Reflect ions 'uDon -"list-India S" 1 By UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES REFLECTIONS UPON EAST-INDIA SHIPPING, By SIR RICHARD HOTHAM, Knf< THE SECOND EDITION, LONDON: Printed for J. WALTER, at Charing-Crofs, J. Fox, Weftminfter-Hall, and BROTHJ&RTON and SEWEL, in Cornhill. [Price One Shilling.] A' AS this Work is one of the very few that has ^ l/*\j$ appeared in Publick not to be refuted, the Parties whofe Conduct feems moft blame able ^being puzzled to give an Anfwer*) would gladly infinuate that the Author has been ajjifted by a certain Seaman in the Performance. The Reader will pleafe to ob- i ferve, that no Part of this Subject has any Thing to > v ' do with Seaman/hip, but falls altogether within the 22 Line of the Author $ own Knowledge, in Fourteen ^ Tears Experience, as a Ship's Hujband ; and he difavows having had any AJJiJlance whatfoever from any Perfon, or Perfons whomfoever, in writing this o Pamphlet ; and if thofe Injinuators will, in their ~ own Name, fay whom they would have the World o believe to be the Author, Sir R. pledges himfelf to the Public, to call on fuch Perfons to juflify the Truth of this Ajjertion. RD. H O THAM. ' N. B. Sir R. wifhes not to be under Jlood, that he \ thinks highly of himfelf for having Jiated a few Facts n a clear Light, for that is the whole of the Merit, if there is any in it. * See firft Line of a Letter, Page 26. 354789 To the PROPRIETORS of EAST- INDIA STOCK. ANONYMOUS Writers fomo times mean, by concealing their Names, to take unwarrantable Liberties in treating their Subject, and alfb to pre- vent any perfonal Attack. As I mean no improper Freedoms, but to keep clofe to Facis, and the moll probable Truths, I think myfelf as much entitled thus to addrefs the Proprietors of Eaft-India Stock, as other Gentlemen are, that fpeak from Memory at General Courts, in Leadenhall-ftreet. I therefore commit my Name to the Public, and leave them to judge of the Propriety of the Subject, the Time of Publication, and the Ne- ceffity of its being now rightly under - flood, that for the future fuch grofs Mif- applicatioi) application of the Stockholders Money may effectually be prevented. I fliall therefore, without further Preface, de- clare myfelf to be the Author of the fol- lowing Reflections. I am, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your moft obedient Servant, , HOTHAM, REFLECTIONS, &c. THAT the prefent leading Directors of the ^/ Eaft-India affairs have been the caufe of much neglect and bad management in the {hip- ping, is a matter unanimoufly agreed to by all unprejudiced Proprietors that they have covered that neglect and bad management by following the old office forms, and mifchievous precedents, wilfully ftalking behind the old char- ter party for many years, to the manifefl: injury of the Company, the better to promote the interefl of their private friends the builders at Blackwall, as well as other builders and friends elfewhere, whofe intereft moved in the fame line, is as true, as that eighty-eight mips have / been lately employed in the Company's fervice, when half that number were more than fuffi- cient ; Ib that forty fail of the fineft merchant mips in Europe (unlefs a better regulation now takes place) muft for the future lay year after B year ( 6 ) year in the wet- dock, rotting, for the benefit only of (hip-builders, rope-makers, &c. by whofe influence fuch leading Directors keep their feats in Leadenhall-houfe ; hence comes the neceffity for fuch leading Directors to take into the fervice more (hips than they can employ, confequently are obliged to fend out more fhips annually than they have freight for; hence comes it that fuch fhips return dead freighted, to the utter prejudice of the flock-holder and (hip- owners ; - hence comes the enormous expence of repairing rotten fhips, * which incredible ex- pence falls at laft very heavy on the Company, and is actually one of the leading caufes for the extravagant freights fo long .paid, which will yet greatly increafe, if a flop is not put to it by Parliament; for the real Proprietors cannot controul the Blackwall intereft, added to the dependents on fuch leading Directors. There muft be a new mode of chartering, and ftation- ing the fhips more agreeable to the fair intereft of the real (lock-holders, whofe advantage ought to be the conflant object of every candid, honeft Director. The following reflections on the prefent flate of Eaft-India (hipping, are in coniequence of fome late extraordinary refolutions made by the Court of Directors in January laft ; viz. That eleven fhips was to go to China to fetch home four thoufand fix hundred and nine net tons of * Some late fliips repairs (with (hip-builders only) have coft from five to fix and feven thoufand pounds each. goods, ( 7 ) goods, which might have been brought home in Jive of the (hips fent out that year -, and bad as the old charter party is for the Company's in- tereft, might have been fo brought home on the old charter party terms, and would, as follows, evidently have faved the Company 4342 2 /. 