| Description | 17 Oct 1714 to Edward Harrison. Mention made of the politics of the Court of Directors; the false stories against Harrison; Harrison's attorneys Messrs Eyles and Betts, particularly Mr Betts; his visit to Epsom and "your Lad y"; his visit to Hertford with Governor Pitt to see "the old Gentleman" while "the old Lady" kept to her chamber; Hastings and the succession at Fort David; the diamonds fetched a good price; a Mr Lewis; discharge of Mr Thompsons' bonds; money owed by Mr Lalvadone; the succession of King George; notorious stories about Davenport emanating from Fort St George; Mr Boone; Captain Heathfield; "that vile fellow Raworth", who got "the Bloody Flux", between St Helena and France, which killed him; asked Harrison to make copies of his books.
7 Apr 1715 to Senor Padre Paulo de Saa. In response to a letter received via Mr Farmer, which gave details of various voyages, that of Manillion was "very melancholy". The Company offered the writer to succeed Governor Harrison, but his affairs not settled. Mr Boone was going out as Governor of Bombay.
10 Apr 1715 to Edward Harrison. Mention of the new Court of Directors; Harrison's wish to return to England in Jan 1716; inference that Davenport will succeed him; their possible meeting, or if not, Harrison to leave any orders which Davenport will execute; Lord Bollingboke has fled to France and Lord Oxford is keeping out of the way; an impeachment to be placed before the House of Commons.
17 Oct 1714 to William Warre. Mention of Tom Cooke who has "ruined himself by his match"; Mrs Toomes; "old Sale" who "barbarously he has used your mother Nicks children"; Stephen Evans.
17 Oct 1714 to Richard Farmer. The Company has offered Davenport large sums of money to go back to India, but he has made his fortune; he has recommended Farmer to the Directors, who hopefully will make him one of the Council of Fort St George: Raworth; the Fort St David management.
17 Oct 1714 to John Maubert. He has recommended Maubert to the Company and others; value of diamonds has dropped; sorry for Cooke and Langelier; wills end a good sum on the Dartmouth, bound for China and Fort St George.
17 Oct 1714 to Bernard Benyon. Mention of Raworth's death; asked that Edward Harrison be reminded of Davenport's need to have a copy of Governor Pitts books regarding the account of the Hallifaz China voyage.
Undated to Mr Langelier. Mention of Langelier's marriage and the hope he has disposed of Davenport's belongings he left behind.
4 Jan 1715 to Governor Harrison. Much East India business discussed including the timing of Harrison's leaving India; Sir Charles Eyres; Sir Nicholas; Sir Charles Piers; friend Gibbons; Captain Maltin receiving an award for defending his ship against the French; the end of the Hastings affair; due to the "unhappy Fort St David affair", the writer could not look over the Governor's accounts; Mr Benyon; Mr Hibert returns as Governor of Pondichery with greater powers than before, "a brave old fellow"; Hastings appointed to Fort St David; Doughlap to be general in Battavia; diamonds, and selling his diamond necklace; some personal accounts to be settled.
4 Jan 1715 to Bernard Benyon. Includes the fact that England agrees with him, ships movements and monies due to him.
4 Jan 1715 to Mr Langelier, who he holds in high esteem and hopes he has sowed his wild oats.
4 Jan 1715 to John Maubert. Mainly concerns money and trade.
4 Jan 1715 to Francis Hugonin concerning business, including a letter to his diamond merchant Braining, which needs to be interpreted by the servant Divora.
4 Jan 1715 to Braining, declaring his friendship and asking him to help Mr Maubert in business matters.
4 Jan 1715 to Edward Harrison and Benyon with instructions to pass a sum of money to his daughter's nurse on her arrival in Madras.
9 Jan 1715 to Francis Hugonin. Wishing him well and saying he has done all he can to advance Hugonin from this distance.
12 Jan 1715 to Elihu Trenchfield. Berates him for not writing. Mentions Mr Lewis; Bishop of Bangor; Elihu's mother and sisters, whom he has visited often, and his brother Jack, who is going to India; George Pitt.
