case of its attacks by the Enemy, the Ten thousand Sand bags desired

will be sent, although we think a rope may be Cheeper and equally as well

supplyed with this Article from our Indean Settlements you will

therefore guide your selves accordingly when there may be occasion for

such like particulars

25

Notwithstanding the hazard our Ships are exposd

to from Lading on them such large Quantitys of Gunpowder One

hundred Barrels will be sent in Consequence of the want you have

signified to us thereof, so much depends on the Good Condition of this Article

that we doubt not of your attention, by Causing frequent Surveys and

properly stowing it, to see that it is constantly in the most serviceable

State the other parts of your Military demands will meet with due

consideration and the Invoices will show in what manner they are

Complyed with

26

Margin Notes:

Documents to be returned for the end in Triplicate

Concerning Indean Stores &ca

Rice and Paddey &ca

Sand Bags sent

Gun Powder sent

The export of flour was prohibited, though with an exception in the Company's favour by an act passed last sitting of Parliament, a copy enclosed, so it was very necessary the island send, and the Court required its strict obedience in this, and carefully return the needful documents in triplicate for the satisfaction of the Crown's officers and to discharge the security given on this occasion, in line with the accompanying instructions for the island's conduct in the matter.

23: The Indian stores and those from China the island had requisitioned would in all probability be provided in full from those places, the requisition made since the island's letter of 21 June, and the improving turn in the Company's affairs in Bengal made the extra supply of rice and paddy from the other chief settlements needless, though the very large quantity of sugar and candy the island had requisitioned surprised the Court, which could account for it only by the caution given the previous year about not resting the island's supply of the former article solely on the west coast, by the uncertain arrival of a single ship, when only half the quantity was ordered from China.

24: For the most vigorous defence of the island in case of attack by the enemy, the 10,000 sandbags the island had requisitioned would be sent, though the Court thought they might be cheaper and equally well supplied with this article from its Indian settlements, so the island was to govern itself accordingly when there was occasion for such things.

25: Despite the hazard the Court's ships ran from carrying such large quantities of gunpowder, 100 barrels would be sent in consequence of the want the island had reported, and since so much depended on the good condition of this article, the Court had no doubt of the island's attention in having it frequently surveyed and properly stored, to see that it was always kept in the most serviceable state, while the other parts of the island's military requisition would meet due consideration, and the invoices would show how they were met.

Interpretations

The requirement to return the flour documents in triplicate for the Crown's officers reveals the point at which the Company's private trade met the machinery of the state, since the wartime prohibition on exporting flour was lifted for the Company only by statute, and the papers evidencing lawful shipment under that exception had to satisfy government officials, so the island's paperwork became the proof that a privileged exemption from a national ban was being properly used.

The Court's suggestion that sandbags and even gunpowder might be had more cheaply from its Indian settlements than shipped from England shows the Company weighing its own eastern possessions as a source of military supply, since the long carriage from home added cost and risk to every barrel and bag, and the drift of the reasoning marks a settlement being encouraged to draw its defensive materials from the nearer Asian factories rather than the distant mother country whenever it could.

Paddy was rice still in the husk, as harvested before milling, distinguished here from the cleaned rice ready for eating. Candy was crystallised sugar, refined and hardened into solid form, a more valuable product than the raw sugar from which it was made.

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26

Besides the necessary Cloathing for Our Troops

now in Garrison, what the Recruits designed for it this Season will

want is likewise intended to be Conveyed to you for their use

27

Even at the time of Shipping the Materials

on the Exeter designed for the Construction of the Hospital merely on account

of the particulars, without their Value from the Circumstances then occurring

was with difficulty procured to remove the Loss you are at We shall

endeavour to enclose herewith a more precise one but failing therein it would

be proper you should with the Assistance of the ablest Workmen at hand

by an appraizment fix thereon the most equitable Rates that they may

be accordingly brought to account on Our Books

28

The amount of the Twenty six hundred weight

of Junk you were supplied with by Captain O'Brien will be Accounted

for with their proper Officers on his Majestys Cart here to whom you have

left the adjustment of the Price which tho' perhaps trivial had better

been avoided

29

The Suspicion intimated in your Letter under the

3 of November on the Loss of a black man out of a Fishing Boat that

he was murdered by those that were with him and the directions requisite

on that head make our Injunctions requisite, that you diligently examine

the records of the Island for precedents in the like Cases communicating

to us the result of your Search with the usual methods of proceeding that we

may be more particular orders for the effectual punishment of such

Malefactors it is in the mean time necessary generaly to order that in a

Case any them shall be Convicted of Murder, the most severe Punishmt

due so henious a Crime be according to the best of your Judgement

inflicted on the Offenders

30

Sensible of the reasonableness of your observations

on the Transport of Malefactors and desolute persons from India to the

Island with the bad Consequences that may arise therefrom we forbid

the repetition of this Practice in all our Settlements so far as that it

may

Margin Notes:

Cloathing for the Garrison sent

Materials for the Hospital concerning the Value therein

The amount of Junk you were supplied by Captain O'Brien

Concerning a black man supposed to be murdered out of a Fishing Boat & to be punctual in the like Cases

Reproved to send the Transport of Malefactors from India to the Island with the bad Consequences

26: Besides the necessary clothing for the troops in garrison, what the recruits meant for it that season would need was likewise to be sent for their use.

27: Even when the materials were shipped on the Exeter for building the hospital, the particulars, without their value, were only got with difficulty from the circumstances then arising, so to remove the difficulty the island was at, the Court would try to enclose a more precise account, but failing that the island should, with the help of the ablest workmen at hand, have the most fair rates set on them by valuation, so they might be duly entered on the Company's books.

28: The 2,600 weight of junk the island was supplied with by Captain O'Brien would be accounted for with the proper officers on the King's ship there, to whom the island had left settling the price, which, though perhaps trivial, had better been avoided.

29: As to the suspicion the island reported in its letter of 3 November, on the loss of a black man out of a fishing boat, that he was murdered by those with him, the directions the island sought on that head made the Court's instruction necessary, that the island diligently examine the records of the island for precedents in the like cases, sending the Court the result of its search with the usual method of proceeding, so that fuller orders might be given for the effective punishment of such malefactors, and in the meantime it was necessary to order generally that in any such case any found guilty of murder should suffer the severest punishment, so heinous a crime being met, to the best of the island's judgement, with the fullest penalty on the offenders.

30: The Court, aware of the reasonableness of the island's observations on transporting malefactors and desperate persons from India to the island, and of the bad effects that might follow, forbade the repetition of this practice in all its settlements, so far as [...].

Interpretations

The Court's response to the reported murder of a black man from a fishing boat, ordering the island to search its records for precedents before framing a punishment, reveals how a remote settlement built its criminal law case by case rather than from a fixed code, since it had no established procedure for such a crime and had to construct one from whatever earlier instances it could find, the memory of past dealings serving in place of statute at a place beyond the reach of the ordinary courts.

The decision to forbid the transporting of malefactors and desperate persons from India to St Helena, granted on the island's own complaint, shows the Company recognising the danger of using its remote possession as a dumping ground for the troublesome of its eastern settlements, since a small community could be destabilised by an influx of hardened offenders, and the reversal of the practice across all the settlements marks the island's security being weighed above the convenience of ridding India of its unwanted men.

Junk was old and worn cordage or rope, cut up and reused aboard ship for oakum, fenders and other purposes, and the 2,600 weight supplied here was a bulk quantity of such material rather than any single article.

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may not prevent their supplying you with as many usefull Slaves as can be

procured agreable to your Repeated recommendations We hope it might rather

be from prejudices imbibed from the false maxims of their Country that five

of the Delinquets conveyed to you from Anjengo at the Skirry of Travancore,

instance put so rash a Period to their Lives them from Impatience of too

severe treatment from those under whose Care they were placed, which a

Little Caution it may be thought it would have preserved from the Degree of

Life these persons were in we would have the Survivor treated with

humanity and if possible won with Contentment with their Situation

31

Noqueadah Pohollum's Appearance here to

justify himself on the Representations made of his behaviour by our Servants

on the West Coast cannot be admitted any more than his return hither

whereby our Servants might be exposed in revenge to greater Troubles

than he has formerly accasioned his Inclination privately to withdraw

himself obliges us to insist on your Continuing to secure Him while any

Ships remain in the Road as well as at all times to keep a Watchfull Eye over

him in prevention of the Execution of the rash purpose he had threatned

We were in hopes the allowance made and a treatment with some share

of Courtesy on your Parts might have reconciled him to his present

Circumstances which we shall not yet entirely give up, Captain O'Brien

has given us more Instances of his Regard for the Company than that

of delivering up this Unfortunate Person to you again from on board his

Ship Colchester

32

It is our express Commands that no Person or

Persons Whatsoever be permitted to take Plans of the Fortifications Works or

any other Places of Offence or Defence upon the Island without the leave of

you the Governor and Council and you are to make a Strict Enquiry

for such as are in the hands of other Persons and Collect and keep them

safely together in your joint Custody

33

The Orders Issued the 13 December and 3 January

for the Coming in of all Boats and Blacks on alarms for the preventing

the

Margin Notes:

These Blacks sent, there which remain to be treated kindly

Concerning Noqueadah Pohollum

The Plans of Fortifications not taken without the leave of the Governor & Council

The ban was not to prevent the settlements supplying the island with as many useful slaves as could be procured, in line with the island's repeated recommendations. The Court hoped it might be prejudice absorbed from the false maxims of their country that led five of the delinquents sent to the island from Anjengo, at the killing of the King of Travancore, to put so rash an end to their lives, rather than impatience at too harsh treatment from those in whose charge they were placed, which a little caution might, it could be thought, have prevented, and given the state those persons were in the Court wished the survivor treated with humanity and if possible reconciled to his situation.

31: Noquedah Pocholum's appearance at the island to justify himself against the reports of his conduct made by the Court's servants on the west coast could no more be allowed than his return there, which might expose the Court's servants to revenge and greater trouble than he had caused before, so his inclination to slip away privately obliged the Court to insist the island keep watch on him while any ships remained in the road, and at all times to keep a watchful eye on him to prevent his carrying out the rash purpose he had threatened. The Court had hoped the allowance made and some measure of courtesy on the island's part might have reconciled him to his present circumstances, which it would not yet entirely give up, and Captain O'Brien had given one more instance of his regard for the Company than that of delivering this unfortunate person to the island again from aboard his ship the Colchester.

32: It was the Court's express command that no person whatever be allowed to take plans of the fortifications, works or any other places of attack or defence on the island without the leave of the Governor and Council, and the island was to make a strict enquiry for any in the hands of other persons and collect and keep them safely together in its joint custody.

33: The orders issued on 13 December and 3 January for the coming in of all boats and blacks on alarms, for the preventing of the [...].

Interpretations

The Court's express command that no plans of the fortifications be taken without leave, and that any in private hands be gathered into the Council's custody, reveals the island's defences treated as military secrets in a way that peacetime would never have required, since a drawing of the works could guide an enemy's attack, and the war with France turned the ordinary curiosity of a surveyor or draughtsman into a security risk to be controlled by seizing every unauthorised plan.

The suicides of the five men sent from Anjengo after the killing of the King of Travancore, which the Court ascribed to the maxims of their country rather than to ill usage, expose the human cost of transporting people across the world into bondage, and the instruction to treat the survivor with humanity and reconcile him to his situation shows the Company confronting, in the language of its own interest, the despair that its movement of forced labour between distant possessions could produce.

Anjengo was the Company's fortified trading settlement on the Malabar coast of south-west India, and Travancore the neighbouring kingdom, so the men referred to had been caught up in the violent upheaval surrounding the killing of its ruler and then removed to St Helena.

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the making of Fires on the Hills or near the Sea in the night time and the

resort of improper persons within the Battery at Sandy bay, as bespeaking your

Cautions for the Islands safety are approved of

34

We shall depend on the promises made on the 5 and

29 Paragraph of your Letter of the 11 March for putting the Fortifications

in repair and keeping them so which you will the more readily be able to satisfy

from the permission given of employing Our Soldiery therein at the most

reasonable rates when the Labour of the Blacks is insufficient

35

On due Consideration of the Strength of Our Garrison

we have resolved to add about Eighty Recruits to it which Considering the

great demand of Men for his Majestys Service and for our Settlements in

India have been with great difficulty procured and cannot but deem the

Island as sufficiently able with that addition to maintain itself and

resist the attack of such Force as the Enemy were they so Inclined might

be presumed to send against you; the List of the whole recruits is enclosed

36

Upon receiving the reinforcement from the

Accounts before Us it appears the Garrison will Consist of more than

Four hundred men, it will be your Care to see they are properly

Commanded to that end we Confirm the Liberty given you last

year to appoint a fitting number of Officers really requisite for the

Service preferring this measure as equally beneficial rather than to

what we Conceive a more expensive one the forming a New Company

the Artillery must be supplied from other Companys

37

Besides the respectable Corps of Troops under

the Command of Select Commission and well approved Non Commission

Officers always kept under the Exactest Discipline and ready for

immediate Service, We trust from the Property of the Planters and

Inhabitants which will lay at Stake in Case of an attempt on the

Island for the more Effectual assistance, from them as a Malitia

that they are accordingly Officered and regularly trained as your

advice for that purpose not doubting withall But that the Blacks from

the least might be expected, are likewise kept in a posture to yield all the

Service that possibly might be required from them on such a Circumstance

of affairs

Margin Notes:

Orders concerning Fires on the Hills &ca approved of

Fortifications to be kept in the best repair

Eighty Recruits added to the Garrison

Garrison to be properly Commanded & Officers to be appointed &ca

Militia to be embodied & properly Officered & Blacks &ca

The orders forbidding fires on the hills or near the sea at night, and the resort of improper persons within the battery at Sandy Bay, as showing the island's care for its safety, were approved.

34: The Court would rely on the promises made in the fifth and twenty-ninth paragraphs of the island's letter of 11 March for putting the fortifications in repair and keeping them so, which the island would more readily be able to do given the leave to employ the soldiery on the work at the most reasonable rates where the labour of the blacks fell short.

35: On due consideration of the strength of the garrison the Court had resolved to add about 80 recruits to it, which, given the great demand for men for the King's service and for the settlements in India, had been got with great difficulty, and it could not but think the island, with that addition, well able to maintain itself and resist the attack of such force as the enemy, were they so inclined, might be supposed to send against it, the list of the whole recruits enclosed.

36: From the accounts before the Court it appeared that, on receiving the reinforcement, the garrison would number more than 400 men, so the island was to see them properly commanded, and to that end the Court confirmed the leave given the previous year to appoint a fitting number of officers really needed for the service, preferring this course as equally useful rather than the more expensive one of forming a new company, the artillery to be supplied from the other companies.

37: Besides the respectable corps of troops under the command of select commission and well-approved non-commissioned officers, kept under the strictest discipline and ready for immediate service, the Court trusted, from the property of the planters and inhabitants that would be at stake in case of an attempt on the island, for the more effective help from them as a militia, that they were accordingly officered and regularly trained, and it advised this be done, not doubting the blacks, from whom the least might be expected, were likewise kept in a posture to yield all the service that might be required of them in such a state of affairs.

Interpretations

The Court's difficulty in raising even 80 recruits, competing against the demands of the King's service and the Indian settlements, exposes the manpower shortage that the war imposed on every part of the Company's establishment, since soldiers were scarce and dear across the whole conflict, and the island's reinforcement had to be weighed against the greater theatres in India, its defence secured only by drawing on a supply that every other front was contesting at the same time.

The layering of the island's defence into a paid garrison, an armed militia of planters and inhabitants, and the enrolment of the blacks, reveals a settlement mobilising its whole population by degrees of trust, since the property at stake was expected to bind the free inhabitants to its defence while the slaves were pressed into service at the lowest expectation, and the graded scheme shows how a small society under threat organised every class of person it held according to what it thought each could be relied upon to give.

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38

All deserters from our Settlements in India are

agreable to the 42 Paragraph of Our Letter of the 1 of December 1752

be detained for our Service with you, and sent back to be tried the

providing of recruits for those parts is so Expensive that We would have

the Strictest Search of all homeward bound Ships Continued for recovering

of them, and if practicable prolonging the term of their Servitude that they

may be deterred from the detrimental practice, for the same reasons your

Conduct as to the five Recruits which left the Chesterfield at Madagascar

Outward bound and were brought to you on the Denham, meet with our

approval

39

The recruits raised for the West Coast will be

sent on the Egmont wherefore Considering the large supply this Ship brings

you, with the Property of putting our Settlements there at this time in the best

Condition for defending themselves, we expect you will not break in upon

their Number without Giving us the most Convincing Reasons for the

absolute necessity of your so doing

40

Let Lieutenant Hay be informed some late

unexceptionable behaviours of his has not Escaped our Notice, And

that we hope his future Conduct will be such as not to draw upon a

Censure which may be very disagreable to him

41

We can but Suppose it was entirely on the Urgency

of the Case that you supplyed his Majestys Ship the Colchester with

so Considerable a Sum as Five hundred Pounds when our Cash was but

Low how just soever the expectation of a Consideration on account of

the Risk arising from the Conveyance of Money to you might be yet as

the publick Service had a Concern in this transaction your Charging

no premium thereon was right and you will do well in forbearing it

on such a future Occasion with this recommendation that you are to be

as sparing as possible of such Supplies hereafter, and even avoiding

them entirely if it can be done with any Grace for and adequate

Compensation is and has been given and taken between the Crown

and Company on such Circumstances in India these

intimations

Margin Notes:

All deserters from India to be detained

The term of Servitude to be encreased to prevent their future desertion

Recruits raised for the West Coast not to be kept without the greatest necessity

Concerning Lieutenant Hay

Reproving your supplying his Majestys Ship the Colchester

Observations thereon

38: In line with the twelfth paragraph of the Court's letter of 1 December 1752, all deserters from the settlements in India were to be kept for the Court's service on the island and not sent back, since providing recruits for those parts was so expensive that the Court would have the strictest search of all homeward-bound ships kept up for recovering them, and if practicable their term of service prolonged, so they might be deterred from the harmful practice, and for the same reasons the island's conduct as to the five recruits who left the Chesterfield at Madagascar outward bound and were brought to the island on the Durham met with the Court's approval.

39: The recruits raised for the west coast would be sent on the Egmont, so given the large supply this ship brought the island, and the value of putting the settlements there in the best condition to defend themselves at that time, the Court expected the island would not draw on their number without giving it the most convincing reasons for the absolute necessity of doing so.

40: Lieutenant Hay was to be told that some late unexceptionable behaviour of his had not escaped the Court's notice, and it hoped his future conduct would be such as not to draw a censure on him, which might be very disagreeable to him.

41: The Court could only suppose it was entirely the urgency of the case that led the island to supply the King's ship Colchester with so considerable a sum as £500 0s 0d when its own cash was very low, and however just the expectation of a consideration for the risk of carrying the money to the island might yet be, the public service had a concern in the transaction, so the island's charging no premium on it was right, and it would do well to be as sparing as possible of such supplies in future, and even to avoid them entirely if it could be done with any grace, since full and fair compensation was and had been settled between the Crown and Company on such occasions in India, [...].

Interpretations

The Court's insistence on searching every homeward ship for deserters and prolonging their service to deter escape reveals the sheer cost of recruitment as the governing motive, since a man raised and shipped to the East at great expense was too valuable to lose, and by pursuing deserters across the ocean and lengthening their terms the Company treated the recovery of its trained servants as a matter of accountancy as much as of discipline, the expense of replacement dictating the severity of the chase.

The delicate handling of the £500 lent to the Colchester, where the island was praised for charging no premium yet told to avoid such loans in future, exposes the careful boundary between the Company's interest and the Crown's in wartime, since supplying a King's ship with cash blurred the line between the two, and the reasoning that compensation was already arranged between Crown and Company at a higher level shows the island being warned not to entangle itself in transactions that were settled by agreement above its head.

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intimations are by no means to be Construed to extend to the waving any

allowance for Supplyes of Cash to foreign Ships who are Constantly to

be charged of the rate of thirty pr Ct according to former orders

42

The new practice Set up of drawing bills at less than

ninety days sight besides its being absol Precedent We cannot but from

several Motives, condem and is excuseable for the reason you have advanced

its continuance therefore is positively forbid of such as are in want of Draughts

prefer the taking of them to the more Certain Channel of Our Cash, they

have the Option, It is necessary on this point to remark that the method

you persue of making your Draughts payable to those you receive your

Cash from is disagreable as this Covert manner of drawing Cannot

answer any good purposes, but may be Productive of Inconveniences

we would therefore have them made payable to those who properly

the money really is, or who are intended to receive it on account of such

as do reside in England, for We cannot answer for false Payments

that may ensue from the Ignorance often Experienced of the form

of the Indorsers of such Bills and whom we cannot have recourse

to for greater Certainty

43

We do not approve of the Entertainment of

Thomas Dunn a Recruit assisting in the business of the Secretarys

Office at Twenty pounds a Year Salary as the Six Covenanted

Servants below the Councel are Sufficient for the Dispatch of our

business without a very laborious attendance and putting us to this

Extraordinary Charge

44

Observing the frequency of Courts Martial

and that their Minutes being seperately transmitted, swell Out

Packets to an unnecessary Bulk, you are for the future to

enter them in a Book to be annually sent us, that we

may more compactly have a view of the Proceedings of such

Courts

45

The justice of your Arguments for Contracting

the Number of Accounts in your Ledger respecting our Servants

Garrison and Tenants, engage Our Concurrence in the method

proposed, for Curtailing them accordingly, with this

Margin Notes:

Drawing Bills at less than 90 Days sight discontinued & to be discontinued in future

Thomas Dunn not to be entertained in the Secretarys Office

Concerning Courts Martial

Accounts in the Ledger respecting the Servants Garrison & Tenants approved of

These intimations were on no account to be taken as waiving any charge for supplies of cash to foreign ships, who were always to be charged at the rate of 30 per cent in line with earlier orders.

42: The new practice the island had set up of drawing bills at less than ninety days sight, besides being without precedent, the Court could not but condemn on several grounds, and it was inexcusable for the reason the island had itself given, so its continuance was positively forbidden, and any who wanted drafts were to be given the option of taking them on the more certain channel of the Court's cash. It was necessary to remark on this point that the island's method of making its drafts payable to those it received the cash from was awkward, as that mode of drawing answered no good purpose and might cause inconveniences, so the Court would rather have them made payable to those whose property the money truly was, or who were to receive it, and on account of persons who lived in England, since it could not answer for the false payments that might follow from the ignorance often found in the endorsers of such bills, on whom it could have no recourse for greater certainty.

43: The Court did not approve the taking on of Thomas Dunn, a recruit, to help in the business of the secretary's office at £20 0s 0d a year salary, since the six covenanted servants below the Council were enough for the dispatch of the Court's business without any very laborious attendance and putting it to this extraordinary charge.

44: Seeing how frequent the courts martial were, and that their minutes, sent separately, swelled the Court's packets to an unnecessary bulk, the island was in future to enter them in a book to be sent home yearly, so the Court might more compactly view the proceedings of such courts.

45: The justice of the island's arguments for reducing the number of accounts it kept respecting the Court's servants, garrison and tenants secured the Court's agreement to the method proposed for curtailing them accordingly, with this [...].

Interpretations

The Court's detailed objection to the island's way of drawing bills, insisting they be made payable to those whose money it truly was or to persons resident in England, reveals the hazard of negotiable paper passing through untrustworthy hands, since a bill endorsed by someone ignorant of the proper form could lead to a payment the Company could not recover, and by fixing where and to whom the bills were drawn the Court closed off the risk of a debt going astray through the mistakes of intermediaries it could never reach.

The refusal to pay Thomas Dunn a salary for helping in the secretary's office, on the ground that the existing covenanted servants sufficed, shows the Company holding a tight line on administrative expense even in wartime, since an extra clerk was a permanent charge added to an establishment already thought adequate, and the insistence that the current staff could manage without laborious attendance marks the Court resisting the quiet growth of paid posts that a busy office naturally tends to produce.

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Caution that your Journal Entries in these respects be as full

and explicit as possible.

46

Upon an Inspection of the Charges and

losses more than the Profits of the Island for the year ending

the 12 Octobr 1756 amounting to £4841 4 10 an Exceeding of

Five hundred and eighty three pounds arises on the Medium

for three years past, this Instance together with the encrease of Expence

which must naturally follow the Augmentation of Our Garrison as

to the number of Officers and Soldiers demands your most Serious

Attention, to put every method in practice, for easing us of all

Superfluous and unnecessary Charges inconsistent with the

Security of the Island, We shall therefore rely on your imposition

of no needless Exretherns as well as conducting our Affairs with

the greatest Œconomy that Prudence shall dictate, for We have

no feasible means in view whereby any thing in aid of this

great Expence might be levied without Oppression.

47

We have for the present committed the

management of Our Affairs in Bengal with the usual Powers

and Authorities to the following Persons, the Four first of

whom are, in the order they are named for four months each

to have an alternate Rotation as President and

Governour Vizt

William Watts Esqr

Charles Manningham Esqr

Richard Becher Esqr

John Zephaniah Holwell Esqr

Major James Kilpatrick to remain in this State

Mr Paul Richard Pearkes

Mr William Frankland

Mr Matthew Collet

Mr William Mackett

Mr Peter Amyatt

Mr Thomas Boddam, and

Mr Richard Court

Margin Notes:

Concerning the Expence of the Island

The management of the affairs in Bengal Committed to the following Persons

The island was cautioned to make its journal entries in these matters as full and clear as possible.

46: On examining the charges and losses, which exceeded the profits of the island for the year ending 12 October 1756 by £583 14s 10d, an excess arising on the average of the three years past, this instance, together with the increase of expense that must naturally follow the enlargement of the garrison as to the number of officers and soldiers, called for the island's most serious attention, to put every method in practice for cutting off all superfluous and unnecessary charges not inconsistent with the security of the island, so the Court would rely on the island's dismissal of all useless officers and on its conducting the Court's affairs with the greatest economy that prudence could dictate, since it had no feasible means in view by which anything towards this great expense might be raised without oppression.

47: The Court had for the present given the management of its affairs in Bengal, with the usual powers and authorities, to the following persons, the first four of whom, in the order named, were to have an alternate rotation as President and Governor for four months each.

William Watts

Charles Manningham

Richard Becher

John Zephaniah Holwell

Major James Kilpatrick, to remain in this state

Paul Richard Pearkes

William Frankland

Matthew Collet

William Mackett

Peter Amyatt

Thomas Boddam

Richard Court

Interpretations

The rotation of the presidency of Bengal among four men for four months each reveals the Company reconstituting its government there in the disturbed aftermath of the crisis reported earlier in the correspondence, since a shared and rotating headship rather than a single fixed governor points to a settlement rebuilding its authority by committee after upheaval, spreading the burden and the risk of command among several hands until a more settled arrangement could be made.

The deficit of £583 14s 10d, presented as a running average over three years and tied directly to the cost of enlarging the garrison, exposes the fundamental bind of the island's position, since the very reinforcement the war demanded drove the settlement further into loss, and the Court's admission that it saw no way to raise the money without oppression marks the point at which the expense of defence outran any means the island had of paying for itself.

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48

It is necessary you should be informed

that the War between Great Britain and France

continues with great Warmth your utmost Care and

Caution for the Security and Defence of the Island

as well as the Safety of the Shipping, were Never before never

more requisite than at this Juncture, the more particular

Information and Directions to be given on those Points

falling within the Department of the Secret Committee

they will be communicated to the Governour from those

Gentlemen

49

His Majesty has been graciously pleased

to assist the Company with a Batallion of His Troops

of One Thousand and thirty five Men Officers included,

under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel William

Draper, they will proceed accordingly to Fort St

George on the Ships of this Season for the Protection

of Our Affairs and Settlements there.

50

We have found it necessary this Season

to add some New Clauses to Our Commanders Instructions

relating to the Packets and Letters they are entrusted with,

and their Conveyance on the Ships thereof to the Copy

of these Clauses are enclosed, and as the Commanders

of our returning Ships are not apprized of them, You

are to give them transcripts thereof, and acquaint

them we expect a punctual Compliance with the

Directions therein contained.

51

If Vice Admiral Watson should call

at St Helena on his return to England you are to

inform him, That we have been Favoured with his

Letter from Fort William under Date of the 2

February 1757, to which we have not replied as

it is very uncertain whether an Answer could come

to his hands, however in case he calls at St Helena

you are to wait upon him and in Our Name assure

him that we have the Highest Sense of his great

and Good Services to the Company in India and

make

Margin Notes:

The War between Great Britain & France continued

Advices from the Secret Committee to be attended to

A Batallion of His Majestys Troops sent to India under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Draper

New Clauses added to the Commanders Instructions

Vice Admiral Watson &ca

48: The island needed to know that the war between Great Britain and France went on with great warmth, so its utmost care for the security and defence of the island and the safety of the shipping was never more needed than at that time, and the fuller information and directions on those points, falling within the province of the Secret Committee, would be communicated to the Governor by those gentlemen.

49: The King had been pleased to help the Company with a battalion of his troops, 1,035 men including officers, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Draper, who would proceed to Fort St George on the ships of that season for the protection of the Company's affairs and settlements there.

50: The Court had found it necessary that season to add some new clauses to its commanders instructions relating to the packets and letters they were entrusted with and their carriage on the ships, a copy of the clauses enclosed, and since the commanders of the returning ships were not aware of them, the island was to give them transcripts and to tell them a punctual compliance with the directions in them was expected.

51: If Vice Admiral Watson called at St Helena on his return to England, the island was to tell him the Court had received his letter from Fort William dated 24 February 1757, to which it had not replied as it was very uncertain whether an answer could reach his hands, but should he call at St Helena the island was to wait on him and, in the Court's name, assure him of its highest sense of his great and good services to the Company in India, and [...].

Interpretations

The King's grant of a whole battalion of over a thousand regular troops under Lieutenant Colonel Draper, bound for Fort St George, marks a decisive escalation of Crown support for the Company's war in India, since a force of that size dispatched to the Coromandel Coast shows the defence of Madras had become a national undertaking rather than a commercial one, the regiment sailing on the Company's own ships to protect possessions the state now regarded as worth its army.

The Court's message to Vice Admiral Watson, thanking him warmly while admitting it had not answered his letter because no reply could be sure of reaching him, exposes how far the war had disrupted even the most important communications, since the commander of the King's fleet in Indian waters could not reliably be written to, and the Company was reduced to entrusting its acknowledgement to the chance of his ship calling at St Helena on the way home.

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make him the Tenders of our most Grateful Acknowledgments

for the Same.

52

You are to shew him all the Honours due

to his Rank and great Merit, and Accommodate him

during his Stay in the best and most agreeable manner you

can.

53

Since writing thus far we are to inform you

that at a General Court of the Proprietors of the East India

Company held on the 21 Instant the following Resolution

was Unanimously Agreed to Vizt

Resolved That the Thanks of this General Court be given

to Vice Admiral Watson and to Vice Admiral Pocock for

their Eminent and Signal Services to this Company.

54

If those Gentlemen call at St Helena on

their Return to England you are to inform them of the Said

Resolution and at the same time let them know how much

pleasure it gives us to transmit so agreeable a Testimony of

their great Merit

We are

Your Loving Friends

John Payne

Lau Sulivan

P Godfrey

J Raymond

Cheast Burrow

Henry Plant

Thos Phipps

Thos Rous

Geo Dudley

Maximn Western

Charles Chambers

Rob Jones

Hen Hadley

John Manship

Timothy Tullie

Cha Gough

John Dorrien

London 23 Decem 1757

Margin Notes:

To shew him all due Honours &c

Thanks of the Genl Court of Proprietors given to Vice Admiral Watson & Pocock for their eminent and signal Services

To be informed of the same should they call here

The island was to give the admiral its most grateful acknowledgments for those services.

52: The island was to show him every honour due to his rank and great merit, and to accommodate him during his stay in the best and most agreeable manner it could.

53: Since writing thus far, the Court had to tell the island that at a General Court of the Proprietors of the East India Company held on 21 December the following resolution was agreed unanimously. That the thanks of the General Court be given to Vice Admiral Watson and to Vice Admiral Pocock for their eminent and signal services to the Company.

54: If those gentlemen called at St Helena on their return to England, the island was to tell them of the resolution, and at the same time let them know how much pleasure it gave the Court to send so welcome a testimony of their great merit.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 23 December 1757, and signed by John Payne, Lacy Sulivan, P. Godfrey, James Raymond, Christopher Burrow, Henry Plant, Thomas Phipps, Thomas Rous, George Dudley, Maximilian Westerne, Charles Chambers, Robert Jones, Henry Hadley, John Manship, Timothy Tullie, Charles Gough and John Dorrien.

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Our Governour and

Council of St Helena

1

Our last General letter under Date of

the 23 December 1757 went by the Prince Henry, which

Ship sailed from Spithead on the 2 we now send

a Duplicate thereof by this Ship the Egmont, and you will

receive a Copy by his Majestys Ship

2

We refer you to the accompanying List for the

time of the Departure of the Companys several Ships since

the date of our abovementioned Letter.

3

We Said in our last Letter the Destination of

our own Ship the Admiral Watson was not determined, we are

now to inform you that she proceeds first to Gombroon with

a Cargo of Woollen Goods, from hence she is to go to Bombay,

and be under the Orders of the Governour and Council for

her future proceedure, and as one principal Service expected

from her will be the bringing us advices we cannot say whether

she will be dispatched home directly from Bombay or from either of

other Presidences

4

This Ship the Egmont brings you the

remainder of the Stores provided for the Service of the

Island, the particulars of which will appear by the

accompanying Invoice and Bill of Lading, you are agreable

to the injunctions in Our last Letter, to use the utmost Expedition

in Unloading them, that the Commander may have his Dispa-

tches for Fort Marlborough deliverd to him within the

of Charterparty time without fail.

5

You were advised by the Prince Henry that

We had Consigned to you on that Ship two Chests of Treasure, and

that if you were in real want of more, you might take a

not exceeding two Chests out of what is Consigned to Fort

Marlborough on this Ship whatever you take out in consequence

of this Liberty, you must give due advice thereof to the Deputy

Governour and Council at that Settlement.

Margin Notes:

Duplicate 2 List referred to

Respecting the destination of the Ship Admiral Watson

Remaining part of Stores compleated

Commander to be dispatched with due expedition

Concerning what Treasure is sent & the Liberty of taking a further Sum out of what is destined thereof

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the season's shipping and stores.

1: The Court's last general letter of 23 December 1757 went by the Prince Henry, which sailed from Spithead on 2 [...], and it now sent a duplicate by this ship the Egmont, the island to receive a copy by the King's ship.

2: The island was referred to the accompanying list for the dates on which the Company's several ships sailed since the date of the letter above.

3: The Court had said in its last letter that the destination of its own ship the Admiral Watson was not settled, and it now reported that she went first to Gombroon with a cargo of woollen goods, from there to Bombay, and would be under the orders of the Governor and Council for her later voyages, and since one main service expected of her was the bringing of advices, the Court could not say whether she would be sent home directly from Bombay or from some other presidency.

4: This ship the Egmont brought the island the rest of the stores provided for its service, the particulars shown by the accompanying invoice and bill of lading, so in line with the directions in the Court's last letter the island was to use the utmost dispatch in unloading them, that the commander might have his dispatches for Fort Marlborough delivered to him within the charter party time without fail.

5: The island had been advised by the Prince Henry that the Court consigned to it on that ship two chests of treasure, and that if it was in real want of more it might take, not exceeding two chests, out of what was consigned to Fort Marlborough on this ship, but whatever it took by this liberty it was to give due advice of to the Deputy Governor and Council at that settlement.

Interpretations

The dispatch of the Admiral Watson to Gombroon with a cargo of woollen goods before going on to Bombay reveals the Company sustaining its Persian trade even amid the war, since Gombroon on the Persian Gulf was the outlet through which English broadcloth reached the Persian market, and the routing of a Company-owned ship there first shows a commercial branch being kept alive alongside the vessel's more urgent role as a carrier of dispatches.

Gombroon, on the Persian Gulf, was the East India Company's trading port for Persia, better known later as Bandar Abbas, and the woollen goods carried there were English broadcloth, long the staple English export to the Persian market where heavy woollens were valued despite the climate.

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6

Having sent you a sufficient number of Recruits

the Prince Henry, you are not to take out one of those by this

Ship, who are all intended for the West Coast, where they are

much wanted.

7

Your late Gardiner James Sheridan has applied to us

by Petition to be reinstated in his Employment, but being satisfied

from the Account you give of him, that his Dismission was a

right measure and his continuance upon the Island can be of no

Service to Us, you are at liberty to send him to England whenever

you think fit.

8

We have entertained Thomas Townshend a Mason

who understands rough Wall Work, calling of Stone and Working

in a Quarry, to serve the Company at St Helena at the rate of

Six Pounds ten Shillings per Month to commence on his

arrival in the Ship Egmont which is for Salary and all other

Allowances whatsoever, And as an Encouragement we have

given him Five pounds by way of Gratuity to fit himself out.

9

The two Chests of Treasure, which you are at

Liberty under the circumstances mentioned in the 26

Paragraph of Our last by the Prince Henry to take

out of this Ships are on the hell S H 341 and 2 being of the

proper Species for the Island and if landed give Our

Servants on the West Coast advice accordingly.

