of the United East India Company.
LETTER FROM MR. JONATHAN CLARKE.
London, 1st July, 1773.
Gentlemen:
I intended to have made a purchase of teas at your present
sale to have exported to America, but the candid intimation
given by you of an intention to export them to the Colonies
on account of the Company, renders it disadvantageous for a
single house to engage in that article.
I now beg leave, gentlemen, to make a tender to you of the
services of a house in which I am a partner, Richard Clarke
and Sons,[29] of Boston, New England, to conduct the sale of
such teas as you may send to that part of America, in
conjunction with any other houses you may think proper to
entrust with this concern; altho' I have not the honor of
being personally known to many of you, I flatter myself our
house is known to the principal merchants who deal to our
Province, and are known to have always fulfilled our
engagements with punctuality & honor, and trust I shall
procure you ample security for our conducting this business,
agreeable to the direction, we may from time to time receive
from you.
In soliciting this favor, I beg leave to avail myself
further of the circumstance of our having for a long time
been concerned in the tea trade, and to greater extent than
any house in our Province, with one exception. Of the
disappointment I have met with in my intended adventure, by
which we are deprived of a very valuable branch of our
business, and on my being on the spot to take such
instructions from you as may be requisite in disposing of
what you may send. And give me leave to add my assurances
that the interest of the East India Company will always be
attended to by the house of Richard Clarke & Sons, if you
think fit to repose this confidence in them.
I am, very respectfully, gentlemen,
Your most obed't & humble servant,
JONATHAN CLARKE.
To the Hon'ble Directors of the
East India Company.
Mr. Clarke also enclosed two letters in his favor; one from Messrs.
Henry & Thos. Bromfield, the other from Mr. Peter Contencin, merchants.
June 5th, 1773.
Sir:
The bearer, Mr. Barkly, is the person whom I took the
liberty of recommending to you as a person able and
qualified to give you information touching the quantity of
tea that is now consumed in America, and to serve the
Company in that part of the World in case the Directors
shall judge it proper to make any establishment there for
selling tea on the Company's account, & I am, sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
GREY COOPER.[30]
Received from Henry Crabb Boulton, Esq.
Hon'ble Sirs:
Being informed of your resolution to export a quantity of
tea to different parts of America, we take the liberty of
recommending our friends, Messrs. Willing, Morris & Co., to
be your agents at Philadelphia, for whom we are ready to be
answerable.
We are, very respectfully,
Your honors most obedient, humble servants,
ROBERTS, BAYNES & ROBERTS.
8 June, 1773.
To the Hon'ble the Committee of Warehouses.
London, 9th June, 1773.
Gentlemen:
I have understood that you propose fixing agents in the
different colonies in America, to dispose of certain
quantities of tea; if so, I am a native and merchant of
Virginia, and think it will be in my power to execute your
commands in that quarter, on terms equal, if not superior,
to any one in it.
There are some things respecting this business that come
within my knowledge; which are too prolix for a letter, but
if the Court chuses to notice my petition, I shall be happy
and ready to give any intelligence in my power.
I am, gentlemen,
Your very obed't & hum'ble serv't,
BENJ. HARRISON, Jun^r.
At Webbs, Arundel Street, Strand.
To the Hon'ble Court, &c.
Gentlemen:
Being informed that you have it in contemplation to export
tea to the different Provinces in North America, for sale on
the Company's account, I beg leave to recommend my brother,
Mr. Jonathan Browne, merchant, in Philadelphia, as an agent
for any business you may have to transact at that place, and
I flatter myself his activity & knowledge of the trade of
that country, acquired by a residence of upwards of fifteen
years, will render him deserving of your notice.
Any security for his conduct I am ready to give, and to any
amount you shall think necessary for the discharge of the
trust you may be pleased to repose in him.
I am, very respectfully, gent.,
Your most obed't & humble serv't,
GEORGE BROWNE.
London, Tower Hill, 11th June, 1773.
To the Committee of Warehouses.
Gentlemen:
As many difficulties seem at present to attend the
exportation of tea to America in large quantities, on
account of the Company, if the expedient is approved by this
Court, of sending about 200 chests of Bohea tea, and a small
assortment of other species to Boston, by way of experiment,
and you should think proper to entrust such cargo to the
care of Messrs. Hutchinson, merchants, there, I am ready, as
a security, to advance upon the same the sum such tea shall
amount to, at the prime cost in China & freight from hence,
before the shipping thereof, provided I am permitted to
charge interest upon such advance, until remittances for the
same are received from America.