12 Jan 1715 to Edward Harrison, concerning two brillion rings, one of which he has sold for a good profit. Also, Mr Thornton's father wrote of his son's debt in Scotland, which Davenport has settled.
12 Jan 1715 to Samuel Feake regarding new governors for India and New Spain. Nathaniel Gould's bill of exchange has been paid.
25 Mar 1715 to Edward Harrison. Mentions ships' movements; discusses his move back to England and Harrison's successor; Harrison's loss on the Iona which hopefully can be recouped on the Hartfort; melancholy news of "old Marcus" and Ignativ; the result if the French enter the trade; Hibert's journey out to become Governor of Pondicherry; Monsieur Prans, the diamond merchant's, expectation to be carried on a Company's ship, which was not granted; Captain Proulton; Captain Raymond; Boddams's action in the Dolben; Captain Raworth; Mr Shipman; letters were delivered to French envoy who immediately dispatched them to Versailles; General/Governorship of Bombay and recall of Mr Risliby; Mr Risliby; Sir Nicholas; Moore; Mr Charles Boone on his appointment to Governor of Bombay; Dodworth; Laurence Parker; Mr Jackson; the hope that Parliament will impeach the betrayers of the country; the Company think that by sending Harrison the sword, he will agree to stay; the Company sending out Bullock who "had done you so many ill services".
25 Mar 1715 to Bernard Benyon. Mention of Hastings being imprudent and Fort St David needing an honest man who has regard to the Company's interest as well as his own. The writer suggests that if Hastings is layed aside, Benyon should go there, with the writer's advice that he looks after the justice of the place and see it equally distributed to the poor as well as the rich and encourage the merchants. Also, "Honest Gabriels ill got treasure"; the Manilha affair; Mr Cholmondley, brother to he who married Governor Pitt's daughter; the candidate for the Governor of Bombay, Nicholas Wait, Moore, John Eaton Dodworth, Boone. Moore was in the running, but news of his being found guilty of sodomy resulted in Boone being appointed Governor. Davenport queries a parcel of gold not brought to his account and suggests Benyon should stay in India due to the high cost of living in England.
26 Mar 1715 to Edward Harrison and Bernard Benyon who are tying up the writer's personal affairs; the Manilha affair, with the warning never more to trust Armenians, Moors or Portuguese; hope that Boynott has hanged; the Barington voyage was profitable so he agrees to participate in another voyage for 1,000 pagodas; 33 bars of silver not brought to account; the diamonds received are very expensive and will produce little profit; Pearce made a bad voyage; "poor Mason"; the Grand Seignor of Madras engaged in a war against the Venetians and Poland; papers on the consultation relating to Mr Chardin and Salvadore.
25 Mar 1715 to Mr Stephenson: his preferment was no surprise to him; Raworth's death and his brother Captain Johnson who absconded when the East India Company decided to prosecute him. Mr Boone was sailing to take up the post of Governor of Bombay.
25 Mar 1715 to John Lagg with little news.
25 Mar 1715 to John Maubert, mentions the cost of diamonds; the dearth of Langelier.
25 Mar 1715 to Moses Guely. Mentions the Company wanted him to succeed Governor Harrison, but he refused as he needed to look after his family. England not a good place to be currently.
28 Mar 1715 to Richard Peiarce with little news.
28 Mar 1715 to Devorayah, who has lost his son Tondra. His own son Sharington sends thanks for the present.
28 Mar 1715 to Brammy, who has lost his brother; Mr Plymour died; diamonds.
6 Apr 1715 to Elihu Trenchfield, unhappy that he had not heard from him. Visited his mother who has gout.
7 Apr 1715 to Francis Hugonin. Mr Farmer, arriving from India, had left letters from Hugonin on board. Mention also of Harrison; Madam Chardin's houses; extravagances of soldiers in the garrison; Boone.
Part of letter to Robert Berriman. The need to make public examples of the most notorious offenders. |