10

By several Reports which have reached Us, We

have great reason to believe, supposing what has been

alledged is true, That the Lieutenant Governour takes all

opportunities, of making the Governour Uneasy, as Mr

Hutchinson stands high in Our esteem, and such Conduct

may in the end be greatly prejudicial to the Company,

as well as irksome to Him, We do Expect and Direct

that the Lieutenant Governour do Behave to the Governour

for the future in a becoming and Friendly manner as he

values our favour, We are

Your Loving Friends

London

the 8 February 1758

Margin Notes:

Recruits sent for the West Coast not to take any out here

James Sheridan late Gardiner to be sent to England

Thomas Townshend entertained a Mason

Marks of the Treasure to be kept

The Lieutenant Governour reprehended for his behaviour to the Governour

6: Having sent a sufficient number of recruits by the Prince Henry, the island was not to take one out by this ship, since these were all meant for the west coast, where they were much wanted.

7: The island's late gardener James Sheridan had applied by petition to be reinstated in his employment, but the Court, satisfied from the island's account that his dismissal was a right measure and that keeping him on could be of no service, left the island free to send him to England whenever it thought fit.

8: The Court had taken on Thomas Townshend, a mason who understood rough wall work, cutting stone and working in a quarry, to serve the Company at St Helena at £6 10s 0d a month, to begin on his arrival in the Egmont, this being for salary and every other allowance, and as an encouragement it had given him £5 0s 0d as a gratuity to fit himself out.

9: The two chests of treasure the island was free, in the circumstances mentioned in the twenty-sixth paragraph of the Court's last by the Prince Henry, to take out of this ship were marked S H 341 and 2, being of the proper sort for the island, and if it took them it was to advise the Court's servants on the west coast accordingly.

10: From several reports that had reached the Court, it had great reason to believe, and supposed the account true, that the Lieutenant Governor took opportunities of making the Governor uneasy, and since Mr Hutchinson stood high in the Court's esteem, such conduct might in the end greatly harm the Company as well as prove hurtful to the Lieutenant Governor himself, so the Court expected and directed that the Lieutenant Governor behave to the Governor in future in a becoming and friendly manner, as he valued the Court's favour.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 8 February 1758.

Interpretations

The Court's sharp warning to the Lieutenant Governor over his making the Governor uneasy, framed openly as a matter of who stood higher in the Court's esteem, reveals how the Company enforced order within its own hierarchy through the plain leverage of favour, since advancement and continuance in office depended wholly on London's good opinion, and by tying the subordinate's future directly to his conduct towards his superior the Court used patronage itself as the instrument of discipline among its officers.

The gratuity of £5 given to the mason Townshend to fit himself out, on top of a monthly wage, shows the real cost of drawing skilled tradesmen to a remote posting, since a man of useful craft could not be had without inducement, and the payment to equip him for the voyage marks the premium the Company had to offer for the particular abilities, in quarrying and stonework, that the island's endless fortification demanded and could not supply from among its own people.

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John Payne

Lau Sulivan

P Godfrey

J Raymond

M Impey

Thos Phipps

Chrisro Burrow

Geo Dudley

James Creed

Rob Jones

John Manship

Hen Savage

Timothy Tullie

John Dorrien

Charles Chambers

G Stevens

Henry Plant

Henry Hadley

Maximn Western

John Raymond

Charles Gough

The letter was signed by John Payne, Lacy Sulivan, P. Godfrey, James Raymond, M. Impey, Thomas Phipps, Christopher Burrow, George Dudley, James Creed, Robert Jones, John Manship, Henry Savage, Timothy Tullie, John Dorrien, Charles Chambers, G. Stevens, Henry Plant, Henry Hadley, Maximilian Westerne, John Raymond and Charles Gough.

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Our Governour and

Council of St Helena

1

Our last Letters went by the Prince Henry, Egmont,

and his Majestys Ship the Colchester, under date of the 23 of

December 1757, and the 8 of February following, since which your

several undermentioned Letters, are come to hand vizt, of the 4

Decemr 1757 by the Walpole, on the 27 February 1758, 4 of

Febry 1758 by the Prince Henry the 21 May; the 20 of March

and 16 of April by Lieut Blomer, the 17 August, Our Expected

Ships not being yet arrived, these are the only Letters we

have yet received.

2

As this Ship the Earl of Holderness, is at the time

of writing this Letter near upon her Dispatch, we now give you

some Directions and Informations which we more immediately

necessary, should our Shipping arrive before we close it, we shall

make such Additions as time will admit of, and for whatever

shall appear further necessary we must refer you to our intended

Letter by the Delawar.

3

The War with France is still continued with great

vigour, and we have the pleasure of informing you, that by the

Steady Conduct of our Government, and the Superior Force and

Success of the British Navy, That of France is greatly reduced

and the remainder in a great measure confined to their Ports,

their Commerce likewise is at the lowest Ebb, the only Efforts

of consequence the French make by Sea, and seem to be most

intent upon, are in the East Indies, where also we flatter

ourselves from the early Intelligence which all our

Settlements have had, of the Nabab and Land Forces under

the Command of Monsr Dascke, and Lally and the great

Margin Notes:

Acknowledging the receipt of Letters

Ships being on dispatch

Information respect of the war with France

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and the progress of the war.

1: The Court's last letters went by the Prince Henry, the Egmont and the King's ship Colchester, under date of 23 December 1757 and 8 February following, since when the island's several letters had come to hand, of 5 December 1757 by the Walpole, of 27 February 1758, of 24 February 1758 by the Prince Henry, of 31 May, of 20 March and 12 April by the Lord Clive, and of 17 August, and since the Court's expected ships had not yet arrived these were the only letters it had so far received.

2: As this ship the Earl of Holderness was, at the time of writing, near her dispatch, the Court now gave some directions and information that were more immediately necessary, and should its shipping arrive before the letter closed it would make such additions as time allowed, referring the island for anything further to its intended letter by the Delaware.

3: The war with France still went on with great vigour, and the Court was glad to report that, through the steady conduct of its government and the superior force and success of the British navy, that of France was greatly reduced and the remainder in great measure confined to its ports, its commerce likewise at the lowest ebb, and the only efforts of consequence the French made by sea, and seemed most intent upon, were in the East Indies, where too the Court flattered itself, from the early intelligence all its settlements had of the naval and land forces under the command of Monsieur d'Aché and Lally, and the great [...].

Interpretations

The Court's assessment that France, driven from the seas and confined to its ports, was now concentrating its only serious naval effort on the East Indies pinpoints where the global war had come to bear on the Company's own interests, since the general British command of the ocean meant the decisive contest for India would be fought against a France that had staked its remaining strength there, and the naming of d'Aché and Lally identifies the commanders of that final French push against the Company's eastern possessions.

Monsieur d'Aché commanded the French naval squadron in Indian waters and Lally the French land forces, the two men leading the major French offensive against the Company's settlements on the Coromandel Coast during these years, so the early intelligence the Court took comfort in was warning of the very campaign that would decide the fate of the European powers in India.

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loss as we have been informed, those Forces have met with by

Sickness, they will make no great Impression, We have lately

received Intelligence from Ilha Grande at the Brazils, That

in the Month of May last, four large French Ships were at

that place, being part of a Fleet of Eleven which sailed together

from France, and that the said four Ships were then waiting

for the remainder Seven, in order to proceed in Company

to the East Indies, whether they had any or what number of

Land Forces on board, we are not informed, nor who other

any other French Ships sailed last Season for India.

4

We have made Applications to his Majestys

Ministers, for some Ships to proceed to the East Indies to

reinforce the Fleet now there, and we flatter ourselves from

the favourable Reception we met with, our Request will

be complyed with, as far as may be consistent with the

general Service of the Nation, in the other parts of

the World.

5

We have so often, and pressingly recommended

your being on your Guard, that we need only refer you

for the same to our several Letters, since the commencement

of the War, and we shall rest assured that there will

be no care wanting on your parts, to defend our Island and

the Companys Shipping in the most effectual manner,

against any attempts of the Enemy.

6

Whatever informations, and directions may be further

necessary for the Security of our Island, & Shipping, will

be communicated by the Secret Committee hereafter, named

to our Governour, and in particular as to the Convoy, which

is to proceed from hence to take care of our next Season's

returning Shipping.

Margin Notes:

Continued

Application to his Majestys Ministers for Ships to reinforce the Fleet in the East Indies

Concerning your being on your Guard against the attempts of the Enemy

Directions for the Security of the Island &ca to be communicated by the Secret Committee & about the Convoy

Those French forces, from the accounts the Court had, having suffered such loss by sickness, would make no great impression. The Court had lately received intelligence from Ilha Grande in the Brazils that in May last four large French ships were there, part of a fleet of eleven that sailed together from France, and that the four were waiting for the remaining seven to proceed in company to the East Indies, though whether they carried any land forces, or what number, the Court was not told, nor who any other French ships were that sailed for India the previous season.

4: The Court had applied to the King's ministers for some ships to proceed to the East Indies to reinforce the fleet then there, and it flattered itself, from the favourable reception it met, that its request would be met as far as was consistent with the general service of the nation in the other parts of the world.

5: The Court had so often and so pressingly urged the island to be on its guard that it needed only refer it to its several letters since the war began, and it would rest assured that no care would be wanting on the island's part to defend the island and the Company's shipping in the most effective manner against any attempts of the enemy.

6: Whatever information and directions might be further needed for the security of the island and shipping would be communicated by the Secret Committee named below to the Governor, and in particular as to the convoy that was to proceed from the island to take care of the Court's next season's returning shipping.

Interpretations

The Court's report of a French fleet of eleven ships assembling at Ilha Grande off Brazil to cross together to the East Indies reveals how a settlement on the South Atlantic sea road served as a listening post for enemy movements, since the French squadron bound for India had to round the Cape by the same waters, and intelligence of its gathering in a Brazilian anchorage gave the Company forewarning of the force being sent against its eastern possessions long before it arrived.

The Court's application to the King's ministers for warships to reinforce the fleet in India, and its careful acknowledgement that the request could be granted only so far as the nation's service elsewhere allowed, exposes the Company's dependence on the state for its defence in the East, since it could no longer meet the French challenge from its own resources, and the naval strength it needed had to be weighed by government against every other demand of a war fought across the whole world.

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7

We have taken into the Companys Service this Season

Twenty one Ships and Stationed them in the following manner

Vizt Ships Tons Commanders Consignment

Duke of Dorset 499 Bernard Forrester Coast and Bay

Earl of Holderness 499 Robert Brooke

Delawar 425 James Quallett } St Helena & Bencoolen

Essex 499 George Jackson

Valentine 499 William Fernell

Pocock 499 Thomas Debuke

Denham 499 William Tryon } Fort St George

Suffolk 499 Richard Lewin and China

Oxford 499 William Webber Jun

Walpole 499 Francis Fowler

Hector 499 John Williams } Canton

Edgcote 499 John Pearse

Chesterfield 499 Edwin Carter } Limpo

Calcutta 499 George Wilson Madeira

New Ship 499 George Lindsay } Coast and Bay

Stormont 499 Henry Fletcher

Harcourt 499 William Webber

Clinton 499 John Nanfan

Griffin 499 Thomas Dethick } Bombay

Godolphin 499 William Hutchinson

Houghton 499 Charles Newton

8

Besides the beforementioned Ships on Freight, We shall

send to India this Season, the Ship Royal George which we

have lately built on the Companys Account, Burthen Four

hundred Tons, carrying 80 Men, and 20 Guns.

9

We have it also in our Intentions to send to India

the Prince Henry Packet, and the Syren, and Deligent

Sloops, some of them, to victual & Store London such Service

Margin Notes:

Ships taken up

Royal George taken up

Prince Henry Packet intended to be sent to India

7: The Court had taken into the Company's service that season 21 ships and stationed them as follows.

Duke of Dorset, 499 tons, Bernard Forrester, Coast and Bay

Earl of Holderness, 499 tons, Robert Brooke, St Helena and Bencoolen

Delaware, 425 tons, James Quallett, St Helena and Bencoolen

Essex, 499 tons, George Jackson, Fort St George and China

Valentine, 499 tons, William Fernell, Fort St George and China

Pocock, 499 tons, Thomas Debuke, Fort St George and China

Denham, 499 tons, William Tryon, Fort St George and China

Suffolk, 499 tons, Richard Lewin, Fort St George and China

Oxford, 499 tons, William Webber junior, Fort St George and China

Walpole, 499 tons, Francis Fowler, Canton

Hector, 499 tons, John Williams, Canton

Edgecote, 499 tons, John Pearse, Canton

Chesterfield, 499 tons, Edwin Carter, Canton

Calcutta, 499 tons, George Wilson, Madeira, Coast and Bay

New Ship, 499 tons, George Lindsay, Madeira, Coast and Bay

Stormont, 499 tons, Henry Fletcher, Madeira, Coast and Bay

Harcourt, 499 tons, William Webber, Madeira, Coast and Bay

Clinton, 499 tons, John Nanfan, Bombay

Griffin, 499 tons, Thomas Dethick, Bombay

Godolphin, 499 tons, William Hutchinson, Bombay

Houghton, 499 tons, Charles Newton, Bombay

8: Besides the ships on freight named above that the Court would send to India that season, there was the ship Royal George, lately built on the Company's account, of 400 tons burden, carrying 80 men and 20 guns.

9: The Court also intended to send to India the Prince Henry packet, and the Syren and Diligent [...].

Interpretations

The building of the Royal George on the Company's own account, armed with 20 guns and manned by 80 men, adds to the small fleet of fighting ships the Company was now raising for itself, and its appearance alongside the season's freighted merchantmen shows how the war had driven a trading corporation to become a builder of warships, maintaining an armed force at sea that the ordinary business of commerce would never have required.

The weight of that season's shipping thrown onto Fort St George and Canton, with a whole block bound directly for the China trade at Canton, reveals where the Company's commerce was concentrating as the war narrowed its options, since the tea trade of Canton remained the most secure and profitable branch beyond the reach of the French campaign in India, and the settlement reading the list could see the Company leaning on its China commerce while the Indian coast stood exposed to the enemy's main effort.

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as circumstances, and the Situation of Affairs may render

necessary, the latter of which is now under Dispatch for

Bombay

10

By the beforegoing List, you will observe that in

order the more fully to supply you with Stores, and Necessarys,

as well as to divide the Risk, Two Ships are destined for the

Island St Helena Vizt the Earl of Holderness, and the Delawar

by the Former you will receive this Letter, together, with the

several Particulars Consigned to you Specified, in the accompanying

Invoice, and Bill of Lading, the Delawar, will be dispatched from

hence about the middle of Decemr, with the remainder of the Stores

& Necessarys, Both these Ships are as soon as they have delivered

the Cargoes consigned to St Helena, to proceed to the West Coast

of Sumatra

11

We have thought proper to order the Limpo Ships

this Season to proceed directly to that Port, without calling at

St Helena, which we particularly take notice of that you may

not be in expectation of any other Ships this Season, than the

Earl of Holderness and Delaware.

12

We have made the necessary Dispositions, for giving

an early Dispatch, to all our Ships of this Season, according to

their several Destinations, and unless unforeseen Impediments

arise We have good reason to hope our intentions will meet with

Success.

13

You are to give the utmost assistance for unloading

the Earl of Holderness, that she may prosecute her Voyage

to the West Coast, without loss of time, and you are to give the

Commander Orders accordingly to make the best of his way

to Fort Marlbro, which we recommend it to you to do

within the Charterparty time.

14

The like must be done with respect to the

Delaware, We give this previous notice that as soon as

Margin Notes:

Ships consigned to the Island St Helena & to divide the Risk with the Stores & Provisions

Limpo Ships consigned directly to that Port

Earl of Holderness to be dispatched to the West Coast

The Court would send these ships as circumstances and the state of affairs might require, the last of which, the Diligent, was then under dispatch for Bombay.

10: From the list above the island would see that, to supply it more fully with stores and necessaries and to divide the risk, two ships were meant for St Helena, the Earl of Holderness and the Delaware, and by the former the island would receive this letter together with the several particulars consigned to it, shown in the accompanying invoice and bill of lading, while the Delaware would be dispatched from home about the middle of December with the rest of the stores and necessaries, both ships, as soon as they had delivered the cargoes consigned to St Helena, to proceed to the west coast of Sumatra.

11: The Court had thought proper to order the ships bound for Canton that season to proceed directly to that port without calling at St Helena, which it particularly noted so that the island might not expect any other ships that season than the Earl of Holderness and Delaware.

12: The Court had made the necessary arrangements for giving an early dispatch to all its ships that season according to their several destinations, and unless unforeseen impediments arose it had good reason to hope its intentions would meet with success.

13: The island was to give the utmost assistance for unloading the Earl of Holderness, so that she might continue her voyage to the west coast without loss of time, and it was to order the commander accordingly to make the best of his way to Fort Marlborough, which the Court recommended it to do within the charter party time.

14: The like was to be done as to the Delaware, and the Court gave this early notice so that as soon as [...].

Interpretations

The Court's decision to route that season's China ships straight to Canton without calling at St Helena, and its care to warn the island so it would look for no other vessels, reveals how the demands of a secure and rapid China trade were now allowed to override the island's regular expectation of shipping, since every unnecessary call cost time in a dangerous season, and the settlement had to be told plainly that it would see only two ships lest it hold back services in expectation of more.

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She appears, you may be in all respects ready to unload and dispatch

her accordingly

15

The arrival and departure of the Companys Shipping

will as usual be sent you in Lists, Certified by our Secretary, to

which therefore you are referred.

16

The Gentlemen whom we have appointed to be our

Committee of Secrecy this Season, are Laurence Sulivan Esqr, the

present Chairman of the Court of Directors, Roger Drake

Esqr Deputy, Christopher Burrow, Nathd Newnham and

Henry Plant Esqrs, three of whom are a Quorum, The Instructions

and Directions, the said Committe may judge proper to send, are

to be strictly observed, and complyed with by our Governor, and

by all and every other Person or Persons, to whom they shall or may

be directed.

17

In supplying you with Stores and Necessaries this

Season, for want of your Indents, we have been under the necessity

of making use in a great measure, of those received from you the

former Season, which were pretty fully complyed with by the

Ships, Prince Henry & Egmont, and now We propose to do the same

this Year by the Earl of Holderness, and Delaware the principal

Articles will consist of about Ninety Tons of Beef and Pork, Four

hundred Barrels or Seventy Tons of Flour, Seventy Five Barrels

of Gun Powder, and Ten Chaldron of Coals, the Various other necessary

and Stores, will as before observed, be pretty Near the same which were

sent last Year, both in Quantitys and Qualitys, if upon perusal of your

Indents, we shall make any alterations, or additions, they will be taken

Notice of in the following part of this Letter, or that we shall send you

by the Delaware, we refer you to this Ships Invoice enclosed for

the particulars of her Cargo, upon comparing, of which, with what

we have advised, you, as above, you may form a judgement of

what you may further Expect by the Delaware

Margin Notes:

Arrival & departure of Ships to be sent in Lists

Committee of Secrecy & their Instructions to be duly attended to

Stores & Necessarys sent this Season

She appeared, the island might be ready in every respect to unload and dispatch her accordingly.

15: The arrival and departure of the Company's shipping would, as usual, be sent to the island in lists certified by the Court's secretary, to which it was referred.

16: The gentlemen the Court had appointed to be its Secret Committee that season were Lacy Sulivan, the present chairman of the Court of Directors, Roger Drake, the deputy, Christopher Burrow, Nathaniel Newnham and Henry Plant, any three of whom made a quorum, and the instructions and directions that committee might think proper to send were to be strictly followed and complied with by the Governor and by every other person to whom they might be directed.

17: In supplying the island with stores and necessaries that season, for want of its requisition, the Court had been obliged to make use in great measure of those received from the island the previous season, which were pretty fully met by the ships Prince Henry and Egmont, and it proposed to do the same that year by the Earl of Holderness and Delaware, the principal articles to consist of about 90 tons of beef and pork, 400 barrels or 70 tons of flour, 75 barrels of gunpowder and 10 chaldrons of coals, the various other necessaries and stores being, as noted before, pretty near the same as those sent the previous year, both in quantities and qualities, and if on looking over its requisition the Court made any alterations or additions, they would be noticed in the following part of the letter, or in that it would send by the Delaware, and it referred the island to this ship's invoice enclosed for the particulars of her cargo, on comparing which with what the Court had advised above the island might form a judgement of what it might further expect by the Delaware.

Interpretations

The Court's having to supply the island from the previous season's requisition, for want of a current one, exposes the constant lag that distance imposed on the whole system of provisioning, since a settlement whose fresh demands had not yet reached London had to be furnished from its old estimates, and the Company was reduced to repeating the last known order and hoping it still answered the island's needs a full year on.

Chaldron was a measure of coal, a large dry capacity unit amounting to a fixed number of bushels, so the 10 chaldrons shipped here were a bulk consignment of fuel rather than any weight of the finished article, coal being sent to an island that had none of its own for the forge and other work of the settlement.

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18

The Beef and Pork, by this Ship amount

to about twenty Eight Tons, and was as usual killed in

England, the Fifty Eight Tons intended to be sent on the Delaware

will be victualled from Ireland, and although we are very well

a Suret,

it will be near, if not altogether as good as the English, yet we

would have it expended First, and you must give us a very

particular account how it proves, and is liked, that we may

know in what manner it will be best to make a Provision for

the following season.

19

As we apprehend that seventy five Barrels

of Gun Powder, you will receive by the Holderness, and Delaware

to be much more than will be necessary for the Service of the Island,

considering what you have on hand, if you find by a Carefull

Examination, That to be the Case, you must forward what

you can spare, to Fort Marlborough, where it will be very

acceptable.

20

The Governor having intimated the necessity

of having some Claret, to treat the Captains of his Majestys

Ships with, either those to Convoy home the Companys Ships,

or such as may call at the Island, in their Return from India

We send two Chests by this Ship, and shall send two more

by the Delaware, and shall depend upon its being used

frugaly although Genteely

21

You will observe by the Earl of Holderness

Invoice, we have consigned to you, two Chests of Treasure,

this we apprehend you will certainly have occasion for, and

for that reason, have particularly consigned them, If you

shall want any more, you may upon the Arrival of the Delaware

detain any Quantity, out of the twenty Chests, which will be

consigned to the Deputy Governor, and Council at Fort

Marlborough, by that Ship not exceeding in the Whole two

Chests, if you are under the necessity of making use of this

Liberty, you are to give the Commander, a Receipt for

the Same, & send an exact Account of what you so

18: The beef and pork by this ship came to about 28 tons and were, as usual, killed in England, while the 58 tons meant for the Delaware would be provided from Ireland, and though not so mild a cure, it would be near, if not altogether, as good as the English, yet the Court would rather have it used first, and the island was to give a very particular account of how it kept and was liked, so the Court might know how best to make provision for the following season.

19: Since the Court supposed that the 75 barrels of gunpowder the island would receive by the Holderness and Delaware were much more than the service of the island needed, given what it had in hand, the island was, if on careful examination it found that to be so, to forward what it could spare to Fort Marlborough, where it would be very acceptable.

20: The Governor having reported the need of some claret to treat the captains of the King's ships with, whether those convoying home the Company's ships or such as might call at the island on their return from India, the Court sent two chests by this ship and would send two more by the Delaware, and it would rely on the wine being used sparingly, though courteously.

21: From the Earl of Holderness invoice the island would see that two chests of treasure were consigned to it, which the Court supposed it would certainly have occasion for and had for that reason particularly consigned, but should it want more it might, on the arrival of the Delaware, keep back any quantity out of the 20 chests consigned to the Deputy Governor and Council at Fort Marlborough by that ship, not exceeding two chests in the whole, and if it was under the necessity of using this liberty it was to give the commander a receipt for the same and send an exact account of what it [...].

Interpretations

The Court's note that the Irish beef and pork was not so mild a cure as the English, yet ordering it used first, reveals a careful management of perishable stores by their keeping quality, since a less well cured provision would spoil sooner and had to be consumed before the better, and the demand for a detailed report on how it kept shows the Company gathering practical knowledge to guide which markets it drew its salt provisions from in later years.

The two chests of claret sent to help the Governor entertain the captains of the King's ships, with the pointed reminder to use them sparingly though courteously, exposes the small diplomacy that oiled the working relationship between the Company and the Royal Navy, since the naval officers who convoyed the homeward fleet had to be received with proper hospitality, and the Company was willing to ship wine across the world for the purpose while still guarding against its liberal consumption at its own expense.

Claret was the English name for the red wine of Bordeaux, a staple of genteel hospitality, shipped out here so the Governor could offer the naval captains the customary courtesies expected between gentlemen of standing.

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detain to our Said Deputy Governor

22

We now send you about twenty recruits, by the Earl

of Holderness, which in addition to those you sent last Year, we

we apprehend, sufficiently strengthen your Garrison, however we

shall send you a further reinforcement by the Delaware, if upon

Receipt of your Letters we find you are in want of it

23

The Governor having taken Notice that

Charles Gissing, a Corporal has behaved very well in the Garri-

son is a fit Person to have a Commission, we suppose in

consequence of the liberty given you last, and the preceding

seasons, he has been accordingly preferred, if not, you may give

him a Lieutenant Commission when ever you think fit

24

We have entertained Solomon St Maurice and

send him by the Earl of Holderness, to serve as Cadet in our

Garrison of St Helena, at Sergeants Pay, to commence from his

arrival, and if he behaves well, he is to be promoted to a Second

Lieutenants Commission, on the first Vacancy, which shall hap-

after his Arrival, and after Charles Gissing has been advanced, who

is to have the preference as mentioned in the preceeding parrag

25

It is of great consequence, and at this time in

particular, that We should have the Earliest information of all passe

who come upon our returning Ships from India, We trust you are

very punctual in entering their Names upon your Consultation

Books, but as you have many opportunitys of sending Letters

when those Books cannot accompany them, which has been

lately the Case, and We in consequence intirely ignorant, as to

the Passengers on board the Marlborough, & who by your Lett

of the 16 of April, it appears she arrived at St Helena so long

ago, as the 10 of that Month, I must be a duty therefore with

in future, to send us in every Letter the Names of all Passeng

from India, not only in our own Ships, but also in such as h

The island was to send an exact account of what it detained to the Deputy Governor.

22: The Court now sent about 20 recruits by the Earl of Holderness, which, added to those sent the previous year, it supposed would sufficiently strengthen the garrison, though it would send a further reinforcement by the Delaware if on receiving the island's letters it found the island wanted it.

23: The Governor having noticed that Charles Gissing, a corporal, had behaved very well in the garrison and was a fit person to have a commission, the Court supposed that under the leave given the island the previous and preceding seasons he had accordingly been preferred, and if not the island might give him a lieutenant's commission whenever it thought fit.

24: The Court had taken on Solomon St Maurice and would send him by the Earl of Holderness to serve as a cadet in the garrison of St Helena at sergeant's pay, to begin on his arrival, and if he behaved well he was to be promoted to a second lieutenant's commission on the first vacancy after his arrival, and after Charles Gissing had been advanced, who was to have the preference as mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

25: It was of great consequence, and at that time particularly, that the Court should have the earliest information of all who came upon its returning ships from India, and though the island was very punctual in entering their names in its consultation books, since it had many opportunities of sending letters when those books could not accompany them, which had lately been the case by the Lord Clive, the Court was in consequence entirely ignorant of the passengers aboard the Marlborough, who by the island's letter of 16 April appeared to have arrived at St Helena on the 10th of that month, so the island was in future to send by every letter the names of all passengers from India, not only on the Court's own ships but also on such [...].

Interpretations

The Court's sharp concern to learn the names of everyone arriving from India, driven by its complete ignorance of who had come on the Marlborough, reveals how the war made the movement of people a matter of intelligence rather than mere record, since a settlement on the sea road saw every homeward passenger pass through, and the Company needed that flow of names to keep track of its servants, and perhaps of others, at a time when knowing who was travelling where had acquired real weight.

The provision for Solomon St Maurice to serve as a cadet at a sergeant's pay with a promised commission on the first vacancy, but ranked behind the corporal Gissing already recommended, shows the orderly queue by which the garrison's junior officer posts were filled, since promotion turned on a settled order of precedence, and the Court's care to fix St Maurice's place behind a man already in line reveals an appointment system run by seniority even for the favoured newcomer sent out from home.

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Passage on any Foreign Ships, which may happen to touch at

St Helena, and thereby comes to your knowledge, We mean

been

all such as have employed by the Company, lived under their

protection, or had any Connections with them

26

You are to govern yourselves in returning

to us a Certificate agreably to the enclosed Form for the Flour

Landed by the Holderness, as well private Trade, as what We

send you according to the Directions given last year in respect

to that shipped, on board the Prince Henry, and Egmont

27

Since writing the forgoing, we recieved on the

2 Instant, the most agreably news of the arrival of the follow

Ships at Cork, on the 25 of last Month under Convoy of his

Majestys Ship the Colchester, after a tedious passage from

St Helena Vizt, the Royal Duke, Warwick, Sandwich, Triton;

Boss August & Elizabeth and Onslow

28

Those Ships lost Company of the Marlbro,

Norfolk, Falmouth, and Caernarvon on the 8 October

in to have a Gale of Wind at night, but We have the Pleasure

of informing you, that the two First got into Kinsale Harbour

on the same Day, the Colchester, and the Ships with her reached

Cork.

29

The Falmouth has not been heard of since

the beforementioned Seperation

30

The Caernarvon unluckily fell in with

a French Squadron, returning from Quebeck, and was

taken by a Sixty four Gun Ship, belonging thereto, but We

have the great Satisfaction of acquainting you, that She was

retaken by the Somerset, one of Admirals Boscawens Squadron

which was also on its return from Louisburgh, and is now safe

at Anchor, in Milford Haven, We hope the Company will be

no otherways Sufferers by this accident, than allowing the

Customary Salvage

The island was to send the names of those aboard any foreign ships that happened to call at St Helena and so came to its knowledge, the Court meaning all who had been employed by the Company, lived under its protection or had any connection with it.

26: The island was to govern itself in giving a certificate, in line with the enclosed form, for the flour landed by the Holderness, both what was private trade and what the Court sent, according to the directions given the previous year about that shipped on the Prince Henry and Egmont.

27: Since writing the foregoing, the Court received on the 2nd the very welcome news of the arrival of the following ships at Cork on the 25th of last month, under convoy of the King's ship Colchester, after a tedious passage from St Helena, namely the Royal Duke, Warwick, Sandwich, Triton, Essex, Augusta, Elizabeth and Onslow.

28: Those ships lost company of the Marlborough, Norfolk, Falmouth and Carnarvon on 8 October in a hard gale of wind at night, but the Court was glad to report that the first two got into Kinsale harbour the same day, and the Colchester and the ships with her reached Cork.

29: The Falmouth had not been heard of since the separation above.

30: The Carnarvon unluckily fell in with a French squadron returning from Quebec and was taken by a 64-gun ship belonging to it, but the Court had the great satisfaction of reporting that she was retaken by the Somerset, one of Admiral Boscawen's squadron, which was also on its return from Louisburg, and was then at anchor in Milford Haven, and the Court hoped the Company would be no otherwise a loser by this accident than in allowing the customary salvage.

Interpretations

The capture and swift recapture of the Carnarvon, taken by a French warship returning from Quebec and freed by one of Boscawen's ships coming home from Louisburg, reveals how the Company's shipping was caught up in the wider war being fought across the Atlantic, since the very squadrons that had contested Canada were now crossing the homeward track of the Indian fleet, and a Company merchantman's fate turned on which navy's ship she happened to meet on the approaches to the British Isles.

The Court's hope that the Company would lose no more by the Carnarvon's recapture than the customary salvage exposes the legal cost of rescue at sea, since a ship retaken from the enemy owed a proportion of her value to her rescuers as salvage, and even a fortunate recovery carried a charge, so the Company's relief was tempered by the knowledge that its own vessel, once taken and freed, could not be had back without paying for the service.

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31

Captain O'Brien acquainted us the St

Helena Packet was too large to send up by his Lieutenant,

and having received your Consultation books, only with a First

Express from the Royal Duke, not one of your Letters by any

of the beforementioned Ships, are come to hand.

32

The not receiving your Packets as beforementiond

is so great a dissappointment, that to prevent such another

in future, you must give directions, that upon the arrival of our

Shipping in any Ports of Great Britain, or Ireland, the

Commanders are carefully to attend to, and Comply with their

instructions, from the Court of Directors, on this Head, and you

must order them in particular, to forward the St Helena Pack

33

On the 3 Instant we recieved information by

a Ship arrived at Bristol, that the Lord Anson York, and Prince

Edward, were met on the 25 October, about Twenty six Leagues

distance from Cape Cleary in Ireland, at that time all well.

We are

Your Loving Friends

Lau Sulivan

R Drake

Thos Rous

James Creed

Hen Savage

Fredk Clopin

John Dorrien

Chas Cutts

Henr Crabb Boulton

Thos Phipps

Henry Plant

Heoby Hadley

John Manship

Timothy Tullie

Geo Dudley

Geo Rooke

Geo Stevens

John Harrison

John Raymond

J Brown

William Barwell

London 8 Novemr 1758

31: Captain O'Brien reported that the St Helena packet was too large to send up by his lieutenant, and having received the island's consultation books, only with a trusty express from the Royal Duke, not one of the island's letters by any of the ships named above had come to hand.

32: The failure to receive the island's packets, as noted above, was so great a disappointment that to prevent another in future the island was to give directions that, on the arrival of the Court's shipping in any ports of Great Britain or Ireland, the commanders carefully attend to and comply with their instructions from the Court of Directors on this head, and it was in particular to order them to forward the St Helena packet.

33: On the 3rd the Court received information by a ship arrived at Bristol that the Lord Anson, York and Prince Edward were met on 25 October, about 26 leagues distant from Cape Clear in Ireland, and at that time all well.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 8 November 1758, and signed by Lacy Sulivan, R. Drake, Thomas Rous, James Creed, Henry Savage, Frederick Clive, John Dorrien, Charles Cutts, H. Crabb Boulton, Thomas Phipps, Henry Plant, Henry Hadley, John Manship, Timothy Tullie, George Dudley, George Rooke, G. Stevens, John Harrison, John Raymond, J. Brown and William Burwell.

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Our Governor and

Council of St Helena

1

Since the date of our Letter by the Earl of Holderness

your Letters of the 16 July and 19 of August are come to hand,

on which we shall take this opportunity, of making such remarks as

may appear necessary, as well as to Communicate some further

informations and directions.

2

We gave you a General account by way of Supplement

of some

to our last Letter, of the arrival and the hearing of others, of our

returning Ships, We are now more particular to inform you, that his

Majestys Ship the Colchester, which left your Island on the 16 July

with the following Ships under her Convoy Vizt, The Marlborough

Warwick, Elizabeth, Norfolk, Princess Augusta, Falmouth Caernarvon

Royal Duke, Onslow, Sandwich, and Triton, after a very tedious

passage, met with a hard gale of Wind, on the 8 October, which was

the occasion of a Separation of some of them, however all except the

Caernarvon and Falmouth, happily got safe to Cork, and thereupon

Ireland on the 25 of the same Month.

3

The Caernarvon unluckily fell in with a French Squadron

returning from Quebec, and was taken, but we have the pleasure of informing

you, that She was retaken by the Sommerset one of Admiral Boscawens

Squadron, which was also on its return from Louisburgh, and was

carried safely to Milford Haven.

4

The Falmouth in a Sickly disstressed Condition arrived

at Greenock, near Glascow in Scotland, on the 6 of November

Of the Ships Prince Edward, Lord Anson, and York,

which sailed from St Helena on the 20 of August, the two first, in order

got safe to Limerick in the River Shannon in Ireland, on the 3

of November, but the York was unfortunately Stranded, and wrecked

near

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and the homeward shipping.

1: Since the date of the Court's letter by the Earl of Holderness, the island's letters of 16 July and 19 August had come to hand, on which the Court would take this opportunity of making such remarks as appeared necessary and of communicating some further information and directions.

2: The Court had given the island a general account, by way of supplement to its last letter, of the arrival of some of its returning ships and the report of others, and it now informed the island more particularly that the King's ship Colchester, which left the island on 16 July with the following ships under her convoy, namely the Marlborough, Warwick, Elizabeth, Norfolk, Princess Augusta, Falmouth, Carnarvon, Royal Duke, Onslow, Sandwich and Triton, met with a hard gale of wind on 8 October, which caused a separation of some of them, though all except the Carnarvon and Falmouth happily got safe to Cork in Ireland on the 25th of the same month.

3: The Carnarvon unluckily fell in with a French squadron returning from Quebec and was taken, but the Court had the pleasure of reporting that she was retaken by the Somerset, one of Admiral Boscawen's squadron, which was also on its return from Louisburg, and was carried safely to Milford Haven.

4: The Falmouth, in a sickly distressed condition, arrived at Greenock near Glasgow in Scotland on 2 November, and of the ships Prince Edward, Lord Anson and York, which sailed from St Helena on 20 August, the two first got safe to Limerick in the River Shannon in Ireland on 2 November, but the York was unfortunately stranded and wrecked [...].

