The Irvine Papers

File Level Description:Charles Irvine Correspondence (Series a, 1730-1771)

James Rose Correspondence (Series b, 1743-1769) Charles Irvine Drafts & Charles Irvine Letterbooks (Series c & Series h, 1732-1756)

Notes on the Organization of the Letters within the Collection and the Organization of this Descriptive Aid:

Letters are arranged in hollinger boxes, with each box spanning a certain period of years. Within each box the letters are divided into folders that correspond to a particular year or years and the folders in each box are chronologically ordered and sequentially marked. Order within folders follows a chronological arrangement as well.

The primary language of this collection is English. There are, however, a number of letters in French and smaller numbers in Dutch and Swedish. Letters in a foreign language are not usually marked as such in the finding aid.

Many of the letters still bear the wax seals used on them and pieces of paper bear watermarks. Seals vary from family or individual seals to company seals. Some are in excellent condition.

Items moved by Charles Irvine to another part of his papers and cross-referenced by him are not described below. These items are noted on slips of paper with a cross-reference written by Irvine himself.

Finally, in cataloging the letters, a network-based and thematic approach has been adopted. For each year letters were placed into groupings according to the connection of the correspondent to Charles Irvine in the case of the Irvine correspondence or to James Rose for the Rose correspondence. Within each network-based grouping major themes and correspondents were then identified, presented in sequential order established by the inventory numbers on the letters in question. In all cases the content of the letters themselves has been the guide in classifying them. Thus if members of Charles Irvine’s or James Rose’s personal network were discussing chiefly non-personal matters, their letters were sometimes simply lumped in with business correspondents.

Specific Symbols and Abbreviations Used:

*= an item already described once.

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SEIC=Swedish East India CompanyCIC = Charles Irvine Correspondence, letters to Charles Irvine.JRC = James Rose Correspondence, letters to James Rose, chiefly from George Ouchterlony of London.CIC2a= Charles Irvine Correspondence, letters from Charles Irvine to Sundry Correspondents as well as letters to various members of Charles Irvine’s network from various correspondents. CIC2b=Charles Irvine Correspondence, letterbooks, chiefly written while on board ship during Charles Irvine’s stints as a supercargo for the SEIC

I. Series a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Various Correspondents, 1732-1772.

Hollinger Box 1, 1732-1746.

Folder 1, 1732, 1733 and 1735.

1732, 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a. Letters and short notes from business and professional correspondents. Correspondents include John Urquhart, Colin Campbell, Messrs. Lagerstrom and Tham, Henrik König, George Ouchterlony, Charles Pike, C. Flescher, and Hugh Campbell. Topics include investment in the SEIC ship Ulrica Eleonora; a cover page for the orders for the supercargoes of the Ulrica Eleonora; Henrik König’s thoughts on the personalities of the captain and supercargoes of the Ulrica Eleonora; arranging for silver for the Ulrica Eleonora; and trade goods for the voyage of the Ulrica Eleonora.

1733, 1a and 5a. Letters from Robert Garden to Charles Irvine. Topics include a friend requesting money, a law suit involving his brother, and some personal news.

1733, 2a-4a. Letters from Ch. Flescher [a.k.a. Hugh Campbell?] to Charles Irvine concerning the particulars of voyages within Europe and, primarily, the difficulty of undertaking them due to stormy weather. Some letters contain personal references.

1733, 6a. A letter from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. The letter records particulars of payment for business transactions and refers to a lawsuit concerning Charles Irvine’s old tie to Arbuthnot & Co. of Rouen where Irvine did his mercantile apprenticeship.

1733, 7a. A letter from John Blake to Charles Irvine. Topics include financing the voyage of the SEIC ship Ulrica Eleonora.

1733, 8a-11a. Letters from Charles Pike to Charles Irvine. Letters concerning SEIC business containing instructions on how to buy tea and general advice on conducting business in Canton; a precise list of items (and their cost) needed to set up a factory

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[trading post] in Canton; contacts who might be useful in Canton; some details of financial transactions; and details about a voyage.

1735, 1a, 2a, 5a, 6a, 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Colin Campbell, Hugh Campbell, A. le Blanc [possibly a nom de plume]; George White [a possible nom de plume for George Ouchterlony], Patrick Garden, Robert Garden and George Ouchterlony. Topics include advice on how to treat important people in Gothenburg and in the SEIC who might be able to further Charles Irvine’s career; a request for Irvine to order some goods from Bordeaux; financial difficulties in which Irvine was involved; personal rebukes of Irvine’s diligence; and the financial situation of A. le Blanc.

1735, 3a and 4a. Letters and documents from professional and business correspondents. Correspondents include Charles Pike. Topics include the private trade of one Mr. Cummins and Charles Irvine [conducted during SEIC voyages] and an invoice.

1735, 7a, 8a, and 9a. Letters to Charles Irvine from various members of the Swedish East India Company concerning some orders or arrangements with which Irvine was involved. Correspondents include Henrik König and Comte Gyllenborg. The precise nature of the matter at hand is not clear in the letters, but involved one General Ribbing.

Folder 2, 1736-1739.

1736, 1a. A letter to Charles Irvine from Count Friedrich Gyllenborg, a representative of the Swedish East India Company in its dealings with England and France in the aftermath of the Porto-Novo affair and later a principal shareholder in the Swedish East India Company. The letter wishes Irvine success in the new year and goes into details about some commissions that Irvine had likely taken on for Gyllenborg for his upcoming voyage [possibly on the SEIC ship Tre Cronor].

1736, 2a. A letter to Charles Irvine from one Jan Albert Sichterman of the Dutch East India Company in which Sichterman expresses his empathy for the difficulties Charles Irvine had during his voyage on the SEIC ship Ulrica Eleonora.

1737, 1a, 2a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 18a,19a, and 19a-1. Letters containing information on business transactions. Correspondents include Jan Albert Sichterman, Comte Gyllenborg, Colin Campbell, B. Andrews, and George Ouchterlony. Topics include Irvine’s safe return from his voyage on the SEIC ship Ulrica Eleonora; commissions Charles Irvine was carrying or was to carry out for Comte Gyllenborg; praise for Irvine’s good work; European commodity prices; keeping the secrets of the SEIC; information on products that will sell well in China; accounts of sharp business practices; orders for Irvine while in Canton; some details about the behavior of the correspondents’ colleagues; details of sales; payments and account instructions; invoices; information on credit via bottomry bonds; information on subscription to the voyages of

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the SEIC ships Fredericus Rex and the Stockhom (1738/1739); details of SEIC voyages; and Irvine’s financial troubles. 1737, 3a, 13a, and 14a. Letters containing personal information. Correspondents include Patrick Garden. Topics include Charles Irvine’s financial situation; family matters in Garden’s personal network; professional success and failure, and requests for money.

1737, 4a. A letter from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. The hand is barely legible in its letter forms.

n.b. Letters 8a and 9a are from one B. Anderson to Captain Thomas Neilson in Gothenburg although only one indicates B. Anderson as the author.

1738, 1a and 3a. Letters from Hugh Campbell to Charles Irvine concerning business matters, including details about financial matters connected with SEIC voyages; the arranging of cargoes for SEIC voyages; and the investment of Charles Irvine’s unused investment funds.

1738, 2a. A letter from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include an unsuccessful business transaction.

1739, 1a, 6a, and 7a. Letters containing information on Charles Irvine’s personal network. Correspondents include Patrick Garden and William and Samuel Neillson. Topics include family matters, reports on life course, and details concerning a will [possibly the will of Thomas Neilson, who served as a second captain for the Swedish East India Company].

1739, 2a-5a. Letters from various business and professional correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include General Ribbing, George Ouchterlony, William Fazakerly, Edmund Heath Topics include information on business transactions, including mentions of commissions carried out by Charles Irvine; a dispute between Charles Irvine and one Mr. Lamego about compensation for a failed business deal; and details of Charles Irvine’s accounts with others.

Folder 3, 1740-1741.

1a, 4a, 8a, 13a, 14a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 24a, 26a, 29a, 33a, 34a, 36a, 41a, 42a, 43a1, 43a2, 45a, 49a, 58a, and 60a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Thomas Wilkieson, at the time Irvine’s primary agent in the Netherlands. Wilkieson was based in Amsterdam, but had contacts in Rotterdam as well. Topics chiefly concern Charles Irvine’s impending SEIC voyage to China and include shipping goods to Cadiz, Spain in preparation for the voyage; difficulties with and solutions to arranging shipping due to weather (specifically ice and snow closing harbors) and the Spanish and British embargos; insurance of shipments; what Irvine should do about selling and/or transporting various products; reports of goods lost to plundering and the process of securing insurance payments on

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them; mentions of news sources for political events affecting trade (the “Dutch gazette”); problems handling certain products, such as rhubarb; details of the payment of accounts; information on the careers of colleagues; the financing of the upcoming trip to China; information on remittances from correspondents; directions to Wilkieson with regard to managing Charles Irvine’s affairs while Irvine is away in China; goods that Wilkieson would like Charles Irvine to purchase for him in China and advice on what will sell well in Europe; how best to sell cloth; details of goods sold in Amsterdam; news of a shipwreck; and information on how to contact Wilkieson while Irvine is away in Canton.

2a, 11a, 23a, 28a, and 59a. Letters to Charles Irvine from George Ouchterlony, Irvine’s principal agent in London. Topics include, shipping goods to Cadiz in preparation for Irvine’s impending SEIC voyage to China; difficulties with arranging shipping due to weather (ice and snow closing harbors) and the hostilities between Spain and Britain; insurance of shipments; what Irvine should do about selling and/or transporting various products; the compensation of investors/traders in voyages in which Irvine had participated, especially one Lamego; the financing of the upcoming trip to China; details concerning Irvine’s accounts; and information on the fortune’s of Charles Irvine’s nephew Dr. George Irvine, a physician who was emigrating to St. Christopher (a.k.a. St. Kitts) in the West Indies.

3a, 12a, 17a, 18a, 19a, 25a, 30a, 32a, 35a, 37a, 40a, 50a, and 57a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Jean Cossart and Isaac Bouwer, who were merchants in Amsterdam. The two worked fairly closely with Irvine and had a financial interest in the Swedish East India Company. Topics include, information on financing Irvine’s impending SEIC voyage to China; details of wares for which Irvine had asked; difficulties transferring wares from Sweden to Cadiz, Spain in preparation for Irvine’s impending voyage to China (due to winter weather); details of wares appropriate to buy in China; precise listings of wares to bring from China and strategies for ensuring that others do not learn their buying strategies; information on Irvine’s accounts with other correspondents (Patrick Garden, his cousin and his London correspondent George Ouchterlony inter alia); remittances of silver for purposes of financing an upcoming voyage; details on having certain textiles made up in China; and discussions of the textiles to be purchased in China.

5a and 46a. Letters to Charles Irvine from particular officials of the SEIC. Persons include Comte Gyllenborg and Admiral Ankarcrona. Topics include information concerning particular commissions Irvine is undertaking.

6a, 11a*, 16a, 39a and 59a*. Letters chiefly from professional correspondents to Charles Irvine, all containing more personal information. Correspondents include T. Ankarkrona, George Ouchterlony, Jan Albert Sichterman, and Patrick Garden. Topics include good wishes for Irvine’s upcoming SEIC voyage to China; the fortunes of persons in Irvine’s personal network; offers to recommend people in Irvine’s circle; repayment of monies to investors/creditors in London to whom Irvine owed money and information about Irvine’s nephew Dr. George Irvine, a physician who was emigrating to St. Christopher.

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1740, 7a, 38a, and 56a. Letters to Charles Irvine from G. Clifford and Sons in Amsterdam. Topics include selling of Charles Irvine’s goods in Amsterdam, remittances of the proceeds, and the difficulties in collecting monies from one Mr. Gordon.

1740, 9a, 10a, 17a*, 31a, 43a3, 43a4, 44a, 47a, 48a, 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, 55a, and 61a. Official documents, memoranda, and letters of instruction connected with the voyage of the SEIC ships Stockholm and Riddarhus (1740/41). Topics include two bottomry bonds; a precise listing of the goods to be included in the pacotille of Messrs. Cossart and Bouwer, merchants in Amsterdam; Colin Campbell’s financial involvement in the voyage of the Riddarhus and Stockholm (1740/41); an insurance document from Thomas Wilkieson in Dutch; a document in Hugh Campbell’s hand detailing the financing of the upcoming voyage of the Stockholm and Riddarhus that also mentions items to be purchased for Mrs. Hugh Campbell; a document concerning the silver needed for the upcoming voyage to China; a draft of a letter from Charles Irvine to Colin Campbell concerning the status of Charles Irvine’s accounts with merchants and investors in Europe; a letter from Colin Campbell to Charles Irvine concerning some small matters to do with arranging the upcoming voyage; a letter from H. König and Colin Campbell to the captain and supercargoes of the Riddarhus concerning the shipboard accommodations for Mr. Tham and Mr. König; rules concerning the refunding of monies invested in a voyage; orders concerning the succession of command if Captain Kitching (a British subject) is taken by an English warship; rules concerning unauthorized personnel on board ship, the number of servants people may have aboard, and rules to be observed at ship’s table; criticism of Archibald Duff for bringing too many servants and concern for the fate of the voyage should the British discover too many British nationals on board SEIC ships; social dissension among the mates of the Riddarhus; orders concerning the possible late arrival of the Stockholm and Fredericus Rex, specifically how their personnel can best contract for trade goods and how the company can best account for their doings in Charles Irvine’s absence; and a report from Alexander Cuming as to the fortunes of the Suecia.

1740, 15a, 23a*, and 27a. Letters to Charles Irvine concerning the compensation of investors/traders, probably those involved in the ill-fated SEIC ship Ulrica Eleonora, which ran afoul of British forces. Involved parties included: a Mr. Booker, Mr. Lamego, Edmund Heath, and William Fazakerly.

1740, 43a. A letter to Charles Irvine from William Catanach writing for the London merchant house of George and William Catanach concerning accounts and remittances.

1741, 1a. A letter to Charles Irvine from William Eliott, a fellow Scot who had been in India and met with some trouble there, according to him on account of his [William Eliott’s] brother. Eliott thanks Irvine for helping him obtain patronage from Hugh Campbell and says he will soon be shipping out as a First Supercargo. He also recommends his brother Gilbert Eliott to Irvine so that Irvine will help him to make contact with Hugh Campbell. This letter is the first letter after Irvine’s return from his voyage on the Riddarhus/Stockholm.

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Folder 4, 1742-43

1742, 1a and 14a. Letters from Mr. Duvelaer de la Barre to Charles Irvine. Topics include instructions for selling certain goods (textiles imported from China) in Europe and what to do with the proceeds, information about the situation in Canton, and the best persons to consult on the subject; a report of measures taken in shipping goods from Canton; and expressions of De la Barre’s friendship.

1742, 2a, 5a, 6a, and 8a. Letters of a more personal nature, Correspondents include Jan Albert Sichterman, Colin Campbell, and Hugh Campbell. Topics include exchanges of gifts and favors between Irvine and Jan Albert Sichterman, the Dutch East India Company’s director in Bengal and extraordinaris of the Raad van Indië; news from Colin Campbell concerning deaths of mutual acquaintances and the health of his family as well as expressions of friendship; Hugh Campbell’s remarks on whether he plans to continue with the Swedish East India Company; and Colin Campbell’s concern for Irvine’s poor health.

1742, 3a. A letter from one E. Sparke, probably written to Mungo Murray, discussing an instrument Murray had crafted to explain “spherical trigonometry, with projections of the sphere.” Sparke was describing other uses to which the instrument might be put.

1742, 4a. A letter from Archibald Duff to Charles Irvine in which Duff indicates actions he has taken to settle his accounts with Irvine.

1742, 5a*, 6a*, 7a, 8a*, 9a, 10a, 11a, and 12a. Letters detailing official business of the Swedish East India Company. Correspondents include Colin Campbell, Hugh Campbell, Comte Ekeblad, Abraham Hume, and M. de Fulvy. Topics include Colin Campbell’s candid remarks on the home voyages of the SEIC ships Gothenburg and Stockholm, with references to the war between Muscovy and Sweden and disorder aboard the Gothenburg; requests that Irvine write to Colin Campbell and Hugh Campbell more often when he is in Canton; Hugh Campbell’s remarks on the voyage of the SEIC ship Gothenburg, whose captain, one Ankstan, had been at odds with his crew, and on what Irvine should do with regard to the Stockholm (which had arrived in L’Orient in sore need of repair) and her cargo as well as what goods he might want to buy in Europe for a subsequent voyage; advice and commentary from Count Ekeblad on how Irvine might best deal with transporting his ship and his goods from L’Orient to Gothenburg, with particular reference to the problems that the political and military situation of the time posed; Colin Campbell’s remarks on discipline problems aboard the company ships in the last voyage, the repair of the Stockholm, and the transport of its goods to Sweden, the arrivals of the Fredericus Rex and the Riddarhus in Sweden and the position of Muscovy’s fleet; a report from Count Ekeblad of the Swedish East India Company’s satisfaction with Charles Irvine’s actions re: the Stockholm as well as information on the Muscovite fleet and Admiral Utfall’s activities; Irvine’s request of Abraham Hume to insure his goods and those of Mr. Arthur Abercrombie that are on board the Stockholm, the Riddarhus, and the Fredericus Rex, for the remainder of the journey to Sweden;

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Charles Irvine’s letters of thanks for assistance with the Stockholm to Monsr. de Fulvy (Councillor of State and Intendant of Finance) and Monsr. Orry (Minister and Controller General of Finance); and Count Ekeblad’s thanks for Irvine’s letters to Orry and Fulvy as well as a report on the position of the Muscovite fleet in the Baltic Sea.

1742, 13a. A letter from Comte Cyllenborg to Charles Irvine. Handwriting very difficult to read.

1743, 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 16a, 19a, and 21a. Letters of a more personal nature, although many also give a sense of the connections between Irvine’s private network and his business network. Correspondents include Robert Garden, Patrick Garden, Jan Albert Sichterman, George Ouchterlony, Hugh Campbell, Ann Arbuthnot, and T. Ankarkrona. Topics include Robert and Patrick Garden’s efforts to settle Charles Irvine’s accounts with Mr. Lamego and others, as well as to deal with Charles Irvine’s financial losses on his previous SEIC voyage; personal news of both Robert and Patrick Garden; Charles Irvine’s efforts to settle his accounts and his remarks on his successes, failures, and future in business and his health; Jan Albert Sichterman (the Dutch East India Company’s Director in Bengal and extraordinaris on the Raad van Indië) thanks for the gifts that Irvine sent him, as well as his good wishes for his advancement in the company and mentions of his (Sichterman’s) frequent communications with Colin Campbell about Campbell’s son (who was apparently in Bengal); news from Hugh Campbell of the death of his son in Bristol and his reaction to it; an invitation to a dinner in London from Ann Arbuthnot, who includes in her letter a recipe for a rhubarb-based purgative; and a letter from Admiral Ankarcrona thanking Irvine for bringing him China ink and other goods, requesting more of the same, and wishing Irvine well on his upcoming voyage.

1743, 5a*. A letter from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine concerning some silk and silverware Ouchterlony had sent to Irvine’s nephew James Rose; obtaining credit for silver (presumably for an upcoming voyage to China) in Amsterdam; and insurance on the ship the Prince Charles between Gothenburg and Canton and back.

1743, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 11a, 14a, and 18a. Letters from James Rose to Charles Irvine, topics include, news of family in Nairn, Aberdeen, and Aberdeenshire, including Rose’s efforts to settle his dead brother’s estate; news of the economic situation in Scotland; requests to Charles Irvine to obtain for Rose a good position on an SEIC ship (at least a second mate’s position); speculations on what products might sell well in China; details concerning the sale of goods brought back from China and elsewhere for sale in Scotland; a report on the sale of Charles Irvine’s goods and of James Rose’s goods at the auctions in Gothenburg and speculation on whether Amsterdam might not be more suitable for some goods; requests for information on Rose’s accounts with Mr. George Ouchterlony; mentions of news from the North [of Scotland], which Rose will report to Irvine on seeing him; requests for silver for the upcoming trip to Canton and information as to how Rose will obtain silver for the voyage; advice to Irvine on how he should approach friends in London for credit for the upcoming voyage; and reflections on what ship Irvine and Rose will return to Europe on, the original ship (the Calmar) or possibly a later ship.

