{"product_id":"124733","title":"Manuscript Account Book of an East-India Company merchant.","description":"The account book of a major East India Company agent or merchant from 1787 to 1797, likely William Agnew who captained the EIC ships\u003cem\u003e Vansittart\u003c\/em\u003e in 1783-5, and \u003cem\u003eTriton\u003c\/em\u003e in 1788-89 and 1790-91 on their voyages to Madras and Bengal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe ledger, covering a ten-year period, shows the activities of a highly prominent London based merchant, with Irish connections, handling considerable sums of money in connection with the East India Company and trade to India and China. The accounts show extensive involvement with some of the foremost traders and ship makers of the day, especially Sir Robert Wigram (1744-1830) and John St Barbe (1742–1816), and banks such as Martin Stones \u0026amp; Foot Co., Robarts, Curtis \u0026amp; Co., and Vere \u0026amp; Williams Co. The author had shares and interests in more than eighteen East-India Company ships (including ships Lascelles (1779), Osterley (1780), Vansittart (1780), Britannia (1783), Fonthill (1783), Worcester (1785), Rockingham (1785), Henry Dundas (1786), Triton (1787), Tartar (1787), True Briton (1790), Orpheus (1794), Tellicherry (1796), Hindostan (1796), Walmer Castle (1796), Eurydice (1797), Admiral Gardner (1797), and Earl St Vincent (1799)) with most being 32nd or 16th shares but some higher and the most being \u003cem\u003eTriton\u003c\/em\u003e, at a 4th share. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWilliam Agnew captained the \u003cem\u003eTriton\u003c\/em\u003e to Madras and Calcutta (Diamond Harbour) on its first journey (1788-9), and Madras and Canton (Whampoa) on its second (1790-1). The ledger shows the sum of £5000 being exchanged for the command of the \u003cem\u003eTriton\u003c\/em\u003e, which was bound to be a profitable venture, and the expense and purchase lists for both journeys as well as continuing 'Bengal' and 'China' investments. The expenses of the first journey show the varying responsibilities and financial demands of such an undertaking, not just the normal provisions such as dried herbs, lime juice, tripe, and corks but also the money paid for searching and pilot fees, chronometers, and a launch dinner costing £50. The further investments in Bengal show the myriad names involved in enterprise in Calcutta and also the sums of money flowing through the city, adding up to tens thousands of pounds a year (millions in today's money). The same can be said for the investments in Canton: on a single day, the 2nd of December, the ledger records £7000 made on sales of tea. Apart from the broad series of investments, the ledger includes specific interest in the sales of pepper, coffee, linen, and cotton, the latter two the only items noted in direct association with specific partners. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe attribution of William Agnew as the author of this ledger is based on several factors. The mentions of direct purchase of the command of the\u003cem\u003e Triton\u003c\/em\u003e correlate with the ship's logs (held in the British Library) which list William Agnew as the Captain. There is also, as one of the loose sheets, an extra line of accounts inserted into the China pages with 'Wm. Agnew' signed on the reverse. Then there is mention of an 'Estate of my late brother Robert' with the three beneficiaries being Patrick Agnew (likely Patrick Alexander Agnew, Fourth of Dalreagle (1764-c.1813) who was the first Military Governor of British Ceylon), James Farrell (likely James Agnew Farrell (1760-c.1840) who was a land owner in County Antrim in Ireland), and 'myself': surely an Agnew. The Irish connection is confirmed by a separate entry of an estate in Ballyclare, in County Antrim, and part of the land James Agnew Farrell owned was Magheramorne, the larger part of the Glynn parish where this ledger was sold as part of the library of Glynn House in County Antrim.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSmall folio (32 x 21); manuscript account book on paper, 177pp. with index to front, discreet booksellers ticket to pastedown, several additional notes tipped in or loosely inserted, a few minor marginal stains; full reverse calf, blind rolled frame to boards, remains of label to spine, all edges marbled, some wear, a little shaken, internally very good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"[EAST INDIA COMPANY; AGNEW, William].","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57718866510199,"sku":"124733","price":7500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0733\/4694\/1233\/files\/124733_01.jpg?v=1793974225","url":"https:\/\/shapero.com\/products\/124733","provider":"Shapero Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}