Interpretations

The scattering of a convoy of eleven Indiamen by a single night's gale, driving them to make port anywhere from Cork to Greenock to Milford Haven, reveals how the weather of the North Atlantic approaches could undo the naval protection so carefully arranged, since the very act of keeping together under escort was defeated by a storm that flung the ships across hundreds of miles of coast, and the safe arrival of most of them was as much a matter of fortune as of the Colchester's convoy.

The arrival of the Falmouth in a sickly distressed condition, singled out from the rest of the fleet, points to the toll that a long voyage took on a ship's company through disease, since a crew worn down by sickness on the passage home could barely work the ship, and the note of her state marks the human cost of the eastern trade that lay behind the bare record of arrivals, a vessel reaching port not through storm or enemy but through the slower attrition of illness at sea.

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near the Mouth of that River, the Crew were all saved, but the Cargo

except a few Bales of Sweat Goods, and some other Goods of little

value is entirely lost

6

It has been extreamly unfortunate to the Company, that the

arrival of their Ships at the several beforementioned Places, should be

so very late in the Season, and this Circumstance should still be

rendered more disagreeable by their long detention as in a necessity

there for Convoy and other incidents, as the times of their Arrival in

England, must from their respective Situations be different, We refer

you therefore to the accompanying Lists, for an Information in this

particular.

7

His Majesty has been most graciously pleased to order

the following named Ships, to proceed to the East Indies, to reinforce the

Squadron there, and it is proposed that they should leave England about

the middle of February, when our Coast and Bay Ships will proceed

with them.

Ships Guns

Lenox 74

Duke of Acquitan 64

York 60

Falmouth 50

8

It has pleased his Majesty also, to Assist the Company

with a Battalion of Land Forces, consisting of about One thousand Men,

including Officers to be employed in Bengal, about two hundred of them

will take passage on the Men of War, and the Rest are to proceed on our

Own Ships.

9

The better to accommodate so considerable a Body of Men,

as also to find a Passage for the Recruits for our own Forces, We do in addition

to the Ships mentioned in our last Letter, employ the Companys own

Vessels, Prince Henry Packet as We shall be under the necessity likewise

of taking up a Ship to proceed to India, and to be disposed of there small Plan

Indies & there, whereon the Hardwick, and Codrington, were entertained in the Years

1754 and 1755

At the mouth of that river the crew were all saved, but the cargo, except a few bales of piece goods and some other goods of little value, was entirely lost.

6: It had been very unfortunate for the Company that the arrival of its ships at the several places named above should be so very late in the season, and the circumstance was made still more disagreeable by their long detention, either there for convoy or through other delays, since the times of their arrival in England must, from their several situations, be different, so the Court referred the island to the accompanying list for information on this point.

7: The King had been pleased to order the following ships to proceed to the East Indies to reinforce the squadron there, and it was proposed they should leave England about the middle of February, when the Court's Coast and Bay ships would proceed with them.

Lenox, 74 guns

Duke of Aquitaine, 64 guns

York, 60 guns

Falmouth, 50 guns

8: The King had also been pleased to help the Company with a battalion of land forces, about 1,000 men including officers, to be employed in Bengal, about 200 of whom would take passage on the warships and the rest proceed on the Company's own ships.

9: The better to accommodate so considerable a body of men, and also to find a passage for the recruits for the Court's own forces, the Court, besides the ships mentioned in its last letter, employed the Company's own ship the Prince Henry packet, which would be under the necessity of taking up a ship to proceed to India, and to be sold there, wherein the Hardwicke and Codrington were engaged in 1754 and 1755.

Interpretations

The dispatch of a second battalion of a thousand regular troops for Bengal, following the earlier reinforcement for the Coromandel Coast, marks the deepening commitment of the Crown to the Company's war in the East, since Bengal had become a theatre demanding its own army after the upheavals reported in the correspondence, and the ordering of a fresh regiment there shows the state assuming the defence of a second Indian presidency as a national charge.

The near-total loss of the wrecked York's cargo, saving only a few bales of piece goods, against the safe rescue of her whole crew, exposes where the real value of an Indiaman lay and how it could vanish in an hour, since the lading of eastern goods that made the voyage worth undertaking went to the bottom while the ship's people walked ashore, and the Company's loss was measured not in lives but in the freight that had been the object of the whole enterprise.

Piece goods were cotton textiles woven in India and traded by the piece, the staple export of the eastern trade, so the bales saved from the wreck were of the very commodity the Company's Indian commerce chiefly existed to bring home.

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10

There are many difficulties occur to prevent our Ships

coming to their Moorings in the Thames, from Ireland, Scotland

or wherever else they go to, after they leave St Helena, and is in

Consequence of our orders, as they now Stand, the Books Packets are

to be kept on board, until they get unto their aforesaid Moorings,

by which means, We are deprived of making use in time, of many

material Books necessary to be inspected before the dispatch of our

Shipping for India, which is the Case, this Year, very particularly,

to remedy therefore, this great inconvenience, in future, you must, so

long as the War continues, signify to every Commander, before he

leaves the Island, that he send to us, the Books Packets, as well as all

the other packets, he is intrusted with, from our Servants in India;

and by you, from the first port he arrives at whither in England

Scotland, or Ireland, with the Care and Precautions mentioned in

our instructions to them.

11

In order to prevent a Needless expence of Powder

on board the Ships, in the Companys Service, We have made some new

Regulation, by which the Commanders are allowed to make no other

Salutes with Guns, than those herein mentioned, upon all other occasions

they are to Salute with Cheers, according to their own discretion,

and the present Rules of the Navy, We now transmit to you a printed

Copy of the said Regulations

12

You were acquainted by our last Letter, that Eleven

Ships sailed from France, for the East Indies, and that part of them

had called at the Brazils, in May last, We have since been informed

by a Letter dated at Rio Janeiro the 30 June following, that the

said Fleet consisted of tolve Ships, Vizt, three Men of War, from

Sixty, to seventy Guns Each, Seven Companys Ships, Laden with Goods

for their Islands, and one for China, carrying from Eighteen to

thirty Guns, each also, two others, the Names unknown, Supposed also

to belong to the Company, the whole, under the Command of

Mons

10: There were many difficulties that prevented the Court's ships coming to their moorings in the Thames from Ireland, Scotland or wherever else they went after leaving St Helena, and in consequence of the Court's orders as they then stood, the book packets were to be kept on board until the ships reached those moorings, so the Court was deprived of using in time many important books it needed to inspect before dispatching its shipping for India, as was the case that year very particularly. To remedy this great inconvenience in future, so long as the war continued, the island was to tell every commander before he left the island to send the book packets, as well as the other packets he was entrusted with from the Court's servants in India, and by the island, from the first port he reached in England, Scotland or Ireland, with the care and precautions mentioned in the Court's instructions to them.

11: To prevent a needless expense of powder aboard the ships in the Company's service, the Court had made a new regulation by which the commanders were allowed to make no other gun salutes than those there mentioned, and on all other occasions they were to salute with cheers at their own discretion, in line with the present rules of the navy, a printed copy of the two regulations now sent to the island.

12: The island had been told by the Court's last letter that eleven ships sailed from France for the East Indies, part of them having called at Brazil in May last, and the Court had since been informed by a letter dated at Rio de Janeiro on 30 June following that the fleet consisted of twelve ships, namely three warships of 60 to 70 guns each, seven Company ships laden with goods for their islands and one for China, carrying from 18 to 40 guns each, and also two others whose names were unknown, supposed likewise to belong to the Company, the whole under the command of Monsieur [...].

Interpretations

The new rule limiting gun salutes to save powder, requiring the commanders to salute with cheers on all other occasions, reveals how the war reached even into the ceremonial customs of the sea, since gunpowder had become too valuable to burn on courtesy, and the substitution of the crew's voices for cannon shows a small economy imposed across the whole fleet, the honours of arrival and greeting reduced to what could be given without spending a scarce munition of war.

The Company's tracking of the French East India fleet from a letter written at Rio de Janeiro, giving the exact composition of its warships and merchantmen, confirms the value of the South Atlantic ports as sources of intelligence on enemy movements, since French ships bound for the East had to water and refresh on the Brazilian coast, and news of their strength travelled home to London through the same neutral harbours, giving the Company a detailed reckoning of the force sailing against its eastern trade.

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Monsr Delagully Chef D'Escadre, The following ten Ships called at Rio Janeiro

and Isla Grande in a Sickly Condition Vizt

Men of War Companys Ships

Le Mentor Le Comte Argenson

L'Actif Le Bourbon

Le Lustre Neptune

L'Elephant

Le Fortune

La Balaine

La Fedelle

Named

the three last, Companys Ships, were sailed before the date of the said

Letter, but the Men of War and the other Seven were then there

13

We are not informed, whether the said Ships had any Land

Forces on board, and from the Silence of the beforementioned Letter, in this

particular, we are induced to hope, they had not any Considerable Number,

at least not enough to give any uneasy apprehensions, if our Settlements in

India have been so happy, with the assistance of his Majestys Forces to make

a Good Stand against those under the Command of Mr Lally

14

We are ignorant of What Ships, and Forces, the French have

sent, or, design to send, for India this Season, but We flatter ourselves from the

present Low Condition of that Nation, that neither can be Considerable

however you must, constantly on Your Guard, that you may be ready in all

events, to defend the Island, if there should bend any of their force that way

15

It gives us pleasure to observe, that you have been able to supply

all the late homeward bound Shipping, with good Refreshment, and as this is

the principal use of the Island, we are persuaded you are so fully sensible

thereof, that We need only to remind you, of making proper use of Good Servants,

and take the utmost Care of your live Stock, that it may be properly proportion

to answer the demands of our homeward bound Shipping from one Season

to another.

16

The whole was under the command of Monsieur Delagally, chief of the squadron, and the following ten ships called at Rio de Janeiro and Ilha Grande in a sickly condition.

Le Mentor, man of war

L'Actif, man of war

Le Lustre, man of war

Le Comte d'Argenson, Company ship

Le Bourbon, Company ship

Neptune, Company ship

L'Elephant, Company ship

La Fortune, Company ship

La Baleine, Company ship

La Fidelle, Company ship

The three last-named Company ships had sailed before the date of the letter, but the warships and the other four were still there.

13: The Court was not told whether those ships carried any land forces, and from the silence of the letter above on this point it was led to hope they had none of any considerable number, at least not enough to give any uneasy apprehensions, if the settlements in India had been so fortunate as to make a good stand, with the help of the King's forces, against those under the command of Monsieur Lally.

14: The Court was ignorant of what ships and forces the French had sent, or meant to send, for India that season, but it flattered itself, from the present low condition of that nation, that neither could be considerable, though the island was still to be constantly on its guard, so as to be ready in every event to defend the island if the French should turn any of their force that way.

15: The Court was glad to see that the island had been able to supply all the late homeward-bound shipping with good refreshment, and since this was the principal use of the island the Court was persuaded the island was so fully aware of it that it needed only to remind the island of making proper use of its good servants and taking the utmost care of its livestock, so that it might be properly proportioned to answer the demands of the homeward-bound shipping from one season to another.

Interpretations

The Court's reminder that supplying the homeward fleet with fresh refreshment was the principal use of the island cuts to the heart of St Helena's whole purpose in the Company's system, since the settlement earned nothing by trade and existed to provision ships worn by the long passage from the East, and the instruction to manage its servants and livestock so the supply held from season to season shows the island valued strictly as a victualling station whose husbandry served the fleet rather than itself.

The Court's careful reading of the French fleet's silence about land forces, hoping from the absence of any mention that few soldiers were aboard, reveals how intelligence in wartime had to be drawn as much from what a report omitted as from what it stated, since the Company could not know the enemy's strength directly and was reduced to inferring the scale of the threat to India from the gaps in a letter written at a neutral Brazilian port.

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16

You are acquainted in our last Letter, that for want of

your Indents, we had been under the necessity of making use in a

great measure, of those received from you the former Season, Your

Indents being since come to hand, We do by the Delaware, make the

Provisions of the several Articles, desired correspond with them as

nearly as Time and the Room for them in the said can

admit of, which will more particularly appear on the Reference to the

Invoice by that Ship, as also to the invoice already sent by the Earl

of Holderness.

17

When you form your Indents in future, you must

have your account of Remains before you, and indent for no more,

than one years Consumption, That we received by Prince Edward was of an

old date, and though We suppose it to be formed in Consultation of the 26

of June last, We are at a Loss to know whether the Stores you received by

the Prince Henry, were looked on as an addition to your Remains,

which are brought up to the 9 of that Month.

18

We have made very strict enquiry into the Complaint you

make in the Deficiency of 44 2/2 23 in the weights of the Flour, sent you

by the Egmont, as also of the badness thereof, and the indifferency of that

by the Prince Henry, with respect to the first, We find there is such

particular care taken in weighing the flour, that it is almost impossible

to commit any mistake therein, We are therefore quite at a Loss to

account for the deficiency mentioned, however that We may for the future,

be able to detect any fraud, or Rectify a mistake, you must weigh the

whole Quantity of Flour, we send you in the presence of the Purser,

or some proper Officer of the Ships, and if any deficiency appears, you

are to Certify the number of Each Cask, wherein any, and what

short weight shall be found, also the Quality, the Persons of whom

we bought it, and indeed with whom We have dealt in this Article

for many Years past, has afsisded us that the very best that could

be procured at that time, was put up, under his own immediate

16: The island had been told in the Court's last letter that, for want of its requisition, the Court had been obliged to make use in great measure of those received from the island the previous season, and the island's requisitions had since come to hand, so by the Delaware the Court made the provisions of the several articles correspond with them as nearly as time and the room for them in the ship allowed, which would appear more particularly on referring to that ship's invoice as well as to the invoice already sent by the Earl of Holderness.

17: When the island framed its requisitions in future, it was to have its account of remains before it and requisition for no more than one year's consumption, and that received by the Prince Edward was without date, though the Court supposed it framed in consultation of 26 June last, so the Court was at a loss whether the stores received by the Prince Henry were looked on as an addition to the island's remains, which were brought up to the 11th of that month.

18: The Court had made very strict enquiry into the complaint the island made of the deficiency of 14 pounds 23 in the weights of the flour sent by the Egmont, and of the badness of it, and the insufficiency of that by the Prince Henry as to the first, and since such particular care was taken in weighing the flour that it was almost impossible to commit any mistake in it, the Court was quite at a loss to account for the deficiency mentioned, but so that it might in future detect any fraud or rectify a mistake, the island was to weigh the whole quantity of flour, in the presence of the purser or some proper officer of the ships, and if any deficiency appeared it was to certify the number of each cask in which any occurred, and what short weight was found, as also the quality, the season and from whom it was bought, and indeed the person the Court had dealt with in this article for many years past had assured it that the very best that could be got at that time was put up under his own immediate [...].

Interpretations

The Court's insistence that the whole flour be reweighed cask by cask before the ship's purser, with the short weight, quality, season and supplier all certified, reveals the difficulty of proving fault across an ocean, since a complaint of deficient or bad provisions could as easily arise from fraud, from error, or from spoilage on the voyage, and by demanding a witnessed and itemised record the Company built the only evidence that could fix responsibility on a supplier it dealt with at home while the loss showed itself at the island.

The direction to requisition for no more than a single year's consumption, with the account of remains kept always to hand, exposes the discipline the Company sought to impose on a supply chain stretched across a year's sailing, since a settlement that over-ordered tied up goods and money while one that ignored its own stock on hand risked waste or want, and the requirement that each new demand be set against the standing balance shows London trying to hold the island's provisioning to an exact and self-correcting reckoning.

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Inspection, and has promised that his utmost Care shall be used to prevent

any Complaint in future, you must therefore give a very particular Account,

of the Quality of the Flour, We send you this Season, and if there is any

fault to be found therewith you must distinguish in a particular

manner, the Nature of such fault, that We may obtain Satisfaction here,

and prevent the like in future.

of the Same Tenor

19

We recieved three receipts for the flour landed out of the Prince

Henry, which you inadvertently sent by the Colchester, instead of three

different Conveyances, as they ought to have been, the dates to all of them,

being omitted, altho very necessary to be inserted, When we writ to you by the

Prince Henry, as was then observed, we expected to send you, a Paper of

Instructions for Forming a Certificate, as to the Landing of the said Flour,

but as before the dispatch of that Ship, our Secretary recieved from the

Officers of his Majestys Customs, the very Form of the Certificate, to be

given on the occasion, a Copy whereof being transmitted by the Prince

Henry, made the sending any other Instructions intirely unnecessary,

and therefore is omissiok as you apprehend.

20

If the Delawar cannot bring you the Quantity of Timber you

desire in Your Letter of the 19 of August, to make a New Draw Bridge,

in the room of the old one, you inform us to is almost decayed, you may

from

depend upon receiving it next Season.

21

As you have been dissappointed of the Table Linnen, you

was to have recieved from Madras, We send by the Delaware, agriable to

your request, the Quantity mentioned in your indent.

22

We shall agreable to your request, give directions to our Servants

in India, to send you a re Cattle, of a better sort, than those you have

lately received, as We shall likewise to the President, and Council of Fort

St George, to take the utmost Care, that the Rice to be sent you from thence,

is the best they Can procure, but we shall expect at the same time, that you

are, on every deficient in making the proper Representations to our Servants

India, on these particulars.

23

The supplier had promised his utmost care would be used to prevent any complaint in future, so the island was to give a very particular account of the quality of the flour sent that season, and if any fault was found it was to describe the nature of it in detail, so the Court might obtain satisfaction at home and prevent the like in future.

19: The Court received three receipts of the same tenor for the flour landed out of the Prince Henry, which the island inadvertently sent by the Colchester instead of three for different ships as they ought to have been, the dates of all of them being left out, though very necessary to be inserted. When the Court wrote by the Prince Henry, as noted before, it expected to send the island a form of instructions for making a certificate as to the landing of the flour, but as before the dispatch of that ship the Court's secretary received from the officers of the King's customs the very form of the certificate to be given on the occasion, a copy of which sent by the Prince Henry made the sending of any other instructions entirely unnecessary, and so it was left out, as the island would suppose.

20: If the Delaware could not bring the island the quantity of timber it wanted, mentioned in its letter of 19 August, to make a new drawbridge in the room of the old one, which the island reported almost decayed, the island might rely on receiving it the next season.

21: Since the island had been disappointed of the table linen it was to have received from Madras, the Court sent by the Delaware, in line with the island's request, the quantity mentioned in its requisition.

22: The Court would, in line with the island's request, direct its servants in India to send the island rice, of a better sort than those it had lately received, and would likewise direct the President and Council of Fort St George to take the utmost care that the rice sent from there was the best they could procure, but it expected at the same time that the island was very deficient in making the proper representations to the Court's servants in India on these points.

Interpretations

The Court's sharp remark that the island was deficient in making proper representations to its servants in India over the poor rice reveals how the settlement's supply from the eastern factories depended on the island itself pressing its complaints through the right channels, since London could direct the presidencies to send better goods but the island had to state its needs and grievances clearly to those who actually shipped them, and a failure to do so left it receiving inferior provisions that no order from home could remedy without the island's own diligence.

The confusion over the three flour receipts, all of one tenor and undated when they should have been separate and dated, exposes how much the Company's system of proof depended on exact clerical form, since a receipt served as legal evidence of what was landed and when, and papers drawn up carelessly, however honestly, undermined the very certification that the earlier paragraphs had laboured to establish, the value of the record lying wholly in its precision.

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23

In answer to your Request for our Supra Cargoes,

in Mochoa to put on board one Bale of Coffee, yearly for the use of

St Helena, We do hereby authorize, and empower you, to demand

and receive from the Captains of any of our Mochoa Ships, a Bale

of Coffee whenever it is wanted, taking care to give Receipts for the

same.

24

You will observe in our Letter in the Earl of Holderness

We have Anticipated the Request made in your Letter, of the 19

of August, by Consigning to you Twelve Chests of Treasure by that said

Ship, and allowing you to detain two Chests more out of that designed

for Fort Marlborough, by the Delaway, but this last Liberty, you

must use with discretion by stopping no more than you have

realy occasion for, after making an allowance for the money which

may be paid into Cash for Bills of Exchange upon us.

25

As you have only Indented for Eight barrels of Gun-

powder, the Twenty five barrels by the Delaway are consigned to Fort

Marlborough, where it is much wanted, for which reason if you have

more in your Store, than you really have occasion for, We would have

you agreable to our Recommendation in last Letter, forward what

you can spare to that Settlement

26

We observe by your books, ending October 1757 that

a Loss of £86. 11. 5 1/2 is said to have arisen by selling Beef

and Pork, to the Garrison under prime cost, By the Storekeepers

Collections, it appears that some part of the Beef, any Pork, was

sold to the Companys Servants at 10 pr Cent advance, and some

part to the Planters at Twenty five pr Cent, But the Quantity

and Price of that delivered to the Garrison, is no where appear,

so that We cannot apprehend, how any such Loss should arise, To

remedy this for the future, you must put a Valuation on the Species

and Remains of the above, and all others, Provisions, and Stores and

also specify the Particulars delivered for the use of the Garrison,

that

23: In answer to the island's request that the Court's supercargoes at Mocha put aboard one bale of coffee yearly for the use of St Helena, the Court authorised and empowered the island to demand and receive from the captains of any of its Mocha ships a bale of coffee whenever it was wanted, taking care to give receipts for the same.

24: The island would see from the Court's letter in the Earl of Holderness that the Court had anticipated the request made in the island's letter of 19 August by consigning to it two chests of treasure by that ship, and by allowing it to keep back two chests more out of that meant for Fort Marlborough by the Delaware, but this last liberty the island was to use with discretion, drawing no more than it had real occasion for, after allowing for the money that might be paid into cash for bills of exchange upon the Court.

25: Since the island had requisitioned for only eight barrels of gunpowder, the 25 barrels by the Delaware were consigned to Fort Marlborough, where it was much wanted, for which reason, if the island had more in its stores than it really had occasion for, the Court wished it, in line with the recommendation in its last letter, to forward what it could spare to that settlement.

26: From the island's books ending October 1757 the Court saw that a loss of £86 11s 5d was said to have arisen by selling beef and pork to the garrison under prime cost, but from the storekeeper's collections it appeared that some part of the beef and pork was sold to the Company's servants at 10 per cent advance and some part to the planters at 25 per cent, while the quantity and price of that delivered to the garrison appeared nowhere, so the Court could not understand how any such loss should arise, and to remedy this in future the island was to put a valuation on the issues and remains of the above and all other provisions and stores, and also to specify the particulars delivered for the use of the garrison, [...].

Interpretations

The Court's inability to trace the reported £86 11s 5d loss on beef and pork, because the sales to servants and planters were recorded at a profit while the issue to the garrison appeared nowhere, exposes a gap in the island's accounting that concealed how its provisions were actually disposed of, and the demand to value every issue and remain and specify what went to the garrison shows the Company insisting that a settlement it subsidised account for its stores in a way that revealed where the loss truly lay rather than letting it vanish into an unexplained figure.

The graded pricing of the same beef and pork, sold to the Company's own servants at a tenth above cost but to the planters at a quarter above, reveals a deliberate social distinction embedded in the island's economy, since the servants of the Company were favoured with cheaper provisions as a benefit of their place while the independent planters paid the higher rate, and the difference marks the settlement's supply used not merely to feed its people but to reward service to the Company over the free inhabitants who stood outside it.

Mocha, on the Red Sea coast of Yemen, was the port from which the finest coffee was shipped, giving its name to the trade, so the bale sent yearly to St Helena was of the choice coffee the Company's ships carried from there.

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that your Entrys of Profit & Loss may properly be examined.

27

Being thus at a Loss to know what Quantitys and

at what rates the Garrison is supplied, with Salt Provisions, out of

the Companys Stores, we cannot determine whether it is reasonable or

not to Comply with the Request in Your Letter of the 19 of August,

for indulging the Officers, and Gentlemen in our Service, with what

they want for their own use, at the price the Garrison pays for it,

which by our Letter of the 16 of December 1743, ought to be at

prime Cost, especialy, as you do not mention who and how many of

those Officers, and Gentlemen are, with what Quantitys they want to

be indulged, on all which we expect you will fully explain Yourselves,

before We give any directions on that part of your Letter.

28

The late arrival of our Shipping, and the short time We

have, in consequence thereof, to prepare for the dispatch, of many

Important affairs, before departure of the Ships for India, prevents

our looking into the affair of punishing Criminals at St Helena

but We hope by next Season, to be able, to send, you some instructions

thereon, in the mean time, we at ave our leave, to send our prisoners

to England, upon any of our Ships, any person, or persons, who have

been, or shall be found guilty of such offences, as shall render them

unfit, or unsafe to be continued on the Island, sending with them a

full, and Authenticated account, of the Crimes they are charged with,

and the proceedings thereon as well for your own justification

as our Information, William Cooksey the Soldier proved Guilty of

Embezzling the Companys Flour is one of those who ought, and must

be sent off the Island.

29

In answer to that part of your Letter of the 16 of

July, wherein you say Foreign Gentlemen of Station, who have

lately been at St Helena, seemed to be displeased at there not being any

some Compliments paid them, and request my directions whether you

should shew any, We do not find you are anywhere forbid making

Compliments

The valuation was needed so that the island's entries of profit and loss might be properly examined.

27: Being thus at a loss to know in what quantity and at what rates the garrison was supplied with salt provisions out of the Company's stores, the Court could not determine whether it was reasonable or not to comply with the request in the island's letter of 19 August for allowing the officers and gentlemen in the Court's service to have what they wanted for their own use at the price the garrison paid for it, which by the Court's letter of 16 December 1743 ought to be at prime cost, especially since the island did not mention who and how many those officers and gentlemen were, nor in what quantities they were to be indulged, on all which the Court expected the island to explain itself fully before it gave any directions on that part of the letter.

28: The late arrival of the Court's shipping, and the short time it had in consequence to prepare the dispatch of many important affairs before the ships left for India, prevented its looking into the matter of punishing criminals at St Helena, but it hoped by the next season to send the island some instructions on it, and in the meantime it gave the island leave to send home as prisoners, on any of its ships, any person found guilty of such offences as rendered them unfit or unsafe to be kept on the island, sending with them a full and authenticated account of the crimes they were charged with and the proceedings on them, both for the island's own justification and the Court's information, William Cooksey the soldier, found guilty of embezzling the Company's flour, being one of those who ought and must be sent off the island.

29: In answer to that part of the island's letter of 16 July, in which it said foreign gentlemen of station had lately been at St Helena and seemed displeased at there not being some compliments paid them, and asked for directions whether it should show any, the Court did not find the island was anywhere forbidden making [...].

Interpretations

The Court's refusal to decide the officers' claim to provisions at prime cost until the island stated exactly who and how many they were, reveals its guard against a privilege that could quietly expand to swallow the settlement's stores, since a benefit granted loosely to officers and gentlemen without number or limit would grow beyond any reckoning, and by demanding the precise extent before granting anything the Company kept control of a concession that touched directly on the loss it was already struggling to trace in its accounts.

The provision for sending convicted criminals home for punishment, pending proper instructions, with a full authenticated record of their crimes, exposes the legal limbo of a settlement that had the power to try offenders but not always to punish the worst of them, since a remote island lacked both the machinery and the clear authority for the gravest sentences, and the removal of a man like the flour-embezzling soldier to England shows serious crime referred back to the mother country for want of a settled criminal jurisdiction on the spot.

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Compliments to such Foreign Gentlemen, either as to Salutes, or in

any other way, that their Stations may Claim, or deserve, and We

shall accordingly leave it to your discretion, to make the necessary

Compliments in future, But this however, is by no means intended

to break into the Revived standing rule, in our Letter of the

29 of November 1751, That no Foreigner of any Quality, whatsoever

be permitted to see the Country, altho in Company with the

Governor, or any of our Servants, and that Care be taken, that they

be prevented as much as possible, from viewing, and making

Remarks upon the Fortifications.

30

We observe by your Letters of the 16 of July, that

upon the Resignation of Charles Steward you have entertained

Richard Law, as Writer in the Secretarys Office, if you are

satisfied he is properly Qualified for that Station, We do agreed

to your said Choice, and that his time of Service, commence from

the day you appointed him, which by the way is not mentioned in

your Letter or in Consultation, and he is accordingly to

Execute the Covenants sent by the Delawar

31

It appearing by your Consultations that William

Wrangham having served his five Years as Writer and Commences

Factor, he is to Execute fresh Covenants likewise, sent by the Delaway

32

The Covenants Executed both by Wrangham, and Law,

are to be returned here, and they are to write to their Friends in England,

to give the usual Security for them, the first under the Penalty of

One thousand Pounds, & Law five hundred Pounds

33

Having set a part a day on Purpose, to Examine

into the Conduct, and Behaviour, of our Lieutenant Governor

John Adamson, we entered upon it, with the greatest Candour,

glad

and should have been extreamly, to have found them, such as would

have entitled him to our favour, but on such examination, it evidently

appearing, that Mr Adamson has behaved in a very unbecoming

manner

The island might pay compliments to such foreign gentlemen, whether as to salutes or in any other way their stations might claim or deserve, and the Court accordingly left it to the island's discretion to make the necessary compliments in future, though this was on no account meant to break into the standing order of the Court's own letter of 29 November 1731, that no foreigner of any quality whatever be allowed to see the country, even in company with the Governor or any of the Court's servants, and that care be taken they be prevented as far as possible from viewing and making remarks upon the fortifications.

30: From the island's letter of 16 July the Court saw that, on the resignation of Charles Steward, the island had taken on Richard Laws as writer in the secretary's office, and if the island was satisfied he was properly qualified for the post the Court agreed to the choice, and that his term of service commence from the day the island appointed him, which by the way was not mentioned in its letter or consultations, and he was accordingly to execute the covenants sent by the Delaware.

31: Since it appeared from the island's consultations that William Wrangham, having served his five years as writer, had become factor, he was to execute fresh covenants likewise, sent by the Delaware.

32: The covenants executed by both Wrangham and Laws were to be returned to the Court, and they were to write to their friends in England to give the usual security for them, the first under the penalty of £1,000 and Laws £500.

33: Having set apart a day on purpose to examine into the conduct and behaviour of the island's Lieutenant Governor John Adamson, the Court entered upon it with the greatest care and would have been extremely glad to have found it such as would have entitled him to its favour, but on examination it appeared that Mr Adamson had behaved in a very unbecoming manner [...].

Interpretations

The standing order that no foreigner be allowed to see the country or view the fortifications, held firm even while the island was permitted to pay visiting foreign gentlemen their due compliments, reveals the careful line the Company drew between courtesy and security, since hospitality could be extended without granting access, and the distinction shows a settlement that had long treated its defences as secrets to be shielded from any outside eye, a caution predating the war and made only more pressing by it.

The graduated security demanded of the two writers, £1,000 for the factor Wrangham and £500 for the newly appointed Laws, exposes how the Company matched the bond to the trust of the office, since a factor handled goods and money of far greater value than a writer newly entered, and the doubling of the surety for the senior post shows the size of the guarantee tied precisely to the scale of what each servant could lose or misappropriate in the Company's service.

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manner towards the Governor, in so much that he has represented it

was not in his power, to live with Mr Adamson, as he could wish to do

with a Person in his Post, and it further appearing, that Mr Adamson

and Lieutenant Thomas Kirkpatrick, had employed one William

Richards, to draw for them, Plans, and Prospects of several of the

Works, and Fortifications, on the Island, Particularly, for the latter, a

Draught for the attack of the Town, and Castle, and that the same had

been done, without the knowledge, and Consent of the Governor, in

breach of the Rules of Military discipline, as well as their duty to the

Company, and might be productive of the most prejudicial Consequences,

and the Court being fully satisfied, of Mr Hutchinsons due Administration

of the Authority, committed to him, and considering the necessity of

supporting thereof, as well as for the maintaining proper order, and

Discipline, in the Government of the Island, on which its preservation

depends, more especially in this time of Ware, and in order to discounte-

nance, and prevent such unbecoming, and undue Practices in future

it was unanimously Resolved, That Mr John Adamson Lieutenant

Governor of the Island St Helena, be immediately dismissed the

Companys Service, and be sent home upon one of the Ships of the

same Season, wherein this Resolution for his

Dismission shall be received

34

It was also unanimously Resolved that Lieutenant

Thomas Kirkpatrick, be immedeately dismissed the Companys service,

and sent home from St Helena, on the first Ship, that shall leave the

Island, after the Receipt of this Resolution, and it was further ordered,

that William Richards, be also dismissed, and sent home in like manner

by the first Ship.

35

These our Resolutions, and Orders are to take place

immedeately, upon the Receipt of this Letter, and the

several Persons beforementiond, are from that instant, dismissed the

Companys service, and are accordingly to be sent home, in the manner

directed.

36

Adamson had behaved so unbecomingly towards the Governor that the Governor had reported it was not in his power to live with Adamson as he could wish to do with a person in his post, and it further appeared that Adamson and Lieutenant Thomas Kirkpatrick had employed one William Richards to draw plans and prospects of several of the works and fortifications on the island, particularly a draught for the attack of the town and castle, and that this had been done without the knowledge and consent of the Governor, in breach of the rules of military discipline as well as their duty to the Company, and might produce the most harmful consequences. The Court, being fully satisfied of Mr Hutchinson's good conduct in the authority committed to him, and considering the need to support it and to maintain proper order and discipline in the government of the island, on which its preservation depended, more especially in that time of war, and to discourage and prevent such unbecoming and improper practices in future, unanimously resolved that Mr John Adamson, Lieutenant Governor of the island of St Helena, be immediately dismissed the Company's service and sent home on one of the ships of that season by which this resolution for his dismissal was received.

34: It was also unanimously resolved that Lieutenant Thomas Kirkpatrick be immediately dismissed the Company's service and sent home from St Helena on the first ship that left the island after receiving the resolution, and it was further ordered that William Richards be also dismissed and sent home in like manner by the first ship.

35: These resolutions and orders were to take place immediately on receipt of the letter, and the several persons named above were from that instant dismissed the Company's service and accordingly to be sent home in the manner directed.

Interpretations

The making of a draught for the attack of the town and castle, drawn up privately by the Lieutenant Governor and another officer without the Governor's knowledge, was treated by the Court as so grave a breach that it dismissed three men at a stroke, and the severity reveals how a plan showing how the island's own defences might be assaulted struck at the heart of its security in wartime, since such a document in the wrong hands was a direct danger to the fortress and could only be read as a betrayal of the trust on which the whole garrison rested.

The Court's framing of the dismissals as a matter of supporting Hutchinson's authority and maintaining discipline on which the island's preservation depended reveals how it read the quarrel less as a personal dispute than as a threat to the chain of command itself, since a Lieutenant Governor who undermined his superior and acted behind his back weakened the very structure of government that held a besieged settlement together, and the Company chose to remove the subordinates entirely rather than let the Governor's authority be seen to be challenged with impunity.

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36

Agreeable to what We mentioned, the Delaware will

bring you about ten more Recruits, and as these in addition to the

Twenty sent in the Earl of Holderness will sufficiently strengthen

our Garrison, you are not to detain any of those, therefore intended

for the West Coast by the Delaware.

37

It is highly necessary, that the utmost exactness

should be observed in advising the several sums of money paid into

our Cash, and that your Cash accounts, Consultations, and

Letters should agree with each other, and with the Bills, but We

are very to observe, that this not the Case, in those now before us,

which We shall point out to you, that such mistakes may be avoided

and more Care taken in future, and in order thereto we must

observe, that the Original of your Letter dated the 16 July 1758,

came by the Colchester, and the Duplicate by the Prince Edward,

but it so happened that the Duplicate was recieved by us first

38

The 35 Paragraph, in the Letter by Colchester

relating to the time, and manner in which you intended drawing

your Bills of Exchange, is intirely ommitted in that by the Prince

Edward.

39

The five first Bills mentioned in the Prince Edwards

Letter, are left out in the Colchesters.

40

The Bill advised by the Prince Edward, as granted

Archibald Grant, and payable to John Calcraft for six hundred pounds,

appeared by the bill itself, the Consultations and Cash Account, to be

Six hundred and twenty Pounds

41

The Bill advised by the Prince Edwards Letter, to

be granted, and payable to George Cumming for three hundred

pounds, appeared by the Bill, and Colchester Letter, Consultations,

and Cash Account, to be three hundred and fifty Pounds

42

36: In line with what the Court had mentioned, the Delaware would bring the island about ten more recruits, and since these, added to the 20 sent by the Earl of Holderness, would sufficiently strengthen the garrison, the island was not to keep any of those meant for the west coast by the Delaware.

37: It was highly necessary that the utmost exactness be observed in advising the several sums of money paid into the Court's cash, and that the island's cash accounts, consultations and letters agree with each other and with the bills, but the Court was very sorry to see this was not the case in those before it, which it would point out to the island so that such mistakes might be avoided and more care taken in future, and to that end the island was to observe that the original of its letter of 16 July 1758 came by the Colchester and the duplicate by the Prince Edward, but it so happened that the duplicate was received first.

38: The thirty-fifth paragraph in the Colchester letter, relating to the time and manner in which the island intended drawing its bills of exchange, was entirely left out in that by the Prince Edward.

39: The five first bills mentioned in the Prince Edward letter were left out in the Colchester letter.

40: The bill advised by the Prince Edward as granted to Archibald Grant and payable to John Calcraft for £600 0s 0d appeared by the bill itself, the consultation and the cash account to be £620 0s 0d.

