Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

43 a

than with as much of the pepper, at the current price, as would balance his accountof principal and refpondentia. Accordingly Perrin delivered fo much pepper, and, onthe delivery, required his bond up ; but the governor told him, that he being a fellowtroubled with the fpirit of interloping in buying goods, and taking freights where hecould bell get them, he would keep that bond as a curb on him, that he fhould notfpoil his markets for the future. Poor Perrin ufed all his rhetoric to get his bondup, but to no purpofe; and the governor moreover gave his wine a bad name, fothat he could not difpofe of that either, and all this oppreffion was in order to ftraitenhim, that he might be obliged to fell his new purchafed fhip, at a low price, to himand his affociates, which, at laft, he was obliged to do, holding a quarter part in hisown hands, to fecure the command of her to himfelf, which, after all, he could hardlydo. Perrin made his complaint to me, but I was in no condition to affift him, be-caufe I, having three or four large fliips at Bengal, was reckoned a criminal guilty ofthat unpardonable fin of interloping; however, I advifed Perrin to comply with hisinexorable mafter, on any terms of agreement whatfoever, which he endeavoured todo, that he might, at leaft, keep the command of his fhip, where he was fo muchconcerned, and had hardly done it, but by accident. One day meeting me on thegreen near the fort, he flopped me to relate his grievances, and begged, that, if hewas turned out of his own fhip, he might have an employ in one of mine, which Ipromifed he fhould.

Sheldon efpied us, out of a window, holding a long confabulation, and being im-patient to know about what, fent a fervant to call Perrin, and he, obeying the fum-inons, was interrogated about what our difcourfe was ; and he told the promife I hadmade him. Sheldon told him, that he was as capable to employ him as I could be.Perrin anfwered, that he knew that, but wilhed rhat he would be as willing too; foSheldon promifed that he fhould command his owm fhip to Perfia.

But the wine ftill lay unfold, though it was fcarce then in Bengal; but the namethat it got, firft at Fort St. George, and afterward in Fort William , ftuck fo faft toit, that none of it would go off at any price, fo I advifed him to carry it off in thenight, in my boats, on board of one of my fhips, and I would try if I could ferve himin felling it, which accordingly he did; and two gentlemen of the council, being thatfeafon bound for England, coming one day to dine with me, I treated them, and thereft of my company, with that Perfia wine, which they all praifed, and afked mewhere I got it. I told them, that, knowing that good wines would be fcarce at Bengalthat year, I had provided a good quantity at Surat , from whence I had come thatfeafon. Every one begged that I would fpare them fome chefts, which I condefcendedto do as a favour, and next day fent them what they wanted, at double the price theowner demanded for it, while he had it, and fo got off above 120 chefts, whichenabled Mr. Perrin to fatisfy moft of his creditors.

Sheldon provided a flock and freight for Perrin to Perfia, and put on board fomerotten long pepper, that he could difpofe of no other way, and fome damaged gun-nies, which are much in ufe in Perfia for embaling goods, when they are good intheir kind; but, nolens nolens, Perrin muft take them, and fign bills of loading forgood well conditioned goods; and yet, after he was ready to fail, he had beenflopped, if he could not raife the fum of 2500 rupees, to difcharge a bill, that, at thattime, became due, and was indorfed to Sheldon. I alfo helped him out of that dif-ficulty, and took his bond for the fum, bearing intereft from the date, at the currentintereft of one per cent, per menfem; fo Perrin proceeded on his voyage to Perfia,