13-r. ^d. upon 'the eleven mips freight. The prefent mode of freighting mips is under the moft abfurd charter party that ever exifted; a facl: that no man of common fenfe will deny, that has ever read it. But, for the prefent purpofe, it will fuffice, that I ftate one fadt from it -, viz. That all mips in that fervice are taken. up at four hundred and ninety-nine tons, of which eighty tons is to be iron kentlidgc, taken out, and brought home by way of ballaft ; fo that four hundred and nineteen tons remain of real goods, which four hundred and nineteen tons, at the prefent freight price of 327. and 29/1 per ton, as this charter party fettles it at laft, brings each (hip's cargo home at the following rate. Viz. Tons B2 ( 8 ) Tons . s. d. . s. d. 80 Iron Kentledge at 9134 is 773 6 8 II China Ware 29 o o 319 o o 393 Tea and Silk 3200 12,576 o p 15 Private Trade 3200 480 o o 499 The Freight of one China Ship 14,148 6 8 1 1 Multiplied by the Number of Ships taken up 1 1 5489 Eleven Ships Charter Tonnage I ^5 6 3 3 4 880 Eleven Ships Kentledge dedudled 4609 * The net Tonnage brought Home in 1 1 Ships The Amount of Eleven Ships Freight 155,631 13 Had the following five mips been fent, the fame tonnage and fpecies of goods, with 80 tons of kentledge in each (hip, would have been brought home at the following rate, Viz* The freight of the Royal Captain would make up thus : Tons So 7 387 Kentledge at 9 13 4 is China Ware 29 o o Tea and Silk 3200 Private Trade 3200 Double Kentledge, Ft. Price JQ 6 8 Half Freight 16 o o By the above Ship, and her ft. amounts to Bi ought by the Pnncefs Royal, to Brought by the Prime to Brought by the Bridgewater to Brought by the Refolution, to 12, 773 493 384 6 d. 8 o 4*4 15 80 520 1099 999 999 956 956 5009 ACO J 5> ft! 650 480 320 6 o 8 4 o 2~, 22, 2 I , 21, 397 397 709 709 .0 The Amount of the Five large Ships, Freight as above DeJufi for Five Shins, Iron Keruledee taken ou:. and ' 112,209 o brough'. Home as dead Weight, at So Tons each j 4609 Net Tonnage, the lame as brought by the 1 1 Ships above. * Thus in ftationing the Chiiia Ships only of the prefent Year 1 the Company evidently fuftered to the Amount of j 434 22 ! ( 9 ) It being eflablimed as above that 4609 net tons brought home would coft /. 155,631 134 ^ The like tonnage 4609 brought home at 21 /. per ton, agreeable to the tender lately made by the three large (hips, would amount to 96,789 ^ This (hews the faving to the Company by employing large fliips in that trade, and abolim- ing the old charter party, by giv- ing each fhip as much tonnage as fhe could fafely bring 58,842 13 4 A like proportionable lofs ne- ceflarily falls on the Bengal (hips, &c. as fourteen are employed in- flead of feven or eight at moft, which lois I cannot conceive to be fo little as 70,000 Which makes an annual lofs to the Company of * /, 128,842 13 4 Some proper notice ought to be taken of the yf immenfe illicit private trade, which is moft in^- tolerably increafed by fuch a number of mips and multitudes of officers going out and com- inghome in fuch empty mips, as muft needs invite the whole {hip's company to fmuggle more than otherwife they would have either thoughts of or had an opportunity of doipg, had fuch mips A and officers been kept within proper bounds/ For ( I* ) For if twelve or fourteen (hips, would ac- tually have brought home the whole tonnage this year, that the twenty- 6 ve mips are char- tered for, then there has been a wrong con- duel:. The only reafpns that can be plaufibly fug- gefted are two. Firfl, That ieven fhips are not fufficient to carry out .the foldiers and {lores, then neceflary to be fent to India. The fe- cond excufe that a ihip full laden from Ben- gal would be too rich to be ventured in one bottom. To the firft I anfwer, that if feven fhips were not fufEcient to convey all their '{tores and lol- diers, why do they not add the two direct China fhips, and fend them by way of Ma- drafs 5 which are bound to carry fix hundred and fixty fix tons, without a (hilling .expence to the Company ', at the fame time, would have taken four hundred foldiers on the ufual terms to Madrafs and proceeded on to