I am, gent.,
Your humble serv't,
WM. PALMER.
Devonshire Square, 24th June, 1773.
To the Hon'ble Court of Directors, &c., &c.
Sir:
The Committee of Warehouses of the East India Company desire
you will meet them at this house, on Thursday next, at
twelve o'clock at noon, relative to the exportation of tea
to America.
I am, sir,
Your most humble serv't,
WM. SETTLE.
East India House, 25th June, 1773.
To BROOK WATSON,
JONATHAN CLARKE,
FREDE'K PIGOU, Junr.
GILBERT BARKLY,
GEORGE BROWNE,
ROBERTS, BAYNES & ROBERTS,
WM. KELLY,
GREENWOOD & HIGGINSON,
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
SAMUEL WHARTON,
GEO. HAYLEY & JOHN BLACKBURN, ESQRS.
Gentlemen:
The enclosed newspapers contain the sentiments of the
Americans with regard to the quantity of teas consumed in
that country, and the fatal consequences attending buying it
from foreigners, by leading them to purchase other articles
of East India goods at the same markets which otherwise
would not be an object, and which, of course, would be
commissioned from the mother-country.
The memorial, which I had the honor to deliver, lately
points out an undoubted method for gaining this trade.
The Company being the exporters, pays the American duty of
3d. pr lb., of which they will be amply repaid by the
advance on their sales, and as mankind in general are bound
by interest, and as the duty of about a shill'g pr lb. is
now taken off tea when exported, the Company can afford
their teas cheaper than the Americans can smuggle them from
foreigners, which puts the success of the design beyond a
doubt.
It may be suggested that the Americans have not money to pay
for those goods. The Province of Pennsylvania alone ships
yearly to the West Indies, Spain, Portugal & France, &c.,
above 300,000 barrels of flour, large quantities of wheat,
Indian corn, iron, pork, beef, lumber, and above 15,000
hhds. of flax seed to Ireland, and the other Provinces are
equally industrious. The principal returns are in silver and
gold, with bills of exchange, an incredible part of which
will center with the Company should the same be executed
agreeable to the plan proposed, and smuggling will be
effectually abolished without any additional number of
officers and cruizers.
Warehouse rent, &c., in America, will come as cheap as it is
in England; and by the mode proposed for disposing of the
teas, the grocers and merchants will be quickly served
without any risk of loss by bad debts. I beg your
forgiveness for the freedom I have taken. I have the honor
to be, with due respect, gentlemen,
Your most obed't & humble servant,
GILBERT BARKLY.
Lombard Street, 29 June, 1773.
To the chairman & deputy chairman of
the East India Comp'y.
(_See Mr. Barkly's letter in the miscellany bundle for the
Pennsylvania packet of 17th May, 1773._)
Sir:
Upon my coming to town, I found a letter from the clerk of
the Committee of Warehouses, desiring my attendance at the
East India House, relative to the exportation of teas to
America.
I should have waited on the Committee of Warehouses at the
time desired, if I had been in town, and I will attend them
if they wish to see me any day next week, which may be
convenient to them. I am, sir,
Your most obedi^t. humb. serv't,
SAMUEL WHARTON.
Argyle Street, June 30th, 1773
Crabb Boulton, Esqr.
SOME THOUGHTS UPON THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S SENDING OUT TEAS TO AMERICA.
_Submitted to the consideration of Henry Crabb Boulton, Esq., Chairman
of the East India Company._
The usual exports to America, consisting of callicoes, muslins, and
other produce of India, (tea excepted,) have been seldom less than
£600,000 pr an., as such the consequence of that trade, and the interest
of the merchants concerned therein, ought to be well considered before
this measure of sending out teas to America should be adopted, lest it
might defeat the one and prejudice the other.