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1743, 10a. A letter from Pye and Cruikshank requesting that Charles Irvine consider them as his new agents in Amsterdam, now that Thomas Wilkieson has retired to Britain.

1743, 12a, 15a, 17a, and 23a. Letters from Colin Campbell to Charles Irvine. Topics include the international situation and its positive influence on the sales of Swedish East India Company products; information on a remittance to Thomas Wilkieson on Charles Irvine’s behalf; details of gifts exchanged; details of monies Colin Campbell owes for goods received; news of the death of Hugh Campbell’s son James and Hugh Campbell’s reaction to it; details on the SEIC supercargoes that Colin Campbell is sending with Charles Irvine to China as well as the post his nephew James Rose will have; arranging the cargo and the finances for the upcoming SEIC voyage to Canton; agreeing on a proper rank order at table on board ship for the same voyage; and the settling some of Charles Irvine’s accounts.

1743, 13a. A letter from Samuel Worster to Charles Irvine. Handwriting very difficult to read.

1743, 20a. A bill of exchange drawn on George Ouchterlony to the credit of Charles Irvine.

1743, 22a and 24a. Letters from Hugh Campbell to Charles Irvine concerning SEIC matters. Topics include financing the upcoming SEIC venture to China; products to buy in China; conditions of sale for goods brought back to Gothenburg; and maritime insurance.

Folder 5, 1744-1746.

1744, 1a. A letter containing an invoice and particulars of payment for items that Charles Irvine ordered from the firm of Gough and Co. The letter is written by Edouard Gough, presumably the agent of his brother James, the head of the firm of Gough and Co., which was based in Cadiz, Spain.

1744, 2a. A letter containing a report on the safe arrival of the SEIC ship Gothenburgh in Batavia [now Jakarta], Indonesia.

1744, 3a. A letter from James Rose wishing Charles Irvine a safe voyage to Canton and confirming that he has taken care of some matters for which James Rose required his help.

1744, 5a-8a. Correspondence between Archibald Duff, M.D. and the supercargos and captains of the SEIC ship Calamar concerning the treatment of one Eric Mobery, a sailor, who it would seem eventually had to have his leg amputated.

1744, 4a, 9a and 13a. Correspondence between Archibald Duff, M.D., George Elliot, and Charles Irvine concerning trading activities.

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1744, 10a-12a. Correspondence between Archibald Duff, M.D. and C. Irvine concerning the case of Walter Ross , an employee who died of a fever due, according to Duff, of the negligence of the surgeon of the Calmar.

1744, 14a. A cover letter for a longer communication from Gilbert Eliott to his brother William Eliott, care of Charles Irvine.

1745, 1a-5a and 8a. Correspondence concerning various trading activities, most involving Archibald Duff, M.D. and Charles Irvine. Duff had fallen into some financial difficulties. There are also two letters from Arthur Abercromby giving details of a voyage from China to Gothenburg.

1745, 6a and 7a. Correspondence concerning affairs in Scotland, Sweden, and the families and friends of James Rose and Charles Irvine, including the 1745 Jacobite uprising in Scotland.

1746, 1a. Letter from Hugh Campbell to C. Irvine concerning the position of foreigners in the Swedish East India Company and some disputes over business transactions.

1746, 5a, 8a-11a, 13a-14a, and 15a-22a. Letters from various correspondents including, George Ouchterlony, Archibald Duff, M.D., James Gough, Patrick Garden, John Scott. The letters chiefly communicate details of financial transactions in which Charles Irvine was involved, including financial losses due to disasters, disputes over business transactions, and details from SEIC voyages in progress.

1746, 3a. A request for assistance in moving some funds on behalf of Mr. Jacob Flanderin.

1746, 2a, 4a, 6a, 7a, , Letters from Colin Campbell to Charles Irvine containing details of business ventures, most making comment on the feelings of the writers concerning personal and financial losses of themselves or their immediate circle.

1746, 6a*, Letter with details on the political maneuverings for a second charter for the Swedish East India Company.

1746, 12a. A bottomry bond in French. Have JFB check this document as inventory differ from it.

Hollinger Box 2, 1747-1750

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Folder 1, 1747

1747, 1a-6a, 17a-18a, 21a, and 26a. Letters to Charles Irvine from various persons within his personal circle of a more personal nature although some references to professional life are to be found. Correspondents include Arthur Abercromby, Colin Campbell, George Ouchterlony, and Hugh Campbell. Topics include, the treatment of foreigners in Sweden as well as the fortunes of Scots families in Sweden and of other friends and relations; offers of hospitality from Colin Campbell while Irvine is in Gothenburg; Hugh Campbell’s opinions of people working for the Swedish East India Company and his account of the SEIC ship Calmar, which had been missing since September of 1746; information on events in Scotland (esp. the 1745 Jacobit uprising); details of small commissions to be carried out for friends and acquaintances; and candid reports about Irvine’s business dealings with Tan Tinqua (a Cantonese merchant), the crew of the SEIC ship Calmar and the political climate in Sweden in the last days of the War of the Austrian Succession.

1747, 1a*, 4a*, 6a*, 7a, 8a, 9a, 9a1, 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 16a, 17a*, 18a*, 19a, 20a, 21a*, 22a, 23a, 24a, and 25a. Letters to Charles Irvine from various business associates, some of whom were also part of his personal circle. Correspondents include Arthur Abercromby, George Ouchterlony, John Ouchterlony George Clifford & Sons, Pye & Cruikshank, Cossart & Bouwer, T. & A. Hope, and Arnold Urbano. Topics include details on settling debts and accounts; information on obtaining products for trading; what to do with gold brought back from China (whether to hold it or invest it in “India bonds”; insurance of cargoes; details of how cargoes are being delivered to clients and commissions are being filled; details of sharp business practices; information about Charles Irvine’s correspondence; information on Charles Irvine’s European business network and its familial base; information on George Ouchterlony’s trading ties to Philadelphia; details of transactions George Ouchterlony had undertaken for Charles Irvine’s acquaintances; information on “India silks” that will sell well in the Dutch Republic and the prices they will fetch; details of the fortunes of the French East India Company; information on ginseng as a product; the peculiarities of the Gothenburg sale of the Swedish East India Company; references to the international situation and its influence on international trade; prices for tea and coffee in Amsterdam and the demand for chinaware; information on the proceeds of sales in Amsterdam; information on the proceeds from the sale of Charles Irvine’s China gold; prices for repairing watches to be given as presents in Sweden; difficulties with the exchange rates in Europe due to international political conditions; information on how finances, especially via bottomry bonds, were arranged; details of small commissions carried out for Charles Irvine on behalf of friends and business associates; and cross-investment in the British and Swedish East India Companies.

Folder 2, 1748.

1748, 1a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 8a, 15a, and 46a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Koschel and Conradi, a Stockholm-based firm that helped Irvine to effect money transfers inter alia.

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Topics include reports on the process of redeeming bills of exchange; new conditions for payments on bills of exchange because of the shortage of silver and the resultant high exchange in Sweden; details of the effects of speculation on the exchange in Sweden and measures mooted to solve the problem on a governmental and private level and generally how to cope with the situation; news of the correction of the exchange; and information on the accounts current of Charles Irvine and Colin Campbell.

1748, 2a, 9a, 20a, 23a, 30a, 40a, 55a1, and 67a. Letters to Charles Irvine from George Clifford and Sons of Amsterdam, a merchant house with whom Irvine had frequent dealings. Topics include the fulfilling of certain commissions that Charles Irvine had taken on; details of accounts settled and money transferred; bottomry bonds; arranging for Spanish silver for an upcoming SEIC voyage to Canton; information on the availability of ginseng from Canada and its price; information on the financing of trade via bottomry bonds and the difficulty of such financing due to the high exchange rates then prevailing; and news of how bad the conditions of trade are as well as their influence on the monies Clifford and Sons can remit to Irvine.

1748, 3a1, 10a, 13a, 19a, 26a, 36a, 45a, and 49a. Letters to Charles Irvine from James Gough and Co., agents in Cadiz heavily involved in the financing of Swedish East India Company ventures with New Spain silver. Topics include information on the arrival of silver ships from Havana; information on remittances on bottomry bonds; progress of the SEIC ships in arriving in Cadiz for their departure to Canton; orders for SEIC supercargoes and timing of the dispatch of company ships from Cadiz to Canton; information on the financing of the upcoming SEIC venture to Canton; information on Irvine’s account with Gough and Co. and George Ouchterlony’s efforts to transfer funds to it; information on the transfer of products and letters to Charles Irvine’s nephew John Irvine in Canton; information on orders from Colin Campbell concerning the financing of an upcoming SEIC voyage; information on the arrival of products from the Americas (ginseng); information on the mechanics of the SEIC’s financing of it China trade (ships carrying silver from Europe vs. ships carrying manufactures and goods to Surat, India to earn silver for China); requests for information about a planned SEIC voyage to Surat; reports on the coming arrival of ships from New Spain, presumably laden with silver; payment of “acts of grosse”; new conditions from Gough and Co. for investing in SEIC ventures; information about SEIC policies to prevent clandestine trade; and a request for information on the company’s intentions towards the Surat trade.

1748, 7a, 11a, 14a, 16a, 17a, 21a, 29a, 32a, 39a, 41a, 54a, 55a, 57a, 60a, 61a, 64a, and 65a. Letters to Charles Irvine from members of the Ouchterlony family, who were both Charles Irvine’s close friends and intimately involved in the doings of the Swedish East India Company. Correspondents include Alexander Ouchterlony, George Ouchterlony, and Robert Ouchterlony. The letters contain a mixture of private and professional information. Topics include the fortunes of people in Charles Irvine’s circle of friends and acquaintances; insurance of cargoes and ships, insurance practices, and insurance institutions (public and private); planning of business ventures with persons within Ouchterlony’s and Irvine’s circle of friends and relatives, such as a manufactory for sail-cloth in Montrose, Scotland; information about the salability of Scots products in

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Sweden; financing the upcoming SEIC trip to Canton; bottomry bonds; details of money transfers; news of the progress of SEIC ships from Gothenburg to Cadiz; orders for East India wares (rhubarb, tea, and arrack); information on distribution/trade networks between England, Scotland, and Sweden; news of daily life in London; detailed information on what goods will sell well in India (Mumbay and Surat); the personal credit of Ouchterlony, Irvine, and others; insurance accounts and insurance on ships gone missing but not definitively lost at sea; exchange rates; news of the recent hostilities with France (War of Austrian Succession) and their affect on members of Charles Irvine’s personal network; business affairs in Scotland; a request for a loan for the sail-cloth manufactory that George Ouchterlony is setting up in Scotland; news of losses that insurers refuse to insure and other problems with insurance; and details of a law suit connected to Charles Irvine’s involvement with the merchant house Arbuthnot and Co. of Rouan where he had apprenticed.

1748, 25a, 37a, 43a, 51a, 53a, 58a, and 66a. Letters to Charles Irvine from various business correspondents. Correspondents include Arnold Urbano, Alexander Livingston, Cossart & Bouwer, and Careu, Langton & Co. Topics include responses to Charles Irvine’s proposition to invest in an upcoming SEIC voyage to Surat and Canton; complications of finding investors for this voyage among the network of Arnold Urbano and Urbano’s dissatisfaction with how the financing of the voyage (which was ultimately abandoned) was being arranged; information on accounts settled and paid; accounting of expenses for a commission and an explanation for some difficulties that the fulfilling of the commission (which was actually for James Rose) caused Charles Irvine; details of Charles Irvine’s accounts and the sales of goods he has brought from China; requests for Charles Irvine’s help in expediting commissions placed with the SEIC; and news of Irvine’s business with Careu, Langton and Co.

1748, 12a, 31a, 33a, 59a, and 63a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Patrick Garden, his cousin living in London. Topics include news of the people in Garden’s and Irvine’s personal networks; settling debts that Irvine owes to Patrick Garden; Garden’s expression of his friendship for Irvine; details on how personal connections can procure government appointments in Britain; details of French actions against British Caribbean possessions; and Garden’s advice for helping Irvine’s nephew the Laird of Drum, who was in trouble for his Jacobite sympathies and involvement in the 1745 Jacobite uprising in Scotland.

1748, 18a, 24a, 28a, 34a, 35a, 38a, 44a, and 52a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Pye and Cruikshank, merchants in Amsterdam. Topics include details of accounts paid and various remittances; financing of an upcoming SEIC trip to Canton with New Spain silver; bottomry bonds; the possible apprenticing of one of Charles Irvine’s nephews [Thomas Irvine, son of Captain Thomas Irvine of Aberdeen]; information on the exchange rates and the hindrance they were proving to be; and information on the salability of certain items in the Amsterdam market.

1748, 22a. A letter to Charles Irvine concerning company business. Topics include a report on the voyages of company ships.

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1748, 27a, 50a, 56a, and 62a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Hugh and Colin Campbell, personal friends of Irvine’s and men closely connected to the Swedish East India Company. Topics include, Hugh Campbell’s reflections on his retirement from the SEIC to London; the fortunes of John Irvine; conditions in England; Hugh Campbell’s health; Colin Campbell’s position in Sweden; the financial health of one of Charles Irvine’s business associates (probably George Ouchterlony); news of people in Charles Irvine’s personal network; advice on how Irvine might best help his nephew the Laird of Drum, who was involved in the 1745 Jacobite uprising in Scotland.

1748, 42a. A letter from George Keith, Earl of Marischall. Marischall was a prominent Jacobite and had to leave the British Isles for several decades. He was a personal friend of King Frederick of Prussia as well as of the French philosophes Voltaire and Rousseau. He had a prominent career as a diplomat and was ultimately pardoned for his offenses against the Hannoverians. He hailed from Aberdeenshire and would seem to have had ties to Charles Irvine’s personal network. This letter mentions the plight of Scots Jacobites forced to flee Scotland. Many went to France and, despite their loyalty to Jacobitism (and thus the Catholic cause) could find no position or employment. From there some apparently went to Berlin. Keith names two men, Anderson of Haddington and Tod, who tried to set up a tannery in Berlin as well as Marshall Keith, who was another one of Charles Irvine’s friends. The letter also mentions Valencia, where George Keith had spent time and his interest in Chinese porcelain and Chinese tea and its preparation. For more on Keith see the DNB.

1748, 48a. A letter from N. Sahlgren of the SEIC to Charles Irvine asking what Irvine knows of the sale of some pearls entrusted to Irvine by one Mr. Tabuteau to sell in Europe.

Folder 4, 1749.

1749, 1a and 3a. Letters from members of the Campbell family to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Elizabeth Campbell, wife of Colin Campbell and Hugh Campbell. Topics include Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell’s appreciation of a number of gifts that Charles Irvine had sent to her during her stay in England and the troubles of Charles Irvine’s nephew, Alexander the 17th Laird of Drum on account of his Jacobitsm and involvement in the 1745 Jacobite uprising.

1749, 2a and 39a. Letters from various members of Charles Irvine’s personal network. Correspondents include Charles Murray in Scotland, and Patrick Garden, in London. Topics include expressions of friendship from Charles Murray; difficulties in finding lenders to supply Charles Irvine with monies.

1749, 4a, 7a, 42a, 55a, 69a, 77a, and 83a. Letters to Charles Irvine from George Clifford and Sons of Amsterdam, a merchant house with whom Irvine had frequent dealings. Topics include the payment of bottomry bonds; the settling and status of Irvine’s

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accounts with George Clifford and Sons; reports on the proceeds of sales; financing of upcoming voyages; routine business transactions;

1749, 5a, 9a, 21a, 22a, 22a1, 24a, 26a, 28a, 29a, 31a-34a, 46a, 47a, 57a, 58a, 61a, 62a, 66a, 70a, and 82a. Letters to Charles Irvine from various business correspondents. Correspondents Careu, Langton and Co., Cossart and Son and Bouwer, Jacob de Vlieger of Hamburg, Carel Roosen, George and William Catanach, Charles Metcalfe, St. Quentin and Co. of St. Malo, and James Gough and Company of Cadiz. Topics include the financing of silver for an outgoing SEIC voyage to Canton and the apportioning of the silver between SEIC ships; cloth products that Irvine is having sent for trading purposes (probably to Canton, but possibly to Surat); details of Irvine’s account with Cossart and Son and Bouwer as well as a request from them for information on a commission given to one James Maule; European market conditions for the sale of teas; the state of Mr. Arthur Abercromby’s account with Mr. Jacob de Vlieger; communications on opening up new trading routes; recommendations for the sale of teas in Hamburg for Mr. Arthur Abercromby’s account; information on the prices of various trade goods (probably for Surat) including German steel, elephant’s teeth, mercury, cochineal red, copper sulphate (blue vitriol), iron sulphate (green vitriol), zinc sulphate (white vitriol), verdegrease (probably a green dye-stuff), red lead (red oxide of lead), Seville oil (olive oil), and tortoise shells; information on the sale of teas in Amsterdam; information on monies available to Charles Irvine from Carel Roosen; communications concerning the fortunes of mutual acquaintances; details on the sale of teas for Arthur Abercromby and Charles Irvine; routine business communications; the efforts of Charles Metcalfe to acquire elephant’s teeth and mercury for Irvine; information on the demand for and sale of fine quality Pekoe tea in Hamburg; information on the availability of certain products in Hamburg, including elephant’s teeth, mercury and olive oil; information on the shipment of Spanish silver for the financing of an upcoming SEIC voyage; and further information on the sale of teas in Hamburg.

1749, 6a and 64a. Letters to Charles Irvine from John Rose. Topics include John Rose’s possible emigration to Boston (MA) and his wish to set himself up there as a merchant with Charles Irvine’s help.

1749, 8a, 11a, 12a, 14a, 19a, 20a; 25a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 41a, 45a, 51a, 53a 59a, 65a, 67a, 71a, 75a, and 79a. Letters to Charles Irvine from George Ouchterlony. Topics include the difficulty of insuring SEIC cargoes due to the number of skilled foreigners who have quit the SEIC’s service; John Rose and his plans to emigrate to the British colonies in North America; details on a legal suit concerning Arbuthnot and Co., with which Irvine had a financial involvement; information on the insurance industry in Bristol and Newcastle; the plight of Charles Irvine’s nephew the 17th Laird of Drum, who was in trouble for his Jacobite sympathies and involvement in the 1745 Jacobite uprising; details of other nephews and the nephew of Mungo Murray, especially of their career prospects; details of transactions carried out; details of gifts and communications given to Irvine’s personal network by George Ouchterlony; some information on the progress of SEIC ships; news of John Irvine, Irvine’s nephew in Canton; information on bottomry bonds and the financing of the SEIC trade; information on the maritime insurance industry in

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Britain; the prices of various goods that Charles Irvine might want to trade (including pig lead, red lead (a red lead oxide for dying cloth), copper, and the demand for goods in Surat, including elephant’s teeth); information with regard to buying on credit versus buying with ready money in London and consideration of how to avoid driving up prices through imprudent buying practices; Ouchterlony’s reluctance to send elephant’s teeth (an important trading commodity in the Indian trade) to Sweden for fear of arousing ill will among English merchants; difficulties in finding shippers willing to transport goods from London to Sweden in the late fall season; information on the routine processing of draughts and bills of exchange; information on insuring cargoes between Amsterdam and Gothenburg; information on bargaining for a reasonable price on red lead (a red oxide of lead used in dying cloth); information on account transactions for Mr. Sahlgren of the SEIC; information on the scarcity of elephant’s teeth coming from West Africa (Guinea in the words of George Ouchterlony); general information on commodities markets in London, and especially the role of the British East India Company in them; information on possible disputes with one Captain Sayers over freight charges and between James Jameson More and Roger Hog; prohibition of the importation of elephant’s teeth into Britain per the Navigation Acts; routine business transactions; advice on possible replacement products for elephant’s teeth, such as mercury, cochineal red, copper, or English woolens; information on the kinds of textiles that will sell in Surat; and the use of Medeira as an alternative staging point for SEIC ships.

