Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/416

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410


NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. in. SEPT., 1917.


pretend kindness to Persons when you doe not really intend to Performe them. Bee pleased to accept of these few lines for the present from him who is allwaies ready to study how he may approve himselfe to bee Sir

Your reall and assured freind to serve you

WM: BAGNOLD

[Endorsed] To Mr Richard Edwards merchant

In Cassumbuzar


LETTER LX.

Richard Edwards and factors at Kasimbazar

to Job Charnock at Patna

(rough draft).

(O.C. 3475.)

[Job Charnock, the founder of Calcutta, was the younger son of Richard Charnock, yeoman, of the parish of St. Mary Woolchurch, London. He arrived in India in 1655 or 1656, and shortly afterwards entered the Company's service. At a Court of Committees held on Jan. 12-13, 1658 (' Court Minutes,' vol. xxiv. p.|51), he was appointed Fourth at Kasimbazar, but it is doubtful if he ever held that post. In August, 1658, Thomas Bateman, writing from Balasor (O.C. 2663), remarks, " Poore Job begins to droope and sympathize with Ions [i.e., Ion Ken's] sickness " ; and on Feb. 1, 1659, Charnock is reported to be " going to " Patna, and there he remained until 1680, becoming Chief of that factory in 1664. In 1663 and again in 1670 and 1672 (' Factory Records,' Hugli, vols. i. and iv., and Miscellaneous, iii.) he expressed his intention of returning to England, but was each time dissuaded. In 1680 he was appointed Chief at Kasimbazar ; and in 1686 he succeeded John Beard as Agent in Bengal. Troublous times for the English followed. Hostilities with the Mughal Govern- ment resulted in the withdrawal of the Com- pany's servants to Chuttanuttee (Sutanatl), where Charnock entered into negotiations with the Nawab and began the foundation of the settlement known later as Fort William, Calcutta. He died there on Jan. 10, 1693. His will, dated the day before his death, and proved June 12, 1695 (P.C.C. Wills, 91 Irby), mentions his three daughters by his Indian wife. Among the legacies is one to the poor of " Cree Church, London," where his father was buried in 1665. His elder brother Stephen (P.C.C. Wills, 58 Hyde) probably pre- deceased him. For printed notices of Charnock, see , the article in the ' Diet. Nat. Biog.' ; Yule, ' Hedges' Diary,' vol. ii. pp. 45-100 ; C. R. Wilson, ' Early Annals of Bengal,' vol. i. pp. 71- 127, 140-43. These accounts, however, give no details of Job Charnock's ancestry. A narrative containing all the facts recently discovered, with copies of the wills of Richard and Job Charnock, is now in preparation for Th<> Indian Antiquary.]


Cassumbuzar September 13th 1670.

[This is an official letter dealing with remittances for Patna factory sent per billi of exchange by two " cossids," one bill for 10,000 rupees paid to " Bunwolledas and Boadg-raudg" (Banwall Das and Bhoj Raj), payable by " Aggermull and Sutanund " (Agar Mai and Satanand) ; one for 2,000 rupees paid to " Ugersine and Inderam " (Ugar Sen and Indaram), payable by " Gocaldas Bawsing " (Gokal Das Bhai Singh) ; one for 1,000 rupees paid to " Sucanund and Gosseram " (Sukhanand and Ghos Ram), payable by "Chandra-ban and Roopchund " (Chandra Ban and Rup- chand). The names of the merchants are noted, as some of them are referred to in Job Charnock's reply, Letter LXVIL]


LETTER LXI.

Richard Edwards to John March (rough draft),

  • (O.C. 3477.) . ,

Cassumbuzar September 17th 1670 To Mr March

Having this oportunity Per a Cossid sent hither by Mr Vickers which I could nol omitt by his returne to advise you that th next day after your leaving this place, according to your order, I dispeeded awaj 3 bills for Pat[tana] to the amount a\ 13,000 rs. charged vizt.*

The 14th Currt. Sent away the 7 barn Silver to Rajamaulf in charge of Seel? Gurreeb PuneJ with order to lodge it in th factory and when tis made into Sicca's tc returne it hither, which I did more Strictlj injoine by reason of the many (I can't tel whither necessary) cautions Sittull-mull| gave me of that merchant,^ and caused some trouble and Jangling at their Sending i1 away. I received little or no instructions from you about it at your departure, havt therefore disposed of it the safest way anc I hope best ; desire you would please Pei first opportunity to advise whither I Shal deliver Sittall mulls part at it's returne fron the mint or keepe them both till news of th< bill's payment, or rather your returni which I hope will be the Sooner of two [sic].

  • No details given.

t Rajmahal, where English bar silver wai coined in the Mughal mint.

I SheVh Gharlb, peon.

Sikka, newly coined rupees, worth at tl period 2s. 3d. I! Sital Mai.

II The merchant at Rajmahal to whom silver was consigned.