The merchants are much alarmed at this step of the Company, fearing it
will prevent, in a great degree, the remittances from their
correspondents by so much or near it as the sales of the teas amount to;
for it is beyond a doubt, that the people in America, if they admit the
teas, (which I much doubt,) will be tempted to purchase them with the
very money arising from the sales of muslins, callicoes, Persians, &c.,
bought of the Company instead of sending it to the merchants in England,
and thereby tend to encrease the distress which is already too severely
felt, for want of remittances. And I should not be surprized at the
merchants forming a resolution similar to that of the dealers, viz., not
to purchase anything from a Company who are interfering so essentially
with their trade, and striking at the root of their interests. I am of
opinion, if a proper application was made to the ministry, aided by a
petition from the American merchants, it might produce a relaxation of
that disagreeable and fatal duty of 3d. pr lb., and in case of success
I could almost promise that in the course of six months there would be
exported not less than one million of pounds of tea, and further, that
the usual annual export would be upon an average four millions of pounds
of teas. This mode would relieve the Company from its present load, and
place the correspondence and connection in its usual and natural
channel. But admitting that the ministry would not comply with such a
request, is it not too hasty a resolution before answers are come from
America if they will receive the teas through the channel of the
merchants, and particularly when they see the drawback is encreased from
14 to 24 pr cent. ad valorem, and thereby they are enabled to introduce
that article cheaper from hence than from Holland.
It is well known to every gentleman conversant in trade, that on account
of some disagreeable Acts of Parliament passed here, the people of
America formed a resolution, which was too generally adhered to, not to
import any goods from hence. This resolution continued for two years.
However, the merchants of New York, (who are men of understanding and
liberal principles,) foreseeing the fatal consequences that attend
England & the Provinces by a continuance of dis-union with the
mother-country, summoned a meeting of the principal inhabitants of the
town, and then came to a compromise with the people, that in case they
would agree to admit all other goods, they promised not to import any
teas from England, under very severe penalties, until the Act imposing a
duty of 3d. pr lb. was repealed, and the several captains of ships in
the trade were enjoined upon pain of forfeiting the good esteem of the
inhabitants to comply therewith. The like resolutions were agreed to in
Philadelphia & South Carolina.
There is another difficulty which occurs to me in this business, and
that is, there is not so much specie in the country as would pay for the
quantity said is intended to be exported. The Company should be very
cautious who they appointed to receive the produce of the sales, for
should the contractor for money have that power, who are the general
drawers of bills, it would enable them to make a monopoly of the ready
specie, and to make exchange advance 25 pr ct., to the loss of the
remitter.
Thus have I stated the principal objections to the measure, and in
compliance with my promise, I shall give you my opinion relative to its
introduction, & the proper modes of sale, admitting the Company
persevere in their resolutions of exporting the teas on their own
account.
A ship should be hired by the Company, capable of carrying the quantity
they intend to export, and at so much pr month. She should call in the
first place at Boston, and there land 300 chests, under the care of one
of the Company's own clerks; from thence to New York, and there land 300
chests, in the like manner as at Boston; from thence to Philadelphia,
and there land 300 chests, as before, and from thence to Carolina, and
there land 100 chests, under the care of the clerk of the Company, all
of which may be performed in the course of three months from her sailing
from hence, until her arrival at her last destined port, provided the
people in the different Provinces don't disturb the voyage upon the
arrival of the teas. Public notice should be given in the papers of each
Province at least one month preceding the sale, and the following
valuation prices affixed for the buyers to bid upon, subject to the
allowances, as limited in your own sales: Boston, @ 2s., lawful money,
pr lb.; New York, 2s. 9d., currency; Philadelphia, 2s. 3d., currency;
Charles Town, South Carolina, 10s. pr lb., currency. These prices are
for Boheas. The several clerks of the Company can with ease correspond
with each other, as there is a constant and regular communication by
post, so that if there should be an over quantity at one place, and a
deficiency at another, it may be supplied. The clerks should have
directions to pay the proceeds of the sales to some eminent merchant at
each Province, who should be a person well acquainted with the article,
and one who has great weight with the other merchants and people, both
as to esteem, rank and property; this merchant to remit the money by
good bills of exchange, which he must guarantee, and a security given
here for such a trust.
Great care should be had to regulate the sale by the consumption of each
Province, and not to be held at the same time, but to follow each other
by the distance of a fortnight, so that in case there should be more
buyers at one Province than the quantity will furnish, they may have an
opportunity of writing or going to the next sale at another Province.