1749, 10a, 27a, 30a, 35a, 37a, 43a, 44a, 48a, 49a, 52a, 54a, 56a, 60a, 63a, 68a, 72a, 74a, [76a1], 76a2, 78a, and 84a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Pye and Cruikshank, agents in Amsterdam. Topics include information on monetary transactions carried out by Pye and Cruikshank; information on bottomry bonds; price information on trade goods (probably for Surat) inter alia elephant’s teeth, steel, vitriol, cochineal red, red lead (red oxide of lead) and mercury; information on the price teas will fetch in Amsterdam; information on the accounts of Charles Irvine and Arthur Abercromby; information on the availability of elephant’s teeth in Amsterdam and on shipping goods from Amsterdam and London; information on the price of mercury, which is cheaper in England because of Spanish ships seized in the War of Austrian Succession; prices on claret and Hungarian mercury; information on the sale of Bohea teas in which Arthur Abercromby, Charles Irvine, and Pye and Cruikshank had an interest; information on insuring cargoes; routine business communications; attempts to find elephant’s teeth in Zeeland (presumably in the city of Middelburg, a major base for the Dutch East India Company); a complaint from Pye and Cruikshank that their goods were not loaded into a ship after they had already paid insurance for the voyage; information on the conditions investors in the next voyage will accept; and the difficulties in shipping elephant’s teeth from the Netherlands due to England’s Navigation Acts.

1749, 13a, 15a-18a, and 23a. Letters to Charles Irvine from various members of his personal network. Correspondents include James Jameson More, Arthur Abercromby, and Hugh Falconar. Topics include efforts to establish one of Charles Irvine’s nephews, Dr. Alexander Irvine, in Banff, Scotland; information on accounts between Charles Irvine and Arthur Abercrombie; information on business in Canton; news of Charles Irvine’s nephew, John Irvine; news of Charles Irvine’s friends and family in Scotland; news of

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business transactions carried out in Scotland; details of business transaction in Sweden and of Charles Irvine’s commerical and finance network; commentary on what sorts of teas sell well in Europe; information on SEIC yearly sales; and advice on how to settle a dispute between James Jameson More and some business associates.

1749, 50a, 73a, 80a, and 81a. Content for these items uncertain as the handwriting is difficult to read, but see the collection inventory for brief descriptions of these items.

Folder 4, January-April 1750

1a and 5a. Letters from Charles Metcalfe to Charles Irvine. Charles Metcalfe was a merchant and agent for Irvine stationed in Hamburg. Topics include shipments of silver to finance upcoming trading voyages; the sale and purchase of various products including olive oil from Seville and Pekoe teas and routine business matters.

2a. A letter from Patrick Garden to Charles Irvine. Topics include securing a loan for Charles Irvine in England; information on those attainted by the prosecution of those involved in the 1745 Jacobite uprising in Scotland, including Lord Pitsligoe.

3a, 10a,11a, 13a-15a, 19a, 35a, 38a, and 44a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include, St. Quentin and Co. of St. Malo, Arnold Urbano, Carel Roosen, Koschel and Conradi of Gothenburg, George Catanach, James Gough and Company, Cossart and Bouwer, and James More. Topics include inquiries as to whether individuals want to invest in future SEIC voyages; settling differences in accounts between Charles Irvine and Arnold Urbano; settling of bills of exchange and other financial instruments between Charles Irvine and third parties by Carel Roosen; information on routine buisness matters; information on the account of one James Maule, a person with whom both Irvine and Cossart and Bouwer of Amsterdam had done business; arrangements for lodgings for Charles Irvine during a stay in Gothenburg; routine matters of account between George Catanach of London and Irvine; and routine news from James Gough and Company, including questions as to whether Irvine was planning to go out on the SEIC ship Gothic Lion to Surat and then China.

4a, 7a, 12a, 16a-18a, 20a; 23a-25a, 28a-32a, 36a, 37a, and 39a-41a. Letters to Charles Irvine George Ouchterlony. Topics include shipping textiles intended as trading goods for an upcoming SEIC voyage; insuring SEIC ships; obtaining elephant’s teeth in sufficient quantities for an upcoming voyage; information on the internal political situation on the west coast of Africa and its influence on the availability of elephant’s teeth; the difficulties of shipping goods due to the trading policies of European powers, including Britain and France, and the possibility of using Dunkirk; difficulties in coordinating the shipping of goods for an upcoming SEIC voyage; information on routine business matters; information on the settling of accounts and Charles Irvine’s cash flow; information on the market forces influencing the price and availability of elephant’s teeth, Mexico silver dollars, and mercury; information on Charles Irvine’s nephew John Irvine, who worked as a supercargo for the SEIC; information on financing upcoming voyages for the SEIC; information on Charles Irvine’s accounts with individuals in

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Scotland; difficulties obtaining cochineal red and mercury; scarcity of Spanish silver dollars on the London market due to the late arrival of the Spanish galleons from New Spain; the role of the Bank of England in currency management; information on the SEIC-related accounts held by George Ouchterlony; details of a bill of exchange protest involving Mr. Bernard Rotter of Antwerp and Mr. Robert Baillie of Edinburgh; details on insuring cargoes; details of shipments to Charles Irvine’s nephew John Irvine and others such as George Elphinstone; detailed description of an insurance policy for an SEIC ship going to China via Surat in India; news of family; information on the scarcity of Spanish silver dollars due to the British East India Company’s high demand for them; and much detail and information on insuring ships and cargoes.

6a and 43a. A letters to Charles Irvine from John Rose and Thomas Irvine. Topics include John Rose’s beginnings in Charleston, SC, including a request for a letter of credit to buy timber for his shipbuilding business there.

8a. A letter to Charles Irvine from George Clifford and Sons of Amsterdam, merchants and agents for Charles Irvine. Topics include routine business matters and the settling of Charles Irvine’s accounts.

9a, 21a, 29a*, 45a, and 46a. Letters concerning official SEIC business. Correspondents are George Ouchterlony and Nicholas Sahlgren. Topics include financing an upcoming voyage via bottomry bonds, the acquisition of Spanish silver dollars for an upcoming SEIC voyage, arranging shipments of the cargo intended for upcoming SEIC voyages; ironwork; and monies for the voyage of the Gothic Lion to Surat and China.

19a. A letter in Swedish.

22a and 27a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Baron D’Harleman. Topics include difficulties encountered in obtaining Swedish naturalization papers for one Monsieur de Mere.

26a and 34a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Arthur Abercromby. Topics include a business venture between James Rose and Arthur Abercromby involving Pye and Cruikshank, Charles Irvine and George Ouchterlony as agents; inquiries and instructions from Abercromby concerning his business ventures with the SEIC; reports of Abercromby’s business dealings in Scotland and with the SEIC; Abercromby’s views of Scots business practices and the competence of the officers of the SEIC; Abercromby’s plans to settle in Scotland and participate solely in trade to the Spanish West Indies; and details on the business of Abercromby’s brother, who was based in Vera Cruz.

33a and 42a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Pye and Cruikshank, agents and correspondents in Amsterdam. Topics include the arrival of Charles Irvine’s nephew Thomas Irvine in Amsterdam and Pye and Cruikshank’s plans for settling him there; routine matters of business such as the settling of accounts; and information on the demand for tea in Amsterdam.

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Folder 4, May-December 1750

47a, 49a, 52a, 54a, 57a, 60a, 63a, 65a, 66a, 70a, 72a, 75a, 76a, 80a, 82a, 92a, 96a, and 97a. Letters to Charles Irvine from George Ouchterlony, his principal London agent. Topics include insurance of SEIC ships; routine business matters; the status of Irvine’s accounts and of the accounts of Mr. N. Sahlgren and other officials of the SEIC; additional information on accounts and financial transactions between Charles Irvine and others, including persons in Scotland; information on the safe arrival of SEIC ships in Canton and on the forwarding of official SEIC correspondence; the sending of medical supplies to Dr. Alexander Irvine of Banff; information on freighting charges for cargoes for the SEIC; information on business transactions involving Scotland; information on how correspondence was transferred to Irvine in Sweden; protested bills of exchange together with Ouchterlony’s explanation of the situation and details of the disputes; news of the welfare and doings of people in Irvine’s personal network, including John Irvine, Arthur Abercromby, John Rose, and Robert Rose; news of John Irvine’s voyage to China; information on the British East India Company’s sales of tea and goods from Surat; news of special orders for the personal use of Colin Campbell and Charles Irvine (books, eg.); problems with piracy; difficulties obtaining trade goods in London and details on the workings of the London market in overseas goods, especially with regard to muslins and so-called price goods; details of the British East India Company’s import sources and sales in London, again with regard to muslins, textiles and other price goods; advice on how best to acquire product samples in London and Amsterdam, especially of muslins; communications about family members including John Rose, James Rose, Robert Rose, John Irvine, Jack Arbuthnot, Ann Arbuthnot; timing of the sales of British East India Company price goods, esp. muslins and cassaes and further lists of goods in French for Irvine’s Swedish acquaintances; purchasing so-called price goods from the British East India Company’s sale in December; and estimates of the market for East India price goods on a European-wide scale.

48a, 51a, 62a, 67a, 71a, 74a, 78a, 84a, and 98a. Miscellaneous letters to Charles Irvine from members of his personal network. Correspondents include Patrick Garden, Captain John Arbuthnot, Arthur Abercromby, Robert Arbuthnot of Peterhead, and Thomas Irvine. Topics include the prosecution of Lord Pitsligo for his part in Scotland’s Jacobite uprising of 1745; news of Patrick Garden’s family, including his brother Robin; complaints from John Arbuthnot about Charles Irvine’s unwillingness to write and exhaustive information concerning Arbuthnot’s life and fortunes; details on the case of an impounded tramping ship that Arthur Abercromby and Charles Irvine had freighted together; news of James Rose and the fortunes of Abercromby’s former servant Peter; requests from Abercromby for informaton on his acount with Pye and Cruikshank; news from Arthur Abercromby of people in Irvine’s personal network; information on Charles Irvine’s communication network in Scotland; Thomas Irvine’s situation in Amsterdam at the house of Pye and Cruikshank; Arthur Abercromby’s views on the competence of those working for and directing the SEIC; routine business matters between Arthur Abercromby and Charles Irvine; information on the ship in which Abercromby, Charles Irvine, and James Rose had invested and which had been impounded in Scotland; information on the success of business ventures with which Arthur Abercromby and

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Charles Irvine were involved; information on Abercromby’s brother in New Spain; the winding up of the several business ventures in which Arthur Abercromby had been involved with Charles Irvine, including the SEIC ship Gothic Lion, the sale of some teas in Amsterdam; a ship and cargo that had been impounded in Scotland; and the possibility that a new trading company is starting in Emden, the Asiatische Compagnie.

50a, 53a, 55a, 56a, 59a, and 64a. Letters from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine. Topics include information on trading ventures between Scotland and Sweden in which Irvine had an interest; information on Charles Irvine’s lines of communication between Sweden and Scotland; information on trading transactions involving James Rose, Arthur Abercromby, and Colin Campbell, specifically tea; information on gifts being sent from Sweden to London by Colin Campbell for Hugh Campbell; information on accounts and commissions undertaken by James Jameson More and Charles Irvine; information on how correspondence was transferred from Scotland to Charles Irvine in Sweden; information on the tramping trade in ships stores and other basic products between Sweden, Scotland, and northern England; information on James Jameson More’s brother and his business ventures; reports on what items will sell well in Dunkirk, viz. chinaware; routine reports on business transactions carried out; Reports of the health and fortunes of Charles Irvine’s friends and family in Scotland; information on disputes over bills of exchange; news of current affairs in Gothenburg, information on Arthur Abercromby’s move to London; information on the sale of goods in Gothenburg; news of upcoming SEIC voyages; information on members of Charles Irvine’s personal circle who are in the employ of the SEIC; information on James Jameson More’s family life, including the birth of a daughter; information on a ship freighted by James Jameson More on behalf of Charles Irvine, Arthur Abercromby, and James Rose, that was seized by English naval vessels; and information on the salability of teas in Europe.

58a, 68a, 69a, 73a, 77a, 79a, 81a, 83a, 85a-91a, 93a-95a, and 99a. Letters from various business partners to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Careu Langton and Co., Anders Plomgren, Mrs. Nicholas Sahlgren, Pye and Cruikshank, and Mr. Nicholas Sahlgren. Topics include the difficulties of coordinating the shipment of cargos to Spain for transfer to SEIC ships and what should be done with stranded goods; details on Charles Irvine’s latest visit to Stockholm; details on a possible business venture between Anders Plomgren and Charles Irvine involving muslins of various sorts from Bengal; details on the British import duty regime of the time; details on the Swedish import restrictions concerning unprinted cloth; strategies for reserving the trade in muslins and other so-called price goods within the city of Gothenburg for Anders Plomgren and Charles Irvine; information on which so-called price goods will sell well in Sweden; information on the market for cloths in Holland; planning for a partnership between Anders Plomgren, Charles Irvine, and Colin Campbell; arranging for a banquet at Madame Kitz’s; routine information from the Amsterdam merchant house Pye and Cruikshank concerning their execution of Charles Irvine’s order on behalf of himself, Anders Plomgren, and Colin Campbell, including specific lists of the goods shipped and their cost; sales information from Charles Metcalfe in Hamburg; information on the complications of shipping the goods that Ander Plomgren, Charles Irvine and Colin Campbell had purchased in London and Amsterdam, including finding a good ship and

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obtaining insurance; and Charles Irvine’s financial exposure in the venture involving the SEIC ship Gothic Lion.

Hollinger Box 3, 1751-1752

Folder 1, January-July 1751.

1a, 4a, 7a, 11a, 14a, 23a, 27a, 30a, 33a, 34a, 36a, 40a, and 47a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine news of family and members of Charles Irvine’s personal network including James Rose, Robert Rose, John Irvine Artamford, John Rose, John Irvine, Ann Arbuthnot, James Jameson More, and Captain Thomas Irvine; a disputed bill of exchange concerning James Jameson More, a close business associate of Charles Irvine’s in Gothenburg; information on the European-wide market for price goods and on acquiring them in London; difficulties in judging what textiles are in demand in Sweden and in buying the proper quality and sorts of textiles; details of financial transactions between Charles Irvine and members of his family and personal network including Captain Thomas Irvine, John Rose, and James Rose; details of payments for goods that George Ouchterlony purchased on Charles Irvine’s behalf; speculation on the fate of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion and of the possible misfortunes of Charles Irvine’s nephew John Irvine, who went out as a ships carpenter on the Gothic Lion; apologies from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine for his misjudgment of the appropriate quality of goods for the market in Stockholm; details on a second shipment of Indian textiles to Anders Plomgren, Charles Irvine, and Colin Campbell, chiefly cossaes and terrindams as opposed to tanjibs and mulmulls, the coarser kinds of Indian cloth and unsuited to the Swedish market; information on how George Ouchterlony plans to sell the unwanted tanjibs and mulmulls that he had purchased; news of the safe arrival of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion in Surat; mention of the opportune arrival of John Irvine, SEIC super cargo in Surat; news of the pirate Angria; news of the arrival of SEIC ships in Canton; and routine business communications and details on shipping Indian textiles from London to Amsterdam, including information about skippers and insurance agents.

2a, 12a, 17a, 19a, 21a, and 24a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include James Gough and Co. of Cadiz, Careu and Langton of Cadiz, and Charles Metcalfe in Hamburg. Topics include routine matters of account; the financing of silver for upcoming SEIC voyages; routine details of financial transactions, information on goods that will sell in Cadiz; the sale of teas and shipment of personal orders of goods like shirts; news of the fate of the SEIC ship Prince Charles; the financing and outfitting of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion; details on the sale of a ship owned by Anders Plomgren; information on the difficulty of importing Chinese silk into Cadiz; a remedy for coughing made from the skins of wild asses; and reports on what can be done in Hamburg with textiles from Bengal that are too coarse for sale in Stockholm.

3a, 10a, 18a, 20a, 22a, 29a, 31a, 35a, 39a, 40a1, 44a, and 45a. Letters from Anders Plomgren to Charles Irvine. Anders Plomgren was a business partner and acquaintance of Charles Irvine’s based in Sweden. Topics include having George Ouchterlony

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exchange what Anders Plomgren defines as coarse price goods for some of finer quality; complaints and demands for refunding of money with regard to goods George Ouchterlony had shipped; routine matters concerning the shipment of goods and how to profit on textile sales in Sweden; report on the sale of the SEIC ship Prince Gustaf by Careu and Langton of Cadiz; information on the delayed arrival of the SEIC ship Noah’s Ark in Stockholm; news of the arrival of the SEIC ship Noah’s Ark in Stockholm; information on the import restrictions connected with goods in British bottoms; and routine communications on how goods (chiefly textiles) must be shipped from England to Sweden and how to make a profit on these goods.

5a, 9a, 13a, 26a, 38a, and 43a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Pye and Cruikshank were merchants in Amsterdam and assisted Charles Irvine with the sale of goods in Amsterdam and with financing SEIC voyages. Topics include reports on the role of Pye and Cruikshanks in a joint venture between Charles Irvine, Anders Plomgren, and Colin Campbell; reports on the sale of teas belonging jointly to Charles Irvine and Arthur Abercromby; information on the new trading company run out of Emden, referred to as the Asiatische Compagnie; the fortunes of Thomas Irvine, son of Captain Thomas Irvine and an apprentice in the merchant house of Pye and Cruikshank; transactions involved in financing upcoming SEIC voyages and providing silver for them; routine information on financial transactions; reports on the sale of coarse textiles unfit for the Stockholm market; intelligence on the establishment of a Prussian Trading Company based in Emden, which would become known as the Asiatische Compagnie; information on the prices for tanjibs and other Indian textiles; complications of estimating the market for teas in Amsterdam; commentary on Charles Campbell; and information on the prices of textiles of various sorts, including muslins.

6a, 8a, 16a, 25a, 42a, 46a, and 48a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Arbuthnot, John Rose, Thomas Irvine, and Richard Lake. Topics include the South Sea Company; the fortunes of John Arbuthnot and his family; John Rose’s professional plans and his patronage relationship with Charles Irvine, his uncle; the fortunes of John Rose’s brother, Robert Rose; the credit-worthiness of one Mr. Kuyn; news of events in the daily life of Thomas Irvine; Thomas Irvine’s justifications of his expenses and his request for money from his uncle Charles Irvine; Thomas Irvine’s opinion on the Asiatische Compagnie ; Thomas Irvine’s reaction to his brother John Irvine’s reaching Surat and on his future plans; and a request for a recommendation from Charles Irvine for Richard Lake, who wanted to obtain a post in the newly formed Asiatische Compagnie.

15a, 28a, 32a, 37a, and 41a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include the fate of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion, which was supposed lost at sea on the way to Fort St. David, and Arthur Abercromby’s financial exposure in that regard; the sale of teas in Amsterdam belonging to both Charles Irvine and Arthur Abercromby; the new trading company based in Emden, the Asiatische Compagnie; Abercromby’s relations with Hugh Campbell and his family; information on a Swedish sloop that Abercromby had chartered along with Charles Irvine and James Rose inter alia; settling accounts with the widow of one Captain Maule, who had been an agent of Arthur Abercromby’s in

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Sweden; news of the King of Prussia’s involvement with the Emden trading company, the Asiatische Compagnie; routine matters of business; information on a spyglass that Arthur Abercromby is sending to Irvine; information on the European maritime insurance market; information on Arthur Abercromby’s dealings in tea and on the European markets for tea, especially Boheas; news of Arthur Abercromby’s brother in Vera Cruz; news of the law suit involving the Swedish sloop that was impounded while in British waters in which Arthurh Abercromby had been an investor; and the loss of piasters seized by the Spanish government in Cadiz.

Folder 2, August-December 1751.

54a, 58a, 63a, 66a, 74a, 85a, and 99a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine matters of business; information on insurance; information on members of Charles Irvine’s personal network, including John Irvine, Thomas Ouchterlony, John Rose, James Rose, and his brother Captain Thomas Irvine of Aberdeen; routine business news about the arrival of ships, the dates for sales etc.; detailed information on the market for textiles in England, Amsterdam and Sweden; details of transactions and payments; and news of several bills of exchange from James Jameson More and drawn on George Skinner of Banff, Scotland.

50a, 57a, 60a, 65a, 78a, 90a, 97a, and 100a. Letters from Anders Plomgren to George Ouchterlony. Topics center on a joint venture to sell textiles in the Stockholm market in which Anders Plomgren, Charles Irvine, and Colin Campbell were involved.