China. i conceive this to be a full anfwer to the firft objection. To the fecond objection I reply, that what- ever furplus cargo may be laden on board one ihipi more than the Company -chutes to rifque, may be infured at the public offices at four per cent, in time of peace, from any part of India ; fo that fuch infurance would amount to a mere trifle. For example fay 40,000!. at four per cent, would not be forty {hillings per ton, and would ill juftify taking up a, fingie extra {hip at 37 and 40!. per toq, the prefent year's Bombay freight price. This ( II ) This is my anfwer to the fecond obje&ion, and in truth I know of no other. I wifh to (hew beyond a doubt, that I mean neither to mifcalculate, mifguide, or inflame the minds of gentlemen againft particular per- fons, but (imply and fairly to Hate fats in the cleared way, and then leave them who have done fuch injury to the Company, and other individuals, to make the bed atonement they ean. I (hall proceed by dating a few incon- teftible fads, with my remarks thereon. Firft the freight of a China (hip for this year with furplus tonnage, the fame as lad, which was two hundred and twenty tons upon an average above charter party on each (hip ; fo that, at this year's price, at thirty-two pounds and twenty-nine pounds per ton, each mip's freight would make up as follows, viz. 7W . s. J. . ,. tf. 80 lion Kentledge at 9 13 4 is 773 6 8 II China Ware 29 o o 319 o o 393 Silk and China 32 o o 12,576 o o 484 Charter party Tonnage ,3,668 6 8 Surplus Tonnage >' 15 Private Trade 32 o o 480 o O 80 At double Kentledge Price 19 6 3 M46 13 4 125 At half Freight, which is 16 o o 2,000 o o 704 One Ship's Freight, with Surplus Tonnage, 17,695 o o 80 Deduft Iron Kentledge __ ___ 624 Net at 28 75. id. with a Fraction upon the 1 . , whole Calculate of 480 Pence, amounts to j**" 795 This (hews had Surplus Tonnage been given this Year, 1 as ufual, it would have cott the Company to bring >.28 7 I Home each Ton - j The late Tender made by the three large Ships at 2100 Gained to the Company upon every Ton .771 REMARK. REMARK. This proves a faving of 7!. ys. id. per ton, inftead of 4 guineas mentioned in the tender (fee p. 23) under the moft advantageous ftate the prefent charter party affords the Company to bring home their goods, with furplus tonnage. But by a late refolution of the Honourable Court of Directors, that the eleven mips mould return dead freighted, their freight would then make up as follows, viz. Tons . s. d. . s. A So Iron Kentledge; at 9 13 4 is 773 6 8 II China Ware 29 o o 319 o o 393 Tea and Silk 32 o o 12,576 o o 15 Private Trade 32 o o 480 o o 499 14,148 6 8 80 Deduft Iron Kentledge 419 Net at. 33 153. 4d. with a Fra&ion of 7 28. amounts to J *' 4,148 6 3 This fhews the price for each ton brought home under their late regulation, without any furplus tonnage to be /. 33 15 4 REMARK. Had the three large mips gone and returned full, each mip would have brought home 1050 tons, confequently the three would bring 3150 tons, ( 13 ) tons, which quantity of tonnage, reckoned at the price above, proved to be - /. 33 i $ 4. would amount to at /. 33 15 4 - / 100,305 But the amount of the three large ihips, had they brought 3150 tons, at 21 I. would be 66,150 The real favings, upon the new propoiiticn of thofe three jhips only, had the tender been accepted /. 40,215 Which favings would have apparently pur- chafed 965,160 pounds of black teas at Canton at ten-pence per pound, which is coniiderably above two whole (hips loading of charter party tonnage. This was the advantage rejected by re- futing the late tender, and amply evinces how much more profitable the large mips are to the Company in the China trade, than the fmall ones are capable of being. Once more, if we call our eye back to thq lad years China mips only, I believe nineteen fhips came home with furplus tonnage, on an average two hundred twenty tons above charter party ; in that cafe, each fhip brought fix hun- dred thirty-nine tons. Nineteenfliips then brought 12,141! 1. s. d. tons, net goods (at 28!. 73. i d. L amounts to per ton, as appears in page u) f 1. s, d. ac J 28 7 i 344,247 18 9 Had the fame been brought home at ) the price of the laft tender, being 321 o O 254,961 O O Thus they had faved upon their l whole cargoe, at 7! 