I fear there may be an opposition made by some of the Provinces upon a
surmise that Government is aiding in this plan, and mean to establish
principle and right of taxation, for the purpose of a revenue, which at
present is very obnoxious, as such great care should be had not to
employ either paymaster, collector, or any other gentleman under the
immediate service of the Crown, to receive the money.
Garlick Hill, 1st July, 1773.
Gentlemen:
In compliance with your desire, we have reflected on the business &
expence which will attend the sale of and remitting for such teas as the
East India Company may ship to North America, and considering that none
but gentlemen of known property, integrity and of experience in trade
can, with propriety and safety to the Company, be employed therein, we
humbly conceive that five pr cent. commission, and one pr cent. for
truckage, warehouse rent, brokerage, and other incidental charges,
making in the whole six pr cent. on the gross sales, is as little as the
business can be transacted for. And we further beg leave to suggest that
no person ought to be employed who will not give security to the
Company, in London, for faithfully following such instructions, as they
may from time to time receive from them, for remitting to the Company
all monies which they may receive on account of teas sold, first
deducting the above six pr cent., together with such freight and duties
as they may have paid on account thereof, and interest thereon, till
reimbursed, such remittances to be made in bills of exchange, within two
months after receiving the money, which bills, to be drawn upon their
security in London, payable sixty days after sight, or in specie, at the
Company's risk and expence; if in bills of exchange, the security to be
obliged to accept and pay them. Should the Company determine to ship
teas on their own account and risk to North America, we presume to
recommend to their service, Benjamin Faneuil, Junr., Esqr., & Joshua
Winslow, Esqr.,[31] of Boston, _jointly_, to transact their business,
for whom we are ready to give security to the amount of ten thousand
pounds for their performance of the before mentioned conditions, and in
like manner a security of two thousand pounds for John Butler, Esqr., of
Halifax, in Nova Scotia, who we also beg leave to recommend to the
Company's service. We are, with great respect, gentlemen,
Your obe't, hum^e serv'ts,
WATSON & RASHLEIGH.
To the Hon'ble the Committee
of Warehouse, &c., &c., &c.
[Illustration: Signature, J. Winslow]
London, July 2, 1773.
Gentlemen:
If it should be agreeable to you to consign to the house of Richard
Clarke & Sons, of Boston, New England, this summer or fall, I would beg
leave to propose to you, that I will find security to the amount of two
or three hundred chests, that in eight months after the sale of them in
America, the accounts shall be forwarded you, and the money for the net
proceedings paid to your order within that time, you allowing our house
five pr cent. commission on the sales, and one pr cent. for storage &
other charges, the freight and American duty to be chargeable on the
teas besides, & we to be free from the risk of fire or any other
accident that may occur before the delivery of the tea.
I am, with the greatest respect, gentlemen,
Your most obed't, hum. ser't,
JONATHAN CLARKE.
To the Hon'ble Directors, &c., &c.
London, July 5, 1773.
Sirs:
The terms which I had the honor to converse with you upon, relative to
the sale of teas in America, I take leave to recapitulate as necessary,
to understand each other, viz.: You expect that the houses here who
recommend their friends abroad, and are in consequence appointed as
your factors to dispose of that article, should stipulate that it be
sold agreeable to such orders as you may think proper to give for that
purpose, and that the factors pay the cartage, warehouse rent,
brokerage, and other charges incidental to the sale, and remit the net
proceeds in two months from the last, prompt, in good bills of exchange
or bullion, for the whole of which service they are to retain a
commission of 6 pr cent. on the gross sales, the Company to be at the
risk and expence of shipping the tea out, to pay duty and entry abroad,
and to be also at the risk and expence of sending bullion home, which
terms I do agree to in behalf of those which I shall recommend, whose
names are at the foot. And as it seems prudent to guard against accident
by death, as well as that the Company be secured against the neglect &
misconduct of its servants in this business, I do hereby, for myself and
my house, here guarantee the safety of the houses named as above, for
the execution of this business, and also that such bills of exchange, as
they shall remit on the above account, shall be good.
The agents in this business hope to be indulged with giving their ships
in the trade the freight of the tea out, in preference to others.
I am, with the highest respect, sirs,
Your most obed't & most hum. serv't,
WILLIAM KELLY.
To the Hon'ble the Com^tee of Warehouses, &c., &c., &c.
