Stanhope Street 25 May 1765
Dear Phelps
Tho’ I know lord Sandwich wishes to forward my E. India views, & Jones’s desire to carry those wishes into execution, yet it becomes absolutely necessary to have more than a general civil answer from the present Directors to this Question, whether Captain Skottowe is to have leave to build or not? The ship is to be built, owners are to be got by me who can produce about £16,000, & Capt. Skottowe is to be wrote to, that he may regulate his motions from India according to his prospect of building. a Husband for the ship is to be thought of, & one who is Captain Skottowes friend is necessary, tho’ a Secretary of State does not stand in need of many reasons to induce Directors to do a favour & still left to do a piece of common justice yet I will supply you with facts for a letter to the Chairman & Dep. Chairman which I give you as truth upon my honor.
Captain Skottowe is universally esteemed as a man of worth & an able Servant of the Company in his Station, he was strongly recommended to the Directors by their Servant in India for his behaviour in Bengal, Mr Rous and Mr Bolton acknowledge his worth, he has been sent upon a Voyage to the Coast of Africa to take in Slaves & proceed to Bencoolen, his ship to be sold, he accepted of this voyage tho’ dangerous to his life & in every respect distressing in hopes of better times, having had no other success in a three years voyage before than that of getting reputation, he now petitions for leave to build a ship which shall be ready for him September twelve month, Lord Sandwich request that he have such leave has been made verbally, thro’ Mr Jones, & if made in writing, will produce an answer, favourable, no doubt the evasion of a direct answer by general civility is the thing I fear, now my dear Phelps I shall take it as a singular act of friendship if you will pursue this point & prepare a letter for his Lordship’s signing to request this favour which I have so much at heart that I leave town with reluctance before it is done, but I rely upon your goodness in carrying my Lord’s favourable intentions into execution, which with Mr Jones’s management will do, a line sent to my house to tell me the final answer will be forwarded to me to ................ & will much oblige your obedt
humble Servt
Robt Wood
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Bencoolan [now Bengkulu City] is on Sumatra. Pepper was available. The East India Company established a trading center and garrison in 1685. In 1714 Fort Marlborough was built in the city.
Richard Phelps was probably secretary to William Pitt. He was also manager of the Kit-Kat Club [a late version of this club.]
Thomas Skottowe [Captain] was the brother of John, Governor of St Helena when James Cook called there. Thomas Skottowe Senior [Lord of the Manor of Ayton] had helped financially in the schooling of young James; he was a benefactor. James Cook and John Skottowe were friends
Robert Wood (1717 – 9 September 1771) was a British traveller [to Palmyra], classical scholar, civil servant and politician. In 1756 he was appointed Under Secretary to the Secretary of State for the Southern Department [which included America and Africa but not Europe], who was initially Pitt the Elder.
Richard Phelps was probably secretary to William Pitt. He was also manager of the Kit-Kat Club [a late version of this club.]
Thomas Skottowe [Captain] was the brother of John, Governor of St Helena when James Cook called there. Thomas Skottowe Senior [Lord of the Manor of Ayton] had helped financially in the schooling of young James; he was a benefactor. James Cook and John Skottowe were friends
Robert Wood (1717 – 9 September 1771) was a British traveller [to Palmyra], classical scholar, civil servant and politician. In 1756 he was appointed Under Secretary to the Secretary of State for the Southern Department [which included America and Africa but not Europe], who was initially Pitt the Elder.
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