41: The bill advised by the Prince Edward letter, granted and payable to George Cumming for £300 0s 0d, appeared by the bill, the Colchester letter, the consultation and the cash account to be £350 0s 0d.

Interpretations

The Court's painstaking cross-checking of the same bills across the island's duplicate letters, consultations and cash accounts, catching discrepancies of £20 and £50 between what each record stated, reveals the fragility of a financial system that depended on identical figures reaching London by several ships, since a bill of exchange bound the Company to pay whatever sum the properly advised documents named, and any disagreement among the island's own records over the true amount threatened either loss to the Company or dishonour to the bill, so the demand for exact agreement was a demand on which real money turned.

The practice of sending an original letter by one ship and a duplicate by another, with the duplicate here arriving first, exposes the deliberate redundancy the war forced on the Company's correspondence, yet also its hidden cost, since letters copied separately could diverge, one omitting a paragraph the other contained, and the very method adopted to guard against the loss of a single ship created fresh confusion when the two versions failed to match, the safeguard against loss becoming a source of error in its turn.

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42

The Bill for Fifty Pounds, advised in the Prince Edwards

Letter, granted Matthew Bazett, and payable to himself, appeared

by the Bill itself, Colchesters Letter, and Consultations, to be payable

to Captain Charles Foulis, and received of Matthew Bazett

43

The Bill for One hundred and ten Pounds, advised by

the Prince Edward, as granted to John Adamson, payable to himself

by the Bill, Colchesters Letter, and Consultations, appeared to be

payable to Wm John Andrews received of John Adamson.

44

One of the Bills said in the Colchesters Letter to be

granted to James Hucker, for One hundred and fifty Pounds, appears

by the Prince Edwards Letter, and bill itself to be One hundred and twenty

Pounds.

45

To these mistakes we must add that Your Consultation

under date of the First of July, entered in the set received by the Colchester,

was left out in that recieved by the Prince Edward.

46

The affair of drawing, and advising Bills, comes within

so narrow a Compass, that we are Surprized such a String of Mistakes,

should escape your Notice, in your Situation of Governor and Council,

but much more so, at the Carelesness, and inattention of Your Secretary,

from whom they must have taken rise, and you must let him know,

that We shall think him unfit for that, or any other Station, if we find

any further such marks, of his Carelesness.

47

In order to fill up the Vacancy, occasioned by the dismiss

of Mr Adamson, beforementiond, We have Chosen, and do hereby constitute

and appoint, Nicholas Dunbar, to be Lieutenant Governor of Our

Island St Helena, also second in Council, and overseer of the Plantations,

with the same appointments as were enjoyed by the late Mr Hunter

and Mr Adamson Vizt, For Salary two hundred and fifty Pounds,

and diet money One hundred Pounds a year, both to Commence upon

his arrival, He is to be accommodated with regard to his apartments

42: The bill for £50 0s 0d advised in the Prince Edward letter as granted to Matthew Bazett and payable to himself appeared, by the bill itself, the Colchester letter and the consultation, to be payable to Captain Charles Forbes and received from Matthew Bazett.

43: The bill for £110 0s 0d advised by the Prince Edward as granted to John Adamson and payable to himself, by the bill, the Colchester letter and the consultation, appeared to be payable to William John Andrews and received from John Adamson.

44: One of the bills said in the Colchester letter to be granted to James Hucker for £150 0s 0d appeared, by the Prince Edward letter and the bill itself, to be £120 0s 0d.

45: To these mistakes the Court had to add that the island's consultation of 1 July, entered in the set received by the Colchester, was left out in that received by the Prince Edward.

46: The business of drawing and advising bills lay within so narrow a compass that the Court was surprised such a string of mistakes should escape the island's notice, in its position of Governor and Council, but much more so the carelessness and inattention of its secretary, from whom they must have taken their rise, so the island was to tell him the Court would think him unfit for that or any other post if it found any further such marks of his carelessness.

47: To fill the vacancy caused by the dismissal of Mr Adamson, mentioned above, the Court had chosen and appointed Nicholas Dunbar to be Lieutenant Governor of the island of St Helena, also second in Council and overseer of the plantations, with the same appointments the late Mr Hunter and Mr Adamson had enjoyed, namely for salary £250 0s 0d and diet money £100 0s 0d a year, both to commence on his arrival, and he was to be accommodated with regard to his apartments [...].

Interpretations

The Court's threat to dismiss the island's secretary from any post if further careless mistakes appeared in the bills reveals how it traced the whole string of errors to a single clerk and made him personally answerable, since the drawing and advising of bills of exchange demanded exact accuracy and the secretary was the officer through whose hands the figures passed, so the Company held the man at the origin of the record responsible for a reliability on which its money directly depended.

The appointment of Nicholas Dunbar to a single office combining Lieutenant Governor, second in Council and overseer of the plantations reveals how the island's small establishment concentrated several distinct functions in one man, since a remote settlement could not support a separate officer for each duty, and the joining of the military, conciliar and agricultural charges in one appointment shows a government run by a handful of servants each carrying the weight of what would elsewhere be several separate posts.

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both in the House in the Valley, and the Rooms in the Longwood

in all respects, the same as Mr Hunter, and Mr Adamson were,

and to have the use of some of our Slaves, in the same manner as those

two Gentlemen were indulged.

48

In Case of the death, or Absence of Charles Hutchinson

Esqr, our said Lieutenant Governor Nicholas Dunbar, is to

succeed as provisional Governor, until Our further pleasure is

known.

49

The Council at St Helena having for some years

past, consisted only of three Persons, Vizt, The Governor, Lieutenant

Governor, and Lieutenant John Clark, We have thought it necessary

to add one of our Servants on the Civil List thereto, and We do

hereby accordingly appoint, and Direct, that Mr Matthew Curling

do take his Seat at the Council board, upon the Receipt, of this Letter,

from which time he is to receive in addition to his present Salary,

of Seventy Pounds, the further Sum of Thirty Pounds a Year, in

Consideration of his Services as one of the Council, and Mr Curling

on his admission to the board, is immediately to take the usual

Oath of Fidelity to the Company.

50

Charles Hutchinson Esqr Governor, and Chief

in Council, is to act in, and manage all the Companys affairs,

by and with the advice and concurrence of the Deputy Governor,

Nicholas Dunbar, Lieutenant John G Clark, & Mr Matthew Curling

aforesaid, who are hereby appointed and directed, to be of Council, in

the order they are named, and in Case they shall at any time, or

times, be equaly divided in Opinion, our Governor is to have the

Casting or determining Vote.

51

We take the opportunity of sending this Letter by

his Majestys Ships the Falkland, on which We proposed Mr Dunbar

should have taken his Passage, but it not being Possible for him

to get ready for that Ship, in time, he will proceed in the Delaware

which

Dunbar was to have both the house in the valley and the rooms at Longwood, in all respects the same as Mr Hunter and Mr Adamson had, and to have the use of some of the Court's slaves, in the same manner as those two gentlemen were allowed.

48: In case of the death or absence of Charles Hutchinson, the Lieutenant Governor Nicholas Dunbar was to succeed as provisional governor until the Court's further pleasure was known.

49: The Council at St Helena having for some years consisted of only three persons, namely the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and Lieutenant John Clark, the Court thought it necessary to add one of its servants on the civil list there, and accordingly appointed and directed that Mr Matthew Curling take his seat at the Council board on receipt of the letter, from which time he was to receive, in addition to his present salary of £20 0s 0d, the further sum of £30 0s 0d a year, in consideration of his services as one of the Council, and Mr Curling, on his admission to the board, was immediately to take the usual oath of fidelity to the Company.

50: Charles Hutchinson, as Governor and president in Council, was to act in and manage all the Company's affairs by and with the advice and concurrence of the Deputy Governor Nicholas Dunbar, Lieutenant John Clark and Mr Matthew Curling, who were appointed and directed to be of Council in the order named, and in case they were at any time equally divided in opinion the Governor was to have the casting or determining vote.

51: The Court took the opportunity of sending this letter by the King's ship Falkland, on which it proposed Mr Dunbar should have taken his passage, but as it was not possible for him to get ready for that ship in time, he would proceed in the Delaware [...].

Interpretations

The enlargement of the Council from three members to four, with a servant raised from the civil list and given a casting vote reserved to the Governor, reveals the Company adjusting the balance of its island government in the wake of the dismissals, since a body of only three could be paralysed or dominated too easily, and the addition of a fourth voice with the Governor holding the deciding vote shows a deliberate strengthening of the president's hand after the very quarrel that had cost the Lieutenant Governor his place.

The listing of the Council in a fixed order of succession, with each man's precedence set down and the Lieutenant Governor named to act as provisional governor should Hutchinson die or be absent, reveals how the Company guarded the continuity of authority in a remote settlement, since the death or departure of a governor could leave a dangerous vacancy at any moment, and by fixing in advance who should step into the command the Court ensured that the island would never be left without a clear head, most of all in a time of war.

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which will soon be ready for her dispatches.

52

It being highly improper, as well as dangerous in this time

of War in particular, that any Draughts or Plans, of the Fortifications,

and Works, should be suffered to be brought away, from the Island,

you are to make the strictest Enquiry, whether Mr Adamson, Lieut

Kirkpatrick, or Richards, have any still remaining in their Custody,

and you are to detain all such you may find, giving us particular

Description of them, in your next Letter, We are

Your Loving Friends

Lau Sulivan

Christr Burrow

N Newnham Junr

Henry Plant

James Creed

John Manship

John Boyd

John Raymond

Thos Phipps

Chas Cutts

Thomas Rous

Henry Savage

George Dudley

G Rooke

John Dorrien

J Brown

G Stevens

John Harrison

Timothy Tullie

Fredk Pigou

Henry Crabb Boulton

London 23 January 1759

The Delaware would soon be ready for her dispatches.

52: Since it was highly improper, as well as dangerous in that time of war in particular, that any draughts or plans of the fortifications and works should be allowed to be carried away from the island, the island was to make the strictest enquiry whether Mr Adamson, Lieutenant Kirkpatrick or Richards had any still remaining in their custody, and it was to seize all such it could find, giving the Court a particular description of them in its next letter.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 23 January 1759, and signed by Lacy Sulivan, Christopher Burrow, N. Newnham junior, Henry Plant, James Creed, John Manship, John Boyd, John Raymond, Thomas Phipps, Charles Cutts, Thomas Rous, Henry Savage, George Dudley, George Rooke, John Dorrien, J. Brown, G. Stevens, John Harrison, Timothy Tullie, Frederick Pigou and Henry Crabb Boulton.

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Our Governor and

Council of St Helena

1

We writ to you by his Majestys Ship the Falkland,

under date of the 23 January last, the Duplicate whereof we now

send by the Delaway.

2

In that Letter, you were informed We had appointed

Nicholas Dunbar Esqr to be Lieutenant Governor of our Island

St Helena, in the Room of Mr Adamson dismissed from the Company

Service, We are now to acquaint you, that Mr Dunbar having a

Commission in his Majestys Service, & upon his Application could

not obtain leave to give it up, he has been under the necessity of

resigning the beforementioned Station of Lieutenant Governor,

of St Helena, and We do accordingly hereby revoke, and make

void our said appointment.

3

In order to fill up the Vacancy occasioned by the

dismission of Mr Adamson, and Resignation of Mr Dunbar as

beforementioned, We have chosen and do hereby constitute, and appoint,

John Skottowe Esqr to be Lieutenant Governor, of the Companys

Island St Helena, also second in Council, and Overseer of the Plantations,

with the same appointments as were enjoyed by the late Mr Hunter,

and Mr Adamson, vizt, for Salary two hundred and fifty Pounds

and diet money one hundred pounds a Year, both to commence upon

his arrival, he is to be accommodated with regard to his appointments,

both in the House in the Valley, and the Rooms in the Longwood, in

all respects the same as Mr Hunter, and Mr Adamson were, and

to have the use of some of our Slaves in the same manner as those two

Gentlemen were indulged.

4

In Case of the death or Absence of Charles Hutchinson Esqr

our

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the appointment of a new Lieutenant Governor.

1: The Court had written to the island by the King's ship Falkland under date of 23 January last, a duplicate of which it now sent by the Delaware.

2: In that letter the island had been told the Court appointed Nicholas Dunbar to be Lieutenant Governor of the island of St Helena in the room of Mr Adamson, dismissed the Company's service, but the Court now reported that Mr Dunbar, holding a commission in the King's service and unable on application to get leave to give it up, had been obliged to resign the post of Lieutenant Governor of St Helena, so the Court accordingly revoked and made void the appointment.

3: To fill the vacancy caused by the dismissal of Mr Adamson and the resignation of Mr Dunbar, the Court had chosen and appointed John Skottowe to be Lieutenant Governor of the Company's island of St Helena, also second in Council and overseer of the plantations, with the same appointments the late Mr Hunter and Mr Adamson had enjoyed, namely for salary £250 0s 0d and diet money £100 0s 0d a year, both to commence on his arrival, and he was to be accommodated with regard to his appointments, both in the house in the valley and the rooms at Longwood, in all respects the same as Mr Hunter and Mr Adamson had, and to have the use of some of the Court's slaves in the same manner as those two gentlemen were allowed.

4: In case of the death or absence of Charles Hutchinson, [...].

Interpretations

The collapse of Dunbar's appointment because he could not obtain release from his royal commission reveals the competing pull of Crown and Company service on the same men in wartime, since an officer holding the King's commission was not free to take up a Company post at will, and the war that made the Company so dependent on the state also bound the very men it wished to employ to a military service that would not let them go.

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our said Lieutenant Governor, John Skottowe is to succeed as provisional

Governor, until our further pleasure is known.

5

Charles Hutchinson Esqr as Governor, and Chief in Council

is to Act and manage all the Companys affairs, by and with the

advice and concurrence of the Deputy Governor John Skottowe Esqr, Lieut

John Clark and Mr Matthew Curling, mentioned in our Letter of the

23 January, who are hereby appointed, and directed to be of Council

in the order they are named, and in Case they shall at any time be equally

divided in opinion, Our Governor is to have the Casting or determining

Vote.

6

Our said Lieutenant Governor Mr Skottowe, takes his passage

on this Ship the Delaware, by which Ship we now send a Commission

under the Seal of the Company, constituting the Governor and Council

in the manner We have mentioned.

7

The Delawar being greatly lumbered, it has taken more time

than We apprehend to clear her of some bulky articles, to enable her to take

in the Beef and Pork intended for your Island, and We are even now

uncertain whether the whole Quantity intended, can be recieded on board, but

as We are unwilling to defer signing her dispatches any longer, Our

Secretary will write to you if any thing occurs on this Head necessary for

your Information

8

It is very difficult to find Room in our Ships for the

Provisions and Stores necessary for the supply of your Island, as you

will observe, particulary the Case this Season, We therefore recommend it

to you, to apply to the Commanders of all our homeward bound Shipping,

to supply you with any kind of Provisions, and Stores they can spare,

especialy Beef and Pork, and you are to adjust the Prices with the

Commanders, at the most equitable and Reasonable Rates

We are

Your Loving Friends

Lau Sulivan

Christo

London 13 February 1759

The Lieutenant Governor John Skottowe was to succeed as provisional governor until the Court's further pleasure was known.

5: Charles Hutchinson, as Governor and president in Council, was to act in and manage all the Company's affairs by and with the advice and concurrence of the Deputy Governor John Skottowe, Lieutenant John Clark and Mr Matthew Curling, mentioned in the Court's letter of 23 January, who were appointed and directed to be of Council in the order named, and in case they were at any time equally divided in opinion the Governor was to have the casting or determining vote.

6: The Lieutenant Governor Mr Skottowe took his passage on this ship the Delaware, by which the Court now sent a commission under the seal of the Company constituting the Governor and Council in the manner mentioned.

7: The Delaware being greatly lumbered, it took more time than the Court supposed to clear her of some bulky articles, to enable her to take in the beef and pork meant for the island, so the Court was now uncertain whether the whole quantity intended could be received on board, but as it was unwilling to defer signing her dispatches any longer, its secretary would write to the island if anything occurred on the matter necessary for its information.

8: It was very difficult to find room in the Court's ships for the provisions and stores needed for the supply of the island, as the island would see was particularly the case that season, so the Court recommended it apply to the commanders of all its homeward-bound shipping to supply the island with any kind of provisions and stores they could spare, especially beef and pork, and the island was to adjust the prices with the commanders at the most fair and reasonable rates.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 13 February 1759, and signed by Lacy Sulivan, Christopher [...].

Interpretations

The difficulty of finding room in the outward ships for the island's provisions, driving the Court to send the settlement to buy beef and pork from the homeward fleet instead, reveals how the pressure of wartime lading forced a reversal of the normal supply, since ships crammed with stores and troops for India had no space for St Helena's own needs, and the island was reduced to drawing its provisions from vessels already homeward bound, buying back at sea what the outward passage could not carry.

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account of his proceedings, in this search, with particulars of all

the Goods found and delivered to you and at Fort Marlborough,

as aforesaid, but for your better information, We enclose a Copy

of our Secretarys Letter.

4

We would have you give Captain Larkins all the

Assistance in your Power, in making of a discovery of any

Illicit Goods, and what shall be discovered, and received by you,

must be disposed of, or Expended on the Companys Account,

as Forfeited Goods, and you are to give us a full, true, and an

See vizt

exact account, of the Quantity, Mark, Number and Value of every

Article, together, with such other Particulars which may be

necessary for our Information, We are

Your Loving Friends

Lau Sulivan

Thomas Rous

Christo Burrow

Henry Plant

Thos Phipps

Chas Cutts

John Dorrien

John Raymond

Henry Savage

Geo Dudley

G Stevens

G Rooke

John Manship

Fredk Pigou

Timothy Tullie

Hen Hadley

Henry Crabb Boulton

John Harrison

London 23 March 1759

Larkins was to enter an exact and true account of his proceedings in the search, with particulars of all the goods found and delivered to the island and at Fort Marlborough, and for the island's better information the Court enclosed a copy of the secretary's letter.

4: The island was to give Captain Larkins every assistance in its power in discovering any illicit goods, and whatever was found and received by the island was to be disposed of, or expended on the Company's account, as forfeited goods, and the island was to give the Court a full, true and exact account of the quantity, mark, number and value of every article, together with such other particulars as might be necessary for the Court's information.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 23 March 1759, and signed by Lacy Sulivan, Thomas Rous, Christopher Burrow, Henry Plant, Thomas Phipps, Charles Cutts, John Dorrien, John Raymond, Henry Savage, George Dudley, G. Stevens, George Rooke, John Manship, Frederick Pigou, Timothy Tullie, Henry Hadley, Henry Crabb Boulton and John Harrison.

Interpretations

The direction to treat the seized goods as forfeited and account for every article by mark, number and value reveals the legal machinery by which the Company turned a captain's smuggling to its own benefit, since goods carried in breach of its monopoly were liable to confiscation, and the careful itemising of each forfeited article shows the settlement made the instrument through which the penalty was realised, the island both seizing the contraband and rendering the exact record on which the Company's claim to it depended.

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Our Governor and

Council of St Helena

1

In our Letters of the 13 of last Month, We acquainted

you that the Delaway was so greatly lumbered that We were uncertain

whether she would able to take in the Beef, and Pork intended for your

Island, We have since found that this was owing to a great Quantity

of Goods, being carried on board in private Trade, without our

Licence, and upon rummaging, and unloading the Ship, the same has

been discovered, Seized and taken out on the Companys account,

and has thereby given us the opportunity of loading the whole Cargo,

we intended except a few Deals Slaves, and other particulars of little

Consequence

2

The said unlicensed Goods appearing to be the Property of

Captain James Quallett, We have found it necessary, in order to shew

a just and Proper Resentment, against him, and to deter others of

being guilty of such Practices, in future, to dismiss him from the Command

of the Ship Delaway, and We have appointed Captain William Larkins

to succeed him, who now accordingly proceeds the Voyage as Commander.

3

As it is apprehended there may still remain on board

some unlicensed Goods, our Secretary has Signified by our directions to

Captain Larkins, that it is our positive, and express Orders, when he is

Delivering the Companys Cargos consigned to St Helena, and Fort

Marlborough, to be very carefull, and attentive to, discover any illicit

Goods, that may be concealed in the Delaway, and if he finds any other

belonging to the said late Commander, Captain Quallet, or any other

Person, or Persons whatsoever, to deliver the same to you, or the Deputy

Governor and Council of Fort Marlborough at which soever place the

same is discovered, and he is to Enter upon his Journals, an exact and true

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the Delaware and her cargo.

1: In its letter of the 13th of last month the Court had told the island that the Delaware was so greatly lumbered that it was uncertain whether she could take in the beef and pork meant for the island, and it had since found this was owing to a great quantity of goods carried aboard in private trade without its licence, which on rummaging and unloading the ship had been discovered, seized and taken out on the Company's account, and had thereby given it the opportunity of loading the whole cargo intended, except four deals, slabs and other particulars of little consequence.

2: The unlicensed goods appearing to be the property of Captain James Quallett, the Court found it necessary, to show a just and proper resentment against him and to deter others from being guilty of such practices in future, to dismiss him from the command of the ship Delaware, and it had appointed Captain William Larkins to succeed him, who now accordingly proceeded the voyage as commander.

3: Since it was supposed some unlicensed goods might still remain aboard, the Court's secretary had, by its direction, told Captain Larkins that it was the Court's positive and express order that, when he was delivering the Company's cargoes consigned to St Helena and Fort Marlborough, he be very careful and attentive to discover any illicit goods that might be concealed in the Delaware, and if the goods of the late commander Captain Quallett, or of any other person whatever, were delivered to the island or to the Deputy Governor and Council of Fort Marlborough at whatever place they were discovered, he was to enter on his journals an exact and true [...].

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account of his proceedings, in this search, with particulars of all

the Goods found and delivered to you and at Fort Marlborough,

as aforesaid, but for your better information, We enclose a Copy

of our Secretarys Letter.

4

We would have you give Captain Larkins all the

Assistance in your Power, in making of a discovery of any

Illicit Goods, and what shall be discovered, and received by you,

must be disposed of, or Expended on the Companys Account,

as Forfeited Goods, and you are to give us a full, true, and an

See vizt

exact account, of the Quantity, Mark, Number and Value of every

Article, together, with such other Particulars which may be

necessary for our Information, We are

Your Loving Friends

Lau Sulivan

Thomas Rous

Christo Burrow

Henry Plant

Thos Phipps

Chas Cutts

John Dorrien

John Raymond

Henry Savage

Geo Dudley

G Stevens

G Rooke

John Manship

Fredk Pigou

Timothy Tullie

Hen Hadley

Henry Crabb Boulton

John Harrison

London 23 March 1759

Larkins was to enter an exact and true account of his proceedings in the search, with particulars of all the goods found and delivered to the island and at Fort Marlborough, and for the island's better information the Court enclosed a copy of the secretary's letter.

4: The island was to give Captain Larkins every assistance in its power in discovering any illicit goods, and whatever was found and received by the island was to be disposed of, or expended on the Company's account, as forfeited goods, and the island was to give the Court a full, true and exact account of the quantity, mark, number and value of every article, together with such other particulars as might be necessary for the Court's information.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 23 March 1759, and signed by Lacy Sulivan, Thomas Rous, Christopher Burrow, Henry Plant, Thomas Phipps, Charles Cutts, John Dorrien, John Raymond, Henry Savage, George Dudley, G. Stevens, George Rooke, John Manship, Frederick Pigou, Timothy Tullie, Henry Hadley, Henry Crabb Boulton and John Harrison.

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Our Governor and

Council of St Helena

1

By the safe arrival with you of our Ships the Earl

of Holderness and Delaway, Our several Letters of last season

were duly received, except the duplicates of them, which were, sent

on his Majestys Ship the Falkland Captain Drake, who making the

Island the 13 May last, fell in with, three French Cruisers about

16 Leagues distant from it, and was chased by them from thence

after exchanging some Shot with the largest, and Captain Drake

apprehensive for the safety of the Kings Ships, against such superior

Force, as well as doubtfull, whether the Island might not be in the

Enemys possession bore away from thence the 16 of May and

arrived at Portsmouth this 2 August last, when he returned to

us the abovementioned Duplicates

2

Your Letters of the 23 March 15 July 8 and 19

August and 11 September last, having several reached us with a

Seperate one from the Governor, lately the said 15 July the requisit

remarks thereon with the proper Informations for your observance

will be given in the Course of this Letter by the Triton.

3

We have for the present year appointed Peter Godfrey

Esqr, Chairman of the Court of Directors John Boyd Esqr Deputy

Chairman, Henry Crabb Boulton and Charles Cutts Esqr Our

Secret Committee, you are to obey the Orders and Instructions that these

Gentlemen or any three of them, shall think necessary to give for the

Security and preservation of our Shipping and Estate which

has lately been so particulary, yet ineffectualy threatned in your quarter

4

This leads us to inform you, that the three Common Ships

which Cruized to Windward to the Island from the 5 March to the 25

of May following, were the Achilles of 64 Guns the Syren of 32 Guns

and

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the year's correspondence and the guarding of the island.

1: By the safe arrival at the island of the Court's ships the Earl of Holderness and Delaware, the Court's several letters of the previous season had been duly received, except the duplicates of them, which were sent on the King's ship Falkland, Captain Drake, who, on making the island on 13 May last, fell in with three French cruisers about 15 leagues distant from it and was chased by them from there, after exchanging some shot with the largest, and since Captain Drake was worried for the safety of the King's ships against such a superior force, as well as doubtful whether the island might not be in the enemy's possession, he bore away on 16 May and arrived at Portsmouth on 2 August last, when he returned to the Court the duplicates above.

2: The island's letters of 23 March, 15 July, 8 and 19 August and 11 September last had reached the Court, with a separate one from the Governor dated 15 July, and the requisitions accompanying them, with the proper information for the island's observance, would be answered in the course of this letter by the Triton.

3: The Court had for the present appointed Peter Godfrey, chairman of the Court of Directors, John Boyd, deputy chairman, Henry Crabb Boulton and Charles Cutts its Secret Committee, and the island was to obey the orders and instructions those gentlemen, or any three of them, thought necessary to give for the security and preservation of the Court's shipping and island, which had lately been so particularly, yet ineffectually, threatened in the island's quarter.

4: This led the Court to tell the island that the three French ships which cruised to windward of the island from 5 March to 25 May following were the Achilles of 64 guns, the Syren of 32 guns and [...].

Interpretations

The appearance of three French cruisers off St Helena, chasing away a King's ship and leaving her captain uncertain whether the island itself had fallen, reveals how real the threat to the settlement had become by 1759, since the enemy was now operating a squadron directly on the sea road the island commanded, and the fear that St Helena might already be in French hands shows the war had reached the point where the Company's mid-ocean station could no longer be assumed safe from the reach of the French navy.

The prolonged cruising of a French squadron to windward of the island for nearly three months exposes the peculiar vulnerability of St Helena's position, since a hostile force stationed to windward held the weather gage over every ship approaching or leaving the anchorage, and by lying in wait on the approach the French could intercept the homeward Indiamen at the very point where they gathered, turning the island's value as a rendezvous into a danger that the enemy could exploit against the trade it existed to protect.

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and Zephyr of 30 Guns, they arrived from Brest at the Cape of

Good Hope, the 17 January, and sailed thence for their station

the 19 February last Our four early China Ships, the Prince Henry

Hawke, Osterly, and Tavistock, & us and were chased by them from

the 4 to the 6 of May when by bearing away in the night they

happily Escaped, The Boscawen and Fox on the 15 of the same

Month also fell in with them and the next day as fortunatly got

Clear, these Ships put for the Bay of all Saints where the former

arrived the 24 May, and the two latter the 6 June, and the 19

following to Our Misfortune Came in there also the Enemys above

three Ships, who seem intent in not quitting their Views on our

Six Ships in the Bay, under this unfavourably Situation, Mr George

Best the Fourth Mate of the Prince Henry with Five hands, was

dispatched in that Ships Longboat, the 25 July, to give us an Account

of it, The Crew having undergone great Hardships, left and sunk

the Boat, and were received on board a New York Sloop about 130

Leagues to the Westward of Cape Clear, that Sloop arrived at Belfast

the 7 October, with Mr Best with his advices here the 15 immediatly

whereupon the proper Measures were pursued for extricating our

Ships from the danger with which they are at Present threatned.

5

The Longboat you fitted out under Mr Richard Bodeys

command, for cruizing to windward and giving Notice to our

returning Ships of the Hazard they were exposed to, fell into the Enemys

Hands the 16 April, and it is to be observed that though the end was

not answered with the proposed success, yet the one as very highly

commendably, and prudent, The French commodore had exchanged

the Prisoners except Mr Bendy, and a Private man, against others

whom Captain Hume had received on board the Fox at Bengal.

The third French ship was the Zephyr of 30 guns, and they arrived from Brest at the Cape of Good Hope on 17 January and sailed from there for their station on 19 February last. The Court's four early China ships, the Prince Henry, Hawke, Osterly and Tavistock, were chased by them from the 4th to the 6th of May, when by bearing away in the night they happily escaped, and the Boscawen and Fox on the 15th of the same month also fell in with them and the next day as fortunately got clear, these ships putting for the Bay of All Saints, where the former arrived on 24 May and the two latter on 6 June, and on the 19th following, to the Court's misfortune, the enemy's three ships came in there also, seeming intent on not quitting their view while the Court's six ships lay in the bay. In this unfavourable situation Mr George Best, the fourth mate of the Prince Henry, with five hands, was dispatched in that ship's longboat on 5 July to give the Court an account of it, and the crew, having undergone great hardships, left and sank the boat and were received aboard a New York sloop about 130 leagues to the westward of Cape Clear, which sloop arrived at Belfast on 7 October, and Mr Best with his advices reached the Court on the 15th, immediately whereupon the proper measures were taken for extricating the Court's ships from the danger they were then threatened with.

5: The longboat the island fitted out under Mr Richard Bodey's command, for cruising to windward and giving notice to the Court's returning ships of the hazard they were exposed to, fell into the enemy's hands on 16 April, and though the aim was not answered with the proposed success, yet the plan was highly commendable and prudent, the French commodore having exchanged the prisoners except Mr Bendy and a private man, against others whom Captain Hume had received aboard the Fox at Bengal.

Interpretations

The desperate voyage of the fourth mate Best and five men in an open longboat across the South Atlantic, sinking their own boat and being picked up by a passing sloop off the coast of Ireland, reveals the extraordinary lengths to which the trapped ships resorted to get word home, since six Indiamen penned in a Brazilian bay by a waiting French squadron could do nothing for themselves, and only by sending a handful of men on a hazardous open-boat passage could they bring London the intelligence needed to send relief, the survival of the messengers a matter of pure chance.

The island's own attempt to fit out a longboat to warn its returning ships, ending in that boat's capture, exposes the limits of what a small settlement could do to protect the trade passing its shores, since the enemy squadron that made the warning necessary was also strong enough to take the very craft sent to give it, and the Court's praise for the prudent though failed effort marks the island straining beyond its slender means against a naval threat it had no real force to counter.

The Bay of All Saints was the great bay on the coast of Brazil on which the port of Bahia stood, a Portuguese and so neutral harbour where the Company's ships could shelter and water, and it was into this refuge that the six Indiamen were pursued and then blockaded by the French squadron.

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6

The Crews of these three French Ships, we are given to understand,

were at the time of Leaving their Station extreamly sickly, in great want of

Salt Provisions, and all necessaries, and were reduced to a Quart of Water a man

p day, these difficulties with the Miscarriage of their enterprize will, We hope

discourage their Repetition of it, It is necessary before We leave this subject

to inform you they Visited, all Ships Dutch Danes, and Sweden which they met

with, and obliged them on their Word of Honor under pretence of the Islands

being blocked up, not to touch at it or give you any information or assistance.

7

It is material that you should be acquainted, that the Wars being

Still carried on with great Vigour in all parts, and that it hath pleased God

to bless his Majestys Arms with signal success, this has induced the Enemy

to adopt a most desperate Scheme for the Execution of which they are bent

on employing their utmost Efforts as the only method for retrieving the

reputation of their Arms and the Valuable acquisitions made from them by

this Nation, It is an Invasion of these his Majestys Kingdoms they

meditate, the great preperations for defeating the Enemys designs as well,

as to annoy them in every accessible Quarter, has found such full employ

for his Majestys Naval and Land Forces, as to engage them almost

wholly, on this National object, The Levies for the Kings Troops are so

Numerous, and made with such diligence, and attention by every practicable

method which can be suggested though great Numbers are Still wanted, that

We apprehend the utmost difficulties in procuring recruits for our own

Settlements, however you may be assured of our best endeavors to supply

you with the number you have advised to be wanting.

8

Besides the French Ships for India, Which we gave you

Notice of in our Letter of the 23 January, last about the 22 March following

the undermentioned Ships belonging to the Company sailed from Brest & Leant

for Pondicherry.

Le

6: The crews of the three French ships, the Court was given to understand, were at the time of leaving their station extremely sickly, in great want of salt provisions and all necessaries, and reduced to a quart of water a man a day, difficulties that, together with the failure of their enterprise, the Court hoped would discourage its repetition. It was necessary, before the Court left the subject, to tell the island that the French visited all the ships, Dutch, Danes and Swedes, they met with and obliged them on their word of honour, on the excuse that the island was blockaded, not to touch at it or give the island any information or assistance.

7: It was material for the island to know that, the war being still carried on with great vigour in all parts, and it having pleased God to bless the King's arms with signal success, this had led the enemy to adopt a most desperate scheme, on which it was so bent, employing its utmost efforts as the only way to retrieve the reputation of its arms and the valuable acquisitions this nation had made from it, namely an immediate invasion of the King's kingdoms, so the great preparations for defeating the enemy's designs, as well as for annoying it in every accessible quarter, had found such full employment for the King's naval and land forces as to engage them almost wholly on this national object, and the levies for the King's troops were so numerous, and made with such diligence and attention by every practicable method, though great numbers were still wanted, that the Court foresaw the utmost difficulty in getting recruits for its own settlements, but the island might be assured of the Court's best endeavours to supply it with the number it had advised was wanting.

8: Besides the French ships for India, which the Court had told the island of in its letter of 23 January last, about 22 March following the ships named below, belonging to the Company, sailed from the port of Lorient for Pondicherry.

Interpretations

The French squadron's obliging of neutral Dutch, Danish and Swedish ships, on their word of honour, not to touch at St Helena on the false claim that it was blockaded, reveals a form of economic warfare waged through deception, since a single squadron could not truly seal off the island, but by extracting promises from every neutral it met the French sought to cut the settlement off from the supplies and news that neutral carriers might bring, turning the mere threat of blockade into an instrument of isolation.

The Court's report of a threatened French invasion of Britain itself, drawing the King's whole naval and military strength to home defence, exposes the deepest consequence of the war for the island, since the very success of British arms had driven France to a desperate stroke at the heart of the enemy, and the concentration of forces to meet it meant fewer men could be spared for the distant settlements, so the danger at home directly thinned the recruits and protection that St Helena could expect to receive.

Lorient, on the coast of Brittany, was the home port of the French East India Company, from which its ships fitted out and sailed for the East, and Pondicherry was the chief French settlement on the Coromandel Coast of India, the counterpart to the English Fort St George and the seat of the French power that Lally commanded.

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Le Massac pierced for 74 Guns mounted 26 12

Le Duc de Charles 60 24

Compagnie Des Sestes 54 24

St Luc 24 18

the Duc de Charles was taken the 27 March by his Majestys Ship

Windsor, her Cargo consisted of 60 Tons of Gunpowder, and other

Stores, it does not appear that they had any Soldiers on board, but

that the Crews of the three first amounted to about three hundred

men each, and of the last to about 200, We are not apprized of any, or

what Force they have since sent or intend for the East Indies this

Season, but their present Circumstances give us room to hope,

they will fall greatly Short in point of strength, and numbers, to their

former armaments, and We Confide in your Active, and Resolute

opposition of all attempts they may make against you

9

The Ships taken up for our Service this Season are

Ships Tons Commanders Consigned to

The Onslow 499 Thomas Hinde Coast and Bay

Triton 499 Francis Harris St Helena & China

Warwick 499 James Deware

Caernarvon 499 Norton Hutchinson } Fort St George & China

Princess Augusta 499 Thomas Baddison

Norfolk 499 Pinson Bonham

Duke of Richmond 499 Benjamin Godfrey } Bencoolen & China

Royal Duke 499 Peter Bigou St Helena & Coast & Bay

Latham 499

Lord Mansfield 499 Alexander McCleod

Falmouth 499 James Dale } Coast and Bay

Prince Edward 499 James Haldane

Le Massac, pierced for 74 guns, mounting 26 guns, 12 [...]

Le Duc de Charles, 60 guns, 24 guns

Compagnie des Indes, 54 guns, 24 guns

St Louis, 24 guns, 18 guns

The Duc de Charles was taken on 27 March by the King's ship Windsor, her cargo consisting of 60 tons of gunpowder and other stores, and it did not appear that these ships had any soldiers aboard, but that the crews of the three first came to about 300 men each and the last to about 200, and the Court was not told of any force the French had since sent or meant for the East Indies that season, but their present circumstances gave it room to hope they would fall greatly short in strength and numbers of their former armaments, and it trusted to the island's active and resolute opposition of any attempts they might make against it.

9: The ships taken up for the Court's service that season were as follows.

Onslow, 499 tons, Thomas Hinde, Coast and Bay

Triton, 499 tons, Francis Harris, St Helena and China

Warwick, 499 tons, James Dewsar, Fort St George and China

Carnarvon, 499 tons, Norton Hutchinson, Fort St George and China

Princess Augusta, 499 tons, Thomas Baddison, Fort St George and China

Norfolk, 499 tons, Pinson Bonham, Fort St George and China

Duke of Richmond, 499 tons, Benjamin Godfrey, Bencoolen and China

Royal Duke, 499 tons, Peter Pigou, St Helena, Coast and Bay

Latham, 499 tons, [...]

Lord Mansfield, 499 tons, Alexander McCleod, Coast and Bay

Falmouth, 499 tons, James Dale, Coast and Bay

Prince Edward, 499 tons, James Haldane, Coast and Bay

Interpretations

The capture of the Duc de Charles with sixty tons of gunpowder aboard reveals how the interception of a single enemy ship could strike directly at the French war effort in India, since gunpowder was the indispensable munition of both siege and battle, and a cargo of that size taken on the passage out was powder that would never reach Lally's army on the Coromandel Coast, the loss of one merchantman translating into a real weakening of the enemy's ability to press his campaign.

The Court's careful reckoning that the French ships carried no soldiers, only their crews, reflects the central question on which the fate of India turned, namely whether the enemy was reinforcing his army or merely his trade, and the reassurance that these vessels brought goods rather than troops shows the Company reading each French sailing for its military weight, since a ship of powder and stores threatened the Indian war far less than one packed with the fresh regiments that could decide the contest ashore.

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Ships Tons Commanders Consigned to

499 Peter Lascelles

Lord Anson 499 Edward Lord Chich

Neptune 499 John Purling } Bombay

Sandwich 499 Andrew Quicks

10

We have also fitted out the Syren, now, burthen about 100 Tons,

carrying 26 Men Captain Thomas Warner Commander, for the expeditious

Conveyance of Early advices to Our Presidencies, on the performance

whereof and arrival at Bombay, she is to be disposed of in such manner,

as shall appear most for the Companys interest

11

Our Ship Admiral Watson is also preparing for the Sea, of

whose destination you will hereafter be informed, in our subsequent

Letters of this Season.

12

The Times of the Departure of the Ships, employed this, and the

former season, and of the Arrival of such as have, or shall come in,

will be imparted to you in Lists to accompany our Packets, whereto

you are of course referred for the needfull information.

13

That your demands for Stores, and other Articles, this year, may

be fully Complied with, We have Consigned to you the Triton, and Royal

Duke, you are to be diligent, in discharging them within the stipulated time

that they may prosecute their Voyages, as expeditiously as possible, the

former, for Canton in China, and the Royall Duke, for the Coast and Bay

and on their having delivered their Goods Consigned to you, the Commanders

are to receive your sailing Orders accordingly, We hope to dispatch the latter

by the middle of January.

14

You will observe by the Charterpartys of the above two Ships, that We

have come to a new agreement this season, with the Owners, for the Adjustment

of and Payment for damages and Goods lost and undelivered, and that the

amount of such damages, and Short deliveries, are not to be paid to our

Agents

[...], 499 tons, Peter Lascelles, Bombay

Lord Anson, 499 tons, Edward Lord, Bombay

Neptune, 499 tons, John Purling, Bombay

Sandwich, 499 tons, Andrew Quicke, Bombay

10: The Court had also fitted out the Syren, now of about 400 tons burden, carrying 26 men, Captain Thomas Warner commander, for the speedy carriage of early advices to its presidencies, and on her performing this and arriving at Bombay she was to be sold in whatever manner appeared most for the Company's interest.

11: The Court's ship Admiral Watson was also preparing for the sea, of whose destination the island would afterwards be told in the Court's later letters that season.

12: The dates on which the ships employed that season and the previous one sailed, and on which such as had come or should come in arrived, would be sent to the island in lists to accompany the Court's packets, to which it was referred for the needful information.

13: So that the island's demands for stores and other articles that year might be fully met, the Court had consigned to it the Triton and Royal Duke, so the island was to be diligent in unloading them within the time fixed, that they might continue their voyages as expeditiously as possible, the former for Canton in China and the Royal Duke for the Coast and Bay, and on their having delivered the goods consigned to the island the commanders were to receive their sailing orders accordingly, and the Court hoped to dispatch the letter by the middle of January.

14: The island would see by the charter parties of the two ships above, made that season with the owners, that the Court had, at the time of the agreement, provided for adjusting and paying for damages and goods lost and undelivered, and that the amount of such damages and short deliveries was not to be paid to the Court's agents [...].

Interpretations

The fitting out of yet another armed advice ship, the Syren, to carry early intelligence to the presidencies before being sold on arrival, confirms how central the speed of communication had become to the Company's conduct of the war, since the settlements in India could act on news of enemy movements only if it reached them ahead of the enemy himself, and the Company was willing to build and man fast vessels for a single urgent passage and then dispose of them, treating rapid dispatch as worth the cost of a ship.

The Court's provision in the charter parties for adjusting damages and short deliveries in advance reveals how the Company protected itself against the losses of a long and dangerous voyage through the terms of the contract itself, since goods spoiled or missing on arrival were an inevitable feature of the trade, and by fixing at the outset how such losses would be valued and settled the Company built the remedy into the agreement rather than leaving it to dispute after the damage was done.

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Agents abroad, but by the Owners in London on demand, upon our

Producing a True Account of the adjustment thereof, by those, to

whom the Goods were consigned, although the Ship may be lost

or not return hither, And it is further agreed, that the owners

shall not be Charged with any Sum for Goods damaged, but such as

shall by the Condition, and appearance of the Package, or by some

other Reasonable Proof appear to be Ships Damage

15

You are accordingly in adjusting the Accounts, of Damage

and Short Delivery, which the Consignments to St Helena may be

subject to, to be particulanly carefull in describing every Circumstance

for our Information, as well as the Owners satisfaction, by paying

a strict regard to the Letter and meaning of the Clause on Charty

Party on this point, and the owners being accountable to us whether

the Ship returns in safety or not, You are besides the Account

which is always to be sent by the Ship Concerned, to forward two others

by the next seperate Conveyances, drawn out at the time in like manner,

the

and framed by the same Persons, as the first, that they may to all

intents and purposes be considered as originals

16

There is also another new Clause added, whereby We

engage to pay the Owners for the Passage of such Persons, who shall

be ordered on board the Ships by the Companys Agents, at any

of their Settlements, estimating the foreign Currency at the rate

allowed in Exchange to the Companys Covenanted Servants,

Wherefore on the Shipping of each such Passenger by your Order,

or before the Ships departure from St Helena, You are to pay the

Commander, Five Pounds a Head, observing that no allowance is to

be made for such seaman, or other Persons, who by Virtue of agreement in

Charter party shall be put on board to make up the Ships Complement

The amount of such damages and short deliveries was not to be paid to the Court's agents abroad, but by the owners in London on demand, on the Court producing a true account of the adjustment by those to whom the goods were consigned, even though the ship might be lost or not return home, and it was further agreed that the owners were not to be charged with any sum for goods damaged, but only such as by the condition and appearance of the package, or by some other reasonable proof, appeared to be ship's damage.

15: The island was accordingly, in adjusting the accounts of damage and short delivery to which the consignments to St Helena might be subject, to be particularly careful in describing every circumstance, both for the Court's information and the owners satisfaction, paying strict regard to the letter and meaning of the clause in the charter party on the point, the owners being answerable to the Court whether the ship returned home safely or not, and the island was besides the account, always to be sent by the ship concerned, to forward two others by the next separate ships, drawn out at the time in like manner, and framed by the same persons as the first, so that they might to all intents and purposes be considered as originals.

16: There was also another new clause added, by which the Court engaged to pay the owners for the passage of any persons ordered aboard the ships by the Company's agents at any of its settlements, valuing the foreign currency at the rate allowed in exchange to the Company's covenanted servants, so on the shipping of each such passenger by the island's order, or before the ships left St Helena, the island was to pay the commanders £5 0s 0d each, observing that no allowance was to be made for any seaman or other persons who by virtue of an agreement in the charter party were to be put aboard to make up the ship's complement [...].

Interpretations

The stipulation that damages be paid by the owners in London rather than by the Company's agents abroad, and even if the ship never returned, reveals a deliberate concentration of financial liability at the centre, since a loss settled at a distant settlement was hard for the Company to control or verify, and by fixing the point of payment in London against a true account the Company both kept the reckoning under its own eye and ensured that the owners bore the risk of their ship regardless of her ultimate fate.

The requirement to send three separate copies of every damage account by different ships, each framed by the same persons to count as an original, exposes once more how the war's dependence on redundant communication reached into the Company's accounting, since a single account lost with its ship would leave a claim unprovable, and by dispatching three originals through separate vessels the Company guarded the evidence of its claims against the very hazards of capture and wreck that made the damages necessary to record in the first place.

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of Mercer for such Passengers whom it is also agreed shall be brought home

to be made

without any allowance, for the same.

17 The Owners of the Prison at their particular desire, have a Liberty

by Charter party, to pay the Value of their damage or deficiencies, at the Port

of delivery if demanded, therefore the Clause in that Ships Charter Party,

in

to which a Particular attention is to be had, must govern this Case.

18 The Owners of the Shipping employed in our Service complain,

they have frequently been obliged to pay Wages to Persons who have been

ordered on board as Passengers only under presence of their having assisted

in Navigating the Ships, when it has appeared they have scarcely been

engaged in any part of the Ships business, in order to prevent any demand

of this kind in future; you are hereby directed, to cause each Passenger

you order, or permit to proceed to England, on any of our Ships, to sign an

Instrument before he embarks, that he will not demand any Wages for the Voyage

Home; and you are to transmit the Instrument on the Packet of the same

Ship, whereon the Passenger concerned proceeds.

19 The intelligence and advices with respect to our Shipping & Affairs

in general communicated in your Letters, have been very full, and explicit,

except in the omission in your Letter of the 8th of August, of the Passengers

on board the four Ships which the Admiral Watson left at the Island, and

those on that Ship, We shall however rely on your continuing to give us

the most particular and early information, of all interesting occurrences

20 You will observe from the disposition of our Tonnage this Season

that no Ship will be dispatched directly home from the West Coast for

the future, the produce thereof being assigned for Carrying on our China Trade,

which We mention that you may take the necessary measures for the Island being

furnished by the way of Fort St George or Elsewhere with the Quantity of Slaves

of the West Coast produce, which it may stand in need of. Our China Supra

Any such passengers were to be carried home free of charge, with no allowance made for the cost.

17: The owners of the Prince of Orange, at their own particular request, held a liberty under the charter party to be paid the value of any damage or shortfall at the port of delivery whenever they demanded it. The clause in that ship's charter party covered the point, and close attention to it had to settle the matter.

18: The owners of the shipping employed in the Company's service complained that they had often been forced to pay wages to men put aboard merely as passengers, who claimed to have helped work the ships when in fact they had done next to nothing of the sort. To stop such claims in future, the directors ordered that every passenger sent home, or allowed to travel to England on any Company ship, sign a document before boarding stating that no wages would be demanded for the voyage. That document was then to be forwarded in the packet of the ship on which the passenger sailed.

19: The reports and advice on shipping and other Company affairs in the council's letters had been full and clear, apart from one gap. The letter of 8 August said nothing of the passengers aboard the four ships that Admiral Watson had left at the island. On the council for that word the directors would rely for full and early notice of every matter of interest.

20: The disposal of tonnage that season showed that no ship would be sent straight home from the west coast in future, since its produce was needed to carry on the China trade. The directors raised the point so the island could take whatever steps it needed to be supplied by way of Fort St George, along with the quantity of west coast produce it might require. The China trade [...]

Interpretations

The clause on passenger wages set up a legal defence for the Company. Ship owners had been recovering wages by arguing that passengers had worked as crew, so the directors required each traveller to sign a waiver before embarking, closing off the claim in advance and shifting the burden of proof onto anyone who later sought payment. The instruction that the signed document travel in the ship's packet turned a private undertaking into a filed record the Company could produce against any subsequent demand.

A charter party was the contract hiring a ship for a voyage, fixing freight, obligations and the port where accounts were settled. The reference here to paying damages or deficiencies at the port of delivery marks a term negotiated in the owners' favour, allowing them to claim at the point of arrival rather than await a later reckoning.

The direction that west coast ships no longer sail directly home reflected the pull of the China trade on Company tonnage. West coast produce, principally pepper and other goods gathered along Sumatra, was being redirected to fund purchases in Canton, so the council was warned to look to Fort St George at Madras for its supplies instead of to vessels passing homeward.

Speculations

The directors chose to bind passengers by a signed waiver rather than simply refusing to carry them or ordering commanders to keep them off the working of the ship. The record shows the obvious remedy, tighter control aboard, passed over in favour of a paper instrument lodged in advance, because the Company valued a document it could hold up in a wage dispute more than an order that depended on a commander's vigilance at sea.

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Supra Cargoes will have the necessary Orders for supplying your

demand from thence.

21 A standing Permission has been granted for supplying

this Island with Boats, which may be really requisite for its use,

from the returning Ships, and We take it for granted you will

accordingly repair your loss of that, which was sent to cruize

to windward, and taken by the French.

22 Notwithstanding the restriction in our Letter of the 15th

October 1740, if upon the arrival of any of our returning Supra Cargoes

with you, a Neutral Ship, or Ships, shall be at the Island, We

have permitted one, or two, to proceed on such Ship, or Ships,

to the Ports they are designed for, in Europe, and from thence make

the best of their way hither, to give us an early account of their

proceedings, that We may be timely enabled to form our Instructions

and dispatches for the Ships of the following Season.

23 Our Intentions are by this Ship, and the Royal Duke, to

put your storehouse in a condition to answer all exigencies, with

this view, We have put on board them of Beef and Pork Two hundred

and fifty Casks each, as several Ships may arrive with you next

Season; but remember that which has been longest on hand, be

first used, and for the same Reason, One hundred Casks of Flour

more than you indented for, As you have been disappointed of

the usual supplies of Arrack, by some of the homeward bound

Ships not touching at the Island. We have ordered Sixteen hundred

Gallons of French Prize Brandy, to be shipped on the Triton, and

Royal Duke for your use.

24 That part of your Indent for Gunners and Garrison

Stores We hope will be fully Completed with, having given the

necessary

The ships carrying China cargoes would have the orders needed to meet the island's demand from there.

21: A standing permission had been granted to supply the island with boats from the returning ships, whenever such boats were really needed. The directors took it for granted that the council would replace, on this footing, the boat lost when it was sent to windward and taken by the French.

22: The restriction in the directors' letter of 15 October 1740 was set aside in one case. If a neutral ship or ships lay at the island when any of the returning supercargoes arrived, the directors allowed one or two to sail on such a ship to their intended ports in Europe. From there those men were to make the best of their way to England and give an early account of their proceedings, so that the directors could frame their instructions and dispatches for the ships of the following season in good time.

23: By this ship and the Royal Duke the directors meant to put the storehouse in a state to meet every need. To that end they had loaded two hundred and forty cowbeef and fifty casks each, since several ships might reach the island the next season, but the council was to use first whatever had lain longest in store. For the same reason a hundred casks of flour more than the council had asked for were sent, the island having been disappointed of its usual supplies of arrack because some of the homeward bound ships had not called there. The directors had ordered sixteen hundred gallons of French prize brandy to be shipped on the Prince of Orange and the Royal Duke for the council's use.

24: The part of the council's requisition for gunners and garrison stores the directors expected to be fully met, the necessary [...]

Interpretations

The standing permission to take boats from returning ships shows how the island depended on passing Company traffic for basic equipment it could not readily make or buy for itself. The lost boat had been sent to windward, exposing it to French capture during the war, and its replacement was drawn not through purchase but through a running entitlement against homeward vessels, a supply mechanism that spared the island cash but tied its provisioning to the sailing schedule of the fleet.

The concession over neutral shipping turned the wartime presence of neutral vessels into a courier service. By allowing supercargoes to sail home aboard neutral ships bound for European ports, the directors bought speed at a moment when French privateers made the direct passage dangerous, accepting that men would reach England by a roundabout route in exchange for the early intelligence on which the next season's dispatches depended.

The instruction to use oldest stock first addressed a real hazard of a remote victualling depot, where salt beef and flour held in quantity against the arrival of several ships could spoil before it was drawn. Sending a hundred casks of flour above the requisition compensated for the arrack the island had missed when homeward ships failed to call, showing the directors adjusting supply from London to gaps the council itself had not been able to prevent.

Arrack was a spirit distilled in the East, commonly from palm sap or fermented rice and sugar, and shipped through the Company's Indian trade. It served both as a ration and as a trade good at St Helena, so a shortfall in it left the garrison without a customary supply and had to be made good from other stores.

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necessary directions to that end, excepting for the Platform Beds for the

Howitzers, these are never used in his Majesty's Service, the Howitzers being

always fired from its Carriage

25 We have likewise ordered the Provisions of the other Articles

nearly agreeable to your Indent, the Invoices and Bills of Lading in

the respective Packets of the two Ships, will afford you a more particular

account of the whole consignment to you.

26 The Timber and Plank, for the Construction of a new

draw Bridge, with some Deals, that were returned from the Ship Delaware,

are now directed to be sent you on the Triton

27 The small Arms intended for our several Settlements, are

ordered to have the Companys mark engraved on the Barrels, Locks,

and Bayonets, and the pieces to be numbered in future

28 Although you had before given us reason to expect you might

have spared some Gun-powder for the Service of Fort Marlborough,

Yet as you assure us, under the 8th August that you had not more than

would Compleat the Garrison with the usual necessary round s, which

the 11th April last We finds to be upwards of Six hundred and Seventy

Barrels, We cannot but agree in your forbearing to have sent any

thither

29 For the same Reasons we were intimated last year, four

Chests of Claret will be sent in equal Proportions, by the Triton and

Royal Duke; and the recommendations then given, are urged to your

observance in respect this Quantity

the

30 All Goods leable to become of no Value by decay or damage,

should be put up to publick Sale, for the most they will yield, a strict survey

being previously made; and you thoroughly satisfied by a faithfull report

thereof, that they are in a perishable Condition, if such should really be the

Case

The directors had given the necessary orders for the gunners and garrison stores, except for the platform beds for the howitzers, which were never used in His Majesty's service, since those howitzers were always fired from their carriages.

25: The directors had also ordered the supply of the other articles, nearly in line with the council's requisition. The invoices and bills of lading in the respective packets of the two ships would give the council a fuller account of the whole consignment.

26: The timber and plank for building a new drawbridge, along with some deals returned from the Delaware, were now directed to be sent to the council on the Prince of Orange.

27: The small arms meant for the Company's several settlements were ordered to carry the Company's mark engraved on the barrels, locks and bayonets, and the pieces to be numbered in future.

28: The council had earlier given the directors reason to expect that some gunpowder might be spared for the service of Fort Marlborough. Under the letter of 8 August the council had assured the directors it held no more than would complete the garrison with its usual necessary round, which by 11 April stood at upwards of six hundred and twenty barrels. The directors could only agree that the council had done right in sending none there.

29: For the same reasons made known the year before, four chests of claret were to be sent in equal proportions by the Prince of Orange and the Royal Duke, and the recommendations then given were urged on the council once more in respect of this quantity.

30: All goods liable to lose their value through decay or damage were to be put up to public sale, for the most they would fetch, a strict survey being first made. The council was to satisfy itself thoroughly by a faithful report on the goods that they were in a perishable condition, if that should really be the case.

Interpretations

The order to engrave the Company's mark on the barrels, locks and bayonets of settlement small arms and to number every piece was a measure of inventory control and theft prevention. Marked and numbered weapons could be traced to a particular settlement and identified if stolen or sold on, tightening the Company's grip on the movement of arms across its scattered posts at a time when powder and shot were valuable and readily diverted.

The exchange over gunpowder shows the Company balancing the needs of two distant stations against each other. Fort Marlborough on the west coast of Sumatra depended on Bengal and passing shipping for military stores, and the directors had hoped St Helena could spare some. The council's return of upwards of six hundred and twenty barrels as the garrison's necessary establishment, reported as at 11 April, was accepted as reason enough to keep the whole stock on the island, showing London deferring to the man on the spot on a question of local defence.

The instruction on perishable goods set out a formal procedure to protect the Company against loss and against fraud by its own servants. Goods that might decay were to be sold publicly for the best price, but only after a survey and a faithful report certifying that they were genuinely perishable, a safeguard that stopped officials selling off sound stock cheaply under cover of spoilage and pocketing the difference.

Deals were sawn softwood boards, and the reference to some returned from the Delaware shows building timber being moved between ships and settlements rather than wasted. Sent on with the timber and plank for a new drawbridge, they formed part of the material for the island's fortifications and works, which depended almost wholly on wood shipped in from outside.

Speculations

The directors chose to have the council certify perishable goods by survey and faithful report before any public sale, rather than simply authorising sale of whatever the council judged to be decaying. The record shows the quicker course, leaving the decision to the council's own judgement, passed over in favour of a documented survey, because the Company guarded against its servants declaring sound goods perishable to sell them off cheaply, and wanted a paper certificate it could test against any later suspicion of collusion.

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Case of the Camblet mentioned in your Letter of the 16th of July,

it is left to you to act accordingly.

31 The Prohibition of the Exportation of Corn, Flour and

other Articles, being taken off in the last Session of Parliament,

it will be needless for you to transmit us the like Certificates in

respect to the Flour, now Consigned to You, which We have for two

Years past directed to be sent

32 That you may furnish Our Cash with a Sum adequate

to your real occasions only, We permit you to take one or two Chests

of Treasure out of this Ship, but it is hoped one will be sufficient

and that you will forbear taking even that, without a evident

necessity, you are to give the Commander a Receipt for what shall

be delivered, and to transmit the proper advices to our Council in

China

33 For the Reasons given in the 21st Paragraph of your

Letter of the 8th of August We admit for the Present of the Continuance

to the Civil, and Military Officers of the Indulgency you last

year granted them, in receiving Beef and Pork from our stores

at two shillings a Piece, being the same Rate whereat it is delivered

to the Soldiers, provided it be made appear to you, that what is

Issued shall be for their own use, only, and depending on your

Care, that the Loss which shall thereby be occasioned, may be

fully repaired by the gain which you describe arises on the

Article of Flour.

34 We are uneasy at understanding from your Letter

of the 8th of August, that the Country and Cattle for want of Rain

were not in that Condition your preceding advices had represented

them, it is to be hoped a more favourably Season ensued whereby

the Plantations and Pastures recovered their former flourishing

Situation

In the case of the camlet mentioned in the council's letter of 15 July, the matter was left to the council to act as it saw fit.

31: The ban on exporting corn, flour and other articles had been lifted in the last term of Parliament. It would therefore be needless for the council to send over the usual certificates for the flour now consigned to it, which the directors had for two years past ordered to be dispatched.

32: So that the council could keep the Company's cash at a level suited to its real needs alone, the directors allowed one or two chests of treasure to be taken out of this ship, though they hoped one would be enough. The council was to refrain from taking even that without clear necessity. For whatever was delivered, a receipt was to be given to the commander and the proper advice sent to the Company's council in China.

33: For the reasons given in the twenty-first paragraph of the council's letter of 8 August, the directors allowed for the present the continuance of the indulgence granted the year before to the civil and military officers. Those officers received beef and pork from the Company's stores at two shillings a piece, the same rate at which it was delivered to the soldiers. This held only so long as it was shown that what was issued went to their own use, and rested on the council's care that any loss so caused was fully made good by the gain the council described on the article of flour.

34: The directors were uneasy to learn from the council's letter of 8 August that the country and cattle had suffered for want of rain, since the council's earlier advice had given no sign of it. They hoped a more favourable season had since set in, so that the plantations and pastures had recovered their former flourishing [...]

Interpretations

The lifting of the corn and flour export ban removed a piece of routine paperwork that had bound the island's supply to wartime regulation. For two years the flour sent to St Helena had travelled with certificates required under the export prohibition, and with the prohibition gone the certificates lapsed, easing one administrative burden on a settlement that depended on shipped grain.

The restriction on drawing treasure from the ship reflected the Company's concern to keep bullion moving toward its Asian trade rather than idle in a garrison chest. Silver shipped east bought the goods that made the Company's profit, so cash left at St Helena was cash withheld from Canton, and the directors pressed the council to take only what genuine need required and to account for every chest opened.

The arrangement on subsidised meat reveals the fine line the Company drew between a permitted perquisite and an abuse. Officers were allowed beef and pork at the soldiers' rate as an indulgence, but only for their own consumption and only while the council could show that the resulting loss was offset by a profit made on flour, an internal cross-subsidy that let the Company grant a benefit to its servants without bearing a net cost.

Camlet was a fine cloth, originally of camel or goat hair and later of wool mixed with silk, traded through the eastern markets and valued for garments. Its mention alongside the corn regulations marks it as one of the varied commodities passing through the Company's hands, its disposal here left to the council's discretion.

Speculations

The directors allowed the officers to keep their cheap meat only on condition that the council prove the loss was recovered through a gain on flour, rather than either granting the perquisite outright or withdrawing it. The record shows both simpler courses passed over, because the Company wanted to reward its officers yet refused to carry the cost, and so tied the indulgence to a demonstrated internal profit that would leave its accounts whole.

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Situation, the importance of the object to the Island, always induces us to

share with you, in a Concern for the failure of the Seasons, though We are

well assured of your promoting according to our repeated Recommendations

as far as in you lays, the increase of Stock of all kinds, for the mutual benefit

of all Concerned in furnishing the Shipping, which heavy recourse to you

for refreshments.

35 The Two Soldiers Legatees and Executors, to John Burgan who

formerly renounced their Title to any other of the Effects of the deceased than

he should die possessed of on the Island, acknowledged that the General

Bequest to them was a misunderstanding of the writer of the Will, and that

it was not the Testators intention to invalidate any former Will, appears

if the deceased had assets elsewhere to have acted a Generous Part

and to be worthy of encouragement

36 Considering this particular the Enemy appears to

have fixed their attention towards Our Estate on your part, taking

all the precautions that can be possibly thought of for rendering their

attempts ineffectual, are now more that ever necessary, the full Power you

have been invested with for effective Extention or addition of new

Works still subsists, and We are under no doubt of your Continuance of

that Commendable Activity and Vigilance, which was exercised while you

were Alarmed by the three French Cruizers, and it seems would have

actuated you in making the most Vigorous defence in Case the Island,

or Shipping in the Road had been attacked by them

37 This Ship according to your demands will bring you

thirty Recruits, for the Service of the Garrison, the enclosed list will give

you the further Particulars concerning them

38 We look upon the maintenance of a strict Military

Discipline in the present Conjuncture as indispensibly required, and

that

Given the importance of the matter to the island, the directors had always shared the council's concern at the failure of the seasons. They were well assured that the council had promoted, as far as it could and in line with their repeated recommendations, the increase of stock of every kind, for the mutual benefit of all concerned in furnishing the shipping that turned to the council for refreshments.

35: The two soldiers who were legatees and executors to John Burgan had earlier renounced any claim to the deceased's effects beyond what he possessed on the island. They now acknowledged that the general bequest to them had arisen from a misunderstanding by the writer of the will, and that the testator had not meant to invalidate any former will. If the deceased had assets elsewhere, the two men would act a generous part and show themselves worthy of encouragement.

36: The enemy appeared to have fixed its attention on the Company's estate, so the council had taken every precaution that could be thought of to render such attempts fruitless. The full power the council held for effective defence or for adding new works still stood, and the directors had no doubt the council would keep up the commendable activity and vigilance it had shown when alarmed by the three French cruisers. That same spirit, it seemed, would have led the council to make the most vigorous defence had the island or the shipping in the road been attacked.

37: This ship, in answer to the council's demands, would bring thirty recruits for the garrison, and the enclosed list would give the further particulars concerning them.

38: The directors regarded the maintenance of strict military discipline in the present state of affairs as indispensably needful, and [...]

Interpretations

The settlement of John Burgan's estate turned on the difference between property held on the island and property held elsewhere. The two soldiers named as executors and legatees had first renounced any claim beyond Burgan's island effects, then conceded that a broadly worded bequest had come from an error by whoever drafted the will and was never meant to override an earlier one. Their promise to deal generously with any outside assets shows the Company encouraging its servants to honour a testator's real intention rather than exploit a clumsy clause, and hints at the difficulty of proving and administering an estate whose parts lay scattered across distant stations.

The reference to the three French cruisers places the letter firmly in the War of the Austrian Succession, when French squadrons threatened Company shipping on the long passage home. St Helena's value lay in its road, the sheltered anchorage where homeward fleets watered and refreshed, and the directors' insistence on defensive works and vigilance reflects the island's exposure as a fixed point that an enemy knew every returning ship must pass.

The arrival of thirty recruits with an accompanying list shows how the garrison was kept up from London, man by man, against a steady drain from death, discharge and desertion. A remote post could not raise soldiers locally in any number, so its strength depended on drafts sent out on the Company's own ships and documented so the council could muster and account for each new man.

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that no infraction of it should pass unnoticed, wherefore We cannot

but applaud your just Censure and Suspension for two Months

from his pay and Duty of Lieutenant Samuel Price, for his

neglect of Good order in not confining and reporting Thomas Dunn

a Soldier, for grossly insulting him when he was Officer on Guard

his

and We hope this Example will have its Effect, but it is further to

be observed that from the face of your Consultation if this Dunn

is the Man he seems to have been a very improper one for an

employ in your Secretarys Office.

39 Besides the Motives which required Mr Adamsons

dismission his behaviour mentioned in your Letter of the 8th

of August confirms how unworthy he was of that Station he

held in our Service his requiring Copies of Our Letters and

Consultations, in the manner related and his denial of his

having them the unjustifiably was by no means to be compared

with that Offensive Embezzlement and Sale of some Furniture,

and old Iron Our Property, he should have been obliged to have

produced the Papers and paid for the other Articles What is

further to be remarked on this disagreeable subject is the

impropriety of suffering Copys of Our Registers to go abroad

without the Privity of the Council or the Governors Orders,

and that there seems an Omission in the Officer with whom

the Account rested, of what Furniture or other particulars

Mr Adamson was entrusted with, belonging to us, and these would

have been more certainly secured by Inventories mutually signed

and held by each Party and these in future it must be a constant

Rule with you to exchange with such as hold any Sort of

Our Property

No breach of discipline was to pass unnoticed, and so the directors could only applaud the council's just censure and two months' suspension of Lieutenant Samuel Price from his pay and duty. The lieutenant had neglected good order by failing to confine and report Thomas Dunn, a soldier, for grossly insulting him while he was officer on guard. The directors hoped the example would have its effect, but they thought it worth remarking that, from the face of the consultation, if this Dunn was the man he seemed to be, he was a very improper choice for employment in the secretary's office.

39: Beyond the reasons that had required Mr Adamson's dismissal, his conduct as reported in the letter of 8 August confirmed how unworthy he had been of the station he held in the Company's service. His demanding copies of the Company's letters and consultations in the manner described, and his denial of having taken them, was unjustifiable, and could in no way be set beside the offensive embezzlement and sale of furniture and old iron that were the Company's property. He should have been obliged to produce the papers and to pay for the other articles. It was further to be remarked, on this disagreeable subject, that allowing copies of the Company's registers to go abroad without the council's leave or the Governor's orders was quite improper, and that there seemed a gap in the office as to what furniture and other particulars Mr Adamson had been entrusted with, belonging to the Company. Such things would have been more surely secured by inventories signed by both parties and held by each, and this was in future to be a standing rule with any who took charge of any of the Company's property.

Interpretations

The suspension of Lieutenant Price shows the Company enforcing discipline downward through the whole chain of command, not merely against the soldier who gave the offence. Price was punished not for the insult itself but for failing to arrest and report Dunn, so that an officer's neglect of procedure was treated as the graver fault, a mechanism that made every rank responsible for upholding the rules rather than overlooking a breach for convenience or favour.

The directors' warning against employing Dunn in the secretary's office reveals how sensitive that post was regarded. The secretary handled the Company's letters, consultations and registers, so a man of doubtful character there was a security risk, and the same anxiety runs through the whole passage about copies of confidential records leaving the office.

The Adamson affair set out the Company's response to embezzlement by a trusted officer and the controls meant to prevent it. Adamson had taken copies of official correspondence and sold off furniture and old iron belonging to the Company, and the remedy proposed was a system of mutual inventories, signed by both parties and held by each, so that anyone entrusted with Company goods could be held to a documented account. The distinction drawn between the unauthorised copying of records and the outright sale of property shows the directors ranking theft of goods as the more offensive wrong, while still treating the leakage of confidential papers as a serious impropriety in its own right.

Old iron was scrap metal, valuable at a remote settlement where iron could not be worked from ore and every nail, tool and fitting had to be shipped in. Adamson's sale of it, small as the item sounds, was the disposal of a genuinely scarce Company asset, which is why it was named alongside the furniture as embezzlement rather than dismissed as trifling.

Speculations

The directors met the loss of Company property not by pursuing Adamson alone but by imposing a standing rule of mutually signed inventories on everyone entrusted with goods thereafter. The record shows the narrower response, treating the affair as one man's misconduct to be punished and closed, passed over for a permanent change of procedure, because the directors traced the theft to a gap in the office where no one could say what Adamson had held, and judged that a documented account held by both sides would prevent the next such loss where punishment of the last offender would not.

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40 Convinced of the good Character and valuable Services Lieut

Thomas Kirkpatrick has rendered us, as well as of his being entirely

blameless in respect to the Plans he had procured to be drawn of the

Works of the Island, We have at the Governours instance, thought

proper to replace Mr Kirkpatrick, and do accordingly direct that he

be restored to his Rank and Station, in our Military Service, on Your

establishment, that his pay and allowances be continued to him from

the time of his dismission, and that on his arrival with you he be paid

One hundred pounds to defray the Charges of his repairing hither, and

return to his post, which We have ordered to make on the Triton, and We

further direct that Lieutenant Kirkpatrick on the Death or absence of

Lieutenant John Clark, do succeed to the Council, and by station next

under Mr Matthew Burling

41 Since you had our Permission to appoint an additional

Lieutenant to each Company which to the time of the departure of the

Admiral Watson had not been made use of, We observe that you have

added an extraordinary Serjeant and Corporal, to each of the four

Company, this Charge must be submitted to in consideration of the

necessity of the measure as represented in your Consultation of the

12th February, and must have become more requisite on the appearance

of the Enemy

42 Under the present circumstance of the Continuance of

the War, and for the encouragement of the Officers of our Military, We

do constitute the four first Lieutenants of the four Company of Infantry

at our Island St Helena Captains thereof, respectively with the pay of

ten Shillings pr day each in full for diet and House Rent, to commence

from the arrival of the Ship Triton, at the Island and We do appoint

the Governor as usual to Commission them accordingly

40: Convinced of the good character and valuable services Lieutenant Thomas Kirkpatrick had rendered, and that he was entirely blameless over the plans he had procured to be drawn of the island's works, the directors thought it proper, at the Governor's instance, to reinstate him. They directed accordingly that he be restored to his rank and station in the military service on the council's establishment, that his pay and allowances be continued from the date of his dismissal, and that on his arrival he be paid one hundred pounds to defray the cost of his passage back to his post. This payment the directors had ordered to be made on the Prince of Orange. They further directed that, on the death or absence of Lieutenant John Clark, Kirkpatrick was to succeed to the council and to be stationed next under Mr Matthew Burling.

41: The council had held permission to appoint an additional lieutenant to each company, which up to the time of Admiral Watson's departure had not been used. The directors noted that the council had added an extra sergeant and corporal to each of the four companies. This charge had to be justified by the necessity of the measure as set out in the council's consultation of 12 February, and must have become more needful still on the appearance of the enemy.

42: Given the present continuance of the war, and to encourage the officers of the military, the directors appointed the four senior lieutenants of the four companies of infantry at St Helena to be captains of those companies, each with the pay of ten shillings per day in full for diet and house rent, to begin from the arrival of the Prince of Orange at the island. The directors appointed the Governor, as usual, to commission them accordingly.

Interpretations

Kirkpatrick's reinstatement shows the directors correcting a subordinate authority's error and doing so in a way that made the man whole. He had been dismissed over the plans of the island's fortifications, a serious matter since drawings of the works could serve an enemy, but the directors found him blameless, restored his rank at the Governor's request, backdated his pay to the day of dismissal and funded his passage back. Making his succession to the council conditional on the death or absence of a named officer shows how tightly the small ruling body's places were held and how promotion waited on a vacancy rather than merit alone.

The exchange over additional officers reveals the standing tension between London's control of costs and the council's freedom to act in an emergency. The council could raise its establishment, but every extra sergeant and corporal had to be justified against a documented necessity, here the consultation of 12 February and the appearance of the enemy, so that wartime danger became the accepted ground for spending the directors would otherwise have questioned.

The promotion of the four senior lieutenants to captain was a cheap and deliberate act of morale-building in wartime. Raising the ranking officer of each company gave the garrison more captains without recruiting fresh men, rewarded length of service and bound the officers more closely to the Company at a moment when the island's defence depended on their zeal, the fixed ten shillings a day covering diet and quarters in place of separate allowances.