_For New York:_
Messrs. Abraham Lott & Co.[32]
Messrs. Hugh & Alex^r Wallace.
Mr. Lott has been a merchant of reputation there about 18 years, and
Public Treasurer of the Province about 7 years. The latter is a house of
long standing and of great credit, and is well known to many gentlemen
here, particularly Messrs. Bourdieu & Chollet.
_For Boston:_
John Erving, Jun^r.[33]
Henry Lloyd.[34]
Both men of fortune and established characters as merchants.
_For Philadelphia:_
Messrs. Francis Tilghman.
Messrs. Reese Meredith & Son.
Both houses of great credit & established reputation.
P.S.--Mr. Kelly, on consideration, thinks that one month from the last
prompt, will be too short a time for limiting the remittances to be
made, and therefore has taken the liberty to put down two.
London, 6 July, 1773.
Sir:
Mr. Kelly will give the Committee my proposals for doing the Company's
business in Virginia, and if they require further knowledge of me,
Messrs. Harris & Co., and Mr. John Blackburn, will give them it. I am,
sir,
Your hum. serv't,
Benj. Harrison.
Mr. Wm. Settle, Clerk,
to the Committee of Warehouses.
Hon'ble Gentlemen:
Pursuant to your request, I beg leave to lay before you the proposal of
my friend, Henry White, Esqr., of New York, for the sale of what teas
you may think proper to commit to his charge, and in justice to my
friend, I think it my duty to declare that there is no gentleman more
capable of transacting this business, seeing from his long experience in
that branch, that his consequence as a merchant of fortune he will be
capable of advancing the interest of the Company in the sale thereof, as
well as silencing any prejudices that may arise from the mode of its
introduction, viz.:
That the money arising from the sale of such teas shall be paid into the
hands of your treasurer in three months immediately following the receit
thereof, first deducting 6 pr cent. in lieu of all charges consequent to
their landing, save the duty of 3d. pr lb. and freight, and I hereby
engage to join myself with one or two more gentlemen of fortune in a
bond for the faithful performance of the above covenant.
I am, with all due respect, hon'ble gentlemen,
Your most obedient, &c., &c., &c., &c.,
JOHN BLACKBURN.
Scots Yard,
Tuesday, 6 July, 1773.
N.B.--The firm of Mr. White's house is the Hon'ble Henry White, Esqr.,
at New York.
To the Hon'ble Directors, &c., &c., &c.
Sir:
Your letter of the 30th ultimo, addressed to the chairman of the East
India Comp^y, having been read in a Committee of Warehouses, they
desire you will please to meet them at this house tomorrow, at twelve of
the clock at noon, relative to the exportation of tea to America.
I am, sir,
Your most ob. serv't,
WM. SETTLE.
East India House,
7th July, 1773.
Samuel Wharton, Esqr.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL COMMITTEE OF WAREHOUSES FOR THE HON'BLE THE EAST INDIA
COMPANY.
_The Petition of Walter Mansell,[35] of the City of London, Merchant,
respectfully sheweth:_
That your petitioner, having received certain information of the Hon'ble
East India Company's intention to export large quantities of teas to His
Majesty's American Colonies, your petitioner therefore humbly begs leave
to acquaint this Committee, that he and his partner, Thos. Corbett, now
resident there have long carried on considerable business as merchants,
in Charles Town, South Carolina, where your petitioner has been resident
himself for near 20 y^rs and flatters himself that he is well acquainted
with the trade of that and the neighbouring Provinces. That your
petitioner has at a very considerable expence erected and built large
and commodious brick warehouses, for the reception of all kind of
merchandize, in Charles Town, and has a ship of his own, of the burthen
of two hundred tons, constantly employed in the Carolina trade only;
that your petitioner humbly hopes and doubts not, but that this Hon'ble
Com^tee will upon the strictest enquiry into his character and
circumstances, being possessed of houses and lands, in Charles Town, of
upwards of £500 sterling pr an., and from his American connections find
him not unworthy of their countenance and favor.
Your petitioner therefore humbly presumes to offer his services to this
Hon'ble Comm^tee to transact as their agent any business relative to the
exportation to and sale of their teas in South Carolina, or elsewhere in
the Colonies of America, as they shall think fitting to commit to his
care and management.
WALTER MANSELL.
* * * * *
Hon'ble Sirs: