| Description | Includes:
Several letters to Samuel Feake (first on 25 Jun 1713), his correspondent in Bengal, about business and financial affairs, sale of diamonds, silk, shipping movements, also an unfinished "escritore".
Also business letters and a smaller number of other letters to various people:
Captain Matthew Martin, commander of Ship Marlborough, about a passage home.
Anthony Barnewall about sale of diamonds including those belonging to "my poor wife".
Business letter to Monsieur Doubleau.
Business letter to Monsieur Boutee.
Captain Marcus Buffekins of ship St Anna Boa Esperanza.
Captain Anthony Barnewall of ship Brampore.
Benjamin Wyche on payment for sale of opium.
Business letter to Richard Farmer.
Thomas Woodward on his conduct at the company.
Captain Matthew Martin: a request for voyage on his ship
Monsieur Folly.
Abraham Adams and Madam Blount about her late husband's financial affairs.
John Dean.
Director Huysman about a disputed value of diamond drops Davenport delivered.
John Berlu, his friend.
Richard Farmer.
Hon John Russell on a Bill of Exchange.
Robert Raworth, deputy governor of Fort St David.
Captain Richard Grainger.
Mr Kyte about Henry Davenport helping him.
Captain Matthew Martin about accommodating Davenport in his ship.
Captain Stephen Shaw.
Richard Farmer.
John Cooke about business in Manilha, Persia, etc.
Captain Hugh Raymond about a voyage to China.
Abraham Playmer about John Cooke's business and sale of gold thread, rings and emeralds.
Osmond Beauvoir about a story of 2 ships wrecked.
John Johnson.
Mrs Meverell about transport of pictures and sale of brown diamond.
John Eaton Dodsworth about the deceased Mr Meverell's finances.
Francis Salvadore.
Captain Harry Gough about passage home rearranged.
Captain Hugh Raymond.
Francis Chamberlayn about a purchase of silver and pearl to value of £2540 in gold. Complaining about "so many little fellows that come out of England here pretenders to the diamond trade that they have almost ruined it". Now desirous to return to England after 20 years in East and intends to tell the East India Company some home truths.
Robert Nightingale of London: very long business letter.
Honourable John Talbot, Henry Davenport's uncle, expressing deep grief at loss of wife and how his ambition for a "great estate" is now at an end.
Honourable Thomas Pitt: long business letter.
Madam Trenchfeild about the good character of her son and including reference to "loss of the best of wives".
Robert Coppin about debt unpaid by Raworth.
John Nicholas.
Captain Richard Boulton (decided to return home with children after death of wife in December 1712, and to get his estate away from the Indies due to Company being careless).
Samuel Feake.
Abraham Addams.
Mr Glegg.
Doctor Colt.
Captain Grainger, commander of ship Cardigan.
Captain John Haselwood.
Thomas Woolley warning company to take better care of government of area.
To his sister about his grief at the loss of wife and concern for three children, sister to become their "Mamma".
Monsieur St Hilliard.
Abraham Addams.
Samuel Feake.
Brother Davenport to arrange accommodation for family on return to England. Mentions son Sharington, brother being godfather.
Osmond Beauvoir.
Richard Harrison.
Reverend Alexander Heriote about the death of his son Robert Heriote and carrying out appointment to remit home his estate to father.
Mrs Mary Morss about death of her son Benjamin Morss, therefore Davenport taking with him an honest account of his estate by Bill of Exchange when he sails home next December.
Honourable John Russell and Abraham Addams about confused accounts after deaths of above on ship Vizapore.
Samuel Feake.
Captain William Weld, commander of ship Vizapore, sending him to Bengall to John Russell and Abraham Addams.
Samuel Feake introducing Thomas Cooke.
Honourable Peter Dulivier about his decision to leave Madras.
Honourable John Russell and Abraham Addams.
Mary Blount on incorrect balance of account.
Monsieur Hardancourt.
Captain Harry Gough, commander of ship Stretham, rearranging passage home.
Captain Grainger, commander of ship Cardigan.
Doctor Colt.
Captain William Weld.
Richard Harrison.
Marcus Moses about general decay in trade and not worth his while remaining in India.
Hon Edward Harrison, Governor of St George, and Council, resigning Company's service and requesting permission to leave for England after twenty years' absence (NB out of sequence in book).
Worshipful Thomas Frederick about preventing "honest" Raworth from travelling to Britain on the French ships.
Richard Harrison: letter of accusations and contempt for recipient and Raworth.
Mr Purton.
Philip Baker about tidying accounts before leaving.
Samuel Feake about a recent visit to Fort St David and problems there.
Worshipful Thomas Frederick.
Richard Harrison: saying he deserves what has happened to him and is lucky to get away with his life. Raworth claiming all Richard Harrison's fault.
Philip Baker.
Monsieur Jolly about accounts.
Mr Weld.
Monsieur Jolly about payment of his account.
John Nicholas.
Mrs Meverell on delivering her diamonds.
John Eaton Dodsworth.
John Johnson about his diamonds on ship Marlborough.
Osmond Beauvoir about loading diamonds on board the Marlborough and other business.
John Cooke about diamond delivery.
Captain Richard Boulton about diamonds.
Robert Nightingale: clearing his account on Davenport's return on ship Marlborough.
Madam Boulton.
Samuel Lock Senh about sale of Persian carpets from Ispahaun.
Francis Chamberlain about diamond delivery.
Robert Nightingale and Thomas Somaster about rough diamonds being sent as legacy from late Captain Penruddock.
Captain John Hanlee: compliments.
Philip Baker: "the Marlborough has fired a gunn to say she is full", so Davenport is in a rush to get ready to leave.