49a, 51a, 52a, 55a, 59a, 64a, 64a1, 67a, 75a, 86a, 91a, 92a, and 98a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include information on the joint ventures between Arthur Abercromby and Charles Irvine in the area of teas; advice on pricing goods, especially teas, in the marketplace; the market for teas in Hamburg; Ouchterlony’s opinion of the Asiatische Compagnie in Emden; Abercromby’s opinion on the seizure of goods from the SEIC ship Gothic Lion (for the first mention of this see CIC/1750a/41a); Arthur Abercromby’s commentary on the lawsuit involving the Swedish sloop chartered by Charles Irvine, Arthur Abercromby, James Jameson More, and James Rose (see above for further letters on this topic), as well as more general information on this matter; criticism of Pye and Cruikshank’s efforts to sell teas on behalf of Arthur Abercromby and Charles Irvine; routine matters of account between Arthur Abercromby and Charles Irvine; comments on Irvine’s strategy for purchasing tea, and on the Dutch approach to business; comments on Abercromby’s growing interest in the Asiatische Compagnie as well as Abercromby’s views of the Asiatische Compagnie and Dutch involvement with it; information on insuring cargo with a specified lists of underwriters; news of John Irvine; news of Charles Irvine’s personal circle in Scotland; news of life in London, including mention of the brother-in-law of Hugh Ross, a Scots actor working in Drury Lane and the news that a director of the Asiatische Compagnie is in London to buy two ships for that company; routine business transactions; news of Arthur Abercromby’s brother and his trip to England; a request for a short-term loan to help finance a venture to the Spanish West Indies; news of the SEIC ship Albert, whose crew and supercargoes were having

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difficulty; information on the European market for teas; the activities of the English Parliament; and news of family and friends in Scotland.

53a, 72a, 73a, 76a, 81a-84a, and 89a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network. Correspondents include Richard Lake, Lord Marischall, Thomas Ouchterlony, John Rose, and James Stewart. Topics include Richard Lake’s fortunes and efforts to obtain a position as a supercargo with the newly formed Asiatische Compagnie; the efforts of Thomas Ouchterlony to find a position with the Asiatische Compagnie including a request from Thomas Ouchterlony on behalf of his son John and his son-in-law Mr. Brown that Charles Irvine work to secure these two men positions with the Asiatische Compagnie; a gift exchange involving Lord Marischall and Charles Irvine; details of a shipment to Lord Marischall that Richard Lake was handling for Charles Irvine; a thank you note from James Keith in Potsdam for a gift of chinaware; and details of the shipbuilding business jointly owned by John Rose and James Stewart.

56a, 62a, 69a, 77a, 80a, 87a, and 94a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine business matters; the market for teas in Europe and Amsterdam; and information on sales of textiles and teas in Amsterdam.

61a, 68a, 70a, 71a, 79a, 88a, 93a, 95a, and 96a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Forbes of Rotterdam, William Sangster of Amsterdam, and Koschell and Conradi of Stockholm. Topics include the sale of Bohea teas in the Dutch Republic, especially Amsterdam and Rotterdam; information on the financing of purchases between merchants; news of Charles Irvine’s nephew Thomas Irvine in Amsterdam; record of monies owed to Mr. Alexander Ross; detailed accounting of sales of teas including information on a sale of teas involving Charles Irvine and Koschell and Conradi; and detailed accounts of practices for payment on teas as well as the usage of bills of exchange in northern Europe.

Folder 3, January-October 3, 1752.

1a, 11a, 15a, 26a, 29a, 47a, and 56a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include details on the sale of teas in Amsterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands; Arthur Abercromby’s relief that the SEIC ship Gothic Lion will not lose anything by in a seizure of silver carried out by the Spanish authorities in Cadiz; criticisms of Mr. James Gough, formerly a correspondent of Irvine’s based in Cadiz; British laws concerning the activities of British subjects in the service of foreign powers and foreign companies; routine matters of account between Charles Irvine and Arthur Abercromby; routine news of trading ventures; Arthur Abercromby’s wish to avoid further entanglements with passengers or contraband freight aboard ships he hires for trading purposes; Arthur Abercromby’s lawsuit in Britain against one Captain Veal in connection with a Swedish sloop seized for having contraband and illegal passengers; news of the ship King of Prussia of the Asiatische Compagnie as well as other information on this company and its fortunes; news of Robert Rose; news and speculation as to the whereabouts and fortunes of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion; information on goods that will sell well in

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Scotland and Sweden; information on the fortunes of the SEIC, including the probability of Nicholas Sahlgren and J.U.U. being made directors of the company; information on the sale of goods in Scotland, including cartwheels and chinaware; news of the fortunes of the Dutch East India Company in Batavia and of a crisis in Ceylonese cinnamon production; news of the whereabouts and business fortunes of Arthur Abercromby’s brother, based in Vera Cruz including Abercromby’s disappointment at the returns on the money invested in his brother’s business there; the demand for teas, deals (planks for ships), and iron in specific European markets; information on foreign investment in fixed stock (warehouses and docks eg.); and details on Abercromby’s trading and investment plans with the SEIC and in the markets for iron and tea.

2a, 5a-7a, 18a, 25a, 30a, 37a, 39a, 41a, 49a, and 50a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Henry Hackson, Careu and Langton of Cadiz, Charles Metcalfe in Hamburg, James Gough and Co. in Cadiz, John Forbes, and George Hopkins. Topics include the market for soya in Stockholm; the merchant house of Messrs. Robert and William Stirling of Rotterdam; the financing of upcoming voyages by SEIC ships, including the Hope and the Unicorn; the fate of the Prince Charles, an SEIC ship involved in a legal suit in Spain with which the Gothic Lion had also been connected; the sale of Charles Irvine’s pekoe teas in Hamburg; the delivery of some shifts to Charles Irvine in Sweden; routine business matters, such as details of sales; routine information on some transactions that Charles Metcalfe was carrying out for Charles Irvine; routine communications concerning correspondence forwarded to Charles Metcalfe for Charles Irvine in Piermont; the market for teas in the Dutch Republic; routine business matters between Charles Irvine and John Forbes; and a request for Irvine to help dispose of some French ginseng.

3a, 4a, 22a, 28a, 31a, 32a, 34a, 35a, 38a, 43a, 44a, 48a, and 58a. Letters chiefly from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include, a bill of exchange dispute involving Charles Irvine, George Skinner, and Skinner’s factor James Jameson More; news of John Rose and his business partner James Stewart in South Carolina; news of various members of Charles Irvine’s personal network, including James Stewart, John Rose, Captain Thomas Irvine, Patrick Garden, Arthur Abercromby, and James Jameson More; apologies for goods sent to Sweden that did not suit the Swedish market; routine matters of account between George Ouchterlony and Charles Irvine; special shipments of books and other small items; news of letters being sent to St. Helena for John Irvine and Charleston, South Carolina for John Rose; information on the whereabouts of letters between Charles and John Irvine that were in the care of George Ouchterlony; information on the travels of John Irvine; the market for teas in Europe and its saturation in the 1752 sale season; general news of George Ouchterlony and Charles Irvine’s mutual acquaintances; information on the prices and availability of a number of products, including Barbary copper, British copper, lead, deals, nails, elephant’s teeth, mercury, and cochineal; the bottomry bonds of John Irvine, newly returned from Canton and Surat; and the business ventures of Arthur Abercromby in the Spanish West Indies.

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8a, 10a, 13a, 14a, 27a, 46a, and 53a. Letters from Anders Plomgren to Charles Irvine. Topics include the textile importation business in which Anders Plomgren and Charles Irvine were involved.

9a, 12a, 19a, 20a, 33a, 40a, and 42a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Patrick Garden, Lord Marischall, Thomas Irvine, and James Jameson More. Topics include news of Patrick Garden’s family network and a request from him that Charles Irvine write him more often; a promise from Lord Marischall that one Senator Schefter of Sweden will assist both Charles Irvine and James Jameson More; the fate of the King of Prussia and the problems that British subjects were having working for the Asiatische Compagnie; news of trade between Gothenburg and Aberdeen; news of Charles Irvine’s family network in Aberdeen and environs; news of the arrival of SEIC ships in Europe; basic financial transactions involving James Jameson More, Charles Irvine, and George Ouchterlony; Charles Irvine and Colin Campbell’s trip to a spa in Germany; and news of Robert Rose, nephew to Charles Irvine.

16a, 17a, 21a, 24a, 36a, 45a, 51a, 52a, 55a, and 57a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine reports on the logistics and matters of account in joint ventures between Charles Irvine and Arthur Abercromby, Anders Plomgren and Colin Campbell; information on financing an upcoming voyage for the SEIC via Careu and Langton; report of the possible British seizure of British sailors from the Asiatische Compagnie ship King of Prussia and of problems with the ship’s captain, one Thompson; routine matters of account concerning Charles Irvine’s account with Pye and Cruikshank; the difficulties of getting a position for Robert Rose in a Dutch service; problems attendant on the reorganization of currency in the Dutch Republic; the whereabouts of John Irvine via Pye and Cruikshank’s correspondent [William?] Eliott; the market for teas in the Dutch Republic and its favorableness to sellers in view of the smaller amount of teas available; John Irvine’s arrival in Sweden; covering letter of introduction written to Charles Irvine on behalf of one George Hopkins, then living in Amsterdam; the sale of the teas just come in on the SEIC ships Gothic Lion and Prince Charles; the availability of barbary copper, grauwe spijs (an amalgam of brass and copper) and Milan steel; and a scandal in the Amsterdam market for teas.

23a. A letter from one Peter Garden to John Irvine. Topic is a parcel of teas sent to Garden by Irvine for distribution in Europe.

54a. A Letter from Thomas Irvine to his elder brother John Irvine. Topic is John Irvine’s recent safe return home from a voyage on the SEIC ship Gothic Lion to Surat and Canton.

Folder 4, October 3, 1752-December 1752.

59a, 72a, 74a, 77a, 94a, and 105a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include the prices of certain commodities including elephant’s teeth, steel, and

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copper; a bond in John Irvine’s name to the benefit of Mr. [William?] Eliott, a correspondent of Pye and Cruikshank’s stationed in Canton; sales of teas from the SEIC ship Gothic Lion and Prince Charles; a purchase of cochineal; difficulties with the accounts between Pye and Cruikshank and Arthur Abercromby; preparations for obtaining certain goods for an upcoming SEIC voyage; arranging insurance for the cargo for an upcoming SEIC voyage; a shipwreck involving Charles Campbell, brother of Colin Campbell; the sale of Charles Irvine’s teas in the Dutch Republic; and routine matters of account.

60a, 62a, 66a, 81a, 89a, and 98a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include Abercromby’s financial involvement with the SEIC; the willingness of other foreign investors, particularly from Brabant in the Low Countries, to be involved in the SEIC; routine matters of account concerning Arthur Abercromby’s accounts with Pye and Cruikshank; information on the tramping trade between Scotland and Sweden, products include iron and ships stores; investment in upcoming ventures of the SEIC; political affairs in Scotland including parliamentary elections; insuring stock on SEIC ships; problems with customs officials in Scotland; information on the market for teas in Amsterdam, especially the bidding process for lots; investments in an upcoming SEIC voyage; Arthur Abercromby’s views on the matter of fixed stock in the SEIC; the future of the European market in teas with regard to the SEIC; Arthur Abercromby’s requests for his dividends from the ship Gothic Lion; unethical business practices of one Hissing in the Amsterdam teas market; the course of Arthur Abercromby’s lawsuit against one Captain Veal in connection with a Swedish sloop brought up by British authorities on which Abercromby had shipped goods; the whereabouts of Charles Irvine’s nephew John Irvine; and news of SEIC preparations for upcoming expeditions to China and Surat.

61a, 64a, 65a, 67a, 69a, 70a, 71a, 80a, 83a, 85a, 86a, 88a, 90a, 91a, 92a, 93a, 96a, 97a, 100a, 102a, 106a, and 107a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Forbes, Charles Metcalfe, John Ouchterlony, Nicholas Sahlgren, William Sangster, and Tan Tinqua. Topics include the sale of the teas brought back in the SEIC ships Gothic Lion and Prince Charles; the prices of various commodities in Hamburg, including elephant’s teeth, mercury, cochineal, barbary copper, Swedish copper, Hungarian copper, Milan steel, Steyermark steel, and Danzig steel; the market for Pekoe teas in Hamburg, small commissions involving clothing for Irvine and other sundries including foodstuffs (these may have been supplies for SEIC ships or for Irvine’s personal use); John Irvine’s passage from Gothenburg to Scotland; the market for teas in Rotterdam and John Forbes’ strategy for selling the teas of Charles Irvine and others for the most profit; a shipment of mercury; merchants in Hamburg in financial or legal difficulty; a document exchanging Charles Irvine’s investment in the SEIC’s two 1752/3 China ships for one in its Surat ship; documentation of Charles Irvine’s investment in an upcoming SEIC voyage; John Forbes’ involvement with the Asiatische Compagnie; the market for teas in Hamburg; a bill of lading and shipping information from Charles Metcalfe; the possibility of marketing SEIC teas through Scots hands in Veere as opposed to Dutch hands in Zierikzee; William Sangster’s account with Charles Irvine; documentation of the cargo of an SEIC ship; routine matters of account between Charles Metcalfe and Charles Irvine; information on ships laden with SEIC teas that had

27

met with bad weather on the journey from Gothenburg to Sweden; and a gift exchange between Charles Irvine and Tan Tinqua, a major merchant in Canton.

63a, 68a, 75a, 76a, 82a, 87a, 95a, 101a, and 108a, 109a-111a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include information on the prices and availability of a number of products, including Barbary copper, British copper, lead, deels, nails, elephant’s teeth, mercury, cochineal, Mexico dollars, watches and musical clocks; the bottomry bonds of John Irvine, newly returned from Canton and Surat; the fortunes Thomas Ouchterlony and his family; difficulties in obtaining payment for bills of exchange connected with James Jameson More; difficulties in judging the London market for elephant’s teeth; difficulties in finding white lead; difficulties in finding ships to sail to Gothenburg during the winter months; insurance of cargos; arrangements for the fulfilling Irvine’s orders for elephant’s teeth and mercury; Ouchterlony’s observations on the fortunes and character of Robert Rose; account of serious storms and shipwrecks off the coast of Norway and elsewhere in the North Sea zone; insuring the cargos on these ships; shipping cochineal, elephant’s teeth, ginseng and other trade goods to Gothenburg; shipping medical supplies to Dr. Alexander Irvine of Banff; a report on the fortunes of Robert Rose; mention of the September 1752 hurricane that hit Charleston and John Rose’s experience of the hurricane;

73a, 79a, 99a, and 104a. Letters from various members of Charles Irvine’s personal network and Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Rose, John Irvine, Hugh Campbell, and James Jameson More. Topics include the Charleston hurricane of 1752; John Irvine’s next posting with the SEIC; Hugh Campbell’s accounts with the SEIC; settling the personal affairs of William Campbell in Flanders.

84a, 90a?, 103a, and 112a. Letters from Anders Plomgren to Charles Irvine. Topics include the textile import business that Irvine and Plomgren were running jointly.

n.b. Item 78a does not exist.

Hollinger Box 4, 1753-1755.

Folder 1, January-July 1753.

1a, 3a, 5a, 8a, 9a, 11a, 13a, 16a, 17a, 19a, 22a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 28a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 37a, 38a, 42a, 45a, 47a, 51a, 54a, 55a, and 59a. Letters from various of Charles Irvine’s business associates. Correspondents include, George and William Catanach of London, Charles Metcalfe in Hamburg, John Forbes, Laurence Woulfe, Nicholas Sahlgren, James Gough in Cadiz, Guillaume Grou, and George Elphinston. Topics include routine business transactions; the price and availability of different grades of steel; details of the sale of Charles Irvine’s and the SEIC’s teas in the Dutch Republic; information on the Asiatische Compagnie; arranging for freighting teas in Veere on English or Scots vessels; insuring SEIC ships with French insurers; documents stating Charles Irvine’s share in upcoming voyages of SEIC ships; the sale of a ship to the new directors of the Asiatische

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Compagnie; the seizure of monies for the SEIC ship Prince Charles in Spain; a gift of a watch to captain George Elphinston, about to depart from Gothenburg on an SEIC voyage; recommending Mr. Richard Lake, an acquaintance of Irvine’s to the trading company forming in Emden, the Asiatische Compagnie; the difficulties of insuring ships through French insurers; a report from George Elphinton to Charles Irvine on the progress of an SEIC voyage; reports from Charles Metcalfe on trading ventures he has carried out on Charles Irvine’s behalf; the sales of teas in the Dutch Republic; and the arrival of the Asiatische Compagnie’s first ship in Emden.

2a, 10a, 14a, 18a, 20a, 30a, 52a, 53a, 57a, and 60a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include Arthur Abercromby’s investments in SEIC ventures; his discontent with the way in which the SEIC is paying out to investors; the sale of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion’s cargo of teas in the Dutch Republic; general news of various business contacts and their activities; information on Arthur Abercromby’s willingness to invest in SEIC ventures; intricacies of exchange rates on money and the SEIC’s roll in controlling them for its sales; Arthur Abercromby’s accounts with Pye and Cruikshank; Arthur Abercromby’s willingness to lend Charles Irvine money on account; the difficulties of determining the amount of Barbary copper expected to come onto the London market; the tramping trade between Scotland and Sweden; closing out accounts on old SEIC ventures in which Arthur Abercromby had invested; Arthur Abercromby’s accounts with Charles Irvine; Arthur Abercromby’s disappointment at losing money in the investement schemes of his brother and his partner in the Spanish West Indies; his lawsuits with Captain Veal and Mr. Haggelberg (see above in that catalog for additional references to this lawsuit); the death of Mrs. Alexander Ouchterlony; news of hostilities between the French and the English; a public offering of shares in the SEIC; Charles Irvine’s associates Duvelaer, De la Barre (then the Comte de Lude), and De la Mettrie, Frenchmen visiting London; news of the supply of goods in China; news of promotions for Colin Campbell and the directors of the SEIC; news of a ship of the so-called Emden company; and routine financial transactions with persons in Arthur Abercromby’s and Charles Irvine’s personal network, including James Rose.

4a, 21a, 24, 34a, 36a, and 43a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include the market for different sorts of teas in the Dutch Republic; routine matters of account involving Charles Irvine’s and Arthur Abercromby’s ventures through Pye and Cruikshank; news from Peter Garden in Batavia concerning the international market for tea; information on shipments of wine and teas to Charles and John Irvine respectively; report on the health of Mr. George Cruikshank, who was then at a spa; tea disappearing from the chests Irvine is having shipped from Gothenburg to the Dutch Republic; and reports on the sales of teas Irvine has shipped from Gothenburgh to the Dutch Republic.

6a, 7a, 12a, 15a, 23a, 35a, 39a, 40a, 46a, 50a, 58a, and 61a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine matters of account and business transactions; the sale of goods in London; a gift for Mrs. Straton; insuring SEIC ships and cargos; the difficulties finding ships to sail to Sweden in bad winter weather; the scarcity of English steel and Barbary copper on the London market; shipping goods to Sweden for

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upcoming SEIC voyages; news of a mishap with some cargo on board a vessel George Ouchterlony freighted on Charles Irvine’s behalf and which arrived in Gothenburg; news of other cross-channel voyages; George Ouchterlony’s efforts to have special items such as tableware etc. made up and sent off on Charles Irvine’s behalf; a trade treaty between the English and Swedish East India Companies concerning British subjects working for the SEIC; documentation of a special shipment from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine; news of the progress of John Irvine and the SEIC ship Prince Charles; protested bills of exchange presented on behalf of Colin Campbell; news of the SEIC ship Union; and other SEIC ships and the tea market in Europe.

29a and 44a. Letters from Anders Plomgren to Charles Irvine. Topics include gift exchanges between Plomgren and Irvine and sales receipt of purchases made by Charles Irvine on Plomgren’s behalf.

48a and 56a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Thomas Irvine and Alexander Ross. Topics include Thomas Irvine’s education and training to be a merchant; an apology for delayed payment in a transaction; and news of affairs in Scotland.

49a. A note from George Ouchterlony to James Rose. The letter documents a credit transfer from James Rose to his brother Robert Rose who had just left for India.

*n.b. Item 41a does not exist.

Folder 2, August-December 1753.