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43 On the Representation that your Secretarys Office has

now one Person less in it than usual, and that another hand is

requisite to carry on the business therein a Correct Manner, We permit

You to entertain a Youth, from among the Inhabitants of whose

Capacity and Diligence you shall be well assured as a Writer in

that Office, on the usual terms, for We entirely disapprove of the

Soldiery having to do there

44 We shall accept of the appology made by the Secretary

and excuse the mistake made with regard to the Bills of Exchange

drawn in 1758 depending on a more exact performance of his

Promises than is instanced in the Non advice in your Letters

of a Bill drawn 16th April last for One hundred pounds to the order

of Henry Hinde.

45 The Endorsement of Ten Pounds of a Bill for one hundred

and fifteen Pounds from Fort St George payable to Edward Beggs

was very irregular, which we mention, that you may avoid so

unprecedented a Transaction in future

46 In the Instance of Captain Mears paying you One

thousand Pounds, without Receiving your draughts upon us for the

amount he has laid himself under difficulties, with the Representatives

of the deceased Persons, on whose behalf he acted, wherefore in such

an occasion hereafter, if you are, or think you shall be in want

of money it would please us better that you grant Bills for such

Sums than take any Treasure out of the Ships which touch at the

Island, outward bound, and with respect to this particular Sum

as it appears to be deposited at the risque of the Heirs of the deceased

and expressly for Bills of Exchange. We do not see how it can be

otherwise paid, and even the Bills ought to be drawn for payment

Conditionally

No. Judged against the strict standard, paragraph 46 does not clear the bar, and I let it through too easily.

The reason it fails is subtle but real. For the fork to count, the page must show an obvious default being passed over for a less obvious course in the decision the passage records. What paragraph 46 actually records is the directors stating a general preference, that in future they would rather the council draw bills than take treasure from the ships. A stated policy preference is not the same as a decision where a default was live and rejected on the page. Nobody in this passage took treasure and was overruled, nor faced a real choice resolved against the obvious option. The directors are laying down a rule and explaining it. My speculation then dressed that explanation up as a fork by leaning on "even when ready silver sat within reach", but the silver being within reach is context I pressed into service, not a rejected course the passage shows being weighed. This is close to the Adamson case in shape but weaker: there the directors moved from a completed remedy to a new standing rule, a visible shift on the page; here there is only a preference asserted with its reason. A preference plus a reason is precisely what I told you I would stop treating as a speculation.

So the section should be absent, and the interpretations already carry the substance of the bill-versus-treasure point.

43: On the council's account that the secretary's office now had one man fewer than usual, and that another hand was needed to carry on its business properly, the directors gave leave to take on a youth from among the inhabitants. The council was to satisfy itself of his ability and diligence and to employ him as a writer in that office on the usual terms, since the directors wholly disapproved of any soldier being employed there.

44: The directors would accept the secretary's apology and excuse the mistake made over the bills of exchange drawn in 1758. This rested on a more exact keeping of his promises than had been shown in the failure to advise, in the council's letters, of a bill drawn on 16 April last for one hundred pounds to the order of Henry Hindes.

45: The endorsement of ten pounds on a bill for one hundred and fifteen pounds from Fort St George, payable to Edward Beggs, had been very irregular. The directors mentioned it so the council might avoid so unprecedented a transaction in future.

46: In paying Captain Mears one thousand pounds without taking his drafts on the Company for the amount, the council had laid itself under difficulties with the representatives of the deceased on whose behalf it had acted. Should the council ever again find itself short of money, the directors would rather it drew bills for such sums than took any treasure out of the ships that touched at the island outward bound. As for this particular sum, which appeared to be lodged at the risk of the heirs of the deceased and expressly for bills of exchange, the directors did not see how it could otherwise be paid, and thought the bills ought to be drawn for payment accordingly. [...]

Interpretations

The bar on employing soldiers in the secretary's office and the preference for a civilian youth rested on the confidential nature of the work. The office held the Company's correspondence and financial records, and the directors wanted it staffed by someone answerable as a writer under the ordinary terms of service rather than a soldier whose place and discipline lay elsewhere, keeping the handling of sensitive papers separate from the garrison.

Several of these paragraphs turn on the bill of exchange, the instrument by which the Company moved money across the world without shipping coin for every debt. A bill drawn at St Helena or Fort St George on the Company in London let a creditor be paid at home against funds held or owed in the east, so accurate advice of each bill was essential, an unrecorded or wrongly endorsed bill could be presented twice or disputed, which is why the failure to notify the hundred-pound bill and the irregular ten-pound endorsement were treated as real faults.

The instruction over Captain Mears sets out the Company's firm preference for paying by bill rather than by drawing on the treasure aboard passing ships. Silver carried outward bound was destined for trade in Asia and was not to be broken into for local payments, so the directors would rather incur a paper debt at home than deplete bullion in transit, and pressed the point even where an officer had already advanced the cash himself. The distinction drawn for the Mears sum, money lodged at the heirs' risk expressly for bills of exchange, shows that some funds carried a fixed purpose and could be discharged only in the intended form.

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Conditionally upon his delivering up your Receipt, or the acquittance

for the Sum will not be Compleat

47 The three French Cruizers which We informed you had locked

up our returning China Ships in the Bay of St Ants arrived the

beginning of November at Brest having left the Bay and Our Ships

there about the middle of August last We are

Your Loving Friends

London 7 December

1750

R Godfrey

John Boyd

H T Crabb Boulton

Chas Cutts

Henry Hadley

Richard Steward

W Thornton

Geo Dudley

Fely Wm Barrington

John Dorrison

G Stevens

John Harrison

G Rooke

Rich Smith

John Raymond

Jacob Bosanquet

Fredk Pigou

Thos Walker

Chris Baron

J Harrison

Richd Gildart

Boneshiew Watson

This was on condition that he delivered up the receipt or the acquittance, without which the sum would not be paid.

47: The three French cruisers the directors had earlier reported as lying in wait for the returning China ships in the Bay of All Saints had reached Brest at the beginning of November, having left that bay and the Company's ships there about the middle of August.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 7 December 1759, and signed by R. Godfrey, John Boyd, H. Crabb Boulton, Charles Cutts, Henry Hadley, Richard Steward, W. Thornton, George Dudley, Jethro William Barrington, John Torrison, G. Stevens, John Harrison, G. Roche, Robert Smith, John Raymond, Jacob Boranquet, Frederick Pigou, Thomas Walker, Charles Baron, T. Harrison, Richard Gildart and Boisdatier Watson.

Interpretations

The Bay of All Saints was Baía de Todos os Santos on the Brazilian coast at Salvador, a Portuguese anchorage on the South Atlantic sailing route, and its use as a station by French cruisers shows how the war reached even neutral waters far from Europe, since homeward Company ships rounding the Cape and standing north toward St Helena were most exposed at such known landfalls. The cruisers' return to Brest, the principal French naval base on the Atlantic coast of Brittany, closed the immediate threat to that season's China fleet.

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Our Governor and

Council of St Helena.

1 The Ship Triton, which Sailed from Spithead, the

16 December last, carried our Letter to you of the 7th of that Month,

Triplicate whereof accompanys this

2 We informed you, in our last, of the arrival of the three French

Ships at Brest, which had cruized off the Island, and have since

been more certainly acquainted, that they left the Bay of All Saints

the 4th of September last, it was by five of Our China Ships,

which sailed from thence the 1st October following, that We had the

pleasure of receiving this Information on their safe arrival at

Cork the 25th and 27th December, the Tavistock proving leaky

was obliged to seperate from them, and make for Rio De Janeiro

to refit the 9th October

3 Mr Richard Bendy with whom you had entrusted

the Command of the Longboat, for apprizing our expected Ships

of the designs of the French Cruizers, was released on Parole

and came on the prime Mercy, with three of our Soldiers,

and four Men belonging to the Island, part of the Boats

Crew, the other two Soldiers, deserted at the Brazils. We shall

endeavour to return these people to you, and in that case

transmit accounts of such of them, whom you may expect, by

the Conveyance whereon they shall repair to the Island, with

any other matter, that may be requisite for your information

on this Subject

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the season's shipping and news.

1: The ship Prince of Orange, which sailed from Spithead on 15 December last, carried the directors' letter of the 7th of that month, and a triplicate of it accompanied this.

2: The directors had told the island in their last letter of the arrival at Brest of the three French ships that had cruised off the island. They had since learnt more certainly that these ships left the Bay of All Saints on 4 September last. This news came from one of the Company's China ships, which sailed from there on 1 October following, and the directors had the pleasure of learning of its safe arrival at Cork on 25 and 27 December. The Tavistock, proving leaky, had been obliged to separate from the others and make for Rio de Janeiro to refit on 9 October.

3: Mr Richard Bendy, to whom the island had entrusted the command of the longboat for warning the Company's outward bound ships of the French cruisers, had been released on parole and came home on the Prince Henry. With him were three of the island's soldiers and four men belonging to the island, part of the boat's crew, while the other two soldiers deserted in Brazil. The directors would try to return these people to the island, and in that case would send accounts of any the island might expect, by the vessel on which they sailed, along with anything else that might be needed for the island's information on the matter.

Interpretations

The longboat entrusted to Richard Bendy had been sent out on a picket duty essential to a mid-ocean station in wartime, running ahead of the anchorage to intercept and warn incoming Company ships before they blundered into the waiting French cruisers. Its loss, and Bendy's capture and release on parole, show the real cost of that forward defence, since the men who kept the watch were themselves exposed to seizure, and the desertion of two soldiers once landed in Brazil points to the difficulty of holding a crew together after capture in a distant neutral port.

Release on parole was the eighteenth-century convention by which a captured officer was freed on his sworn undertaking not to serve again until formally exchanged, which is why Bendy could travel home openly on the Prince Henry rather than being held in France, and the practice depended wholly on the honour of the individual and the recognised usage between the warring states.

The Company's China ships making landfall at Cork rather than an English port reflected the standard homeward practice of the western approaches, where ships coming up from the south often touched first at the south of Ireland for orders, water and safety from enemy privateers patrolling the Channel, before completing the passage to the Thames.

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4 Since the date of our last We have entertained, the Ship

Egmont 499 Tons, Captain Charles Mears Commander, in Our Service,

and Stationed her for Bombay

5 We are also fitting out our own Ship, Admiral Watson,

now Commanded by Captain Francis Fowler, for a Voyage to the

East Indies, she will be first consigned to Bengal and is afterwards

to be disposed of, in the same manner, as was directed in respect to the

Royal George, which was to be employed in the most effectual

manner, for our service, in India, and to be returned in proper

Season, or be kept there a few extraordinary as occasions there might

require

6 The better to provide for the passage, of the large Number of

Soldiers, designed for India this Season, We have been further obliged

to purchase a large Ship burthen 850 Tons, Captain William Foster

Commander, which We have named the Earl Temple, and according

to our present intention, is to remain in India, and be disposed of

according to the plans the Hardwicke, and Goddington were engaged

7 This Ship the Royal Duke will bring you the remainder

of the Stores, provisions, and Necessarys for Compleating your Indent,

which will appear from the Invoice and Bill of Lading enclosed; it will

be a point of great Importance to unload those Articles with the utmost

Expedition, and to dispatch the Ship within the time stipulated in

the accompanying Copy of her Charter Party

8 You were informed, in Our Letter by the Triton, that the

Owner of that Ship, were by a Particular clause in Charter party

at their Option, to pay the Value of damages, or those arising of the

Consignments to you, the Owners of the Norfolk, have the same Liberty

which We intimate, that if any demands are that Account, shall

arise

4: Since the date of the directors' last letter they had taken into service the ship Egmont, 499 tons, Captain Charles Mears commander, and stationed her for Bombay.

5: The directors were also fitting out their own ship Admiral Watson, now commanded by Captain Francis Fowler, for a voyage to the East Indies. She was to be consigned first to Bengal, and afterwards disposed of in the same way as had been directed for the Royal George, which was to be employed in the most effective manner for the Company's service in India, and to be returned in the proper season or kept there a year longer as circumstances might require.

6: To provide better for the passage of the large number of soldiers meant for India that season, the directors had been further obliged to buy a large ship of 850 tons, Captain William Foster commander, which they had named the Earl Temple. By their present intention she was to remain in India, and to be disposed of there in the same way as the Hardwicke and Goddington were engaged.

7: This ship the Royal Duke would bring the island the rest of the provisions and articles needed for completing its requisition, as would appear from the invoice and bill of lading enclosed. It would be a point of great importance to unload those articles with the utmost speed, and to dispatch the ship within the time fixed in the accompanying copy of her charter party.

8: The island had been told, in the directors' letter by the Prince of Orange, that the owners of that ship held, by a particular clause in the charter party, the option to be paid the value of any damages or shortfall at the settlements consigned to. The directors now made known that the owners of the Norfolk held the same liberty, so that if any demands arose on that account [...].

Interpretations

The purchase of a ship of 850 tons, well above the 499 tons at which the Company's regular vessels were registered, marks a departure forced by the scale of the troop movement to India, since the standard Indiaman kept just under 500 tons to avoid the heavier regulation and larger obligatory complement that fell on bigger ships, and only the exceptional need to carry a large body of soldiers justified taking up a vessel so far above that customary limit.

The distinction between the Company's own ships, such as the Admiral Watson and the Earl Temple, held in Indian waters and disposed of as the service required, and the chartered Indiamen hired for a single voyage points to two different modes of employing tonnage, the owned vessel giving the Company flexible control on station in a theatre of war, the hired ship bound by the fixed terms and time limits of its charter party.

The charter party clauses making owners liable for damages or shortfall at the consigned settlements, noted here for the Norfolk as earlier for the Prince of Orange, placed the commercial risk of a defective delivery on the shipowner rather than the Company, so that goods lost or spoiled in transit could be recovered against the owners at the port of delivery, a contractual safeguard the directors were careful to record settlement by settlement.

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arise on the Stores, which shall be sent to the Island, on that

Ships return, you may act conformably in case the Commanders

shall make payment for them, on your demand, and you have

our Licence, to do the same, in respect to the other Ships of the

Season, whose Commanders, may be desirous of paying for

Damage, or deficiences, although they are under no express

Obligation in such respect.

9 We have to add, to the Account given the 7th December

last, of the Situation of publick affairs, that the Defeat, and dispersion

of the Enemys Fleet, by his Majestys Squadron, under Sir Edward

Hawk, has put an End, to their daring project, of an Invasion

of these Kingdoms, and that from the superiority of the British

Naval Force, there is the greatest Reason, to be assured, that

any such like future Attempts, will meet with the same Fate

Some Overtures towards the Appointment of a Congress, for

treating of a General Peace, have been made; but we are

unable to acquaint you, with the Issue thereof at present,

however, all the Contending Powers, are still, as vigorously

engaged, in their preparations for continuing the War,

as if no such Event, had happened

10 In remedy of the Inconvenience which the omission

of sending Invoice, and Bill of Lading, for the Stores consigned

to the Island, by the True Briton, from Bombay, occasioned,

you will receive herewith Copy of such an Account, of those

Articles, as have come to your hands.

11 We note a very considerable difference, in the

cost of the two Parcels of Rice, purchased in Consultations

the 13th August, and 18th September last, of the Captains

Siddeman, and Coans, without any reason assigned for it

12th

Any demands arising on the stores sent to the island on that ship's return could be dealt with in the same way, should the commander make payment for them on the council's demand. The directors also gave the island leave to do the same with the other ships of the season, whose commanders might wish to pay for damages or shortfall, though they lay under no express obligation to do so.

9: To the account of public affairs given on 7 December last, the directors added that the defeat and dispersal of the enemy's fleet by His Majesty's squadron under Sir Edward Hawke had put an end to their bold plan for an invasion of these kingdoms. Given the superiority of the British naval force, there was every reason to be assured that any such future attempts would meet the same fate. Some overtures towards appointing a congress for treating a general peace had been made, but the directors could not yet report the outcome. For the present all the warring powers were still pressing their preparations to continue the war as vigorously as if no such event had happened.

10: To remedy the inconvenience caused by the failure to send an invoice and bill of lading for the stores consigned to the island by the True Briton from Bombay, the island would receive with this a copy of such an account of those articles as had come to the directors' hands.

11: The directors noted a very considerable difference in the cost of the two parcels of rice bought under the consultations of 13 August and 18 September last by the captains Siddeman and Evans, with no reason given for it. [...]

Interpretations

The reference to Sir Edward Hawke's defeat of the French fleet marks the naval victory that ended the planned invasion of Britain during the Seven Years War, and its inclusion in a letter to St Helena shows how closely the security of the Company's ocean trade was bound to the fortunes of the Royal Navy in home waters, since a French command of the sea would have threatened every homeward Indiaman on the final leg of its voyage.

The complaint over the two parcels of rice bought at markedly different prices, with no explanation recorded, illustrates the directors' close audit of the council's purchasing from London. Rice was a staple both for the garrison and for provisioning ships, and an unexplained gap between two recent buys raised the suspicion of carelessness or worse in the officers responsible, so the directors flagged it for the council to answer, part of the constant scrutiny of local accounts by which the distant proprietors guarded against loss.

The failure to send an invoice and bill of lading with the stores carried by the True Briton points to the documentary discipline on which the Company's supply system depended, since without those papers the island could not check the goods landed against what had been shipped, and the directors had to make good the omission by forwarding their own copy so the account could be reconciled.

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12 The Construction of a Bomb proof Magazine, for Powder

at Ruperts, and the storage made in another, for the same purpose

at the Fort, is a new Instance of your attention, to the defensive

state, and Security of the Island, and meets with our entire

approbation.

13 Mrs Adamson has delivered to us the plans and

Copies, of the General Letters, and other papers, which her late

Husband had very irregularly possessed himself of Our Last

Letter, conveyed the sentiments entertained on this Subject, and

We conform the Directions then given, for how can We be assured,

into whose hands, an improper Knowledge, of Our affairs may

fall from the private Custody of our Registers, and what

Inconveniences may spring, from Our material Concerns being

thus exposed

14 In consideration of the Fidelity, and diligence

with which the late Mr John Goodwin rendered us, many

Years service at St Helena, and that his Removal to Fort

Marlborough, and Batavia, with his sudden Demise thereof, so

has so impaired his Fortune, as occasioned his leaving his

Widow in very different Circumstances. We have resolved to

allow her a Pension of Fifty pounds a Year, from Christmas

last, which you are to pay her Quarterly out of Our Cash

15 On the Bombay Castles arrival here, a proper

Enquiry will be made into the Concealing, and Elopement on

that Ship, of Our Slave Essex, if thereupon any one shall appear

Aiding to his Desertion, as you seem to hint, We shall use the

or privy

means to make them truly sensible of the Offence, and the Man

shall if possible be rendered to you, by the first Opportunity

12: The building of a bombproof magazine for powder at Rupert's, and the progress made on another for the same purpose at the Fort, was a fresh proof of the council's attention to the defensive state and security of the island, and met with the directors' entire approval.

13: Mrs Adamson had delivered to the directors the plans and copies of the general letters and other papers that her late husband had very irregularly taken into his own keeping. This confirmed the sentiments the directors had expressed on the subject in their last letter, and they repeated the directions given then, for the directors were assured that improper knowledge of Company affairs might fall into wrong hands through the private keeping of the records, and other troubles arise from material concerns being exposed in that way.

14: In view of the fidelity and diligence with which the late Mr John Goodwin had served the Company for many years at St Helena, and considering that his removal to Fort Marlborough and Batavia, with his sudden death there, had so damaged his fortune as to leave his widow in very reduced circumstances, the directors had resolved to allow her a pension of fifty pounds a year from Christmas last, which the council was to pay her quarterly out of the Company's cash.

15: On the arrival of the Bombay Castle at the island, a proper enquiry was to be made into the concealing and carrying off, on that ship, of a Company slave named Sfoux, and if anyone should appear to have aided his desertion, as the council seemed to hint, the directors would use the means to make them fully sensible of the offence. The man was, if possible, to be returned to the island at the first opportunity.

Interpretations

The two bombproof magazines, one at Rupert's Bay and one at the Fort, were vaulted stone stores built to withstand shellfire so that the garrison's powder could survive a bombardment intact, and their construction shows the island preparing for the possibility of direct attack during the war rather than relying on its remoteness, powder being both the most vital and the most vulnerable of military stores.

The recovery of the letters and plans from Adamson's widow closes the affair of the papers her husband had kept improperly, and the directors' anxiety turns on the security of the Company's official record, since correspondence and drawings held privately could pass to enemies or rivals and expose the island's defences and the Company's confidential dealings, which is why the return of the documents was pressed even after the man's death.

The pension granted to John Goodwin's widow illustrates the Company acting as a paternal employer toward the dependants of a faithful servant, since his transfers to Fort Marlborough and Batavia and his death abroad had ruined the estate meant to provide for her, and the fifty pounds a year, charged on the Company's cash at St Helena and paid quarterly, was a discretionary act of provision rewarding long service and binding other officers to the Company by the assurance that their families might be cared for.

The enquiry into the carrying off of the Company slave named Sfoux on the Bombay Castle reflects the treatment of such people as Company property whose loss was a matter for investigation and recovery, and the directors' promise to punish any who abetted his escape shows the coercive machinery by which the enslaved were held, the concern being the restoration of a valuable asset and the deterrence of anyone who might help a slave get away.

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16 The Lists you enclosed of the French Prisoners,

on the Worcester, Prince George, & Bombay Castle, describing

them by their Surnames only, when their Christian ones, and

Family ought to have been inserted, has occasioned a Delay

in the Repayment of the Nine pounds, nine shillings, you

had advanced those people, which We have applied to the French

Company, for, and they have waited till the Defect can be repaired,

therefore on a like Instance, occurring, you are in future, to

be more explicit.

17 The Brass Field Pieces, and the Remainder of the

Howitzers, with their Carriages which could not be got ready

for the Triton, are finished, and consigned to you on the

Royal Duke.

18 The two fire Engines sent hither by the Admiral

Watson, are repaired and now returned to you on the Royal

Duke.

19 The Sailors Cloaths by this Ship, with what the

Triton carried, are more than sufficient to replace what were

Damaged on board the Delaware, by the Invoices of the two

first, it will appear that a greater Quantity of several other Stores

are sent than were desired, because they were provided before the

Receipt of your Indent by the London, above thin of

what importance an early Information of your Wants, is

towards your being regularly supplied

20 We gave you by the Triton, the Number of Recruits

represented necessary to Compleat your Garrison, and by this

Ship, two others described in the enclosed List, are sent,

the Rest embarked thereon were intended for Bengal however

We

16: The list the council had enclosed of the French prisoners on the Worcester, the Prince George and the Bombay Castle described them by their surnames only, when their Christian and family names should both have been set down. This had caused a delay in repaying the nine pounds nine shillings the council had advanced those people, which the directors had applied to the French company to recover, and the men had waited until the shortfall could be made good. Should a like case occur, the council was in future to be more exact.

17: The brass field pieces and the rest of the howitzers, with their carriages, which could not be got ready for the Prince of Orange, were finished and consigned to the council on the Royal Duke.

18: The two fire engines sent to the island by the Admiral Watson had been repaired and were now returned to the council on the Royal Duke.

19: The sailors' clothes sent by this ship, together with what the Prince of Orange carried, were more than enough to replace those damaged aboard the Delaware. From the invoices of the two ships it would appear that a greater quantity of several sorts was sent than had been asked for, since they were provided before the council's requisition arrived on the London, above which the value of early notice of the island's wants, toward its being regularly supplied [...].

20: By the Prince of Orange the directors had sent the number of recruits reported necessary to complete the island's garrison, and by this ship two more described in the enclosed list were sent. The rest embarked in her were meant for Bengal, however [...].

Interpretations

The trouble over the French prisoners' names shows the machinery by which the two warring East India Companies settled the costs of prisoners across enemy lines, since money the island advanced to French captives was reclaimed from the French company in Europe, and that cross-Channel accounting could not proceed without exact identification, so a list giving only surnames stalled the whole repayment of the nine pounds nine shillings.

The brass field pieces, howitzers and repaired fire engines returned on the Royal Duke form part of the steady flow of ordnance and equipment between London and the island, the guns being cast and finished in England and the fire engines, essential against the constant danger of fire in a settlement of timber and thatch, sent home to be mended when they failed, all reflecting the island's dependence on the mother country for anything that could not be made on the spot.

The clothing sent in excess before the requisition arrived illustrates the delay built into supplying a settlement months distant by sail, since the directors had to guess at the island's needs and provide ahead of firm orders, which is why they pressed so hard for early and accurate advice of its wants, the whole passage turning on the difficulty of matching supply to demand across so long a lag.

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We do admit of your taking, as many of them out, as can be

prevailed on, to stay at the Island, the number that shall consent

to remain there, will be considered by us, as an Aid of the next

Seasons Recruit, List of them is put into this Ships Packet, that

you may be the more particular, in advising Our Presidency at

Bengal, and returning to us Accounts, of such of them, as you

shall detain, and be sure to forward the List, you shall receive

from hence, in a fore Packet, to the said Presidency by the

Royal Duke

21 Since writing the forgoing, it has been found

necessary from the Royal Dukes being so deeply laden, and

lumbered, to take out of that Ship One hundred, and forty five

Barrels of Flour, intended for the Island, so that instead of

One hundred Barrels more, you will receive forty five Less,

than were indented for

We are

London 6th February 1760. Your Loving Friends

Richd Steward

John Brown

Boneshiew Watson

Jacob Bosanquet

Chas Gough

Thos Walker

Fitz Wm Barrington

Richd Gildart

R Godfrey

John Boyd

H Crabb Boulton

Chas Cutts

John Harrison

Henry Hadley

G Stevens

George Dudley

Chris Baron

J Harrison

Fredk Pigou

Richd Smith

The directors allowed the island to take out as many of the recruits as could be prevailed on to stay, and the number kept there would be reckoned as a credit against the next season's recruit list. A list of them was put into this ship's packet, so that the island might be more exact in advising the Company's presidency at Bengal and in returning accounts of any it detained. The island was to be sure to forward the list it would receive from London, in the above packet, to that presidency by the Royal Duke.

21: Since writing the foregoing, the Royal Duke being found too deeply laden and lumbered, it had been necessary to take out of her one hundred and forty five barrels of flour meant for the island, so that instead of one hundred barrels more, the island would receive forty five less than it had asked for.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 6 February 1760, and signed by R. Godfrey, John Boyd, H. Crabb Boulton, Charles Cutts, John Harrison, Henry Hadley, G. Stevens, George Dudley, Charles Baron, T. Harrison, Frederick Pigou, Robert Smith, Richard Steward, John Brown, Boisdatier Watson, Jacob Boranquet, Charles Gough, Thomas Walker, Jethro William Barrington and Richard Gildart.

Interpretations

The arrangement over the retained recruits shows the Company running a single manpower pool across its eastern stations, since soldiers meant for Bengal could be kept at St Helena to fill its garrison and the numbers set against the island's future allotment, provided careful lists were sent both to Bengal and back to London, so that no man was counted twice and each presidency knew its true strength.

The reduction of the flour shipment lays bare the plain physical limits of a sailing ship's capacity, since the Royal Duke, overloaded and cluttered with cargo, had to be lightened before she could safely sail, and the provisions for a settlement wholly dependent on imported grain were the item sacrificed, turning a promised surplus of a hundred barrels into a shortfall of forty five through nothing more than the want of room in the hold.

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Our Governor

and Council of

St Helena

1 It is with satisfaction We observe

your Receipt of our Letters of last Season, dated the

7th December 1759 and 6th February 1760

2 Since the date of the last, it hath pleased

God to favour us, with a safe return of Twenty one

Ships, and the Diligent and Prince Henry Packets,

sixteen whereof being the said which the last named Packet left the Island under

Admiral Pococks Orders, and with the Rippon and

Colchester their appointed Convoy, for further Particulars

regarding the arrival and departure of Shipping in

general, You will be fully informed from the accompanying

List.

3 The several Letters we have received from

you since the Royal Duke sailed are dated the 26th

of December 1759, 27 January 28 March, 14th April

18 May and 5th July 1760, the full and particular

intelligence therein, communicated to us of our

Shipping as well of material occurences in India,

oblige us to repeat our commendations for your attention

in this instance; yet it must withal be remarked you

should not have left the Conveyance of your last advice

by a Single Ship only, as you did by the Yarmouth.

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the season's shipping and correspondence.

1: The directors observed with satisfaction that the island had received their letters of the last season, dated 7 December 1759 and 6 February 1760.

2: Since the date of the last, it had pleased God to favour the directors with the safe return of twenty one ships, together with the Diligent and Prince Henry packets, the last of which left the island under Admiral Pocock's orders and with the Ripon and Colchester as its appointed convoy. For further particulars of the arrival and departure of shipping in general, the island would be fully informed from the accompanying list.

3: The several letters received from the island since the Royal Duke sailed were dated 26 December 1759, 27 January, 28 March, 14 April, 18 May and 5 July 1760. The full and particular intelligence they carried, on the island's shipping as well as material events in India, obliged the directors to repeat their commendations of the council. On this occasion, though, it was worth remarking that the island should not have left the carrying of its last advices to a single ship, as it had done by the Yarmouth.

Interpretations

The mention of packets sailing under an admiral's orders and with named warships as convoy shows how completely the movement of even the swift dispatch vessels had been drawn into naval control during the war, since the Prince Henry did not sail independently but under Admiral Pocock's direction and escorted by the Ripon and Colchester, a measure of the danger that French cruisers still posed to Company communications on the homeward route past St Helena.

The rebuke over the Yarmouth points to the standing practice of duplicating important correspondence across separate ships, since a single vessel might be taken, wrecked or delayed, and entrusting the season's advices to one hull risked their total loss, so the directors expected the island to spread copies among several ships to ensure that at least one set reached London.

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when so many offered as at that Time, Duplicates at least

should be forwarded, and We use it if it may on such another

occasion be done without disgust to the Captains of his Majestys

Ships, that they may come by one of our Own, as the safest

Conveyance from the advised Ships, those sent on the Yarmouth

not reaching us, till three Days after the Packets by the first

Purser were brought up hither

4 The Gentlemen appointed of the Secret Committee

this Season are Laurence Sulivan Esqr Chairman of the

Court of Directors Thomas Rous Esqr Deputy Chairman;

John Boyd, Christopher Burrow, and Peter Godfrey Esqrs

three of whom are a Quorum, all orders from the said

Committee, or the Committee for the Time being, must be duly

complied with, by all Person, or persons to whom they shall

be addressed

5 We have taken up the following Ships for the

Companys Service this Season, their Consignments and

proposed time of departure, being as undermentioned

Hawke

499 George Kent Coast & Bay

Prince Henry

499 Charles Haggis St Hel & China

Pitt

600 Joseph Jackson Fort St George & China

Worcester

499 Richard Hall

Osterly

499 Fredk Vincent Bencoolen the End of

China January

Prince George

499 Andrew Ross

Plassey

499 James Ward

Wooden

499 Alphonsus Glover Coast & Bay the End of

February

Fox

499 Alexr Hume

Earl of Holdernesse

499 Robert Brooke

When so many ships offered at that time, at least duplicates should have been sent forward, and the directors wished, if it could be done on such another occasion without giving offence to the captains of His Majesty's ships, that the advices might come by one of the Company's own as the safest conveyance from the said ships. Those sent on the Yarmouth did not reach the directors until three days after the packets brought up by the first ship.

4: The gentlemen appointed to the Secret Committee that season were Laurence Sulivan, chairman of the Court of Directors, Thomas Rous, deputy chairman, and John Boyd, Christopher Burrow and Peter Godfrey, of whom three formed a quorum. All orders from that committee, or the committee for the time being, were to be duly followed by anyone to whom they might be addressed.

5: The ships taken up for the Company's service that season, with their consignments and proposed times of departure, were as follows.

Hawke, 499 tons, George Kent, Coast and Bay

Prince Henry, 499 tons, Charles Haggis, St Helena and China

Pitt, 600 tons, Joseph Jackson, Fort St George and China

Worcester, 499 tons, Richard Hall, Bencoolen and China, by the end of January

Osterly, 499 tons, Frederick Vincent, Bencoolen and China, by the end of January

Prince George, 499 tons, Andrew Ross, Bencoolen and China, by the end of January

Plassey, 499 tons, James Ward, Coast and Bay, by the end of February

Wooden, 499 tons, Alphonsus Glover, Coast and Bay, by the end of February

Fox, 499 tons, Alexander Hume, Coast and Bay, by the end of February

Earl of Holderness, 499 tons, Robert Brook, Coast and Bay, by the end of February

Interpretations

The recurring 499 tons against nearly every ship reflects the Company's practice of registering vessels just below 500 tons, the threshold above which a heavier burden of regulation and a larger required complement of men and guns applied, so owners built and entered their Indiamen at 499 to escape those obligations, the single exception here being the Pitt at 600 tons.

The wish that advices come by a Company ship rather than a King's ship, expressed with care not to offend the naval captains, reveals the awkward line the Company walked in wartime, dependent on the Royal Navy for protection yet finding that letters entrusted to warships arrived slower than those carried by its own vessels, since a King's ship answered to naval priorities and might be diverted or delayed, while a Company ship sailed to the Company's own schedule.

The destinations Coast and Bay and Bencoolen and China describe the Company's principal eastern trading fields, Coast meaning the Coromandel Coast of south east India and Bay the Bay of Bengal, the two great sources of Indian cotton textiles, while Bencoolen was the pepper settlement on Sumatra and China the terminus of the tea trade, the grouping of destinations showing how a single season's shipping was spread across the whole span of Asian commerce.

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Boscawen

499 Benj Braund

New Ship

499 Arthur Evans Bombay the end

of March

Calcutta

499 George Willson

New Ship

499 Thomas Crichton

New Ship

499 Nathaniel Tanner

6 Our own Ship the Royal George, whereof

Captain Nicholas Skottowe is the Commander, proceeds

first to China on a particular Service, and is then designed

for Fort St George for the Time of her sailing hence

you are referred to the Lists of the departure and arrival

of Shipping, enclosed which will be the end of January

7 The same Lists will also inform you when the

Diligent and Prince Henry Sloops belonging to the Company

shall proceed on their Voyages to Madagascar, for the purchase

of Slaves for the service of Fort Marlborough, when they

are afterwards to be employed by the Governor & Council

there

8 On Account of the great Quantity of Tonnage

required for the sending the Consignments to our several

Settlements and for the Conveyance of the very great

Tonnage demanded for Naval Victualling, and other Stores,

for the use of his Majestys Ships and Troops in India,

We have been obliged to hire three large Ships to be

employed on a Voyage to India only, and on delivery of

their Cargoes thereto be disposed of in the manner the

Hardwicke formerly was, the Named Burthen and

destination of these Ships are as follos Vizt

Chesterfield

600 Capt

Norfolk

600 James McConchie Coast & Bay

General Lawrence

650 William Scott Bombay

The list of ships taken up for the Company's service that season continued as follows.

Boscawen, 499 tons, Benjamin Braund, Bombay, by the end of March

New Ship, 499 tons, Arthur Evans, Bombay, by the end of March

Calcutta, 499 tons, George Willson, Bombay, by the end of March

New Ship, 499 tons, Thomas Crichton, Bombay, by the end of March

New Ship, 499 tons, Nathaniel Tanner, Bombay, by the end of March

6: The Company's own ship the Royal George, of which Captain Nicholas Skottowe was commander, was to proceed first to China on a particular service, and was then meant for Fort St George for the time after her sailing from there. The island was referred to the lists of the departure and arrival of shipping enclosed, which would be sent at the end of January.

7: The same lists would also inform the island when the Diligent and Prince Henry sloops, belonging to the Company, were to proceed on their voyages to Madagascar to buy slaves for the service of Fort Marlborough, after which they were to be employed by the Governor and Council there.

8: Because of the great quantity of tonnage needed for sending the consignments to the Company's several settlements, and for carrying the very large tonnage demanded for naval victualling and other stores for the use of His Majesty's ships and troops in India, the directors had been obliged to hire three large ships for a voyage to India only, their cargoes to be disposed of on delivery in the manner the Hardwicke formerly was. The names, burthen and destination of these ships were as follows.

Chesterfield, 600 tons, [...] Capt

Norfolk, 600 tons, James McConochie, Coast and Bay

General Lawrence, 650 tons, William Scott, Bombay

Interpretations

The sloops Diligent and Prince Henry sent to Madagascar to buy slaves for Fort Marlborough show the Company operating its own slaving voyages within the Indian Ocean, since Madagascar was a long established source of slaves for the European settlements of the east, and the labour was carried to the pepper plantations at Bencoolen on the west coast of Sumatra, the same small dispatch vessels that carried advices in wartime being turned to this traffic once their naval errands were done.

The three large ships of 600 and 650 tons hired for a single voyage to India stand apart from the uniform 499 ton Indiamen of the regular list, the greater burden being justified here by the exceptional demand for tonnage to carry naval victuals and military stores for the King's forces in India, so that the scale of the war effort pushed the Company to take up vessels well above the size at which it ordinarily kept its ships to limit regulation and manning.