73 id per ton J 89,286 189 in that year on the China trade only, taking no C notice ( 14 ) notice of the Bengal and Bombay {hips, all which admit of much better management. Yet the prefent fet of leading D ireftors do all they can to opprefs thefe great mips, and to drive them out of the fervice, by refuiing to do V" them common juftice; having fo contrived, that the fmall fhips meafuring but fix hundred feventy fix tons *, fitted out to fea for lixteen thoufand pounds, are to have equal tonnage taken on board, as thefe large fhips that meafure eight hundred fixty- eight tons, andcoft to fea twenty-four thou- fand pounds, which is one third more capital. Sure this is a grofs partiality, and manifeflly tends to prejudice the Company as well as the owners of the large fhipping, who built them under the fanction of gentlemen in former direc- tions, who were not influenced by the Black- ^ Wall fhip- builders -f- ; but confidered the in- tereft of the Company, the fuperior defence of their property in time of war, the health and prefervation of the feamen, foldiers, and paffen- gers on long voyages, and the fafety of the Company's cargoes in all refpects. It may be further obferved, in order to mew how the Court of Directors miftook the intereft of the Company, when they laft ordered four China fhips to remain in India (confeiling there- by that four in the eleven were po many for The Ponfborne, Captain Hough, is only fix hundred feventy-fix tons. THIS WAS THE TWENTY-FOURTH SHIP TAKEN UP THIS Y&AR. X;<.oF f They have built no large fhips there becaufe they can- not dock them at Black- Wall, and for other reafons. the the trade of that year) and 'their cargoes to be laden on board the remaining feven- ihips* an equal quantity on each, big and little. Not- withftanding the paragraphs in the fecretary's letter, dated the ijth of January 1773, (fee page 25) wherein are the following words: " That as the mips for China are difpatched, " they cannot now alter the difpofition made for " the returning cargoes from thence." I fay, that notwithstanding this afTertion, on the 27th of the fame month, being fourteen days after, the Court of Directors did make an entire frefh diipofitioa of the cargoes of that year, without availing themfelves of the advantage of the tender lying upon the table, from the owners of the Royal Captain, Princefs Royal, and the Prime, offer- ing to bring home their lading at 2i/. per ton. Let us examine, firft, what is the coft to bring home the eleven fhips lading, agreeable to the Directors plan, and then compare the fame tonnage (fee the next page) to be brought home, had they availed themfelves of the benefit of the tender then before them; viz. To bring the eleven mips lading in the feven mips, an equal quantity in each mip, big or little, it would ftand thus ; Sons Toiu . / d. . - r. 4. 80 Iron Kentledge al 9 13 4 is 773 6 8 i i China Ware ' * "' 29 3'9 o o 393 China and Silk ". >:'> 3 2 12,576 o 484 13,668 6 8 Private Trade 3 2 o 480 o 80 M9 Goods ofdoubleKentledge Price At half Freight '9 16 6 8 o 1,546 2.544 '3 4 7? 8 One Ship's Freight 18,239 o o 80 Dedud for Iron Kentledge Multiplied by N* of Ships 7 658 127,673 o o 7 Multiplied by the Number of Ships ~ , 4606 3 A Fra&ion to be brought Home in any of the 7 Ships at 16 o o 48 4609 * Tons coft bringing Home on the Directors lad Plan . 127,721 o Pleafe to obfcrve there are 4 fmall Skips and 3 large ones to come Home. It having been efiabliftied in the Courfe of thefe Calculations that 41 9 -Net Tons, agreeable to Charter Party, amounts ,. s. d. to - 14,148 6 8 4 Confcquently multiplied 'by the Number of * fmalJ Ships lading, gives both Tonnage and Freight . 4 1676 The Charter Party Tonnage of 4 fmall Ships, whofe Freight amounts to 5^,593 6 8 4933 Tons, had it been laden on Board the 3 great Ships, at^zi per Ton, would amount to 61,593 o o 4609 * Tons coft bringing Home, had the Tender made by the 3 large Ships been accepted .118,186 6 Thus certain leading Directors threw away, Jan. 27th laft, the Sum of - . 9,534 13 By difpofmg improperly of the cargoes of the ^ four (hips ordered to flay in India till another year, by which means they gained a compleat victory over the great mips, and promoted the intereft of the fmall ones, at the evident expence of the Company as above, and probably with a view to ftrengthen their own intereft with cer- tain fmall (hip-owners againft the 7th of April. If all (hips in the Eaft-India Company's fer- vice were directed by Parliament to be taken up and chartered at the builder's tonnage, as afcer^ tained by a certificate under the hands of the builder and the Company's furveyor of (hip- ping, with leave to the Company to laden what more tonnage they may think proper, fo fuch furplus did not endanger or incommode the fafety of fuch (hip, without paying any further freight for the fame, it would then become an object of care to the Directors to ftation, and caufe them