62a, 63a, 67a, 76a, 81a, 85a, 87a, 89a, 90a, 91a, 97a, 99a, 100a, 102a, 106a, 108a, 110a, 111a, 113a, and 115a-119a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Charles Metcalfe in Hamburg, Nicholas Sahlgren, Laurence Woulfe, Guillaume Grou, Jennings and Finlay of Stockholm, James Gough and Co. of Cadiz, George Elphinston, Anders Plomgren, and William Sangster. Topics include details of business and trading transactions Charles Metcalfe carried out on Charles Irvine’s behalf; documentation of insurance policies for SEIC ships; insuring SEIC ships with French insurers; financial distress in Spain; insuring SEIC ships in France; James Gough’s continuing difficulties with the SEIC over the fate of the SEIC ship Prince Charles; financing SEIC voyages; the latest SEIC subscription; records of payments received; news of Cadiz; James Gough’s standing with the SEIC; James Gough’s involvement in insuring SEIC ships and financing trading activities; a report on the fortunes of the SEIC ships in Surat; and Charles Irvine’s efforts to place William Sangster in the service of the Danish East India Company.

64a, 68a, 83a, and 94a. Letters from John Forbes to Charles Irvine. Topics include Richard Lake’s chances of employment with the Asiatische Compagnie and his future plans; the market for the Asiatische Compagnie’s imports and its fortunes; the European market for among other sorts, hysant teas; Irvine’s plans for the purchase and sale of teas; routine matters of account and financial transactions involving Irvine’s tea account with

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Forbes; information on those trading with Bengal out of Emden; and reports on the profitability of the teas John Forbes is selling for Charles Irvine.

65a, 79a, 86a, and 103a. Miscellaneous letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Hugh Falconar, Thomas Irvine, and Baron d’Irvin. Topics include a dispute involving Hugh Falconar and James Rose; books for Charles Irvine’s library; the existence of a distant family relation in Prussia; and Thomas Irvine’s trip to London.

66a, 71a-74a, 80a, 82a, 93a,105a, 109a, and 121a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Pye and Cruikshank. Topics include the saturated market for teas in the Dutch Republic; the whereabouts of Richard Lake and John Forbes; routine financial transactions; determining Thomas Irvine’s future with Pye and Cruikshank; financial distress in Spain and the resultant high exchange rates there; shipping and insuring a cargo of teas from Gothenburg to Amsterdam; information on bills of exchange; Charles Irvine’s health problems [probably] with gall stones; the poor sales of teas in Amsterdam and of Charles Irvine’s SEIC teas in particular; and financing upcoming voyages of the SEIC.

69a, 75a, 78a, 84a, 95a, 104a, and 122a. Letters to Charles Irvine from Arthur Abercromby. Topics include records of routine financial transactions and matters of account; details on the tramping trade between Scotland and Sweden; a request for help importing red wine for a friend; the second dividend from the SEIC ship Gothic Lion; trade matters in Scotland; SEIC subscriptions; the doings of Messrs. Duvelaer, De Lude, and Delamettrie; news of Arthur Abercromby’s brother; the price of iron in England; Arthur Abercromby’s difficulties with Mr. Haggelberg of Stockholm; Thomas Irvine’s doings in London; James Jameson More’s unorthodox business practices and his difficulties with a merchant in Scotland; the market for iron in Scotland; Charles Irvine’s health; and arranging small credit.

70a, 77a, 88a, 92a, 96a, 98a, 101a, 107a, 112a, 114a, 120a, and 123a. Letters to Charles Irvine from George Ouchterlony. Topics include Colin Campbell’s difficulties in collecting funds from one Mackintosh; buying tickets for the lottery in Britain; insuring SEIC ships; routine financial tranactions; tranactions involving the finance of upcoming SEIC voyages; personal goods on behalf of Charles Irvine and others in George Ouchterlony’s personal network; transferring funds to Cadiz; a protested bill of exchange involving James Jameson More; difficulties importing chinaware on behalf of Hugh Campbell; Charles Irvine’s heatlh problems, [probably] with gall stones; routine communications with John Rose, John Irvine, and Alexander Irvine; the fortunes of Thomas Ouchterlony and his wife in Sweden; and the business fortunes of John Rose and James Stewart.

Folder 3, 1754.

1a, 2a, 6a, 8a, 9a, 12a, 14a, 17a, 27a, and 31a. Letters from James Gough and Co. to Charles Irvine. Topics include insuring and financing SEIC ships and voyages; preparing

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SEIC ships for voyages including loading them with cargo; communications for John Irvine in Canton; the arrival of the Dragon, Spanish man o’war from Vera Cruz in Cadiz; news of SEIC ships; and problems in the Spanish West Indies trade silver;

3a, 4a, 7a, 11a, 13a, 18a, 19a, 22a, 28a, 33a, 35a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 43a, 44a, 45a, 48a, and 51a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine financial transactions; financing upcoming SEIC voyages; hostilities between England and France over trading rights in the Far East; insuring SEIC ships with British insurers; extending credit to John Rose and James Stewart in Charleston South Carolina; Laurence Woulf; James Fallol; currency in South Carolina and its influence on John Rose and James Stewart’s credit; complications of insuring SEIC ships with British insurers; a trade agreement between the French and English East India Companies, Messrs. Duvelaer and De Lude were the French negotiators; problems insuring SEIC ships in France through Laurence Woulf; the fortunes of Thomas Ouchterlony and George Ouchterlony’s opinion of him; current importations of the English East India Company; trade strategy of the English East India Company; the European markets for silk and tea; reports on the whereabouts of SEIC ships; treatment of SEIC personnel by British traders in India; books for Charles Irvine; the fortunes and whereabouts of John Irvine; the market for elephant’s teeth in London; the influence of bad weather on the premiums of British insurers; report on the business of John Rose and James Stewart; scarcity of bills of exchange in Scotland; and maintaining contact Mr. Eliott in Canton.

5a, 20a, and 24a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include rountine financial transactions; Abercromby’s disagreement with one Haggelberg of Gothenburg; news of business conditions in nothern Scotland and of James Jameson More’s difficulties there; news of Abercromby’s brother in Vera Cruz and of Abercromby’s investments in his brother’s mining venture; the trade in firearms in Madrass and Surat; transferring trade secrets from the English East India Company to the Swedish Eat India Company; requests for information on how smoke red herring; Charles Irvine difficulties with [probably] gall stones; arranging for the import of sherry for one Mr. Misiner; credit for Nils Anders Meyer; and a change in Prime Minister in London.

10a. A letter from John Forbes to Charles Irvine. Topics include creditworthiness of a new chamber of insurance in the Dutch Republic; stagecoaches between Rotterdam; and Dunkirk.

15a, 16a, 25a, 29a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 37a, *38a, 46a, and 50a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include George Ainslie, Laurence Woulf, Nicholas Sahlgren, Charles Metcalfe, Topics include shipping wine from Bordeaux to Sweden; insuring SEIC ships in France; the printing trade in France; a new chamber of insurance in France; Nicholas Sahlgren’s involvement in an iron-trading venture; routine communications between Nicholas Sahlgren and Charles Irvine; general communications of news, accounts and transactions between Charles Metcalfe and Charles Irvine; business failures among insurance firms; and an in-depth report on the voyage of the Prince Charles.

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21a and 41a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine matters of account; financing and preparations for upcoming SEIC voyages; the Dutch Republic’s market for teas; the difficulties of selling teas under current market conditions in the Dutch Republic; books for Charles Irvine; and the fortunes and whereabouts of John Irvine.

23a, 26a, 30a, 39a, 47a, 49a, and 52a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include, Robert Willock, Hugh Falconar, John Young, Thomas Irvine and Hugh Campbell Topics include books ordered by Irvine; news of friends and family in northern Scotland; routine communications; dangers of piracy and in particular of the pirate Angria; John Irvine’s fortunes; Hugh Campbell’s accounts with the SEIC; and the SEIC accounting practices under particular directors and officers.

Folder 4, 1755 (n.b. item 35a has been moved to the James Rose Correspondence [JRC]).

1a, 3a, 4a, 6a, 9a, 15a, 18a, 22a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 32a, 39a, 46a, 48a, 49a, 50a, 51a, 52a, 54a, 55a, and 56a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Lord Mackenzie, Thomas Irvine, Baron William d’Irving, Lord Macleod, Robert Barclay, John Arbuthnot, James Jameson More, Hugh Campbell, John Irvine, George Kitchin, Topics include a personal loan from Charles Irvine to Lord Mackenzie; finding, purchasing and sending books and other personal items to Charles Irvine and other members of his personal network; the family history of the Irvines of Drum; a personal loan from Charles Irvine to Lord Macleod; the personal fortunes of Robert Barclay and his brother; the health and professional fortunes of John Arbuthnot; requests for loans for James Jameson More from Irvine; life in a regiment in Flanders; war between England and France; the death of John Rose’s partner and John Rose’s family and professional life; James James More’s involvement with the bankruptcy of John Forbes and others; resolving a dispute over a pacotille belonging to John Irvine; Thomas Irvine’s future plans; Hugh Campbell’s accounts with the SEIC; Hugh Campbell’s concern for his brother’s health; purchasing a position as commander of a company in the Swedish army; shipping books to Charles Irvine and Colin Campbell; and the difficulties of John Irvine and the SEIC contingent in Canton.

2a, 7a, 12a, 16a, *22a, 23a, 33a, *38a, 42a, 44a, 47a, 57a, and 58a. Letters to Charles Irvine from business correspondents. Correspondents include André Jacob Flanderin, Director Von Utfall, Charles Metcalfe, Brouwer and Sons, Topics include routine business communications concerning made-to-order shirts and other personal items; the state of the tea market in Europe; availability of silver; a thank you note for a loan of reading materials from Irvine’s library; the disruptive speculation in markets caused by the impending hostilities between England and France; Charles Metcalfe’s report on a loan one Lord Mcleod; transferring gifts to Irvine from contacts in Germany; the daily routine of Director von Utfall; and the trade in Chinese textiles.

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8a. A letter from James Gough and Co. to Charles Irvine. Topics include reports on the whereabout of SEIC ships; arranging insurance and finances for SEIC ships; the market for teas in Europe; hostilities between England and France; Gough and Company’s difficulties with the SEIC directorate; the fortunes of James Gough’s family; the stocks of the SEIC; and routine financial transactions involving bills of exchange.

5a, 10a, 13a, 19a, 30a, 37a, and 40a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine financial transactions; the dividends from a voyage of the SEIC ship Gothic Lion; a shipment of wine one Mr. Misiner; the European market for teas; the activities of the Comte de Lude and his brother Duvelaer; extending credit for business ventures; the fortunes of Abercromby’s brother in the Spanish West Indies; the impending war with France; the whereabouts of the SEIC ship Prince Charles; the fortunes of John Irvine; the business ventures of Nils Anders Meyer; Abercromby’s views on Mary Queen of Scots; Mr. Pye’s travels in England; the arrival of the English East India Company’s ships from India and the Far East; the health of members of the Campbell family; the influence of mishaps with the SEIC ships in Canton on the company’s shareprice; the bankruptcy of the Scots factors in Rotterdam; a shipment of wine for one Mr. Misiner; the plans of John Forbes; the activities of the brothers Duvelaer and the French ambassador Miropoix; tidings from the Spanish West Indies; collecting debts connected to the recently deceased Captain Swenson of Gothenburg; Abercromby’s continuing dissatisfaction with James Jameson More; and the India trade.

11a, 28a, 31a, 34a, 36a, and 43a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include rountine financial transactions; the market European and Dutch markets for teas; the business failures of John Forbes as well as Messrs. Dunlop, Richie, Dillon and Bordels; assisting James Jameson More with his financial entanglement with John Forbes; Thomas Irvine’s future plans; and reports on the Seven Year’s War.

14a, 21a, and 29a. Letters from John Forbes to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine matters of accounts between Irvine and Forbes for Forbes’ handling of teas on Irvine’s behalf; routine communications of information on the European tea market; and bills of exchange for James Rose in Aberdeen.

17a, 20a, 24a, 35a, 38a, 41a, 45a, 53a, and 59a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include sending goods to William Eliott based in Canton; the fortunes of John Rose and his partner James Stewart; the fortunes of the colony of South Carolina; the Seven Year’s War; the business fortunes of John Irvine in Canton; the lottery; sending personal items to Charles Irvine; the fortunes of Dr. George Irvine of St. Christopher and the death of his wife; Irvine’s involvement in routine transactions to the benefit of Captain George Elphinston; news of Robert Rose’s death of fever in Bengal; imports of the English East India Company; Charles Irvine’s disapproval of John Rose’s mesalliance; insuring SEIC ships; and Charles Murray’s fortunes and involvement in lead mines.

Hollinger Box 5 (3 folders), 1756-1757.

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Folder 1, 1756.

1a, 6a, 9a, 12a, 14a, 20a, 21a, 29a, 30a, 33a, 34a, 40a, 41a, 48a, 62a, 63a, 64a and 73a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Hugh Falconar, John Arbuthnot, Baron William d’Irving, James Keith, Duvelaer de la Barre Comte de Lude, John Irvine, Lord Mcleod, Robert Willock, Thomas Irvine, James Jameson More, Topics include the death of Charles Irvine’s sister in Nairn; the Seven Year’s War; finanical dealings with the Comte de Lude; the family history of the Irvine’s of Drum; taking the cure at spas in Germany; requests for Irvine to help people invest their money; financial transactions for the purposes of insuring SEIC ships; obtaining chintz in Amsterdam; the future prospects and plans of Thomas Irvine; a possible case of massive commercial fraud committed by the officers of the Prince Charles; Lord Mcleod’s financial problems; books for Irvine’s library; repayment of a short-term loan from Charles Irvine; and John Irvine’s safety and welfare and someone taken prisoner by a French privateer and held for ransom.

2a, 11a, 22a, *23a, [24a], 27a, 32a, 39a, 53a, 55a, 58a, 59a, 66a, 67a, 70a, 72a, 74a and 76a Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include the trading strategies employed by the captains of the English East Indiamen in India; the value of the Rupee; transferring silver dollars to Mr. Boucard in Bombay and news of the Seven Year’s War; insuring SEIC ships via insurers in Cadiz and London; the fortunes of Jack Arbuthnot, Thomas Irvine, Charles Murray and his son, James Rose, Hugh Falconar and others in Irvine’s personal network; Ouchterlony’s thoughts on the practices, prejudices and behavior of English maritime insurers; sending monie to Mr. Boucard in India; routine financial transactions; providing personal items to Charles Irvine, including a riding jacket; the complications with Swedish customs in doing so; the arrival John Irvine in Europe from Canton; the poor health of Hugh Campbell; the death of Hugh Campbell; finding documentation for a matter involving John Irvine; books that Robert Willock is sending to Charles Irvine; the arrival of English East Indiamen in England; routine communications; the poor health of Colin Campbell and his wife’s response to it; an upcoming visit by John Irvine to Scotland and England; the capture of the pirate Angria; John Irvine’s arrival in Scotland and his plans while there; difficulties with bills of exchange, probably due to the Seven Year’s War; Thomas Ouchterlony’s refusal to repay a loan to Charles Irvine; and transferring funds from Colin Campbell to his family in London at the end of his life.

3a, 5a, 7a, 15a and 38a. Letters from James Gough and Company to Charles Irvine. Topics include insuring SEIC ships; news of the Seven Year’s War; the failure of a merchant house and its influence on insurances for SEIC ships; and the taking of ships as a result of the Seven Year’s War.

4a, 8a, 13a, 17a, 19a, 25a, 31a, 35a, 42a, 43a, 46a, 47a, 51a, 52a, 56a and 60a. Letters from various business correpondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Laurence Woulfe, Director Von Utfall, William Maurice, Charles Metcalfe, George Ainslie, Alexander Baxter, Jonas Malm Erickson, Monsr. Boucard, Topics include insuring SEIC

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ships with French insurers during the Seven Year’s War; the custom’s regime in Sweden; intercession for a relative of Director Von Utfall’s; governor’s for the Swedish princes; routine news and financial transactions between Irvine and Utfall; a request for a short-term loan; preferment in the Anglican Church; records of rountine goods transactions between Charles Metcalfe and Charles Irvine; affairs in the Riksdag and at court including tax policy; finding cannons; information on payments from Lord Mcleod to Charles Irvine; procuring French wines for Irvine’s personal use; the value of the cargo of the SEIC ship Prince Charles; prices for teas in Hamburg, a request for Irvine’s help in establishing business ties with hemp and flax merchants in Gothenburg; insider information on the sale of teas in Emden by the Asiatische Compagnie; Director Utfall’s preparations for a trip; Lord Mcleod’s repayment of a loan from Irvine; buying fixed stock in the SEIC; and transferring funds to Monsr. Boucard in Surat.

10a, 37a, Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include the Seven Year’s War; dividends from the Gothic Lion; the dividends of Nils Anders Meyer; the Comte de Lude and his family; financial failures of Scots merchant houses in Rotterdam; the health of members of the Campbell family; sherry for Mr. Misiner; news of family and friends in England, including John Irvine and Hugh Campbell and his sister; and news of the Seven Year’s War and obtaining maritime insurance during the Seven Year’s War.

16a, 18a, 23a, 26a, 36a, 44a, 45a, 49a, 54a, 57a, 61a, 65a, 68a, 69a, 71a and 75a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include the difficulties of finding good bills of exchange; routine financial transactions; financial transactions for insuring SEIC ships; the European market for teas; establishing a business correspondence with merchants in Russia; the Seven Year’s War; prices for cochineal, elephant’s teeth, teas and mercury; prices for teas in Dutch and Swedish units of account; settling Colin Campbell’s estate in the event of his death; judging the quality of teas in Amsterdam; the influence of the Dutch East India Company and the Asiatische Compagnie on European tea prices; routine communications; John Irvine’s trip to Scotland; details of the sale of SEIC teas in Amsterdam; and security for shares in the SEIC that Colin Campbell was trying to liquidate.

Folder 2, January-August 1757.

1a, 2a, 3a, 50a, 53a, 61a, 66a, 67a, 74a, and 78a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include selling teas on the Amsterdam market; paying off the expences of Thomas Irvine’s apprenticeship with Pye and Cruikshank; Mr. Kitchin’s account with Pye and Cruikshank; transferring shares of the SEIC to Pye and Cruikshank.

Note to those processing the catalog: Originally I felt that the Pye & Cruikshank letters could usefully be included in the series on the business correspondence for this folder. I now feel it ought to be in one series set apart. Accordingly, I have removed the letters in boldface above from the next descriptive block along with

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those descriptions from the series that had a clear connection to Pye & Cruikshank. It would be useful, though, to confirm that I the description of the above letters is complete by checking the boldface letters. 4a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 17a, 19a, 20a, 21a, 23a, 25a, 26a, 28a, 29a, 31a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 37a, 38a, 39a, 40a, 41a, 42a, 45a, 47a, 49a, 52a, 54a, 55a, 57a, 58a, 60a, 63a, 64a, 65a, 68a, 71a, 72a, 75a, 77a, and 79a. Letters from various business associates to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Nicholas Sahlgren, Jennings and Finlay, Charles Metcalfe, Jonas Malm Erikson, Henry Hackson, Anders Plomgren, Comte Tessin, Pye and Cruikshank, Hugh Ross, and John Forbes. Topics include transferring funds on behalf of Colin Campbell; financial transactions connected either with the SEIC or with the distribution of Colin Campbell’s wealth; practices for manipulating bills of exchange; Colin Campbell’s account with Charles Metcalfe; the market for teas in Hamburg; exchange, stock and commodity (esp. iron) speculation; purchasing iron; routine matters of account between Irvine and Jonas Malm Erikson; the death of Colin Campbell; purchasing Swedish ennoblement for Thomas Irvine; personal items purchased for Charles Irvine by Charles Metcalfe; receiving John Irvine as a guest in Hamburg; a request from Hugh Ross that Irvine look into a dividend to the Countess Gyllenborg Sparre that had been promised her by Colin Campbell from the profits of the SEIC; John Forbes’ fortunes and plans to migrate to China; the proper way to send parcels within Sweden; East India goods being handled by Jennings and Finlay of Stockholm; the market for teas and the influence of the European political system on it; the market for teas in Hamburg and the influence of the Asiatische Compagnie on it; Charles Metacalfe’s willingness to assist Irvine in pure exchange transactions and his information on exchange rates; pawning securities; routine financial transations carried out on Irvine’s behalf by Jennings and Finlay; and a summary statement of financial transactions carried out by Jennings and Finlay.

Note to those processing the catalog: It might be a good idea to make sure that there are no descriptions in the above section on Irvine’s various business correspondents that actually belong with the newly created Pye & Cruikshank section.