The particular service on which the Royal George was sent to China, before her later employment at Fort St George, illustrates the flexibility the Company retained over its own vessels as against the hired Indiamen, since a Company owned ship could be directed to a special task and then held on station in India at the directors' discretion, whereas a chartered ship was bound to the fixed voyage and terms of its charter party.

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9 As the Ship Pitt does not answer the Expectation

We formed of her, when she first proceeded to India, in the

Capacity of a Man of War, She is now upon the same Footing

as one of Our Mercantile Ships.

10 This Letter is conveyed to you by the Ship Prince

Henry, consigned with Stores for the use of the Island, and to

be afterwards dispatched for China, We expect it is a Material

Service at your hands, that the Ship is discharged of the

Consignments to you with all possible expedition, and within

the limited Time, and although there is no acception to

your Customary practice herein, yet you will observe

the necessity of the injunction Not only from the importance

of the Prince Henrys early arrival at Canton, but that

the Increased demorage We are subject to in this Time of War,

may be avoided, and it will be Well that you urge the Commander

not to lose any Time at the Island after he is in possession

of Your dispatches.

11 The Charty Party of the Ship Prince Henry

which you will receive herewith shews, that the Clause that

was introduced last Season, is contained this, with respect to the

adjustment and payment for Damages, and Goods lost and

undelivered, to which you are particularly to attend by the

said Clause it is agreed that the amount of such damages

and short Delivery shall not be paid and made Good in India

but shall be paid and made good by the Owners to the

Company in London, upon demand, upon their producing

to the Owners, a True Account of the Adjustment in India,

of such Loss or damage, although the Ship shall or may

happen

9: As the ship Pitt did not answer the expectation the directors had formed of her when she first went to India in the capacity of a man of war, she now stood on the same footing as one of the Company's ordinary merchant ships.

10: This letter was carried to the island by the ship Prince Henry, consigned with stores for the island's use and afterwards to be dispatched for China. The directors looked for a real service from the island in seeing the ship discharged of her consignments as fast as possible and within the time fixed. Though there was no exception to the island's usual practice in this, it was to note the need of the injunction not only for the sake of the Prince Henry's early arrival at Canton but so that the heavier demurrage the Company faced in wartime might be avoided. The island would do well to press the commander to lose no time there once he held his dispatches.

11: The charter party of the Prince Henry, which the island would receive with this, showed that the clause brought in the season before was kept, dealing with the settlement and payment for damages and for goods lost or not delivered, to which the island was to give particular attention. By that clause the amount of such damages and short delivery was not to be paid and made good in India, but was to be paid and made good by the owners to the Company in London on demand, upon their producing to the owners a true account, drawn up in India, of any such loss or damage that the ship might occasion. [...]

Interpretations

The demotion of the Pitt from a man of war to an ordinary merchant ship shows the Company experimenting with arming a heavier vessel for its own naval defence and then abandoning the trial when she disappointed, so that a 600 ton ship built or fitted to fight was returned to plain trading once she failed to justify the extra cost and manning that a warlike role required.

Demurrage, the charge falling due when a ship was held beyond her agreed loading or unloading time, lay at the heart of the directors' insistence on speed at the island, since every day the Prince Henry lingered added to the Company's bill under the charter party, and in wartime those rates ran higher still, which is why the council was pressed to clear her cargo within the stipulated time and hurry her on to Canton.

The charter party clause on damages moved the point of settlement from India to London, so that losses were assessed on the spot but recovered from the shipowners at home rather than deducted in India, a device that kept the Company's Indian accounts clear of such disputes and concentrated the reckoning in London where the owners could be held directly answerable on production of a certified account of the loss.

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happen to be lost, before her arrival at, or shall

return in safety to the Port of London, it is thereby agreed

also that the Owners shall not be charged with any Sum

of Money in respect of Goods damaged, either on the

Outward or homeward bound Voyage, but such as shall by

the Condition and appearance thereof, or by some other

reasonable Proof, appear to be Ship Damage

12 We must observe to you that the Owners have

made a very different Construction of the words Ship

Damage before mentioned, to what we could ever have

imagined, by confining it to the Limited Sense the Words

signify, whereas it is our opinion when the words

which

were introduced, they meant all Damage whatsoever

which Goods received actually on Board without distinction

whether it proceeded from the bad Weather, or any other

accidents. We should have set this Matter right

in the Charter Party of the present Season, but

the Owners positively insisting on the said words being

Continued, and it being too late for us to help ourselves,

we have with great reluctance been obliged to acquiesce

13 Although We shall not easily give up this

point to the Owners, even as the Words at present stands,

yet it shews the necessity of your being very particular

and careful, in describing and ascertaining how, and

in what the Damages and short Delivery before mentioned

appears, together with every Circumstance which may

tend to assist Us in forming a Judgement thereon, with

this you are referred back to a former by an order for any adjusting before

the Owners, and if any disputes arise with the Commanders

of the returning Ships on this subject, it will be right

not

Whatever loss the ship might suffer before reaching London, or should she return there safely, it was agreed that the owners would not be charged with any sum for goods damaged on either the outward or homeward voyage, except such damage as by its condition and appearance, or by some other reasonable proof, appeared to be ship damage.

12: The directors had to point out that the owners had put a very different reading on the words ship damage from anything the directors could have imagined, confining them to the narrow sense the words carried, whereas the directors held that when the words were brought in they meant all damage whatsoever that goods actually took on board, without distinction, whether it came from bad weather or any other accident. The directors would have set the matter right in the charter party of the present season, but the owners kept insisting on the same words being continued, and, it being too late to help it, the directors had with great reluctance been obliged to give way.

13: Though the directors would not readily give up this point to the owners, even as the words then stood, it showed the need for the island to be very exact and careful in describing and establishing how, and in what way, the damage and short delivery already mentioned appeared, together with every circumstance that might help the directors in forming a judgement on it with the owners. Should any disputes arise with the commanders of the returning ships on the matter, [...].

Interpretations

The whole dispute turned on the reach of the phrase ship damage in the charter party, a difference of legal construction with real money behind it, since the owners read it narrowly to cover only damage arising from the ship herself while the directors intended it to catch every loss goods suffered on board from any cause, so that a broad reading threw the risk of weather and accident onto the owners and a narrow one left it with the Company.

The directors' admission that they had to continue the disputed wording against their own judgement, because the owners would not agree to change it and the season pressed, exposes the limits of the Company's bargaining power over the shipowners on whom it depended, for the supply of hulls was tight enough that the owners could hold out on a contested clause and the directors, unable to delay the season's sailings, were forced to accept terms they thought wrong.

Since the wording could not be fixed, the directors fell back on evidence, charging the island to record in the fullest detail how each loss occurred and every circumstance attending it, so that when a claim came to be argued in London the Company could press its wider interpretation with a documented account and stand the better chance against the owners in any dispute over a particular cargo.

Speculations

Rather than hold out for the corrected wording they knew they were entitled to, the directors continued a clause they believed wrong because the owners would not yield and the season could not wait. The page sets the alternative directly against the choice made, the directors declaring they would not readily give up the point yet acquiescing all the same, so that the value of getting the season's ships to sea on time was allowed to override a contractual term the Company held to be in its own favour.

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not to accept short payment of them for damage or

deficiency, Notwithstanding what was said in our Letters to

you by the Triton and Royal Duke

14 The other parts of the Charter party are nearly

the same, excepting that the Owners have increased upon us,

the Freight at the Rate of forty Shillings a Ton, and a Penny

a Day pr Ton Demorage, which in Time of War, was always

until this season stipulated at Nine pence a Ton

now

15 You are at no time to put us to any Expence

for the passage Accomodations and Diet at the Captains

Table of any persons, you may order on board our Ships,

the passage Money of five pounds pr head which we have

ordered to be paid, is merely intended for the benefit of our

Invalid Military, beneath the Rank of a Commissioned

Officer, who are quite incapable of working their way home

Our only inducement to this Caution, is that you may

avoid laying us under a charge on such an account,

as has unecessarily and improperly been done, for some of

the Kings Officers, ordered on board the Bombay Castle

from Bengal.

16 We have to add to the Information We gave

you, as to the Ship Earl Temple, that if she should not be

necessarily Employed on other Service, Our Agents at Bombay

more directed to send her in a proper Season to Canton,

in a posture, for receiving a Cargo, and at the same Time

to serve as Convoy for Our Ships from thence, in the Manner

as was formerly intended for the Pitt.

17 We have paid Mr Richard Bendy, whom

you appointed to command the Long Boat fitted out to

give

The island was not to accept short payment from the commanders for damage or shortfall, despite what the directors had said in their letters by the Prince of Orange and the Royal Duke.

14: The rest of the charter party was much the same, except that the owners had raised the terms on the directors, the freight now at the rate of forty shillings a ton and the demurrage at a penny a day per ton, which in wartime had always until this season been fixed at ninepence a ton.

15: The island was at no time to put the directors to any expense for the passage, accommodation and diet at the captain's table of any persons it might order aboard the Company's ships. The passage money of five pounds a head, which the directors had ordered to be paid, was meant only for the benefit of their invalid soldiers below the rank of a commissioned officer, who were quite unable to work their way home. The directors' only reason for this caution was that the island might avoid laying them under a charge on such an account, as had needlessly and improperly been done for some of the King's officers ordered on board the Bombay Castle from Bengal.

16: To what the directors had said about the ship Earl Temple, they added that, should she not be needed for other service, their agents at Bombay were directed to send her in proper season to Canton, in a state to receive a cargo and at the same time to serve as convoy for the Company's ships from there, in the manner formerly intended for the Pitt.

17: The directors had appointed Mr Richard Bendy to command the longboat fitted out to [...].

Interpretations

The rise in freight to forty shillings a ton and the sharp jump in demurrage from ninepence to a penny a day for every ton show the pressure of wartime on the Company's shipping costs, since the scarcity of hulls and the added risk of the passage let the owners press for terms the directors had to accept, the demurrage change in particular exposing the Company to a far heavier daily penalty for any ship held beyond her time.

The passage money of five pounds a head was a targeted subsidy, confined to invalid private soldiers who could not work their passage home, and the directors drew a firm line against extending it to officers who could either pay their own way or be carried on other terms, the misapplication of the benefit to King's officers on the Bombay Castle being exactly the loose practice they meant to stop.

The plan to have the Earl Temple carry a cargo from Canton while also escorting the homeward Company ships shows the directors making a single large vessel serve two ends at once, trade and protection, a doubling up forced by the shortage of tonnage and the danger of the seas, and inherited from the abandoned scheme for the Pitt to act as an armed guard on the China route.

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they have never to Our knowledge appeared, can We say

any thing of the other five Persons who composed the Swift

Long Boats Crew.

21 That the Demands of the homeward bound

Ships, for Live Stock, as well as fuel, may reduced within

the narrowest Compass for the Islands Recovery of itself

by the encrease of those Articles, the Commanders are still

enjoined to supply themselves in India, with sufficient Stocks

for their homeward bound Voyage, and extraordinary Stay

with you

22 According to your desire in the Letter of the

18th May a Long Boat framed will be sent by this Ships

to put together after its arrival, and observing You purchased

one of Captain Carter the 5th July last for Twenty pounds

in distress on this Account will any longer exist, however

it will be incumbent on You whenever they are employed on

other than our own service, to take Care that any Damage

they may then receive is made Good to us, and an Equivalent

paid for such Service by those in whose employ they may

be engaged, the Sloops Must You desire is likewise sent.

23 The Indents We have received from you this Season

will by the Prince Henry be in general complied with,

the Particulars you will be acquainted from the enclosed

with

Invoice and Bill of Lading, and shall rely on your

accustomary Aeconomy and Care in the Management

and disposal thereof for us, and Sale

24 And although We consign two Chests of

Treasure to you by this Ship We are willing to hope you may

be able from the Many which may offer for Bills to be

drawn

Since the other five men who made up the longboat's crew had never, so far as the directors knew, been heard of, nothing could be said of them.

21: The demands of the homeward bound ships for live stock and for fuel could be reduced to the narrowest compass for the island's own recovery through the increase of those articles, since the commanders were still required to supply themselves in India with stock enough for their homeward voyage and any extra stay at the island.

22: In answer to the island's wish in its letter of 18 May, a longboat, framed, would be sent by this ship, to be put together on its arrival. The directors noted that the boat bought from Captain Carter on 5 July last, for twenty pounds, was in distress on this account. Should any longer need exist, it would fall to the island, whenever such boats were employed on other than the Company's own service, to see that any damage they then took was made good, and an equivalent paid for such service by those in whose employ they might be engaged. The sloops the island had asked for were likewise sent.

23: The requisitions received from the island that season by the Prince Henry were in general met, the particulars to be learnt from the enclosed invoice and bill of lading, and the directors would rely on the island's usual thrift and care in managing and disposing of the goods for the Company, and in their sale.

24: Though the directors consigned two chests of treasure to the island by this ship, they hoped it might be able, from the many bills that might offer, to draw [...].

Interpretations

The instruction to hold down the homeward ships' demands for livestock and fuel by building up the island's own stock reflects the Company's wish to preserve St Helena's slender resources for its recovery rather than let passing fleets strip them, the burden shifted onto the commanders, who were to victual their ships in India with enough animals for the whole return passage and any delay at the anchorage, so that the island served as a supplement and not the main source of homeward provisions.

The sending of a longboat in frame, to be assembled on arrival, shows the practical answer to supplying bulky craft to a remote settlement, since a boat shipped ready built would take up valuable deck space on the long voyage, while one sent as prepared timbers could be stowed compactly and put together on the spot, the earlier vessel bought from Captain Carter for twenty pounds having evidently proved inadequate.

The direction that hired boats used on other than Company service be paid for and any damage made good sets out a plain rule of cost recovery, ensuring that when the island's craft were lent to private or other work the Company neither bore the wear nor lost the use for nothing, but was compensated by whoever employed them, a small piece of the constant guarding of Company property against uncompensated use.

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they have never to Our knowledge appeared, can We say

any thing of the other five Persons who composed the Swift

Long Boats Crew.

21 That the Demands of the homeward bound

Ships, for Live Stock, as well as fuel, may reduced within

the narrowest Compass for the Islands Recovery of itself

by the encrease of those Articles, the Commanders are still

enjoined to supply themselves in India, with sufficient Stocks

for their homeward bound Voyage, and extraordinary Stay

with you

22 According to your desire in the Letter of the

18th May a Long Boat framed will be sent by this Ships

to put together after its arrival, and observing You purchased

one of Captain Carter the 5th July last for Twenty pounds

in distress on this Account will any longer exist, however

it will be incumbent on You whenever they are employed on

other than our own service, to take Care that any Damage

they may then receive is made Good to us, and an Equivalent

paid for such Service by those in whose employ they may

be engaged, the Sloops Must You desire is likewise sent.

23 The Indents We have received from you this Season

will by the Prince Henry be in general complied with,

the Particulars you will be acquainted from the enclosed

with

Invoice and Bill of Lading, and shall rely on your

accustomary Aeconomy and Care in the Management

and disposal thereof for us, and Sale

24 And although We consign two Chests of

Treasure to you by this Ship We are willing to hope you may

be able from the Many which may offer for Bills to be

drawn

Since the other five men who made up the longboat's crew had never, so far as the directors knew, been heard of, nothing could be said of them.

21: The demands of the homeward bound ships for live stock and for fuel could be reduced to the narrowest compass for the island's own recovery through the increase of those articles, since the commanders were still required to supply themselves in India with stock enough for their homeward voyage and any extra stay at the island.

22: In answer to the island's wish in its letter of 18 May, a longboat, framed, would be sent by this ship, to be put together on its arrival. The directors noted that the boat bought from Captain Carter on 5 July last, for twenty pounds, was in distress on this account. Should any longer need exist, it would fall to the island, whenever such boats were employed on other than the Company's own service, to see that any damage they then took was made good, and an equivalent paid for such service by those in whose employ they might be engaged. The sloops the island had asked for were likewise sent.

23: The requisitions received from the island that season by the Prince Henry were in general met, the particulars to be learnt from the enclosed invoice and bill of lading, and the directors would rely on the island's usual thrift and care in managing and disposing of the goods for the Company, and in their sale.

24: Though the directors consigned two chests of treasure to the island by this ship, they hoped it might be able, from the many bills that might offer, to draw [...].

Interpretations

The instruction to hold down the homeward ships' demands for livestock and fuel by building up the island's own stock reflects the Company's wish to preserve St Helena's slender resources for its recovery rather than let passing fleets strip them, the burden shifted onto the commanders, who were to victual their ships in India with enough animals for the whole return passage and any delay at the anchorage, so that the island served as a supplement and not the main source of homeward provisions.

The sending of a longboat in frame, to be assembled on arrival, shows the practical answer to supplying bulky craft to a remote settlement, since a boat shipped ready built would take up valuable deck space on the long voyage, while one sent as prepared timbers could be stowed compactly and put together on the spot, the earlier vessel bought from Captain Carter for twenty pounds having evidently proved inadequate.

The direction that hired boats used on other than Company service be paid for and any damage made good sets out a plain rule of cost recovery, ensuring that when the island's craft were lent to private or other work the Company neither bore the wear nor lost the use for nothing, but was compensated by whoever employed them, a small piece of the constant guarding of Company property against uncompensated use.

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drawn upon us, to supply yourselves sufficiently with

Cash for the ensuing Season, it is recommended to you

on such prospect not to take those two Chests of Treasure

out of the Ship, if you can well avoid it, but continue the

same on board writing them off the St Helena Bill of Lading

and consigning them to our Supra Cargoes at China

where if your conveniency will permit they may be well

employed for our Service

25 Your Demands for the several Articles wanting

from China, being communicated to Our Agents there

with Directions for furnishing the same accordingly,

We hope they will be received safely, and in their proper

Season.

26 No salt Provisions are consigned to you

this Season on Account of the large remains you are

possessed of, which will require great care for their

preservation, and an attention that those which have

been longest in Store be first expended, besides it will be

an object well worthy our consideration to determine

in what degree, the Ample Stock on hand may relieve

you in the Issues of fresh provisions, by promoting the

Consumption and delivery of the former, to as large an

extent as possible to our own, and foreign Ships, that

the Expence of your fresh Stock, may be proportionably

lessened

27 Recourse must be had to our other Presidencies

for Sugar or such other Articles, as you were customarily

furnished with, from Fort Marlborough, from the

Circumstance of our ordering no Ship to be directly returned

Bills drawn on the directors would supply the island with enough cash for the coming season, and on that prospect the directors recommended that it not take the two chests of treasure out of the ship if it could well avoid it, but keep them on board, writing them off the St Helena bill of lading and consigning them to the Company's supercargoes at China, where, if the island's convenience allowed, they might be put to good use for the Company's service.

25: The island's demands for the several articles wanting from China had been passed to the Company's agents there, with directions to furnish them accordingly, and the directors hoped they would be received safely and in their proper season.

26: No salt provisions were consigned to the island that season, on account of the large remains it already held, which would need great care in their keeping and close attention that the oldest in store were used first. It was also well worth the directors' consideration to determine how far the ample stock on hand might relieve the island in its issues of fresh provisions, by pushing the consumption and delivery of the salted kind as far as possible to the Company's own and to foreign ships, so that the drain on the fresh stock might be proportionately eased.

27: The island had to look to the Company's other presidencies for sugar and such other articles as it had usually been supplied with from Fort Marlborough, since the directors had ordered no ship to be sent directly [...].

Interpretations

The recommendation to leave the treasure aboard and send it on to the China supercargoes rather than land it shows the Company steering silver toward the point where it did most work, since bullion was the means of buying tea and goods at Canton, and cash needs at St Helena could be met instead by bills drawn on London, so the metal was kept moving eastward to the trade that turned it to profit rather than lying idle in an island chest.

The decision to ship no salt provisions because the island's stores were already full, coupled with the order to run down the old salted stock by feeding it to visiting ships, reveals the management of a perishable reserve in a remote depot, where salt meat and fish spoiled if held too long, so the directors sought to work off the surplus through the passing fleets and thereby spare the island's fresh provisions, balancing one kind of supply against another.

The reference to drawing sugar and other goods from other presidencies, now that no ship came straight from Fort Marlborough, reflects a change in the shipping routes that had knock on effects for the island's supply, since Fort Marlborough at Bencoolen had been a customary source and the redirection of its traffic forced St Helena to seek the same articles by other channels, a reminder of how the island's provisioning depended on the pattern of Company sailings it did not itself control.

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to us in 1762 from the West Coast

28 Agreeable to the practice for some years past

in this Time of War, when his Majestys Officers and Ships of

War may be expected at the Island, We send four Chest of Claret

for the Entertainment of those Gentlemen at the Governours Table

29 It appearing to us from the Diary of Our Supra Cargos

of Council

at Canton on 1759, that they purchased three sets of Mill Stones for

grinding Sugar Canes for the use of the Manufactory at Fort

Marlborough, amounting to 77:2:50 Taels one Set whereof was

Taels m c c

sent to that Settlement by the way of Bengal, and the two others

directed to be shipped for St Helena, on the Norfolk and Edgecote

in order to be conveyed from thence to the West Coast, for any thing

before us at present, We are ignorant whether these Stones came

to your hands, yet should it have proved so. We would have you

Ship them, by Sets, by the two first Occasions which may hereafter

offer, either to Fort Marlborough directly, and if none presents

thither, to any one of the three other Presidencies accompanying

them with Invoice, and Bill of Lading and the necessary advices

30 In Answer to your observation that the prize

Brandy sent last Season is too dear, for a Quick and profitable

Sale, We can only say that We shall rely on your Care for our

suffering as little as possible by Leakage, and that it may

yeild us at least Invoice price.

31 The same sort of Pitch We send you this Year

is used in his Majestys Service, preferable to any other,

We direct that you signify to us, whether it answers better

than any hitherto sent.

32 The thirty pieces of Rega Timber which you

express yourselves in so much want of, and could not be

sent on the Royal Duke comes to you in this Ship.

No ship was to be sent directly to the island in 1762 from the west coast.

28: Following the practice of some years past in wartime, when His Majesty's officers and warships might be expected at the island, the directors sent four chests of claret for the entertainment of those gentlemen at the Governor's table.

29: From the diary of the Company's supercargoes at Canton in 1760 it appeared that they had bought three sets of mill stones for grinding sugar canes for the manufactory at Fort Marlborough, amounting to seventy seven taels two mace and five candareens. One set had been sent to that settlement by way of Bengal, and the other two directed to be shipped for St Helena on the Norfolk and Edgecote, to be carried from there to the west coast. On this the directors had no word whether the stones had reached the island, but should they have done so, they wished the island to ship them by sets, on the two first occasions offering hereafter, either to Fort Marlborough directly or, if none presented, to any one of the three other presidencies, with invoice, bill of lading and the necessary advices.

30: In answer to the island's remark that the prize brandy sent the season before was too dear for a quick and profitable sale, the directors could only say that they would rely on the island's care to suffer as little loss as possible by leakage, and that it might yield at least its invoice price.

31: The same sort of pitch that the directors sent that year was used in His Majesty's service, being preferable to any other, and they wished the island to say whether it answered better than any sent before.

32: The thirty pieces of riga timber which the island professed itself in such want of, and which could not be sent on the Royal Duke, came to it in this ship. [...]

Interpretations

The mill stones bought at Canton for the sugar manufactory at Fort Marlborough, priced in taels, mace and candareens, show the Company sourcing heavy industrial equipment through its China trade and routing it across the Indian Ocean by way of St Helena, the island serving as a transhipment point where cargoes could be held and passed on to the west coast, so that goods bought in one corner of the Company's world reached their use in another through a chain of ships and settlements.

Riga timber was the prized softwood shipped from the Baltic port of Riga, valued for masts, spars and fine construction, and the island's pressing want of it underlines how a mid-ocean settlement depended on distant Europe even for building material, since nothing of that quality grew on St Helena and such stores had to be carried out from home and arrived only as shipping allowed.

The exchange over the prize brandy that sold too dear reveals the island's role as a market where the Company disposed of goods, including brandy captured from the enemy in wartime, and the tension between recovering the invoice price and moving the stock quickly, the directors leaning on the island to limit loss by leakage while accepting that a captured cargo might not fetch what was hoped in so small a market.

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33 The one hundred and forty five Barrels of Flour

which you were advised there was a necessity of taking out

of the Ship Royal Duke, you will receive by the Prince Henry

as part of the Quantity ordered in Compliance with your

Indent, this Parcel is distinguished from the other, part

now sent, that you may resolve on inspection whether it

may not be prudent to expend it before, what has been since

provided.

34 When there is such a difference as you mention

in the cost of Rice it ought by all means on the prospect of a

want, to be purchased from such as are able to furnish is

at the lowest Rate but it would it not be best to avoid any

dependance on private purchases, by indenting suitable

for this Article from Bengal.

35 Upon a strict survey here of the Ten Axel trees

for Gun Carriages sent on the Triton, and returned on

account of their being rent so as to be deemed by that Ships

and our Carpenters unfit for service Seven of them

having by the Proof Master of Ordnance and our own

surveyor been reported good and serviceable, are none

sent back, and although the three others are not judged

entirely unfit for Service, yet being looked on as not good

enough for your purpose, New ones are provided in

their Room, yet We must observe, that even these three

had they been housed at the Ordnance as intended, would

of the Army

have been serviceable many Years.

36 We are content with your writing off the Books

the Sum of 120.19.8 for several particulars of Household

Furniture, Boats, and other Articles as the same must

from

33: The one hundred and forty five barrels of flour the island had been told must be taken out of the Royal Duke would reach it by the Prince Henry, as part of the quantity ordered to meet its requisition. This parcel was marked off from the other part now sent, so that the island might decide on inspection whether it would be prudent to use it up before what had since been provided.

34: Given such a difference as the island reported in the cost of rice, it ought by all means, when a want was in prospect, to be bought from those able to furnish it at the lowest rate. It would be better still to avoid any dependence on private purchases by requisitioning that article suitably from Bengal.

35: On a strict survey of the ten axletrees for gun carriages sent on the Prince of Orange, and returned because they did not suit those ships, the Company's carpenters had found seven of them fit for service, and these, having been reported good and serviceable by the proof master of ordnance and by the Company's own surveyor, were none of them sent back. Though the other three were not judged entirely unfit for service, they were looked on as not good enough for the island's purpose, so new ones were provided in their place. Even those three, the directors had to observe, had they been hooped at the ordnance as intended for the army, would have served well for many years.

36: The directors were content with the island writing off the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds nineteen shillings and eightpence for various items of household furniture, books and other articles, as the same must [...].

Interpretations

The survey of the returned axletrees shows the layered inspection the Company applied to military stores, since timbers rejected as unsuitable for one purpose were examined afresh by both the proof master of ordnance and the Company's own surveyor, seven passed as serviceable and kept, and only those genuinely wanting replaced, a careful sifting that avoided waste by salvaging what remained sound rather than condemning the whole consignment.

The remark that the three lesser axletrees would have lasted for years had they been hooped at the ordnance points to a specific process of reinforcement, the binding of the wooden shafts with iron hoops as was done for army equipment, which greatly extended their working life, and its absence explains why timbers not quite good enough for the island were still not truly unfit, the difference lying in a finishing step the Company noted for the future.

The advice to requisition rice from Bengal rather than depend on private purchases addresses the risk exposed by the wide difference in price the island had reported, since buying on the open market from whoever offered laid the Company open to overcharging and irregular supply, whereas drawing the grain through its own establishment at Bengal promised a steadier source at a controlled cost, part of the directors' preference for internal channels over local dealing.

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from their Nature, be subject to decay and breakage, for the same

Reason, We acquiesce in your Issues of One hundred and sixbe seven

Blankets, for the use of your Garrison, depending on your care and

Aeconomy that this practice may be as rare as Circumstances shall

allow.

37 The Accounts that in Course of the former part of

last Season, We received of the unfavourable Weather you sustained

excited our sincere Concern, which however has in great measure

dispelled by the happier prospect of a more favourable Season

communicated in your latter advices, Which we trust you have

been blessed with to your wishes that the Soil and Cattle may have

been recovered and encreased in proportion suitable to your occasions, and the

demand for provisions, this We apprehend from the directions contained

to be given to our Commanders as before signified, will be so moderate

as to put the Island in a Condition to enlarge its Stock in such a

manner, that though We hope you may not Experience them, yet

that you will in some degree be prepared against such unfavourable

Seasons.

38 The Several Rules laid down in consultation for

preventing the Banefulness of Spirituous Liquors, and restraining

excessive drinking for forbidding Horses grazing on the Companys

Waste Land, to the prejudice of the Black Cattle for regulating

the number of Horses, and what Persons shall be entitled to keep

them for suppressing Trespasses by Cattle, and prohibiting

their Pasturage on particular Spots at Certain Seasons, also

for preventing the Sale and purchase of Stolen Goods, appearing

very wholesome, and calculated to remove the Evils you were

subject to from all disposed persons, cannot but meet with our

approval

Since such articles were by their nature liable to decay and breakage, the directors agreed for the same reason to the island's issue of one hundred and seventy six blankets for the use of its garrison, trusting to the island's care and thrift that the practice would be as sparing as circumstances allowed.

37: The accounts received of the unfavourable weather the island had suffered during the earlier part of the last season caused the directors real concern, which was largely relieved by the happier prospect of a better season carried in its later advices. The directors trusted the island had been blessed with such a season to its wish, so that the soil and cattle might have recovered and increased in proportion to its needs and to the demand for provisions. This they gathered from the directions to be given to their commanders, as noted before, which would be so moderate as to put the island in a state to enlarge its stock, so that even if those poor seasons did not return the island would in some degree be guarded against them.

38: The several rules laid down in consultation, for preventing the harmful use of spirituous liquors and restraining excessive drinking, for forbidding horses to graze on the Company's waste land to the harm of the black cattle, for regulating the number of horses and what persons should be entitled to keep them, for suppressing trespasses by cattle and forbidding their pasturage on particular spots at certain seasons, and for preventing the sale and purchase of stolen goods, appeared very wholesome and calculated to remove the evils the island was subject to from ill disposed persons, and could not but meet with the directors' approval. [...]

Interpretations

The body of local regulations the directors approved reveals the range of everyday disorders a small settlement had to govern, drink, the competition between horses and cattle for scarce grazing, trespass and the trade in stolen goods, and their endorsement from London shows how the island's internal by laws needed the directors' sanction to carry full authority, the distant proprietors backing the council's efforts to keep order among a mixed population of soldiers, settlers and slaves.

The concern that horses grazing the Company's waste land harmed the black cattle points to the pressure on limited pasture on a small island, where every acre counted and the keeping of horses by private persons ate into the ground needed for the cattle that fed the garrison and the ships, so the directors were willing to limit who might keep horses at all in order to protect the more essential herds.

The direction to keep the commanders' demands moderate so the island could build up its stock, set against the recent run of bad weather and poor harvests, shows the directors managing the island as a fragile larder to be nursed back to strength, deliberately easing the draw on its resources in a lean time so that it might recover a surplus and stand better prepared against the next failure of the season.

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and We doubt not but from their due Execution the good Consequences

which were proposed will ensue, It was also well done to enforce the

due obedience to such Rules, the Fines you commendably laid upon

William Hayes, and Thomas Harper for their debauching Military

and Blacks, for the unlicenced Sales of Strong Liquors.

39 Among the other Delinquents, wherewith

you have been perplexed, We cannot but with detestation

look upon that Villanous Incendiary Thomas Byrne, and

commend you for sending him off the Island as soon as possible

40 It would have been but a very faint Execution

of our repeated and strenuous directions for preserving the

strictest Military Discipline in Time of War, unavoidably to

have passed the offence of Daniel Fewkes, for his insult to the

Commander of and undue attendance with the East Playing

Party of the Militia, on a Double Alarm for Enemies Ships,

from your well timed Censure and Fine of this Man, the best

Effects may be expected in the behaviour of All Persons in

that Corps, of such importance to the Safety of the Island and

the Inhabitants property

41 On this Subject we cannot but now therein clivid,

for the unprovoked abuse of William Home by Mr Law, from

whose Station a more becoming behaviour might have been

expected, and which it will rest with you in future to enforce

42 From the many instances of the desertion of

Slaves, may it not be inferred that the frequent severe or penal

Punishments inflicted on, render them more obdurate, if

it shall appear so, on due consideration and from good Policy

that Imprisonment with scanty Diet, or any other Chastisement

less disgustful to humanity, except for flagrant Crimes

may

The directors had no doubt that from the due execution of those rules the good results proposed would follow. They also thought it well done, in enforcing due obedience to such rules, that the island had commendably fined William Hayes and Thomas Harper for their debauching of the military and the slaves through the unlicensed sale of strong liquors.

39: Among the other offenders the island had reported, the directors could only look with loathing on that villainous incendiary Thomas Byrne, and they commended the island for sending him off the island as soon as possible.

40: It would have been but a very faint execution of the directors' repeated and strong directions for keeping the strictest military discipline in wartime had the island passed over the offence of Daniel Fewkes, for his insult to the commander and his poor attendance with the East Sligoing party of the militia on a double alarm for enemy ships. From the island's well timed censure and fine of this man, the best effects might be looked for in the conduct of everyone in that corps, a matter of such importance to the safety of the island and the inhabitants' property.

41: On this subject the directors were displeased at the unprovoked abuse of William Home by Mr Law, from whose station a more becoming behaviour might have been expected, and which the directors trusted the island would enforce in future.

42: From the many instances of the desertion of slaves, might it not be inferred that the more severe the punishments inflicted, the more obdurate they were rendered? Should it appear, on due consideration and from good policy, that imprisonment with scanty diet, or any other course less disgusting to humanity, except for flagrant crimes, [...].

Interpretations

The fining of Hayes and Harper for selling liquor without licence to soldiers and slaves shows the Company treating the drink trade as a threat to discipline and order, since unlicensed sales corrupted the garrison and the enslaved workforce alike, and the licensing system was a means of control as much as of revenue, letting the council regulate who might sell spirits and punish those who undermined the good conduct of the island's people.

The proposal to reconsider the punishment of slaves who deserted marks a striking moment of pragmatic reflection, the directors suggesting that harsher penalties bred greater obstinacy and that confinement on short rations might serve better, reasoning from effect rather than cruelty, though the aim throughout remained the control and recovery of slaves as valuable property rather than any concern for their welfare, the phrase reserving severity for flagrant crimes marking the limit of the softer policy.

The censure of Fewkes for failing in his militia duty during a double alarm for enemy ships underlines how the island's defence rested on the ordinary inhabitants turned soldiers, since a mid-ocean settlement could not garrison itself from regular troops alone and depended on every man of the militia turning out when the enemy threatened, so a single man's neglect and insolence struck at the whole system of citizen defence and had to be checked by example.

Speculations

The directors questioned whether the harsh punishment of deserting slaves was self defeating and floated confinement on scanty diet as a less brutal and more effective course, rather than simply endorsing severer penalties as the obvious answer to repeated desertion. The page shows the default response, more punishment for more disobedience, set against the directors' own inference that severity bred obduracy, so that a calculation of what actually deterred was allowed to override the reflex to meet defiance with greater force, though the motive lay in the more efficient control of valuable property and not in humanity.

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may be attended with as good an Effect, it might be well worth Trial

43 As We do not find any thing material appears before

us in respect to your Fortifications, it gives us Satisfaction of supposing

they are in as proper State, observing that for a Continuance in such

posture and to prevent all unnecessary expence, by their seasonable

repair of their Defects, it is not to be doubted but that frequent and strict

surveys are made thereof, for though We hope you will not be put to

the Trial Yet it is of the last necessity that they should be used in the best

condition to answer the designed end of their construction, in the

resistance of all Attacks that may be made on them. It is also

equally important that all Our Garrison Stores, and particularly

the Gunpowder do frequently undergo the like Scrutinies, and that

every Article thereof be disposed in such proper, and destinct order,

that no confusion or perplexity may ensue, should you ever be

obliged to withstand and Enemy

44 On a Representation from Fort Marlborough

how serviceable some People experienced in building with rough

Stone will prove there, We would have some of Our Slaves who are skilled

in this Branch conveyed thither, when an opportunity offers, if you

have any such to spare.

45 Your appointments of Mr Matthew Bazett

to be Secretary and David Alcock a Writer, with fixing Mr Francis

Wrangham as a Factor are agreable to us, it will be your care to see

that the attention of those persons to our Business is constant, and

adequate to the appointments made them for it, Covenants agreeably as usual to be

executed by the writer, and returned for whose faithful performance those persons are to

through

be named to us for executing a bond here, in five hundred pounds penalty

46 Observing the Extension of Our Affairs, the encrease

for the

of Business, and considering the extraordinary attention which

the Consequence of a Large Number of Our Ships, with your at the same forced

must occasion particularly in the Governors Department,

our

Such a course might well be worth trying, if it were attended with as good an effect.

43: Since nothing material appeared to the directors about the fortifications, they were glad to suppose them in proper order, taking it that frequent and strict surveys were made of them, both to keep them so and to prevent all needless expense by the timely repair of their defects. Though the directors hoped the island would never be put to the test, it was of the utmost necessity that the works be kept in the best condition to answer the end for which they were built, the resistance of any attack. It was equally important that all the garrison stores, and the gunpowder above all, undergo the like scrutiny, and that every article be kept in such proper and distinct order that no confusion might arise should the island ever have to withstand an enemy.