to be laden home, with an eye to the Company's intereft only, and would put a total end to the owners follicitations about voy- ages, and leave the Directors free from many in- conveniences ; only care muft^be taken in that cafe, that no fmall (hips are to go in the China trade, as they are not calculated for it. There is certainly no occafion for (hips at a ^ great expence, outward-bound, to wait more than ten days at Deptford, ten days at Gravef- end, and feven days in the Downs; from which - place it is beft to difpatch them, unlefs on ex- traordinary occafions they are ordered to Spit- /\ head; ( is ) ; head; but whenever that happens, it is attended with great expence, and often with delay. All iron kentledge taken out and brought home by way of ballad, mould be provided by the fhip-owners, and the Company ought to pay nothing for it, in any mape; but as it is always the property of the owners, it mould be conil- dered as a neceflary part of the fhip ftores. Inftead of fo many various kinds of freight prices, it would be much fairer and better un- derftood to have one clear price per ton, for each different place, to be regulated by the tenders, according to the price of (lores, provifions, fea- mens wages, &c. annually. As little attention has been lately given to the punctual payment of freights, it feems reafonable, that from the time the freights become due according to the terms- of the charter party, the Company mould pay- four per cent for the fame, to the time of actual payment. In page 13 of their printed charter-party it fays " But neverthelefs the faid part owners ihall not be charged with any fum of money in refpedl: of goods damaged on board the faid fhip, either in her outward or homeward bound voyage, but fuch as mail by the condition and appearance of the package thereof, or by fome other reafonable 'proof, appear to be (hip damage, &c." The better and more fairly to explain this paflage, and to prevent any improper ufe to be made by a court of Directors of this great lati- tude given them, by which they may exercife their ( '9 ) their particular feelings to the intereft of their friends, or rigidly from exercifing their refent- ment to party prejudice, I would propofe that for the fake of fair juflice to all parties that paragraph Ihould ftand thus. But neverthelefs the faid part owners {hall not be charged with any fum of money in re- fpedt of goods damaged on board the faid fliip, either in her outward or homeward bound voy- age, but fuch, as fhall from reafonable proof ap- pear to be owing to fome evident defect in the faid (hip or vefTcl, or wilful neglect of the cap- tain or officers commanding the fame, any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wife no t'vvkh (landing. All freights outward bound exceeding three hundred and thirty- three tons (which is always carried gratis) to pay a certain freight per ton, .as well taken out from England, as carried from port to port in India (before the payment of demorage takes place) ought in common juf- r tice to pay freight ; which would exceedingly contribute towards preventing the Company's fervants abroad from fmuggling their own 'pri- vate trade from port to port in India, at the Company's expence ; which opens a large field of illicit trade for the benefit of fuch fervants abroad, as well as the commanders of ihips, and fhips company, and to the great injury of the proprietors at home. /\ To demonflrate how much more preferable this mode of chartering the fhips is to the Com- pany's intereft, than the prefent charter party admits admits of; I (hall compare the prefent charter party's dead freight price, with the dead freight price now propofed; then compare the loweft price the Company have ever paid, under their prefent charter party, with the full benefit of furplus tonnage, with the furplus tonnage price now propofed, which the Directors will always have in their power, if they plcafe to avail themfelves of, by filling up the fliip. To fet this matter in a clear light : /*/!' i 1 1 Suppofe a mip taken up or chartered at nine hundred and three tons (builders meafure, at twenty five pounds nine (hillings and four-pence per tori, that freight would amount to (with a fraction on the whole of feventy-two fhil- lings, rrt-~V lt As that (hip 'Would undoubt- edly bring home at leaft eleven hundred tons (merchants mea- furement) which reckoned at twenty pounds eighteen (hillings and two-pence per ton, with a fraction of i6s 8d makes the fame freight up ~ /. 23,000 o" o -. _ ' ' ' n 'y* In page 12 it appears the pre- fent charter party's dead freight price fc -*"/ 3315 4 The dead freight propofed as above is *- A 25 9 4 Gives a gain per ton of /. 