5a, 8a, 11a, 15a, 16a, 18a, 22a, 24a, 27a, 32a, 33a, 43a, 46a, 48a, 56a, 57a [59a], 70a, 73a and 76a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include distributing legacies on behalf of Colin Campbell; Charles Irvine’s difficulties with Thomas Ouchterlony; Colin Campbell’s impending death; transferring letters from Irvine to other members of Irvine’s personal network; executing financial transactions on behalf of Mr. Nicholas Sahlgren; routine financial and business transactions; the marriage of John Irvine; shipping books to Colin Campbell; Ouchterlony’s opinions on Jewish folk; the whereabouts and activities of John Irvine; information on the availability of bills of exchange in Amsterdam and political and economic influences on the exchange; the fortunes of Thomas Ouchterlony; the suitability of one Mr. Lorimer for work in the world of business; shipping items for Charles Irvine’s personal use and a bequest of mourning rings, from Colin Campbell to his relatives.

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6a. A letter from James Gough and Co. to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine news of the Seven Year’s War and the impending death of Colin Campbell.

69a. A letter from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine Abercromby writes a catchall letter in which he discusses a shipment of sherry for SEIC use as well as the death of Colin Campbell.

30a, 44a, and 51a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Arbuthnot and Lord Mackenzie. Topics include the Seven Year’s War as seen from Flanders; the death of Colin Campbell; the Seven Year’s War in eastern Europe; Irvine’s acquaintances in France, including Robert Dugard of Rouen; and purchasing ships in Dunkirk.

Folder 3, September-December 1757.

82a, 84a, 89a, 93a, 95a, 98a, 101a, 105a, 107a, 109a, 110a, 112a, 113a, 117a, 125a, 134a, and 136a. Letters from Finlay and Jennings of Stockholm to Charles Irvine. Topics include rountine matters of account and routine financial transactions (essentially the records of a bills of exchange business) and summaries of such transactions.

87a, 88a, 91a, 92a, 102a, 103a, 104a, 106a, 116a, 120a, 124a, 128a, 131a, and 135a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Henry Hackson, Charles Metcalfe, John Forbes and Nicholas Sahlgren. Topics include routine communications concerning Messrs. More and Irvine; the exchange in Stockholm and its response to war in the Germany; routine matters of account and business transactions between Charles Metcalfe and Charles Irvine concerning teas; the market for teas in Hamburg; John Forbes’ preparations for a trip to China; John Forbes’ attempts to re-establish financial connections to his network in Britain and northern Europe; the ennoblement of Thomas Irvine in Sweden; selling SEIC bonds/shares; obtaining linens and stockings for Irvine’s household; routine financial transactions between Irvine and Nicholas Sahlgren concerning SEIC indebtedness to Irvine, bottomry bonds and a bill of exchange to Irvine’s advantage; a routine financial transaction between Koschell and Conradi and Captain Thomas Irvine of Aberdeen; the business partnership of Thomas Irvine and James Jameson More; routine transactions between Henry Hackson and others; daily news from Henry Hackson; financial transactions involving bills of exchange between Henry Hackson and others; and the influence of the Seven Year’s War on exchange rates and business ettiquette.

80a, 86a, 94a, 97a, 99a, 108a, 115a, 119a, 122a, 126a, 127a, and 130a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include the impact of the Seven Year’s War on Hamburg; routine matters of account; the price of Bohea teas in the European market; routine transactions carried out on behalf of John Duff alias John Forbes; finding ships to transport goods in the midst of the Seven Year’s War; specifics on the Amsterdam market for teas; transporting teas between Sweden and Amsterdam; the influence of the Dutch East India Company on the demand and supply of tea; general advice and transactional information concerning the sale of SEIC teas in Amsterdam; cargos of tea damaged by

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sea water; insuring cargos; routine financial transactions involving bills of exchange; and reports on the progress and whereabouts of ships between Gothenburg and Amsterdam.

81a, 83a, 85a, 90a, 96a, 100a, 118a, 123a, 129a, and 133a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include shipping and insuring cargos between Gothenburg and Amsterdam; mourning rings for the friends and relatives of Colin Campbell, recently deceased; routine financial transactions; shipping and insuring cargos between Gothenburg and Hamburg; the influence of the Seven Year’s War on insurance practices; transferring money to Mr. Boucard in Surat; providing assistance to Mr. Bonner and Mrs. Smith, Colin Campbell’s servants; sending personal items to Charles Irvine; the welfare of Dr. George Irvine of St. Christopher; the death of John Irvine of Artamford; a receipt for money given to Nicholas Mayer; insurance on a cargo of teas; the welfare of Mrs. Colin Campbell; general information on maritime insurance practices; the difficulties of setting up a grocery business; the whereabouts of Thomas Irvine; the whereabouts and activities of Thomas and John Irvine in Scotland; and the fortunes of Thomas Ouchterlony.

111a, Document written in Swedish. n.b. I now have Swedish as a research language and could properly describe this if a copy of it were sent me.

114a, 121a and 132a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Captain Thomas Ouchterlony, Arthur Abercromby and George Bellenden. Topics include Captain Thomas Ouchterlony’s plans to winter in Carlshamn; trade in ships stores, especially deals; the complications of exchange rates; thanks for Irvine’s help with the careers of his sons; Charles Irvine’s efforts to leave the SEIC and return to Scotland; the troubles of one Mr. Misenor with his employers; the fortunes of Colin Campbell’s former servants George Bonner and Mrs. Smith and of Mrs. Colin Campbell; and George Bellenden’s thanks for Irvine’s timely assistance with his affairs.

Hollinger Box 6 (5 folders), 1758-1760

Folder 1, 1758.

1a, 21a, 28a, 41a, 42a, 44a, and 48a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include the first steps in the establishment of the partnership between James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine in Gothenburg and Ouchterlony’s advice and involvement in that matter; the fortunes of Thomas Ouchterlony; the death of Alexander Ouchterlony; the business prospects of Mr. George Bonner, former servant to Colin Campbell; attending to the financial obligations of the deceased Colin Campbell; routine business transactions; purchases of personal items for Irvine and members of Irvine’s personal network; a bottomry bond connected with Colin Campbell; George Ouchterlony’s fears of his own death and for the health of Charles Irvine; documentation of tea prices in Sweden and Hamburg; insuring cargos for Charles and John Irvine, declaring goods shipped as “neutral” goods; reports of British shipping’s fortunes during the Seven Year’s War; the arrival of English East India Company ships in Portsmouth;

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extensive news of Irvine’s friends and family in London; economic competition between England, France and Swedenl and renegotiating insurance agreements.

2a, 9a, 25a, 27a, 33a, 34a, and 35a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Charles Metcalfe, Nicholas Sahlgren and le Chevalier J. Goodricke. Topics include the markets for teas in Hamburg; the influence of the Seven Year’s War and particularly French control over Emden on the market for teas; documentation of accounts between Irvine and Charles Metcalfe; the sales of Irvine’s consignements of teas in Hamburg; debts owed to Irvine by the SEIC; timing the sale of teas consigned by Irvine to Charles Metcalfe for sale in Hamburg; the influence of teas from Cadiz on the Hamburg market; news of the activities of the French privateer the Duke de Belle; le Chevalier J. Goodricke’s recent appointment as Danish Minister in Sweden and Charles Irvine’s acquaintance with le Chevalier J. Goodricke.

3a, 13a, and 32a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Thomas Irvine, James and Edward Gough, . Topics include the fortunes of the Irvine’s of Drum in Scotland; news of the Gough family in Spain and New Spain, the high exchange and poor economic circumstances in Sweden and their connection to the politics of the Seven Year’s War and a dinner invitation from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine.

4a, 5a, 5a1, 6a, 8a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 14a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 20a, 23a, 24a, and 47a. Letters from Finlay and Jennings to Charles Irvine. Topics include processing bills of exchange; the buying and selling of SEIC shares; information on the market for iron; the influence of the Seven Year’s War on the business environment; the ownership and control of the SEIC; expected dividends from the SEIC; speculation on the Stockholm exchange and the politics of Europe’s exchanges during the Seven Year’s War and especially the influence of Russian politics.

7a, 15a, 19a, 22a, 26a, 30a, 36a, 37a, 39a, 40a, 43a, and 46a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine financial transactions, including paying bills of exchange and obtaining credit; the sale of Irvine’s and George Kitchins’s teas in Amsterdam; the influence of the French East India Company on the European and Amterdam markets for teas; the role of brokers in the tea market; speculation on the future price of teas; the course of public sales of tea in Rotterdam and Amsterdam and the influence of international trade and politics on them; the course of Pye and Cruikshank’s sales of teas on behalf of Irvine, Kitchin and John Irvine; forced sales of teas to pay for bills of exchange and their influence on the Amsterdam tea market; the supply of teas coming from Canton on European ships and its influence on the prices for teas; Pye and Cruikshank’s evaluation and pricing of teas; recommendations for buying, selling and speculating in the Amsterdam tea market; the presence of Mr. William Eliott in Amsterdam; the health of Mr. Cruikshank who was suffering from severe rheumatism; the plans of Arthur Abercromby for a voyage to China and the fate of English East India Company shipping in the events of the Seven Year’s War.

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29a, 42a1, and 45a. Letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include the fortunes of John Young; Charles Irvine’s health; Mrs. Colin Campbell; the sale of Hugh Campbell’s house in London; the fortunes of Mr. Misenor and others involved in the English East India Company; the influence of the Seven Year’s War on Europe’s exchanges; the progress of the Seven Year’s War; Arthur Abercromby’s trip to China as supercargo of three Dutch East India Company ships; a renewed request from Abercromby for his account current; the plans of George Kitchin and Abercromby’s offer of the use of an apartment in his London house for Irvine’s visit to London.

31a. A letter from William Eliott, a correspondent who had been stationed in Canton, to Charles Irvine written from Copenhagen. The handwriting of the correspondent was impaired, making the letter a very difficult read.

38a. A cross-reference note in Charles Irvine’s hand indicating that this item, a letter from George Ouchterlony had been, “anexed to the abstract of my Accot. Currt. that [Ouchterlony] sent me that day.”

Folder 2, January 1759-August 1759.

1a, 1a1, 3a, 5a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 12a, 14a, 15a, 16a, 18a, 19a, 20a, 26a, 35a, and 44a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine financial transactions connected with the sale of teas consigned to Pye and Cruikshank by More & Irvine, George Kitchin and Charles Irvine; the market for teas in Amsterdam and the influence of the London teas market on it; matters of account between Charles Irvine and Pye and Cruikshank; the health of George Cruikshank; processing bills of exhange and performing other general financial services; rectifying accounts between Pye and Cruikshank and Charles Irvine; the influence of the Dutch East India Company’s imports on demand for tea in Amsterdam; the influence of the SEIC’s tea imports on the market in Amsterdam and market dynamics for the tea market in Amsterdam; and concepts of ethnic identification.

2a, 8a, 13a, 38a, and 42a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include Ouchterlony’s Irvine’s plans to return to Britain from Sweden; news of Irvine’s personal network in Britain; the (in Ouchterlony’s view) spurious claim of one Mrs. Hay to a legacy from Colin Campbell; routine financial transactions including money advances and processing bills of exchange; gifts for one of Irvine’s Godsons, the son of John Irvine; the marriage plans of Mrs. Hugh Campbell; news of James Rose, John Rose and other members of Irvine’s personal network; communicating with Thomas Irvine while he is on a commercial trip; and the founding of a new merchant house in Gothenburg by Messrs. Greenfields and Cleghorn.

4a, 11a, 17a, 21a, 22a1, 25a, 31a, 32a, 43a, and 45a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Andrew Drummond & Company, Charles Metcalfe, Robert and John Hall, Edmond Roth and Jonas Malm Erickson. Topics include managing Arthur Abercromby’s financial debts while he is away at sea; the teas market in Hamburg; Irvine’s involvement with the market for teas in

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Hamburg; accounts of the sales of Irvine’s teas in Hamburg; a short-term loan from Irvine to Robert and John Hall; selling herring in Hamburg; temporary lodgings in Hamburg; Charles Irvine’s health; general news of Edmond Roth’s voyage to Canton and information he had collected for the SEIC; and setting up a business appointment with Jonas Malm Erickson.

6a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 27a, 28a, 29a, 30a, 33a, 34a, 36a, 37a, 40a, and 41a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell and James Jameson More. Topics include Charles Irvine’s plans to return to Britain from Sweden; the news of the marriage plans of people in the Campbell family; records of credit transactions; account documentation for the business of James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine; routine reports on business matters from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine; reports on the whereabouts of John Irvine; news of the Seven Year’s War; political events in Aberdeen that had an impact on the Irvines and their circle; and information on the whereabouts of various individuals involved in the tramping trade between Sweden and Scotland.

39a, A letter from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Again the hand is not very legible, though better than CIC/1758/31a.

Folder 3, September-December 1759.

46a, 52a, 59a, 60a, 64a, 67a, 76a, 79a, 81a, 88a, 90a, 91a, 95a, and 99a. Letters from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine financial and business transactions and especially documentation of the business done for Charles Irvine by More and Irvine, including transactions involving SEIC shares and routine transactions connected with tea, coal and other products; news of the Seven Year’s War, including the activities of privateers; the workings of the business owned jointly by James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine; mention of Charles Irvine’s will; details of the trading connections being established by Thomas Irvine and James Jameson More; privateering; and Colin Campbell’s estate.

47a, 48a, 49a, 53a, 56a, 58a, 63a, 73a, 77a, 82a, 87a, 94a, 96a, 97a, and 101a. Letters from business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Henry Hackson, George Kitchin, Charles Metcalfe, George Ross, and Jonas Malm Erickson. Topics include passports for foreign travel; routine matters of account between George Kitchin and Charles Irvine; Kitchin’s interest in the European tea markets; the character and business acumen of James Jameson More; dealing informally with a bill of exchange dispute; rumors of the death of the King of Prussia; timing the sale of teas in the Hamburg market; a request from Henry Hackson that Irvine look up acquaintances of his [Hackson’s] in Hamburg; gifts from Irvine to Henry Hackson; major financial transactions between Henry Hackson and Charles Irvine; Jonas Malm Erickson’s trust to take care of some of Charles Irvine’s personal effects and business transactions; News of the Seven Year’s War in the area of Surat; reports on the activities of a ship likely in the employ of the SEIC; Colin Campbell’s will; Jonas Malm Erikson’s efforts at resolving matters of estate for Colin Campbell, a dispute between a Mr. and Mrs. Grou and the

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disposition of some of Irvine’s effects left in Sweden; exchange transactions carried out by Charles Metcalfe for Charles Irvine; and an earthquake in Sweden and preparations of the SEIC for upcoming voyages.

50a, 55a, 61a, 62a, 65a, 69a, 74a, 83a, 86a, and 89a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include accounts of the sales of teas consigned to Pye and Cruikshank by Charles Irvine and George Kitchin; routine financial transactions; the market for teas in Amsterdam; Irvine’s plans to leave Sweden and an invitation to visit Amsterdam; prices on the European market for teas; news of the Seven Year’s War; speculation and timing of the market for teas in Amsterdam; news of EEIC ships and their whereabouts; and maritime insurance.

54a, 57a, 66a, 68a, 84a, 85a, 93a, and 98a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include, the commercial trip of Thomas Irvine through the British Isles; the tea sales of the English East India Company; the bona fides of one Mr. Cleghorn; Charles Irvine’s plans to leave Sweden for good; insuring cargos between Gothenburg and Hamburg and general information on maritime insurance matters; Oucterlony’s assistance with Irvine’s teas intended for Hamburg; the whereabouts of various ships on which Irvine has cargos; exchange rates between London and Amsterdam; news of the progress of EEIC ships from China; news of the Seven Year’s War; Irvine’s proposed location for wintering; routine financial transactions including managing and paying out on bills of exchange; the health of Patrick Garden; and the death of Patrick Garden.

70a and 75a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Handwriting is difficult to decipher.

71a, 78a, 80a, and 92a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Dr. Bellenden, Thomas Irvine, Robert Kinnell, Elizabeth Campbell, Topics include medicinal remedies and other medical treatments; the will of Colin Campbell; Prime Minister William Pitt; and the fortunes of the Campbell family.

100a. A letter from Baron Eugene de Kurtsrock. Handwriting is quite difficult to follow.

Folder 4, January-June 1760.

1a, 4a, 6a, 7a, 11a, 17a, 22a, 23a, 29a, 34a, 35a, 42a, and 49a. Letters from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine. Topics include financial and business transactions and especially documentation of the business done for Charles Irvine by More and Irvine; the workings of the business owned jointly by James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine and the earthquake in Sweden; public discontent in Gothenburg; detailed reports on the shipping engaged by More and Irvine; the death of one Anders Floreen; fluctuations on the exchange in Gothenburg; More and Irvine’s network of correspondents; mercantile politics in Gothenburg; the Gothenburg real estate market; the international market for SEIC shares; the prices for various commodities, including iron and sugar; the news of people of James Jameson More’s and Irvine’s mutual acquaintance; praise for More and

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Irvine’s apprentice; news of life in Gothenburg; the whereabouts and activities of Thomas Irvine in Scotland; managing the sale of teas in the hands of Pye and Cruikshank for Irvine and others; and the trade in iron and deals between Scotland and Sweden.

2a, 5a, 8a, 10a, 13a, 14a, 16a, 19a, 24a, 26a, 31a, 32a, 37a, 38a, 39a, 40a, 45a, 46a, 47a, and 48a. Letters from various business and professional correspondent to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Jonas Malm Erickson, Charles Metcalfe, Henry Hackson, Edward Mathias, Alexander Baxter, James Gough and Co., and John Manning. Topics include the sale of some of Charles Irvine’s personal effects; Jonas Malm Erickson’s reports on daily life in Gothenburg; teas prices in Gothenburg; selling Charles Irvine’s SEIC shares; Colin Campbell’s estate and Charles Irvine’s involvement with it; the death of one Anders Floreen; routine business transactions between Charles Metcalfe and Charles Irvine; reports on SEIC preparations for an upcoming voyage to Surat and Canton; Jonas Malm Erickson’s efforts to invest on behalf of Irvine; the effects of international events on the exchanges in Sweden and the plight of Swedish merchants; Iron prices; the prices for SEIC actions; Henry Hackson’s efforts to ride out the high exchange in Sweden; Charles Irvine’s Swedish patronage network; Henry Hackson’s trade network; the health of one Mr. Schall; news of the activities of the SEIC; selling the books of one Mr. Lagerström; the sale and purchase of SEIC actions in the wake of Colin Campbell’s death; Jonas Malm Erickson’s general impressions on the market conditions in Sweden; the real estate market in Gothenburg; reasons for the high exchange in Sweden; strategies for avoiding financial loss due to the high exchange; Henry Hackson’s health; Jonas Malm Erickson’s efforts to assist people in settling their estates; preparing SEIC ships for outgoing voyages; Jonas Malm Erickson’s policies on loans to foreigners; letters concerning a dinner party to which Irvine had been invited; the health and fortunes of James Gough and Charles Irvine as they approach old age; Jonas Malm Erickson’s plans; the audit of the SEIC; thank you note for a package of tea; the fortunes of SEIC and other European trading company ships in Canton; conflicts between the English and Chinese in Canton; Charles Metcalfe’s news of the impact of the Seven Year’s War on Hamburg and news of the European tea market; and supplies from Canton.

3a, 12a, 15a, 18a, 20a, 21a, 25a, 27a, 30a, 33a, and 36a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include the European and Amsterdam markets for teas; the influence of the EEIC on the European markets for teas; a proposal to auction off all of the fine teas in their possession at public sale due to the glutted Amsterdam market for teas; the problems associated with oversupply in the market for teas in Amsterdam; the impact of Swedish buyers on the teas market in Amsterdam; the safest routes for journeying overland from Hamburg to an embarkation point for Britain; the health of Mr. Cruikshank; the progress of the sale of teas Irvine has consigned to Pye and Cruikshank; and documentation of tea sales.

9a, 25a1, 44a, and 50a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Elizabeth von Utfall, James Rose and George Kitchin. Topics include Irvine’s journey homeward to Britain; news of friends in Gothenburg; news of Irvine’s family network; George Kitchin’s illness; George Kitchin’s satisfaction with living in Wika; Kitchin’s request to Irvine for clothing, lemon juice and

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other sundries; and George Kitchin’s impressions of the current market for teas and local market conditions.