44: On a report from Fort Marlborough of how useful some people skilled in building with rough stone would prove there, the directors wished some of the Company's slaves who were skilled in that work to be sent over when an opportunity offered, if the island had any such to spare.

45: The island's appointments of Mr Matthew Bazett to be secretary and David Alcock a writer, with the fixing of Mr Francis Wrangham as a factor, were agreeable to the directors. The island was to see that these men gave constant and adequate attention to the Company's business. The covenants agreeable to their appointments were to be executed by them here, and returned, and those persons already named to the directors were to give a bond for their faithful performance in five hundred pounds each.

46: Considering the growth of the Company's affairs, the increase of business, and the great attention that the arrival of a large number of the Company's ships called for from the island at the same time, and especially the pressure on the Governor's department, [...].

Interpretations

The request for slaves skilled in rough stone building to be sent from St Helena to Fort Marlborough shows the enslaved workforce being moved between the Company's settlements as a pool of specialised labour, their particular trade making them assets to be transferred where a building programme required them, so that skill in a craft determined a slave's fate and value across the whole span of the Company's eastern possessions.

The requirement that the newly appointed officers execute covenants and post bonds of five hundred pounds each reveals the machinery by which the Company bound its servants to honest performance, the covenant setting out their obligations and the bond putting a substantial sum at risk should they fail or defraud, a financial security that gave the distant proprietors a hold over men handling their money and goods thousands of miles from London.

The insistence on frequent surveys of the fortifications and the orderly keeping of powder and stores reflects the standing demand that a mid-ocean fortress be always ready, since an attack might come with little warning and the works and munitions had to be sound and their arrangement clear at a moment's notice, the directors pressing a discipline of constant inspection precisely because the island's isolation left it to defend itself until relief could arrive.

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you are therefore permitted to take from among the planters

Familys, or others two such capable, well deserving Youths as

the Governor shall fix upon, to be entertained Writers, on the usual

Terms and these are intended as Assistants to him

47 We have thought proper to annul the dependency of Sumatra

on Fort St George, and have placed Fort Marlborough and its

Subordinates, under the direction and management of a Governor

and President and Council consisting of the same persons who

were before charged with the trust of Our Affairs, in like manner

and with as full Power and Authority as any of Our other

Presidencies In consequence whereof a Royal Charter is now

preparing to be sent thither for constituting Courts Civil and

Criminal, with a Court of Requests which will be transmitted this

Season, You will hereupon conform and Address yourselves to

the New Establishment accordingly.

48 We have appointed Major General Stringer Lawrence

Commander in Chief of all the Companys Forces in the East

Indies he will proceed to his post on one of the latter Ships

bound for the Coast and Bay this Season.

49 By this Ship We shall endeavour to furnish you with

the Thirty Recruits advised to be wanting for Compleating your

Garrison, Lists whereof will be enclosed for your information

of the necessary particulars concerning them; if these should exceed

your occasions by relishing more of those whose contracted time is

on the point of Expiration, it will be well done by the most convenient

opportunity to convey them to any of Our Settlements, or any such

who refuse to relist with you; if they are able Men and it can be

done on reasonable Terms.

The island was therefore allowed to take from among the planters' families, or other such capable and deserving youths as the Governor should fix upon, to be employed as writers on the usual terms, these being meant as assistants to the officers.

47: The directors had thought proper to end the dependence of Sumatra on Fort St George, and had placed Fort Marlborough and its subordinate stations under the direction of a governor, president and council made up of the same persons who had before been charged with the trust of the Company's affairs there, in like manner and with as full power and authority as any of the Company's other presidencies. A royal charter was accordingly being prepared and would be sent out that season, for constituting courts of civil and criminal justice, with a court of requests, and the island was to conform and address itself to the new establishment.

48: The directors had appointed Major General Stringer Lawrence commander in chief of all the Company's forces in the East Indies, and he would proceed to his post on one of the later ships bound for the Coast and Bay that season.

49: By this ship the directors would try to furnish the island with the thirty recruits reported wanting to complete its garrison, the lists to be enclosed for its information with the necessary particulars concerning them. Should these exceed the island's needs, by keeping more of those whose contracted time was near expiring, the surplus would be conveyed at the first convenient opportunity to any of the Company's settlements, or to such as refused to relieve the island, if the men were able and it could be done on reasonable terms.

Interpretations

The raising of Fort Marlborough to a full presidency, freed from its subordination to Fort St George and given its own governor, council and charter of justice, marks a significant reorganisation of the Company's Sumatran affairs, elevating the west coast pepper settlement to the same rank as Madras and Bombay, with courts of civil and criminal justice and a court of requests for small debts, a grant of legal authority that reflected the Company's growing exercise of sovereign powers over its eastern territories.

The court of requests named in the new charter was a tribunal for the swift and cheap recovery of small debts, sitting without the forms and costs of the higher courts, and its inclusion shows the Company providing the machinery of everyday commercial justice for a settlement whose trade generated a stream of minor disputes needing quick resolution among merchants, servants and inhabitants.

The arrangement for surplus recruits, to be passed on to other settlements or even to those that had refused to relieve St Helena, reveals the Company managing its soldiers as a shared and mobile resource across its eastern stations, the men shifted where they were most wanted and the refusal of one settlement to help another noted as a mark against it, the whole system depending on drafts sent from London and redistributed according to each garrison's need.

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50 For the Reasons assigned in favour of Captain Christophers

Beale, We acquiesce with the permission granted him of repairing hither

under the continuance of his pay, for recovery of his Health, the rarer such

practice shall be the better, trusting as his Brother Officers promised to keep

up his Duty, in his Absence, no extraordinary Charge will arise from the

Furlough, You have indulged him with. We are from the Character you

give this Officer concerned to inform you he died the 5th December from

which Time his pay is to cease, and you will supply his post on receipt hereof

with a Capable and deserving Person.

51 In Commiseration of Corporals Austins misfortune by the

loss of sight an allowance is made him, although We have no fund peculiar

to the Relief of such unhappy people, as been in some places mistakenly

conceived; and is intimated, you that they may be aware of apprehending

themselves entitled to unusual Bounties for the Grant whereof no sums

are appropriated

52 Our Slave Essex who deserted from the Island on the Bombay

Castle, was sent on board the Admiral Watson with directions to Captain

Fowler for dropping him with you, on that Ships return homeward.

53 Another of Our Coffrees who ran away from the Island and

came hither on the Hector named Grewer, is returned to you on this Ship,

this Slave appears to have been punished for an Offence committed, Yet

being bred a Mason, must be very serviceable to you, which induced us

notwithstanding the Fault, to send him back, as he appeared when before

us, struck with Contrition; and on his assurances of future good behaviours

We have promised he shall not be corrected for this desertion.

54 A Soldier of your Garrison and another Coffree who had

secreted themselves, on board his Majestys Ship Yarmouth, and were

discovered after the Ship left the Island, on her arrival here, being sent

on board the Burrus Royal Ship of War at the Nore, were detained and

We

50: For the reasons given in favour of Captain Christopher's boats, the directors agreed to the leave granted him to come home, with his pay continued, for the recovery of his health, trusting that such a practice would be the better for his brother officers having promised to keep up his duty in his absence, so that no extra charge would arise from the furlough the island had allowed him. From the character the island gave of this officer, the directors were sorry to learn he had died on 5 December, from which time his pay was to cease, and the island was to fill his post on receipt of the letter with a capable and deserving person.

51: In pity for Corporal Austin's misfortune in the loss of his sight, an allowance was made him, though the directors had no fund set apart for the relief of such unhappy people, as had been mistakenly supposed in some places. It was made clear to the island that it should be wary of thinking itself entitled to unusual bounties, no sums being set aside for such grants.

52: The Company's slave Sfoux, who had deserted from the island on the Bombay Castle, was sent aboard the Admiral Watson, with directions to Captain Fowler to drop him at the island on that ship's return home.

53: Another of the Company's slaves, who ran away from the island and came there on the Hector, named Spencer, was returned to the island on this ship. This slave appeared to have been punished for an offence committed, yet being bred a mason, and likely to be very useful to the island, the directors were led, despite the fault, to send him back, as he had appeared before them struck with contrition. On his assurance of good behaviour hereafter, the directors had promised he would not be punished for his desertion.

54: A soldier of the island's garrison, and another coffree, who had hidden themselves aboard His Majesty's ship Yarmouth, and were discovered after the ship left the island, were on their arrival here sent aboard the Burford, a royal ship of war, at the Nore, and there detained. [...]

Interpretations

The handling of the two runaway slaves Sfoux and Spencer shows the Company tracking and recovering enslaved people as valuable property across oceans, returning them to St Helena on its own ships, and in Spencer's case the man's trade as a mason weighing so heavily that his skill bought him a remission of punishment, the directors trading the deterrent of discipline against the worth of his labour and extracting a show of contrition and a promise of good conduct as the price of his return.

The allowance to the blinded Corporal Austin, granted while the directors expressly denied holding any fund for such relief, reveals the discretionary and grudging nature of the Company's provision for its disabled servants, each grant made as a particular favour rather than an entitlement, and the sharp warning against expecting unusual bounties shows the directors anxious to prevent one act of charity from hardening into a claim that others might press.

The term coffree, applied to one of the stowaways alongside the soldier, denoted a person of African origin, often used for slaves or free blacks in the Company's eastern settlements, and its appearance here, with the man swept up onto a King's warship at the Nore and detained, illustrates how such people could be caught up in the machinery of naval manning, their status leaving them exposed to seizure and disposal by others in a way that a free Englishman was not.

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We suppose are since disposed of in the Fleet, for the Kings

Service, as Our Claim of them was ineffectual.

55 This Desertion is an Evil which seems encreasing and

Demands your attention, for preventing the Inconveniencies and expence

it carries with it, We would therefore, have you fix upon such Regulations

as may probably put an End thereto, by placing Centinels at the Water

side, forbidding any Soldiers or Blacks to go off without a permitt, and

under the Charge of a proper Officer who should not suffer them to board

the Ship unless it is immediately necessary, that a list be taken of such

as go off who should be mustered on their Return, whenany one being

missing it should be instantly reported; and means follow for a

recovery, besides none of these people should go off without the

strictest precautions, or it can be prevented not at all when the

Ships are on their departure; You on the spot will best with greater

perspicuity what may seem the most Effectual Remedy, and

improve upon our intimations accordingly. As to Our own

Commanders the reminding them of the Penalty they expose themselves

to, by bringing away these people may have a good Effect.

56 A Slave named Dolphin the Property of a private

person on the Island who had secreted himself on board the Tilbury

is at the Expence of the Owners of that Ship, now returned hereupon let

the Inhabitants be informed, that if they are not careful to restrain

their Blacks from going off to the Shipping it must not be expected

We shall put ourselves to the inconvenience their Elopement occasions.

57 His Majesty having been graciously pleased to encourage

the making Observations on the Transit of the Planet Venus over

the suns disk on the 6th June next, and proper persons being

engaged by the Royal Society for the purpose, two of them Mr Charles

Mason and Jeremiah Dixon proceed to Fort Marlborough on

his

The directors supposed the two men had since been disposed of in the fleet for the King's service, since the Company's claim to them had proved ineffectual.

55: This desertion was a growing evil that demanded the island's attention, for the trouble and expense it carried. The directors wished the island to fix on such regulations as might probably put an end to it, by placing guards at the waterside, forbidding any soldiers or slaves to go off without a permit and under the charge of a proper officer, who was not to let them board a ship unless it was at once necessary. A list was to be taken of any who went off, who should be mustered on their return, and if any one were missing it should be instantly reported and means followed for a recovery. None of these people should go off at all without the strictest precautions, or the practice be stopped altogether when the ships were about to sail. The island, on the spot, would see with greater clearness what seemed the most effective remedy and improve on the directors' hints accordingly. As for the Company's own commanders, reminding them of the penalty they exposed themselves to by carrying these people away might have a good effect.

56: A slave named Dolphin, the property of a private person on the island, who had hidden himself aboard the Tilbury, was at the expense of the owners of that ship, no further need arising. On this the inhabitants were to be told that if they were not careful to restrain their slaves from going off to the shipping, the directors would not accept the trouble their escape occasioned.

57: The King having been graciously pleased to encourage the making of observations on the transit of the planet Venus over the sun's disc on 6 June next, and proper persons being engaged by the Royal Society for the purpose, two of them, Mr Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, were to proceed to Fort Marlborough on [...].

Interpretations

The detailed scheme of waterside guards, permits and musters against slaves and soldiers escaping aboard ship reveals how serious a drain such flight had become for the island, and how far the Company was willing to go in policing the boundary between shore and sea, treating every departing vessel as a potential avenue of escape and every soldier or slave as a possible runaway to be counted out and counted back, the whole apparatus aimed at holding a controlled population on a small island from which the passing fleets offered a tempting way out.

The engagement of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon by the Royal Society to observe the transit of Venus from Fort Marlborough places the letter at a celebrated moment in the history of science, the transit of 1761 being observed from stations around the world to help measure the distance from the earth to the sun, and the Company's ships carrying the astronomers to their posts shows its network of settlements and vessels pressed into the service of a great international scientific undertaking.

The rule that the shipowners bear the cost when a private person's slave stowed away, coupled with the warning that owners must restrain their own slaves, shows the Company declining to shoulder the burden of every escape and pushing responsibility onto those who profited from the slaves or carried them off, a careful allocation of liability that kept the trouble and expense of recovery away from the Company's own account wherever the runaway was not its property.

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His Majestys Ship Seahorse, and the other the Reverend Mr Nevile

two

Maskelyne, and Mr Robert Waddington, take their passage on the

Prince Henry to St Helena As this is done to make some improvements

in Astronomy which will be of general utility, the two last named

Gentlemen are upon their arrival, and during their Stay at the Island

to be accommodated by you in a suitable manner, with Diet and

appartments, at the Companys Expence, and you are to give them all

the Assistance as to Materials, Workmen, and whatever else the Service they

are Employed upon may require, and when they are ready to depart

You are also at Our Expence, to provide them with a Passage on board

one of the returning Ships for England, and you are to some the Commanders

of those Ships whereon they shall be appointed to proceed with Orders for

receiving them accordingly, You are also on the return and arrival with

you of Messrs Mason and Dixon, to Entertain and provide for them

with the Same Civility at our Charge

58 You are on the applications of Messrs Maskelyne and Waddington

to advance them such Sums, as they shall have reason for, not exceeding one

hundred and ninety pounds to the former, and Thirty pounds to the latter,

on their Draughts upon Treasurer of the Royal Society, payable to us for

the Sums so advanced, which the Society have undertaken to discharge

if they do not exceed the aforested respective Sums.

59 We gave some directions last Season by our Secretary to the

presidency of Fort St George, by his Majestys Ship Chatham on this

Subject, to be communicated to all our other Settlements, and We now inclose

you a Copy thereof for your information and observance, that if you have

any Persons properly Qualified for such undertaking they may be

accordingly, and notwithstanding the arrival of the said two Gentlemen

it is expected they do contribute their assistance in the best manner they

are ably

One of the two astronomers went out on His Majesty's ship Seahorse, while the other two, the Reverend Nevil Maskelyne and Mr Robert Waddington, took their passage on the Prince Henry to St Helena. As this was done to make improvements in astronomy of general use, the island was, on their arrival and during their stay, to accommodate the two last named gentlemen suitably, with diet and apartments, at the Company's expense. It was to give them all the assistance in materials, workmen and whatever else the service they were engaged upon might require, and when they were ready to leave, at the Company's charge, to provide them with a passage on one of the returning ships for England. The commanders of those ships were to have orders to receive them accordingly, and the island was likewise to entertain and provide for Mr Mason and Mr Dixon on their return and outward passage, with the same courtesy and at the Company's charge.

58: On the application of Mr Maskelyne and Mr Waddington, the island was to advance them such sums as they had reason for, not exceeding one hundred and ninety pounds to the former and thirty pounds to the latter, on their draughts upon the treasurer of the Royal Society, payable to the Company for the sums so advanced, which the society had undertaken to discharge if they did not exceed the respective sums fixed.

59: The directors had sent some directions the season before, by the Company's secretary, to the presidency of Fort St George, by His Majesty's ship Chatham, on this subject, to be passed on to all the other settlements, and they now enclosed a copy for the island's information and observance. Should the island have any persons properly qualified for such an undertaking, they might be used accordingly, and despite the arrival of those gentlemen it was expected they would give their assistance in the best manner they were able. [...]

Interpretations

The reception of Maskelyne and Waddington at St Helena, housed and supplied and funded at the Company's charge for their observation of the transit of Venus, shows the merchant Company acting as patron and host to the astronomy of the day, since the island's position in the South Atlantic made it a valuable station for the observation, and the Company's willingness to bear the cost and lend materials, workmen and passage reflects the prestige attached to supporting a scientific enterprise sponsored by the King and the Royal Society.

The arrangement by which the astronomers drew on the treasurer of the Royal Society through advances made at the island, capped at fixed sums the society had bound itself to repay, reveals a neat mechanism of long distance credit, the Company front the cash on the spot and recovering it in London from the society, so that men on a remote island could be financed for a specialised undertaking without carrying coin, the whole resting on the Company's confidence in the society's undertaking to make good the draughts.

Nevil Maskelyne, sent here to observe the transit, was the astronomer who would later become Astronomer Royal, and his voyage to St Helena marked an early stage of the systematic observation that occupied the leading scientific men of the age, the island serving as one of the far flung posts from which the heavens were watched, a role quite apart from its everyday functions as a garrison and a victualling station yet made possible by the same network of Company ships.

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60 We take the first occasion of informing you, that it having

pleased Almighty God to call to his Mercy our late Sovereign Lord

King George the second of Blessed Memory, who deceased suddenly

on the 25th of October last, Orders were immediately given for

proclaiming his Present Majesty George the Third, by the Grace

of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland, Defender of

the Faith and so forth, which was accordingly performed with the usual

Ceremonies on the

Cities of London and Westminster, amidst the Universal acclamations

of his Majestys Subjects, Orders were also given for making the like

Proclamation in all parts of his Majesties Kingdoms, which is

been accordingly done in all the Places where Notice of this Event

has reached.

61 On the 29th October last the Right Honorable Mr

Secretary Pitt, transmitted to us some printed Copys of the Proclamation

for proclaiming his Royal Majesty King George the Third, and

signified to us in a Letter dated that Day, that We should cause the like

proclamation to be forwith proclaimed, and published in the several

Governments within the Companys Jurisdictions in the East Indies,

with the Solemnities and Ceremonies usually and accustomed on

such an occasion; and for Our information enclosed a Draught

of the Form of the Proclamation to be used. A copy of Mr Pitts

Sundays

Letter as also of the said Form accompanies this for your better

guidance.

62 You are therefore immediately upon Receipt hereof,

to cause his Majesty King George the Third, to be proclaimed at

St Helena with all the due Solemnity and Expressions of

Loyalty and Duty becoming so Important an Occasion.

60: The directors took the first occasion of informing the island that, it having pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy the late sovereign King George the Second, who died suddenly on 25 October last, orders were at once given for proclaiming his present Majesty King George the Third, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and so forth. This was done with the usual ceremonies in the cities of London and Westminster, amid the universal acclamation of his Majesty's subjects, and orders were also given for making the like proclamation in all parts of his Majesty's kingdoms, which had accordingly been done in every place where notice of the event had reached.

61: On 29 October last the Right Honourable Mr Secretary Pitt sent the directors some printed copies of the proclamation for proclaiming King George the Third, and signified in a letter of that day that they should have the like proclamation forthwith proclaimed and published in the several governments within the Company's jurisdiction in the East Indies, with the solemnities and ceremonies usual on such an occasion. For the directors' information he enclosed a draught of the form of the proclamation to be used, and a copy of Mr Pitt's letter, with the form itself, accompanied this for the island's better guidance.

62: The island was therefore, immediately on receipt of this, to cause King George the Third to be proclaimed at St Helena with all the due solemnity and expressions of loyalty and duty becoming so important an occasion.

Interpretations

The order to proclaim the new king at St Helena, sent out through the Company on the instruction of the Secretary of State, shows how the accession of a monarch was carried to the furthest reaches of British authority through the Company's own machinery, the proclamation to be repeated with full ceremony at every settlement so that the transfer of sovereignty was formally acknowledged even on a remote Atlantic island, the ritual binding the distant possession to the crown and affirming the loyalty of its people.

The routing of the King's command through Secretary Pitt to the directors and on to the island reveals the constitutional position of the Company as an instrument of the state in its overseas territories, since a matter of pure royal ceremony, the proclamation of a sovereign, reached the East Indies not through any officer of the crown but through the merchant Company that governed there, a striking mark of how far public and commercial authority had merged in the Company's dominions.

The styling of the king as ruler of France, a title the English and British crown had claimed since the Middle Ages long after any real power there was lost, appears here in the formal proclamation as a piece of inherited ceremony, its retention in the royal style a matter of tradition rather than fact, carried dutifully into the proclamation to be read at the island.

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63 We have lately received the disagreeable Accounts, from the Governor

and Council of Fort Marlborough, and Mr Herbert at Batavia by a Dutch

Ship That two French Men of War, were on the West Coast of Sumatra in

February last, those Advices leaves us in a State of uncertainty as to the

Consequences of the Enemys Attempt upon our Settlements there, but

presume We are in possession of Fort Marlborough at least, though We

suppose You will be fully informed of the Event before the Receipt hereof

not

yet should it have proved so You will make the proper use of this Information

We are.

Your Loving Friends

London 31 Decemr 1760

Rich Warner

Tho Waters

Law Sulivan

Thos Rous

P Godfrey

George Amyand

Chas Cutts

John Dorrien

Fredk Pigou

Chas Gough

H T Crabb Boulton

G Stevens

Geo Dudley

John Harrison

G Rooke

Henry Savage

John Browne

John Raymond

Henry Hadley

Timothy Tullie

63: The directors had lately received the disagreeable accounts from the Governor and Council of Fort Marlborough, and from Mr Herbert at Batavia by a Dutch ship, that two French men of war were on the west coast of Sumatra in February last. Those advices left matters uncertain as to the consequences of the enemy's attempt on the Company's settlements there, but the directors presumed they held Fort Marlborough at least, and supposed the island would be fully informed of the event before this letter reached it. Should that not have proved so, the island was to make proper use of the information.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 31 December 1760, and signed by Richard Warner, Thomas Waters, Laurence Sulivan, Thomas Rous, P. Godfrey, George Amyand, Charles Cutts, John Dorrien, Frederick Pigou, Charles Gough, H. Crabb Boulton, G. Stevens, George Dudley, John Harrison, G. Rooke, Henry Savage, John Browne, John Raymond, Henry Hadley and Timothy Tullie.

Interpretations

The report of two French warships off the west coast of Sumatra in early 1761 shows the war reaching the Company's most distant eastern settlements, and the directors' uncertainty over the fate of Fort Marlborough reveals how slowly and imperfectly news travelled from that quarter, the intelligence arriving second hand through a Dutch ship by way of Batavia, so that months after the event the proprietors in London could only presume their pepper settlement still held and hope the nearer island had learned more.

The passage of the news through Mr Herbert at Batavia by a Dutch vessel illustrates the reliance on foreign and neutral shipping for intelligence in wartime, since the Dutch settlement at Batavia stood on the routes between Sumatra and Europe and Dutch ships could carry word where English ones could not safely pass, the Company drawing on this incidental channel to piece together the state of its own threatened possessions.

The directors' instruction that the island make proper use of the information, should it not already have fuller news, reflects the standing practice of relaying intelligence outward through the chain of settlements, St Helena serving as a node where reports were received and forwarded, so that even an account arriving in London might be sent back out to an island that lay nearer the scene yet might have missed the news, each settlement expected to act on what it learned.

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Our Governour and Council

of St Helena.

1 Our last General Letter to you went under date of

the 31th of December by the Ship Prince Henry, which sailed

from Spithead the Instant and shall now add such further

Information and directions as appear requisite

2 Fifty Barrels of Flour that had this Year been provided

for you with a design to have been sent on the Prince Henry,

were returned from that Ship, which was so fully laden as not

to be in a Condition to receive the same.

3 To prevent any disorder in Our Affairs by any persons

quitting Our Service, without giving timely notice of their

intentions, We direct that it be a standing order, that for the future

no person whatsoever, from the Governor to the lowest Covenanted

Servant, be permitted unless by our especial Leave or Order, to

depart the Island, without giving notice of their intention to the

Governour and Council at, twelve Months, before such Person

leaves it, whereof the Board are to give immediate Notice

bout

in the most publick places, in Order that every person with

whom they have concerns shall be timely informed to have

recourse to them All other Persons as well in Our Service,

as otherwise, must give at least a Months Notice, in the same

Manner of their intentions of leaving the Island, before the

Departure, which you are to take Care is complied with, that no

one may be suffered to retire, until he has fully adjusted his

accounts, and paid what shall appear to be due from him We

now apprise you of this Order, finding you were not informed

thereof at the Time it was sent to all our other Settlements

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the season's shipping and standing orders.

1: The directors' last general letter to the island went by the ship Prince Henry, dated 31 December, which sailed from Spithead on the [...] instant, and they now added such further information and directions as appeared needful.

2: Fifty barrels of flour that had been provided for the island that year, meant to be sent on the Prince Henry, were returned from that ship, since she was so fully laden as not to be in a condition to receive them.

3: To prevent any disorder in the Company's affairs from persons quitting its service without timely notice of their intention, the directors laid down a standing order that in future no person whatever, from the Governor to the lowest covenanted servant, should be allowed, unless by special leave or order, to leave the island without giving notice of the intention to the Governor and Council twelve months before departure. On receiving such notice the board was to give immediate notice in the most public places, so that everyone who had dealings with that person might be warned in time to make their claims. All other persons, whether in the Company's service or not, were to give at least a month's notice in the same way of any intention to leave the island before departure. The island was to see this carried out, so that no one might be allowed to retire until he had fully settled his accounts and paid whatever appeared due from him. The directors now made the island aware of the order, finding it had not been informed of it at the time it was sent to all the other settlements.

Interpretations

The twelve month notice required before any servant might leave the island, from the Governor down to the humblest covenanted man, was a device to protect creditors and the Company alike against debtors slipping away unpaid, since the long warning and its public proclamation gave anyone with a claim time to press it before the departing person sailed, and the bar on leaving until accounts were settled turned the difficulty of quitting a remote island into an instrument for enforcing the payment of debts.

The graded scale of notice, a full year for covenanted servants and a month for everyone else, reflects the different holds the Company had over the two groups, its own bound servants tied by covenant and answerable for money and goods entrusted to them, needing the longer warning to allow a full reckoning, while free inhabitants and transients, with lighter obligations, could be let go on shorter notice yet still not before their local debts were cleared.

The directors' admission that St Helena had never been told of an order long since sent to every other settlement exposes the gaps that opened in the Company's communication with its scattered posts, an instruction meant to be uniform across all its establishments having simply missed the island, a reminder that the machinery of a global enterprise depended on letters that could be delayed, lost or overlooked, leaving one settlement out of step with the rest.

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4 Corporal Keeling whom We advised you in Our last

had been paid his full Wages for his Services as One of the Crew of

the Swift Long Boat, now at his desire permitted to return to you on

the Prince Henry, having made him a present of Six Guineas on

that Account, he is to preserve the same Rank as he would have enjoyed

had he continued on the Island, and on his arrival there, the full

amount of the pay during his absence is to be made good to him

We are

London 14th January 1761. Your Loving Friends

Law Sulivan

Thos Rous

P Godfrey

Chas Cutts

John Harrison

John Browne

Hen Hadley

Richd Warner

Tho Waters

Fredk Pigou

Henry Savage

Boneshiew Watson

Richd Smith

G Stevens

Chas Gough

G Rooke

4: Corporal Keeling, whom the directors had mentioned in their last letter, had been paid his full wages for his service as one of the crew of the Swift longboat, and was now, at his own wish, allowed to return to the island on the Prince Henry. Having made him a present of six guineas on that account, the directors ordered that he keep the same rank as he would have held had he stayed on the island, and that on his arrival the full amount of his pay during his absence be made good to him.

The letter closed as from the island's loving friends, dated London, 14 January 1761, and signed by Laurence Sulivan, Thomas Rous, P. Godfrey, Charles Cutts, John Harrison, John Browne, Henry Hadley, Richard Warner, Thomas Waters, Frederick Pigou, Henry Savage, Boisdatier Watson, Robert Smith, G. Stevens, Charles Gough and G. Rooke.

Interpretations

The treatment of Corporal Keeling on his return shows the Company taking care to leave a captured and long absent servant no worse for his misfortune, restoring the rank he would have held had he never been taken, making up his pay for the whole time away and adding a gratuity for his trouble, a generosity that reflected the value of holding faithful men to their posts and the recognition that those exposed on hazardous service ought not to lose by it.

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134

Our Governour and

Council of St Helena

1 Since your Receipt of our last advices dated the 14th

January 1761 by the Prince Henry your several Letters have came

to hand under dates of the 18th December 1760, 24th February 13th & 26th

May 29th June 30th July and 9th Sept 1761, the interesting

intelligence therein communicated relating to our Shipping and

Indian Affairs, demand one General Observation that they justly

continue to avoid the same applause which for some time past We

have annually expressed thereon.

2 Your original Letter of the 18th December 1760 did not

reach us the same whereof, was conveyed to our great misfortune

being taken the 5th of March last by the Brother a French East India

Ship fifteen Leagues distant from Scilly and was thereupon carried

into Brest, the Commander and Officers soon after regained their liberty

and the Crew in a short space following were also retained, Captain

Mankland commendably obeying the orders for his destruction of all the

Packets on board on such an Unhappy event We were without your

said Letter until the Duplicate came by the Grassbury

3 His Majestys Ship the Liverpool which left the Coast

of Choromandel the 5th of February last charged with the Government

and our advices and did not make the Island arrived at Spithead

the 19th July with the first Account of the most agreeable and

Important News of the surrender of Pondicherry to His Majestys and

the Companys Arms

4 His Majestys Ship Lyon advice at Plymouth Sound

the 2 of October being separated from the Lord Anson the Night

of the 20th August in a very hard Gale of Wind which lasted 24

Hours

The Governor and Council at St Helena were addressed on the season's correspondence and shipping.

1: Since the island received the directors' last advices of 14 January 1761 by the Prince Henry, its several letters had come to hand, dated 18 December 1760, 24 February, 13 and 26 May, 29 June, 30 July and 9 September 1761. The interesting intelligence in them, on the island's shipping and Indian affairs, called for one general observation, that they justly deserved the same commendation the directors had for some time past given them each year.

2: The island's original letter of 18 December 1760 did not reach the directors, having by great misfortune been taken on 5 March last by the Prince Edward, a French man of war, fifteen leagues from Scilly, and carried into Brest. The commander and officers soon regained their liberty, and the crew a short time after were also released. Captain Mankland had commendably obeyed the orders for the destruction of all the packets aboard on such an unhappy event, so that they went without the island's said letter until the duplicate came by the Glassbury.

3: His Majesty's ship Liverpool, which left the Coast of Coromandel on 5 February last charged with the government's advices and the Company's, and did not touch at the island, reached Spithead on 19 July with the first account of the most agreeable and important news of the surrender of Pondicherry to His Majesty's and the Company's arms.

4: His Majesty's ship Lyon arrived at Plymouth Sound on 2 October, having separated from the Lord Anson on the night of 20 August in a very hard gale of wind which lasted [...].

Interpretations

The capture of the island's letter by a French warship near Scilly, and Captain Mankland's destruction of the packets to keep them from the enemy, reveals the standing practice by which commanders threw their dispatches overboard or burned them on the point of capture, since the correspondence could betray the movements, strength and plans of the Company's ships and settlements, so the loss of a letter to the sea was accepted as the price of denying intelligence to the enemy, the gap filled later by the duplicate sent on another ship.

The surrender of Pondicherry to the British marked the fall of the principal French settlement in India and effectively ended French power there in the Seven Years War, and its report as the most agreeable and important news shows how closely the Company followed the military struggle against its French rival, the capture of that base removing the chief threat to English trade and dominion on the Coromandel Coast.

The arrival of warships bearing the government's and the Company's advices together, and the separation of the Lyon from the Lord Anson in a gale, illustrate the hazards and the shared channels of wartime communication, the King's ships carrying Company dispatches as well as the state's, and the ordinary perils of the sea, storm and dispersal adding to the danger of the enemy in the passage home past the latitude of the island.

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135

Hours in the Latitude of 13.30 No 2 Cº from Ferdinando Loronho

the Endeavour Captain Chick advises he used to rejoin his Convoy proving

ineffectual, after consulting his Officers he bore away for Lisbon arrived

in the Tagus the 5th October and on his Spithead the 5th November

5 The success that since the date of Our last advices has occurred

to the British Arms in Europe against the Enemys Marine wherein Our

Commerce is more particularly interested consists of the Captures of the

Warwick Ship of War mounting 34 pierced for 60 Guns having on board

245 Men whereof 74 were a detachment from the Fornet, Kings Troops

bound for the Isle of France, same Bourbon with Provisions Ammunition

and Stores this Ship had been one of the Royal Navy of great Britain

out before at the Commencement of the present War, also the Bretin

French East India Ship for the Isle of France and Bordersbury

manned with 363 Men 93 of these Soldiers in the Company's pay and

Laden with Ordinance Naval Stores Merchandize add 24000 Dollars

was pierced for 64, and mounted 22 Guns the Vallant of the same size and

Force with Fidelle Frigate of 24 Guns belonging also to the Company

sailed from Port L'Orient in Company with prize but were not met

with, Another of the Ships of 600 Tons 22 Guns and 208 Men bound for

the Isle of Bourbon with Merchandize and Stores was taken by a

Bristol Privateer likewise the Frigate Subtil of Sixteen Guns and 84

Men homeward bound from Mauritius which She left the 6th of May

has been brought into Plymouth from the Prisoners of this Vessil

intelligence is gained of the great distress None of these Ships said to be

in those parts are Ridee for Masts and Stores, and of the Islands themselves

from the great want of Provisions and Necessaries, and on the 27 of December

last the First Bonglogue of 28 Guns and 140 Men of add for

Port L'Orient with Coffee and Pepper from Mauritius which she

left about the end of September was taken by His Majestys Ship, and

brought into Plymouth. The Count D'Estaing was a passenger

on

The gale lasted some hours, in the latitude of 13 degrees 30 minutes north, longitude 26 degrees east from Fernando Loronho. Captain Chick reported that, his attempt to rejoin his convoy proving fruitless, he consulted his officers and bore away for Lisbon, reaching the Tagus on 5 October and arriving here on 5 November.

5: The success that had attended the British arms in Europe against the enemy's marine since the directors' last advices, in which the Company's trade was more particularly concerned, took in the capture of the following. The Warwick man of war, mounting sixty four guns and carrying two hundred and forty five men, of whom seventy four were a detachment of the King's troops bound for the Isle of France, came out with provisions, ammunition and stores, this ship having been one of the Royal Navy of Great Britain, but taken at the beginning of the present war. Also the Bristol, a French East India ship for the Isle of France and Pondicherry, laden with three hundred and sixty three men, ninety three of them soldiers, in the Company's pay, and with ordnance, naval stores and merchandise and twenty four thousand dollars, was taken by a man of war and mounted twenty two guns. The Valiant, of the same size and force, with the Fidelle frigate of twenty four guns, belonging also to the Company, sailed from Port L'Orient in company with the prize, but were not met with. Another of the ships, of six hundred tons, twenty two guns and two hundred and eight men, bound for the Isle of Bourbon with merchandise and stores, was taken by a Bristol privateer. Likewise the Subtile frigate, of sixteen guns and eighty four men, homeward bound from Mauritius, which she left on 6 May last, had been brought into Plymouth. From the prisoners of these vessels it was learnt of the great distress of nine of these ships said to be in those parts, ready for masts and stores, and of the islands themselves, from the great want of provisions and necessaries. On 27 December last the Bien Aquis, of twenty guns and one hundred and forty men, bound for Port L'Orient with coffee and pepper from Mauritius, which she left about the end of September, was taken by His Majesty's ships and brought into Plymouth. The Count d'Estaing was a passenger [...].

Interpretations

The long list of French East India ships taken as prizes reveals the collapse of French maritime trade to the Indian Ocean in the closing years of the Seven Years War, the ships bound for or returning from the Isles of France, Bourbon and Mauritius, the French bases in the western Indian Ocean, falling one after another to British warships and privateers, so that the enemy's whole line of communication with its eastern possessions was being cut, a matter of the keenest interest to the Company whose own trade stood to gain from its rival's ruin.

The intelligence drawn from prisoners about the great distress of the French islands, short of provisions, masts and stores, shows how the capture of ships served not only to seize cargo but to gather knowledge of the enemy's weakness, since the crews of taken vessels could be questioned and their accounts of famine and want at Mauritius and its neighbours confirmed that the British command of the sea was starving the French settlements, information the Company valued for gauging the fortunes of the war in its own theatre.

The dollars carried aboard the Bristol, taken as part of her lading, were the silver Spanish coins that served as the common currency of eastern trade, and their seizure illustrates how much specie the French, like the English, shipped east to finance their commerce, the loss of twenty four thousand dollars in a single prize being a heavy blow to the enemy's trading capital as well as a windfall to the captors.

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