860 f l ) In page 11, it appears the loweft price the prefent charter party has given the Company with furplus tonnage is /. 28 7 i The prefent furplus tonnage price (as in page 20) is /. 20 18 2 This proportion gives a gain on every ton brought home from China of /. 7811 So that had this plan exifted the laft year, / whennineteenmips came home withtwelvethou- fand one hundred and forty one tons of goods, agreeable to the calculation in page 13, then there would have been an evident favi.ig of ninety thoufand three hundred and ninety nine pounds, feventeen millings, and three-pence, in the article of freight on the China mips J only in that fingle year. From the public altercation I had with the two chairs at a late general court, it feems necef- fary I mould take this opportunity to ftate my motives for the part I have taken in this very important bufmefs. I proceed to that point by faying, it is not eafy for me todefcribe the very great furprize I was under when I heard, that contrary to exprefs agreement with the Direc- tors for furplus tonnage, without ever fending to us the owners of the large (hips (who were only the great fufferers by this new regulation) there were orders given by the court of Direc- tors for the 1 1 mips Rationed to China to return dead freighted, which is charter party tonnage only. The freight of which was too inadequate to the heavy expence the owners of great ihips D had had been at j then it was I fully felt what I fufpeded was the intention for two years paft in the conduct of the leading ihips hufbands from Blackwall (for there are leading fhips hufbands, as well as leading Directors, by whofe help the poor Company has been led into her prefent diftrefs) who had by the affift- ance of their good friends in the direction, at two different times, taken three pounds per ton from the great fhips, (or what is the fame thing from the China freights^ and added that money to the freights of the lefler fhips ufually ftationed to Bengal and Bombay ; the Blackwall (hips being for particular reafons all imall ones, from fix hundred and thirty-feven tons to fix hundred and feventy fix. I fay having now reduced the freights of the China mips as low as poffible, pnder the aflurance of furplus tonnage ; and that the great mips adapted to that trade, they (I mean the particular friends to Blackball) feemecj to rejoice exceedingly that the affairs of the Company gave them fo favourable an oppor- tunity to diftrefs the great fhips, by making them go for a freight that muft evidently ruin them, though it certainly hurt their little fhips in a fmall degree; tb&t they did not mind, fo ruin, did but follow the great fhips, which they viewed, as the only fure means of reducing the freights and the number of ihips, fo improper, expenJive, and moft injurious to the Company's intereft. The exultation of fome people at that time, was heard in every coffee-houfe, faying, Now ive JhaH fee the great flips cut up y &c. &c, This kind of ftate naturally bego^ in my mind a I 23 1 refsntment, and refolution, which all men of good fpirit will {how on fuch very extraordinary occa- Jions. I had 8 fixteenths of my own in the Royal Captain, my father had two more ; fo that we had engaged for a large fum, much too great for men of common fenfe to trifle with. Finding Sir Abraham Hume and Sir Laurence Dundafs deeply affected by the fame cruel regulations, I refolved to exert myfelf, and I apprized them thereof -, they were both in the country $ fome- thing was to be done immediately, the dif- patches for China being then going away. The next day I wrote the following tender to the court of Directors. " To the Honourable Court of Directors of the Eaft India Company, Leadenhall-ftreet. , " Honourable Sirs, " YOUR late unexpected refolution, has made ct a moil extraordinary alteration in the affairs " of fuch mips as are Rationed to China. " I acknowledge myfelf bound by charter " party, but any agreement may be diflblved *' by confent of the contracting parties, for " mutual benefit. '* I do therefore now propofe to you a frefli " tender of my (hip Royal Captain, and will " agree (provided you will direct to be laden " on board of her at China, as much goods as " me can conveniently carry) to bring home " the fame at twenty guineas per ton, being " four guineas per ton lefs than you can have Da a cargo ( 24 ) " a cargo brought for from thence under every " pofiible advantage to the Company that the " prefent charter party can afford. And I do " hope, whatever may have been