28a. A letter from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include Ouchterlony’s opinions on Edward Garden; the trial of the Earl of Ferrers for the murder of his steward; and Charles Irvine’s health.

41a. A letter from Baron Eugene de Kurtsrock. Handwriting is faint and not easy to read.

43a. A Letter from William Eliott. Handwriting is extremely difficult to read.

Folder 5, July-December 1760.

51a, 58a, 65a, 69a, and 72a. Letters from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include the whereabouts of Thomas Irvine; the dynamics of tea supplies and their influence on the market in Amsterdam; and the sale of teas consigned to Pye and Cruikshank by Charles Irvine, George Kitchin and John Irvine.

52a, 59a, 67a, 78a, 83a, and 99a. Letters from George Kitchin to Charles Irvine. Topics include daily life in Sweden; Kitchin’s poor health and the deaths of Irvine and Kitchin’s mutual friends and acquaintances; politics in Gothenburgh; Irvine’s health; disputes among employees of the SEIC; news of the movements of SEIC ships in European waters; smuggling teas into Britain; the sales of houses in Gothenburg; the difficulty of living in Sweden; the poor health of Kitchin’s mother and sister and news of the SEIC; and the politics of the SEIC.

53a, 56a, 66a, 68a, 70a, 71a, 80a, 85a, 86a, 91a, 92a, 94a, and 97a. Letters from members of Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include James Rose, Thomas Irvine, Elizabeth Campbell, Adam Duff, George Arbuthnot, John Arbuthnot, Miss M. Clarges, Arthur Abercromby, Alexander Irvine, and George Irvine. Topics include news of family and friends in Scotland; progress report on the business of More and Irvine; travel plans of Thomas Irvine; a bequest to Archibald Duff from Hugh Campbell; routine friendly communications; news of the Rose family and of Irvine’s family in Scotland; Arthur Abercromby’s report on his voyage to Canton; request from Alexander Irvine for Charles Irvine’s assistance in a legal case in which his father was involved; news of the Irvine’s of Artamford; news of the Seven Year’s War; George Irvine’s efforts to settle in England; and news of Elizabeth Campbell’s personal network.

54a, 57a, 61a, 64a, 76a, 81a, and 98a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include Erickson’s news of daily life in Gothenburg; Erickson’s business activities in Gothenburg, which seem to have been financial services to the wealthy; Erickson’s efforts to places Irvine’s money in Swedish investments; local and national politics as they played out in Gothenburg; news of the return of SEIC ships from Canton; writing a life of Colin Campbell; news of the SEIC, news of the sale of Irvine’s SEIC stock; and news of politics in Sweden.

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55a, 60a, 74a, and 88a. Letters from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine. Topics include reports on the business of More and Irvine.

62a, 73a, 75a, 82a, 84a, 87a, 90a, and 96a. Letters from various business and professional correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Pierre Bou et fils, Robert and Hall of Gothenburg, Henry Hackson, Secretary Ekerman, John Schullhendn, and Director von Utfall. Topics include congratulations on Irvine’s return to Britain; prolonging a payment to Irvine; routine financial transactions between Henry Hackson and Charles Irvine; details of Secretary Ekerman’s recent journeys across Europe and his future professional plans, including his candidacy for the Swedish consulship in Cadiz; John Forbes’s fortunes in Venice; SEIC and local politics and news in Gothenburg; the health of John Schullhendn.; routine news and business transactions between Charles Metcalfe and Charles Irvine; news of the marriage of Henrik König, a founder and director of the SEIC, to one Miss Ketting; and financial records of Charles Irvine’s personal loans to individuals in Sweden.

63a, 77a, 79a, 89a, and 93a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include news of Irvine’s trip to Bath; news of the Earl of Marschall; routine financial transactions; the poor health of the Laird of Drum, Irvine’s nephew; the safe arrival of Arthur Abercromby back from Canton; news of Mrs. Colin Campbell; the high prices for teas in Gothenburg; news of George Irvine and a law suit between Charles Irvine; and the creditors of Forbes of Alford.

95a. A letter from William Eliott. The hand is very difficult to read.

Hollinger Box 7 (5 folders), 1761-1763.

Folder 1, January-April 1761.

1a, 8a, 16a, 33a, and 36a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal circle to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Secretary Ekeman, John Schullhend[e]r, Captain Thomas Irvine of Auchmunziell, and Alexander Ogilvie. Topics include Ekeman’s political difficulties in Sweden, probably stemming from an allegiance with the pro-war Hats faction, which was on the outs in 1760; the changing political environment in Sweden, with the rise of the mercantilist Caps and the decline of the pro-war Hats; John Schullhend[e]r’s trip to Germany; the death of Charles Irvine’s nephew the laird of Drum; Secretary Ekeman’s current and future career plans; his reading of the political situation in Sweden and his negative experiences in Gothenburg; his account of the political difficulties of the SEIC in Sweden; the disposal of agricultural products from the Irvine lands at Crimond; the replacement of the family lawyer Mr. George Bean for corrupt practices; and the tack or lease for the house of Drum.

2a, 12a, 32a, and 35a. Letters from James Jameson More/More & Irvine to Charles Irvine. Topics include the sale of Charles Irvine’s SEIC shares; James More’s plans to return to Scotland; news of acquaintances mutual to Irvine and More; the exchange in Sweden and Europe generally; day-to-day details of the operations of More and Irvine;

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political news from Sweden, especially concerning calls for reform; the difficulties of merchants and others in Sweden due to the high exchange; small purchases made for Charles Irvine by More and Irvine, such as gloves for personal use; news of mutual friends and family in Britain; shipments to Charles Irvine; and politics in Britain.

3a, 6a, 10a, 17a, 20a, 22a, 23a, 25a, 26a, 28a, 34a, 38a, and 39a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine financial transactions and communications; the fortunes of John Rose of Charleston South Carolina; finding a shipwright for John Rose; the health, fortunes and plans of Arthur Abercromby; exchanges of gifts between Irvine and More & Irvine; news of family and friends; the death of Irvine’s nephew Drum; the changing of the guard at Pye and Cruikshank, which was henceforth to be known as Rich and Wilkieson; the death of Jack Arbuthnot’s wife; the death of Arthur Abercromby; shipments from various people to Charles Irvine, most involving gifts; and Ouchterlony’s opinion of the behavior of John Forbes.

4a and 21a. Two letters from Arthur Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include Abercromby’s professional plans; news of personal acquaintances mutual to Abercromby and Charles Irvine, such as George Kitchin and Henrik König; the exchange in Sweden; Irvine’s plans for his retirement residence; Abercromby’s health; and Abercromby’s difficulties with the VOC.

5a, 19a, and 24a. Letters from George Kitchin to Charles Irvine. Topics include news of mutual friends and acquaintances of Irvine’s and Kitchin’s in Sweden and the Continent generally; Kitchin’s health; and special shipments of food from Irvine to Kitchin.

7a, 9a, 18a, 27a, 29a, and 37a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include politics in Britain and Europe, especially as seen from the perspective of Eliott and his immediate London circle; small matters of business, news of mutual friends and acquaintances; thanks for a parcel of linnen for Mrs. Eliott; politics in Sweden; and the European colonial empires and the Seven Year’s War. One letter, item 29a, has extremely faint handwriting and is difficult to read.

11a. A letter from Pye and Cruikshank to Charles Irvine. Topics include matters of account for lots of teas sold by Pye and Cruikshank for Irvine.

13a and 14a. Letters from Pye, Rich and Wilkieson to Charles Irvine. Topics include the letter of introduction asking Irvine for the future favor of his business with the successor house to Pye and Cruikshank and routine matters of account.

15a and 30a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include Irvine’s investment portfolio with Erickson.

31a. A letter from John Forbes to Charles Irvine. Topics include John Forbes’s current plans, including his return to Britain from self-imposed financial exile in Venice; his resumption of his former name; his plans to repay his debts to Irvine by selling off some antiques and his intention to find a new path in Britain.

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Folder 2, May-December 1761.

40a, 53a, 62a, 66a, and 74a. Letters from John Forbes to Charles Irvine. Topics include John Forbes’s future plans; the character of his former servant A. Brand; Forbes’s greetings and congratulations to various members of the Irvine family; prints in Venice and Paris; Forbes’s plans to sell some antiques and his thanks for Irvine’s understanding with regard to the credit he extended Forbes; Forbes’s thanks for the opportunity to have the use of Irvine’s loan to him a little longer; his plans to return to Venice; his views on living abroad; the marital plans of the King of England; the impending marriage of Thomas Irvine; Forbes’s new appointment as secretary to Lord Northampton; maps for Charles Irvine; an accusation of Jacobitism against Forbes; and Forbes’s plans to settle in Seville.

41a and 76a. Letters from James Jameson More/More & Irvine to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine matters of the business of More & Irvine and of their transactions with Charles Irvine; prices for iron and teas; the health of George Kitchin; the Seven Year’s War; news of mutual friends of More’s and Irvine’s living in Sweden; documentation of Irvine’s various accounts with More and Irvine; and the dissolution of the partnership of More and Irvine.

42a, 47a, 50a, 58a, 60a, 65a, 70a, 71a, and 79a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include the impending marriage of Thomas Irvine; Mr. Edmund Garden; the will of Arthur Abercromby; the whereabouts and plans of Mr. George Irvine; routine transactions, the poor health of George Kitchin; financial provisions for the niece of Arthur Abercromby; sundry small shipments that Ouchterlony was taking care of for various members of the Irvine and Rose families; Arthur Abercromby’s account with the VOC; the health of one Mr. Misenor; John Rose’s debts to Charles Irvine; Arthur Abercromby’s debts to Charles Irvine; finding a ships carpenter for John Rose; servicing bills of exchange; the indebtedness of Arthur Abercromby’s estate to Charles Irvine; wedding gifts for Thomas Irvine’s wedding; the unfortunate circumstances of Miss Stewart, Arthur Abercromby’s niece and housekeeper; and calculating John Rose’s total indebtedness to Charles Irvine.

43a, 46a, 48a, 49a, 52a, 54a, 55a, 59a, 68a, 73a, 75a, 77a, 84a, 85a, 86a, 87a, and 88a. Letters from or closely concerning members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Mrs. Colin Campbell, Ann Rose, Mary Irvine, Captain Thomas Irvine of Auchmunziell, Charles Murray, Katherine Kitchin, Sir Robert Abercromby, Magnus Junggren, and Alexander Ogilvie. Topics include the unsuitable behavior of one Miss Stewart, the niece of Mr. Arthur Abercromby; news of family and friends; the birth of a son to Ann Rose’s daughter, and Charles Irvine’s godson, Charles; the settling of the Irvine estate at Drum; Charles Irvine’s health and Captain Irvine’s wish that his brother Charles Irvine visit him; Charles Murray’s wish to renew his old friendship with Charles Irvine; George Kitchin’s will; the estate of Arthur Abercromby; Magnus Junggren’s future plans; news of Irvine’s circle in Gothenburg; coming up with a financial settlement to care for the young Alexander Irvine, eighteenth Laird of Drum;

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Charles Murray’s complaints about Charles Irvine’s infrequent replies to Murray’s letters; the current state of Murray’s friends and family; the health of the former Mrs. Hugh Campbell; the death of Mrs. Allen, a niece to Mrs. Colin Campbell; management of the Irvine family lands and resources; speculation on lands in possession of one Millhill and a loan to give to the same; Christmas greetings from Captain Thomas Irvine to Charles Irvine; and Captain Thomas Irvine’s concern at his son Thomas’s sudden move to Gothenburg with his entire family.

44a, 45a, 51a, 57a, 64a, 67a, 81a, and 82a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson, J. van Utfall and Henry Hackson to Charles Irvine. Topics include Erickson’s management Charles Irvine’s investment portfolio in Sweden; news of the Seven Years War; news of the SEIC’s annual sales; news of the economic situation in Sweden and Europe; paying off George Kitchin’s old servants; the sale of Arthur Abercromby’s old house in Gothenburg and the real estate market in Gothenburg in general; new restrictions on Europeans trading in Canton; news of the SEIC’s difficulties; high finance in Europe and Sweden, especially as it pertains to the Seven Year’s War; news of the fortunes of particular merchants; Hackson’s loan from Charles Irvine; and Swedish politics.

56a, 61a, 69a, 80a, and 89a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include the process of growing old and how different people meet it; the Seven Year’s War; investment advice; trading relations between the Chinese and European merchants in Canton; Charles Irvine’s health; and the new Queen of England and the coronation of the king and the queen.

63a, 72a, 78a, 82a1 and 83a. Letters from various business correspondents to Charles Irvine or agents of the Irvine family. Correspondents include Robert and John Hall, William Fraser, Francis Douglas, Topics include Irvine’s investments in Sweden; the lands at Drum and the real estate market in Aberdeenshire; a request from Francis Douglas, bookseller, to Irvine for the favor of his custom and managment of the Irvine family lands and resources.

Folder 3, January-June 1762.

1a, 7a, 11a, and 23a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include Irvine’s investments in Sweden; Swedish and European politics; arrangements for

the arrival of Thomas Irvine and his family in Gothenburg; exchanges of gifts with Charles Irvine; news of society in Gothenburg; and the sale of the third charter for the

SEIC.Note to those processing the catalog: Please check that the final letter indicated in boldface is in this folder and is described in the above. Alternatively, if a copy of the letter were sent me I could do the checking myself.

2a and 22a. Letters from or closely concerning members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Thomas Brodie and John Forbes. Topics include the descent of Hugh Campbell; information on the Irvine estates in Drum; John Forbes’s current plans; and purchasing prints for Charles Irvine.

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3a, 5a, and 12a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include exchanges of gifts; the Seven Year’s War; the marriage of John Campbell; Charles Irvine’s health; and a gift of a seal from Eliott to Irvine.

4a, 8a, 10a, 15a, 16a, and 18a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Rose, Mrs. Colin Campbell, George Irvine, Sir Robert Arbuthnot, and Thomas Irvine. Topics include John Rose’s repayment of a loan; John Rose’s life in Charleston; the mesalliancé of John Campbell; George Irvine’s financial plans and in particular his arrangements for his Scots and Caribbean holdings; settling the estate of Arthur Abercromby; paying Arthur Abercromby’s debts to Charles Irvine; the poor health of Thomas Irvine and his wife; a financial dispute between Thomas and John Irvine; and news of Mrs. Colin Campbell’s circle.

6a, 13a, 14a, 19a, and 20a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine business and financial transactions; gifts exchanged; and the death of John Ouchterlony.

9a and 21a. Letters from business and professional correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Charles Metcalfe and Henry Hackson. Topics include life in Hamburg since Charles Irvine’s departure from there in 1760; arrangements for Thomas Irvine’s arrival in Gothenburg; and the changing of the guard at the SEIC.

17a. Letters from James Jameson More to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine business transactions and disputes surrounding them; the marriage of Thomas Irvine; news of Gothenburg society; and news of Swedish politics.

Folder 4, July-December 1762.

24a, 26a, 27a, 31a, 33a, 36a, 39a, 44a, 50a, and 51a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson, Robert & John Hall, Henry Hackson, and Nicholas Sahlgren to Charles Irvine. Topics include the new charter of the SEIC and its new directors and investors, inter alia, Jennings and Finaly; Charles Irvine’s Swedish investments; Erickson’s retirement plans; news of Gothenburg society; the arrival of Thomas Irvine and his family in Gothenburg; the arrival of SEIC ships; the fortunes of the SEIC in Surat and of its ships in general; the reaction of investors to the new leadership of the SEIC; Irvine’s investments with Robert and John Hall; Sahlgren’s report on his health and the health of his family; Sahlgren’s views of the new charter for the SEIC; Henry Hackson’s account with Irvine; Hackson’s views of Swedish politics; Hackson’s offer of his service to Mr. Thomas Irvine; the rising Swedish exchange; the difficulties being encountered by the new SEIC directors and the imminent bankruptcies that may result; Jonas Malm Erickson’s retirement plans; the death of one Mr. Nils Ström; and the health of Thomas Irvine.

25a, 30a, 35a, 46a, 49a, 52a, 53a, 55a, 56a, 57a, and 59a. Letters from or concerning members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include

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Sir Robert Abercromby, Thomas Ouchterlony, James Jameson More, Mrs. Colin Campbell, Eliza Irvine, and Charles Metcalfe. Topics include the settling of Arthur Abercromby’s estate; paying the debts of Arthur Abercromby’s estate to Charles Irvine; a request for financial aid in a legal suit from Thomas Ouchterlony involving estate matters; routine communications between James Jameson More, Charles Irvine, John Irvine and Thomas Irvine; the health of Mrs. Colin Campbell and members of her immediate circle; news concerning a legal dispute between James Jameson More and his former partner, Thomas Irvine; Thomas Irvine’s arrival in Gothenburg to recover his fortunes from the More & Irvine partnership; general news of the doings of the Irvine family; and news of Charles Metcalfe’s circle in Hamburg and a request for Charles Irvine’s assistance in furthering the career of a future relation by marriage.

28a and 37a. Letters from Thomas Irvine to Charles Irvine. Topics include the difficulties of transporting household goods to Sweden without paying duties and other preparations for Thomas Irvine’s move to Sweden; Thomas Irvine’s questioning of James Jameson More’s accounting practices for More and Irvine; and the health of Thomas Irvine and his wife.

29a, 32a, 34a, 38a, 41a, 43a, 47a, and 58a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine matters of account and financial transactions.

42a, 48a, and 54a. Letters from John Forbes to Charles Irvine. Topics include Forbes’s future plans; his repayment of a long-term loan from Charles Irvine; the shady business practices of James Jameson More; a shipment of prints for Charles Irvine; news of mutual acquaintances; a note forwarded to James More of Honeywood; and routine news of Forbes’s life in Italy.

45a. Letters from William Brebner to Charles Irvine. Topics include an unpaid bill of exchange.

Folder 5, 1763.1a, 2a, 2a1, 3a, 4a, 6a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 17a, 19a, 24a, 25a, 28a, 31a, 35a, 37a, 38a, 39a, 40a, 41a, 42a, 43a, 45a, 47a, 48a, 50a, and 52a. Letters from or concerning members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Alexander Irvine of Banff, Francis Douglas, Mrs. Colin Campbell, Charles Metcalfe, James Gough, Thomas Ouchterlony, Magnus Junggren, Thomas Irvine, Mr. Sandberg, Robert Abercromby, James Rose, Mary Irvine, Magnus Junggren, and the Earl of Marischall. Topics include the health of Robert and Captain Thomas Irvine, the Drum estate of the Irvine family; news of the Campbell family; news of Hamburg society; the state of affairs in the SEIC; Gough’s health; the state of Gough’s family; the fortunes of Thomas Ouchterlony; Charles Metcalfe’s request and thanks for Charles Irvine’s assistance in procuring a medical degree for a potential in-law; Charles Metcalfe’s news of the financial crises sweeping through the North Sea zone; Hamburg in the Seven Year’s War; the dispute between James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine; routine greetings and communications; Thomas Irvines professional plans; Thomas Irvine’s observations on the financial crisis in Holland, Hamburg and Stockholm; the health of Thomas Irvine’s

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wife; the family life and plans of George Irvine; the impending sale of James Rose’s estate; and the death of the Magnus Junggren’s wife.

5a, 9a, 18a, 27a, 34a, 44a, and 46a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson, Christian Tham, and Director Von Utfall to Charles Irvine. Topics include news of Stockholm society; Charles Irvine’s Swedish investments; the dispute between Thomas Irvine and his former partner James Jameson More; the influence of economic events in the Dutch Republic on Sweden, including the bankruptcy of major merchant houses; economic news in Sweden; the Chinese trading company that controls European access to Canton; and the health of the SEIC’s Canton trade.

7a and 12a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include European politics, requests for small items and purchases; and James Jameson More’s dispute with Thomas Irvine.

8a, 10a, 11a, 16a, 20a, 26a, 29a, and 49a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include news of George Irvine; the death of John Forbes; news of Ouctherlony’s nephew Robert Willock; routine business transactions; Thomas Ouchterlony’s law suit against some of his relations; and John Rose’s trip to Scotland.

21a, 22a, 23a, 30a, 33a, 36a, 51a, 53a, and 54a. Letters from various business and professional correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Alexander Brand, John Davidson, William Brebner, and Thomas Brodie. Topics include marshalling evidence for Thomas Irvine in his dispute with James Jameson More; routine communications; a commission executed for a drawer with lock inset; and a promissory note in favor of Charles Irvine.