Worshipful Thomas Frederick: thanks for safe arrival of escretore.
John Berlue: thanks for procuring runts (small breed of cow).
Samuel Feake sorting out final accounts and relating to dangers in Fort St David.
Henry Frankland.
Abraham Addams.
Doctor Colt.
Captain Stephen Shaw: thanks for pickled mangoes.
Nathaniel Gold.
Mons Hugonin about care of two houses until disposed of and how to send money to England.
Captain Weld.
Senhor Anthony Barnewall about sale of diamonds, monies to be sent to Canton, consigned to Scattergood and John Raworth.
Honourable Edward Harrison, governor and president of Fort St George, and Bernard Benyon: final business letters.
Last letter from Fort St George to Reverend Mr Stephenson and Mr Long, ministers and churchwardens in Madras about care of a house bought for servant Mary James.
Letters from the Cape of Good Hope, all dated 15 Apr 1714:
Honourable Edward Harrison and Bernard Benyon: business letter, mentions the order of a "stitched bed" from Bengall.
Bernard Benyon.
Samuel Feake: ship Marlborough arrived safe at the Cape.
Honourable Edward Harrison: account of voyage; shipping movements; new Governor of the Cape, Monsieur d'Chauanne very helpful to English boats, so Henry Davenport orders teak tables and chairs for his house at Company's expense.
A section of the book removed by cutting empty pages.
Letters from London, Dec 1715 - Dec 1716:
Honourable Edward Harrison regarding voyage home, death of Bernard Benyon (accountant of Henry Davenport), low price of diamonds in Europe, selling gold thread, problem disposing of raw silk as Danes had captured a large quantity from Moors, complaint about Madame Chardin, "a plague to those that have to do with her", declining trade, marriage to a young lady who was a relative, which makes Henry Davenport settle in England, the English and Scottish uprising, order of a bed for his own use, impossibility of selling rings.
Edward Harrison, William Stephenson and John Maubert about mistakes in his current account.
4 Apr 1715 Copy of declaration of business interests in various ships.
John Maubert (his attorney alongside Harrison on the death of Benyon) about diamond trade.
Samuel Feake about an order of straw-coloured silk bed, plus two pieces of stitched silk for a gown and petticoat, one worked in straw and the other in a variety of colours.
Edward Fenwick.
Hugonin: advice about staying longer in India in view of massacre of protestants in France. Determined to end his own days in England in "peace and quietness if the present rebellion will permit". Reference to selling his house in India cheaply and to selling Madame Chardin's which estate must revert to him on her death.
John Starke.
Richard Horden.
Elihu Frenchfield: complaining of lack of letters/news.
John Legg: thanks for letters. Pretender has arrived in Scotland.
Reverend William Stephenson.
William Warre: more about rebellion, and his son Sharington who is going to a "very famous school in Hampstead".
John Maubert: relative Henry Talbot, son of Bishop of Sarum, sailing to Fort St George.
Edward Harrison, William Stephenson, John Maubert: joint business letter.
Edward Harrison: news of Rebellion, taking of Perth (headquarters of Pretender) by king's forces.
Edward Harrison: more about return of Pretender to France.
Samuel Feake: execution of Lords Doringwater and Kenmore, imprisonment of others; likelihood of war with France now over.
John Maubert: general news, request for piece of gold chint 'of the prettiest flowers' for gown and petticoat and for a Japan desk or chest.
Honourable Charles Boone: home news including that Madame Chardin is now recovered from sickness, her estate considerably lessened since she maintains the whole family of Chardins. Daniel and Bobby live with her, Lucy with Henry Davenport. Request for fabric for gown and petticoat
Madame Chardin, letter refuting her claims for money from the time of the voyage home. Says Cascarilla came on board without his knowledge or consent, he paid for Domingo the cook, Monsieur Guarnée (doctor) and Dorothy's wages.
Honourable Edward Harrison, William Stephenson, John Maubert: poor demand for diamonds, worse than in India.
John Maubert: general letter, complaints including shirts he ordered had arrived patterned not plain as requested, and sleeves too short.
Edward Harrison.
Francis Hastings Esquire, congratulating him on appointment to head up Fort St David and comments on previous situation there including the deaths of Rawthorn and Warre.
Mr Frenchfield.
Captain William Weld: mentions travelling to Shropshire, Bath and Dudmaston.
John Legg: disputing Governor Harrison coming home.
John Marke.
Henry Frankland.
Reverend Mr Stephenson, mentions staying with relatives in Wiltshire, and a parson Paul being hanged as a rebel at Tyburn.
Richard Horden.
Francis Hugonin.
Monsieur Abbot Cordero refuting suggestion he has not written to him in Rome, 3 letters astray. Danger of civil war in France, the Jesuits in disgrace and likely to be banished.
Includes references to Jacobite Rebellion 1715
Letters from Isleworth, Dec 1716:
Madame Chardin: answer to letter to him insulting him and accusing him of overcharging for fabric.
Thomas Pitt: dispute about account.
William Betts.
Thomas Pitt: Pitt supported Raworth all the way.
John Leslie, merchant of Edinburgh.
Brother Davenport about dispute with Pitt.
Edward Harrison, William Stephenson, John Maubert: queries profit for voyages to Siam and China, and errors in account.
Samuel Feake.
Mr Fitzachary, supra cargo of China ship at Deal.
Thomas Pitt continuing dispute about accounts.
John Leslie, merchant in Edinburgh, about the affairs of Mr Heriote deceased.
John Maubert with addition of "letter to my attorney".
Captain John Puldham.
Elihu Frenchfield.
Loose at back of book are various rough accounts and letters, and a note certifying business interests and dealings in various ships. |