your motive " for your late refolution, that you will imme- " diately give my offer a deliberate coniidera- " tion. I am, '' Honourable Sirs, " Your mod obedient humble Servant, " RICHARD HOTHAM." Wftdnefcay Morning, Jan. 13, 1773. To which letter they made the following reply : " To Sir RICHARD HOTHAM. " SIR, HAVING laid before the Court of Di- " redors your letter of this date, propoling a * frefh tender of the fhip Royal Captain, and ' to agree (provided the Court will direcl: to *' be laden on that (hip as much goods as me " can conveniently carry) to bring home the " fame at twenty guineas per ton, being four c * guineas per ton lefs than the Company can *' have a cargo brought for from thence under * every pomble advantage to them that the pre* " fent charter party can afford. I am ordered by the fame Court to acquaint you, that they " have given fuch your offer a deliberate con- " fidcration, * fideration, and that as the (hips for China *' are difpatched, they cannot now alter the ** difpofttions made for the returning cargoes " from thence. " I am, SIK, " Your moft obedient humble Servant, (Signed) " P. MITCHELL, Sec." Eaft-India Houfe, I3th Jan. '773- Then I made the material part of the fore- going calculations, and fent a copy of them to the chairman, and another to his deputy, ac- companied with a letter to each, of which the following is a copy ; the chairman never gave me any anfwer ; the deputy's came in due time. " SIR, *' FIRMLY believing that the extreme bufi- f< nefs you have upon your hands prevents you " from feeing the advantage to the Company '773' ( 28 ) This brought on a private conference, which I do not think I am at liberty to relate till that gentleman mail call on me fo to do, when I (hall certainly not decline it; but as the Deputy has caufed to be exhibited the following paper of mine before a certain Committee, (though a pri- vate paper) I do think it right to exhibit it oa this occafion, being conicious of no other mean- ing than what it fairly purports. It was fent under cover to Mr. Sulivan, to inforce the juftice of doing fomething to alleviate the fufFer- ings of the large Ihip-owncrs, which was da- fired to be returned, and is as fellows : " As the contract of all mips, big or little, " is firft laid before the Court of Directors, and *' when approved of, given to the Surveyor, to ' be built under his direction, fubjecT: to every ** rule and order fuch Directors mall think fit to " iffue, there can be no poffible fault found " by them, under their own regulations; confe- ' quently there ought to be no preference, but ' common juftice is due to each kind of fhip, " be they big or little. If then a general ca- ' lamity vifits the Company's affairs, an equal t juftice is due from the Company to the owners " of both kinds pf mips. To dp that, it would ' be only fair to ftate, that if a fmall fhip of fix t hundred and feventy-fix tons, which coft " i6ooo/. to fea, being chartered at four hun- " dred and ninety-nine tons ; a fhip of eight " hundred and toy-eight tons, which coft "240007. ought to be chartered at a pro- " portional tonnage, when the furplus (which ** was clearly and fpecially agreed for) is, con- <* trajy ( 29 ) " trary to all former ufage in the China trade, '* taken forcibly away, which was always un- " derftood to be the reward for building fuch " large mips. To that end, an abatement was v " made in the China freights, on a promife " given by the Court of Directors when the " freights were laft fettled, that fuch (hips " mould have full furplus tonnage. But as the r " exigency of the Company's affairs require the " utmoft frugality, all furplus tonnage has been " forbidden. Is it not highly reafcnable, under /^ " fuch unexpected regulation, that a proper at- " tention fhould be given by the Court of Dircc- " tors to the cafe of the great (hips ? Common " juftice furely demands it, fo far as fuch owners ' *' may not lofe more than the owners of the fmail f * ones do: As their capital is one third larger, "* *' and their mips more profitable to the Com- " pany, there can be no fhadow of reafon why " they mould fuffer more in proportion than " others employed in the fame fervice." " If the Directors of the prefent time do not " fee the Company's advantage in the fame light " that former Directors did, who caufed fuch '* (hips to be built j as honeft men they ought to " feel the unmerited fufferings of fuch owners, " which now prefent themfelves in fo flrong a " viewj efpecially when they caft back their " eyes upon the late tender, made by the three " large mips now gone to China, at /. 12 6j. 6