Hollinger Box 8 (6 folders), 1764-1766.

Folder 1, January 1764-June 1764.1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 13a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 26a, 32a, 33a, 35a, and 36a. Letters from Alexander Brand and Charles Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include the lawsuit between James Jameson More, Charles Irvine and Thomas Irvine.

10a, 19a, 27a, and 28a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson and Secretary Ekerman to Charles Irvine. Topics include Irvine’s investments in Sweden; the fortunes of the SEIC; local politics, especially land politics in Gothenburg; and local Gothenburg society and European political and economic forces and their impact on Swedish financiers and merchant-bankers.

11a, 14a, 20a, 21a, 25a, 29a, and 31a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal circle to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Mrs. Colin Campbell, George Irvine, Alexander OgilvieTopics include Mrs. Colin Campbell’s news of her friends and family; George Irvine’s plans to settle in Scotland; plans for George Irvine’s land at Artamford; the dispute between James Jameson More, Charles Irvine and Thomas Irvine; the whereabouts of William Eliott; the doings in Parliament and the London political scene;

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news of Drum; the death of George Ouchterlony and news of Charles Murray’s personal life.

12a and 18a. Letters from George Ouchterlony to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine greetings; routine business transactions; and the bonds of Robert Rose, John Rose and James Stewart.

30a and 34a. Letters concerning minor matters of business to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Charles Smith. Topics include a shipment of sweetmeats and herring from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine.

Folder 2, July 1764-December 1764.

37a, 43a, 45a, 50a, 52a, 53a, 55a, 56a, 58a, 59a, 61a, 62a, 65a, 66a, 67, 68a, 69a, 70a, and 71a. Letters from Alexander Brand and Charles Abercromby to Charles Irvine. Topics include a law suit between Charles Irvine and Thomas Irvine on the one hand and James Jameson More on the other and small matters of trade between Aberdeen and Sweden.

38a, 39a, 41a, 44a, 45a, 46a, 48a, 51a, 54a, and 64a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal circle to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Ouchterlony, Mrs. Colin Campbell, Thomas Irvine, Dr. Andrew Skene, James Irvine, Charles Murray, and Margaret Tulloch. Topics include news of the Campbell family; the changing of proprietorship in George Ouchterlony’s business to the hands of one John Haliburton of Dundee and of Robert Ouchterlony; Mrs. Colin Campbell’s life in London society; Mrs. Colin Campbell’s opinion of the legal suit between Charles Irvine/Thomas Irvine and James Jameson More; Thomas Irvine’s opinion of his own conduct towards James Jameson More; Thomas Irvine’s impressions of trade in Gothenburg and of his own economic fortunes; news of the SEIC; a prescription for Charles Irvine from Dr. Andrew Skene; family news from the perspective of James Irvine; Charles Irvine’s wish to sack his agent; and George Irvine’s plans and the whereabouts of his cousin George Irvine; and a gift of a dog.

40a, 49a and 53a*. Letters concerning minor matters of business to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include William Aberdein, John Ouchterlony, and Alexander Brand. Topics include details of the arrival of shipments into Aberdeen and a shipment of Smyrna raisins for James Rose.

42a and 60a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include Charles Irvine’s Swedish investments; news of the SEIC and Erickson’s country estate Baika.

47a and 70a. Letters from Ouchterlony and Haliburton to Charles Irvine. Topics include an introduction that George Ouchterlony’s business has passed to the hands of John Ouchterlony and Robert Haliburton and a notice as to the availability of Smyrna raisins.

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57a and 63a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. In the first one the ink has faded to such an extent that the document is scarcely legible; the second letter covers a range of topics, from European politics and economics to Charles Irvine’s legal troubles with James Jameson More and daily life in London, this letter is also difficult to read.

Folder 3, January-June 1765.

1a, 2a, 4a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 17a, 18a, 27a, 31a, and 34a. Letters from Charles Irvine’s personal circle to or concerning Charles Irvine. Correspondents include James Rose, James Irvine, Charles Murray, Rebecca Forbes, and Mrs. Colin Campbell. Topics include news of the Rose family; Robert Douglas’s situation in Savannah, Georgia; changing Charles Irvine’s agent Charles Abercromby; politics in Scotland; one Mr. Boswall; the fortune’s of Charles Murray’s son; Charles Irvine’s health; Charles Irvine’s legal troubles with James Jameson More; a dispute in the Rose family; a bout of small pox touching the Irvine family; Mary Irvine’s perspective on the Irvine family’s legal activities; the whereabouts of Dr. George Irvine; Charles Murray’s assistance with Charles Irvine’s legal troubles; the Drum patrimony; a dispute between Charles Irvine and one of the Forbes family; the fortunes of the Campbell family; and the fortunes of Charles Murray’s family broadly speaking and his attempts to assist Irvine in his legal cases.

3a, 5a, 6a, 8a, 12a, 16a, 21a, 22a, 25a, 26a, 29a, 30a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 37a, 39a, and 40a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include George Turner, John Pringle, Alexander Brand, and Ouchterlony & Haliburton. Topics include Charles Irvine’s legal troubles with James Jameson More; the disposition of the Drum estate; advice from George Turner on how to proceed with the two previously mentioned cases; John Pringle’s reports on finding a lawyer to prosecute Lord Aberdeen and Patrick Duff of Premnay for their premeditated maladministration of Drum lands; George Turner’s reports on the same subject; reimbursement for Charles Irvine from the estate of George Ouchterlony; and small business transactions.Note to those processing the catalog: The letter from Alexander Brand, 34a in boldface above, may need a line to describe it. It appears to have been omitted in thre first draft.

19a, 20a, 23a, 24a, 38a, and 41a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include Charles Irvine’s Swedish investments; details on who is running the SEIC and the prosecutions being carried out against its old directors; the competition to manage other state monopolies in Sweden, such as the herring fishery; friction between the outgoing and incoming octroy holders of the SEIC franchise; and Erickson’s retirement plans.

28a. A letter from William Eliott to Charles Irvine in which Eliott covers a range of topics, mostly reacting to events in Irvine’s immediate present, such as his legal troubles with James Jameson More. The letter is difficult to read but seems to skip from one subject to the next without completing ideas.

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Folder 4, July-December 1765.

42a, 43a, 45a, 59a, 62a, 67a, 69a, 70a, 71a, 72a, 73a, 76a, 77a and 78a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Alexander Brand, John Pringle, George Turner, George Fletcher, Topics include Charles and Thomas Irvine’s legal difficulties with James Jameson More; routine reports from Alexander Brand to Charles Irvine concerning business he was conducting for Irvine; reports on legal process from George Turner and John Pringle concerning the legal action around the Drum lands; and the death of Thomas Irvine’s wife.

44a, 48a, 49a, 50a, 51a, 53a, 54a, 57a, 58a, 60a, 63a, 64a, 65a, 68a, 75a, and 79a. Letters from Charles Irvine’s personal circle to or concerning Charles Irvine. Correspondents include David Tulloh, Mary Irvine, Charles Murray, Thomas Irvine, and James Irvine. Subjects include news of mutual friends of Tulloh and Charles Irvine; Charles Murray’s difficulties due to the incompetence of his clerk; Charles Murray’s opinions on Charles Irvine’s legal case against James Jameson More; Mary Irvine’s involvement with other legal cases in which Charles Irvine was involved; the fortunes of Charles Murray’s son; Thomas Irvine’s daily life in Gothenburg, Sweden; a letter of introduction for one Peter William Törngren; news from David Tulloh’s corner of Scotland (Brunthall); Thomas Irvine’s reconstruction of some finanancial and trade transactions from the More and Irvine partnership; news of Charles Murray; news from Charles Murray concerning the possibility of one Douglas, client of Charles Irvine’s, might get preferment; and a thank you for Irvine’s news to James Irvine.

46a. A letter from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. The letter is almost completely illegible in its current state.

47a and 61a. Letters from miscellaneous business correspondents to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Robert & John Young of Gothenburg and George Bellenden. Topics include Irvine’s investments in the merchant house of Robert & John Young; Charles and Thomas Irvine’s legal difficulties with James Jameson More; and a letter of introduction for one Peter William Törngren.

52a and 55a. Letters from William Elliot to Charles Irvine. Topics include news of Eliott’s travels and of the activities of his relatives and routine small transactions.

56a, 66a, and 74a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics corruption and its influence on Swedish state finances; the state of Sweden’s East India Companies; Erickson’s plans for investing Irvine’s Swedish capital; and the death of Mrs. Thomas Irvine.

Folder 5, January-June, 1766.

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1a, 3a, 5a, 12a, 14a, 20a, and 26a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal circle to or concerning Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Alexander Irvine, George Gorden, James Irvine, Elizabeth Campbell, Chevalier de Roth, Topics include a report on Alexander Irvine’s branch of the Irvine family; executing an order for a bespoke shirt; Charles Irvine’s health; information on the disputed title to the Drum estate; routine communications between James Irvine and Charles Irvine; the health of Mrs. Colin Campbell; news of the Campbell family; and Chevalier de Roth’s accounting of Comte Duvelaer de Lude’s indebtedness to Charles Irvine.

2a, 4a, 7a, 8a, 10a, 11a, and 19a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Alexander Brand, John Pringle, James Stewart, and Alexander Ogilvie. Topics include the mental state of Thomas Irvine after the death of his wife; routine legal and estate matters; the legal case involving the Drum estate, including rough transcripts of court proceedings and the title to a piece of land called Mill hill.

6a, 15a, 28a, 29a, and 30a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson and George Bellenden to Charles Irvine. Topics include the financial and economic situation in Sweden and Europe generall; Gothenburg society; Charles Irvine’s Swedish investments; Thomas Irvine; affairs of estate after the death of Thomas Irvine’s wife; the new SEIC; descriptions of how news was communicated via newspapers/newsheets in 18th-century Europe; descriptions of what may be the Scots/British quarter of Gothenburg; Bellenden’s thanks for Charles Irvine’s good treatment of one Peter William Törngren; the health of George Bellenden, his wife and others including Thomas Irvine and his children; and news of the new SEIC. Note to those processing the catalog: Please check that letter 28a has been described in the above in some way.

9a, 13a, 16a, 17a, and 18a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include reports on Eliott’s family and its doings; British colonial policy, especially with regard to taxation of trade; a transaction involving Mr. Duvelaer Du Lude and the Chevalier de Roth; and the fortunes of William Chambers.

Folder 6, July-December, 1766.

31a, 36a, 43a,46a, 49a, 52a, 54a, and 56a. Letters from Alexander Brand to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine communications concerning members of the Irvine family; Irvine’s patronage activities for his Scots clients; news of business in Sweden and routine business transactions being carried out for the Irvines; and details of the case between Charles Irvine, Thomas Irvine and James More.

32a, 34a, 35a, 42a, 45a, 47a, 53a, and 55a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal circle to or concerning Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Thomas Irvine, Robert Forbes, Francis Douglas, Alexander Irvine, and Alexander Grant. Topics include routine communications of affairs in Gothenburg; general family news; Irvine’s patronage activities for his Scots clients; news of the health of Mrs. [James?] Rose and

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Robert Irvine; a letter indicating that Alexander Grant was always ready to assist the cause of the Irvine’s in their efforts to regain their title to the Drum lands; and the health of Robert Irvine in his own words.

33a, 37a, 38a, 39a, 40a, and 41a. Letters from Mary Irvine to Charles Irvine. Topics include the legal case surrounding the Drum lands and miscellaneous family news.

44a, 48a and 50a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine news and communications; the lawsuit surrounding the drum lands; news of repayments on loans of Irvine’s money made to third parties by Erickson; politics in Sweden and in particular the corrupt practices of merchant-bankers who have defrauded the Swedish state.Note to those processing the catalog: Please check that letter 50a has been described in the above in some way.

51a. A handbill promoting a new procedure for resolving mercantile disputes in Scotland.

Hollinger Box 9 (6 folders), 1767-1774.

Folder 1, 1767.

1a, 9a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 23a, 24a, 26a, 27a, 28a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 35a, 39a, 40a, 41a, 42a, 43a, 44a, 49a, and 50a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to and about Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Charles Murray, Margaret [Peggie] Irvine, Mary Irvine, George Bellenden, Thomas Irvine, Elizabeth Campbell, James Rose, Charles Ogilvie, George Moir, Francis Douglas, and James Irvine. Topics include routine family news; news of Scoto-British politics; gift exchanges; the operation of patronage politics in Scotland and Britain and Charles Murray’s complaints about his situation; the law suit concerning the Drum lands; Charles Murray’s request for advice on the difficulties a friend is having; Charles Murray’s complaints against his son’s behavior; news of the sale of important estates in Scotland and of a canal development project; news of George Bellenden’s family, especially his son; Thomas Irvine’s reluctance to allow his children to be reared without him in Scotland; Thomas Irvine’s sorrow at the imposition his law suit with James Jameson More has meant for Charles Irvine; the health of Elizabeth Campbell and her acquaintances; Thomas Irvine’s business in Sweden; Thomas Irvine’s involvement in his law suit against James Jameson More; Thomas Irvine’s relationship to his brother John Irvine; news of local Aberdeenshire politics; a letter concerning the son of Francis Douglas, who was in Jamaica; religious discord in Aberdeen; a complaint by Thomas Irvine concerning a private sale of teas authorized by the SEIC at the behest of one Christian Arsvedson; local affairs and news from Drum; the news of the doings of lawyers working for the Irvines; financial transactions involving Thomas Irvine; the shady dealings of the SEIC directors; the marriage of Margaret Irvine; Charles Murray’s health and financial situation as well as the doings of his son; and Charles Irvine’s difficulties with Jacob von Utfall.

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4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 10a, 11a, 19a, 20a, 21a, 29a, 30a, 34a, 36a, 37a, 38a, 51a, and 52a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include John Pringle, Alexander Brand, Alexander Ogilvie, and James Stewart. Topics include the lawsuit concerning the Drum lands; routine matters of business between Thomas Irvine, Charles Irvine and Alexander Brand; Brand’s wish that Thomas Irvine return from Sweden to see to his affairs in Scotland; the sale and acquisition of lands for the Drum estate; the possibility of a second law suit against James Jameson More; and routine trade transactions and errands.

2a. A letter from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include routine communications; news of William Eliott’s family; the fortunes of Europe’s East India Companies; and William Eliott’s investment plans.

3a, 15a, 22a, 25a, 45a, 46a, 47a, and 48a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson and Jacob von Utfall to Charles Irvine. Topics include the new SEIC and its leadership; Erickson’s involvement with the new SEIC; the ties of the new SEIC to Flanders; Sweden’s political economy; the difficulties that Thomas Irvine’s suit against James Jameson More is making for Charles Irvine; Charles Irvine’s investments in Sweden; tighter fiscal policy in Sweden and its influence on personal bankruptcies among Swedish investors, financiers and profiteers; a plea for clemency from Charles Irvine and John Irvine, written by Erickson on behalf of Thomas Irvine; Thomas Irvine’s recovered health; the losses of the new SEIC; the market for rural land in the Gothenburg area; Erickson’s financial responsibilities to Flemish contacts who are investors in the new SEIC; and the state of Charles Irvine’s investments in Sweden.

Folder 2, 1768.

1a, 2a, 3a, 7a, 10a, 11a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 20a, 29a, 33a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 39a, 40a, 41a, 42a, 43a, and 46a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to and about Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Margaret Ferguson, Alexander Irvine, Eliza Irvine, James and Britta Tunberry, Charles Murray, Alexander (Sandie) Irvine, Thomas Irvine, and Gould Clarges. Topics include the health of Robert Irvine; necessaries for running Robert Irvine’s Kinmundie household; the doings of Margaret Ferguson’s branch of the family; the whereabouts of a watch that Alexander Irvine was sending to George Irvine; family errands; a request for a loan to James Tunberry; Charles Irvine’s health; Charles Murray’s views on the various law suits in which Irvine is involved; Thomas Irvine’s disagreement with his brother John Irvine; the fortune’s of Alexander (Sandie) Irvine in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk and London; Charles Murray’s health and reports on acquaintances mutual to him and Charles Irvine; information concerning the voyages of ships in service of the More & Irvine partnership; news of Thomas Irvine’s children in Gothenburg; the death and testament of Elizabeth Campbell (widow of Colin Campbell); remittance of Charles Irvine’s money owing to him from Swedish debtors; and Alexander Irvine’s career choice.

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4a, 6a, 8a, 12a, 19a, 21a, 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 28a, 31a, 32a, 35a, 37a, and 45a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include James Stewart, John Pringle, George Fletcher, Pye, Rich & Wilkieson, and James Allarde. Topics include the trial between James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine; news and tidings; drafts of money from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine and their subsequent tranfers within and investment in Britain; and procedural steps in Charles Irvine’s lawsuit against James Jameson More.Note to those processing the collection: According to the inventory there is no letter 30a, but according to what I have found for 1767, the inventory may have missed out three letters that actually exist so perhaps 30a here exists as well.

5a, 9a, 22a, and 44a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson and Jacob von Utfall to Charles Irvine. Topics include collecting debts from people to whom Charles Irvine leant money via Jacob von Utfall; Erickson’s request that Charles Irvine not call in his investments yet; Jonas Malm Erickson’s difficulties in remitting to Irvine his investment monies in cash form; and Jonas Malm Erickson’s difficulties in dealing with Mr. Bagge.

Folder 3, January-July, 1769.

1a, 4a, 6a, 8a, 9a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 19a, and 20a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Mr. Archibald Trotter, James Stewart, John Pringle, James Troup, and Charles Ogilvie. Topics include the trial between James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine and involving Charles Irvine; the Charles Irvine’s suit on behalf of the young Laird of Drum ot recover the Drum estate from an alledged fraudulent sale; and matters concerning Charles Irvine’s account with John Ouchterlony.

2a, 11a, 16a, 23a, 27a, 32a, and 33a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson and Jacob von Utfall to Charles Irvine and related documents. Correspondents include Jonas Malm Erickson and John Hall. Topics include the difficulty of winding up the SEIC under its second charter; politics and finance in Sweden and the SEIC under it third charter; remitting Charles Irvine the proceeds of his investments in Sweden; a bill of exchange to be drawn on John Hall in favor of Charles Irvine; news of acquaintances mutual to Charles Irvine and Malm Erickson; news of financial collapse in Sweden and Jacob von Utfall’s debt to Charles Irvine; and routine communications between Jonas Malm Erickson and Thomas Irvine.

3a, 5a, 7a, 10a, 17a, 18a, 21a, 22a, 24a, 25a, 26a, 28a, 30a, and 31a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to and about Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Eliza (Betty) Irvine, Charles Murray, Alexander “Sandie” Irvine, Miss M. Clarges, Thomas Irvine, William Urquhart, and David Tulloh. Topics include the health of Robert Irvine; the legal matters of Charles Murray; the legal suits of Charles and Thomas Irvine and the Irvine’s of Drum; mutual friends of Charles Irvine and Charles Murray; the career and fortunes of Alexander “Sandie” Irvine; news of the Clarges family; Charles Irvine’ health; Charles Murray’s request for Charles Irvine’s help in advancing the career of one Alexander Shepherd; Charles Irvine’s insurance claim

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connected to the Gothic Lion, which sunk in 1746; financial collapse in Amsterdam and Sweden; Thomas Irvine’s views on and response to the financial collapse in Amsterdam and Sweden; news of William Urquhart and his wife, Charles Irvine’s niece, Margert Irvine; news of David Tulloh; and news of Henry Hackson.

12a and 29a. Letters from William Elliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include Irvine’s legal troubles; news of William Eliotts new home in London and his family; Eliott’s analysis of politics and war in northern Europe (esp. with regard to Sweden and Russia); and William Eliott’s plans to spend the summer abroad in Dieppe.

Folder 4, August-December, 1769.

34a, 35a, 42a, and 43a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson and James Allarde to Charles Irvine and related documents. Topics include Charles Irvine’s involvement in Thomas Irvine’s Gothenburg business; exchanges of favors and gifts between Charles Irvine and Jonas Malm Erickson; the difficulty of obtaining bills of exchange in and on people in Sweden during the period of financial crisis; bills of exchange and other money matters; and the aftermath of the financial crisis in the Swedish financial and mercantile sectors. Note those processing the catalog: It might make more sense to move the Allarde letters (items 35a and 42a) to the sub-section for 1769 on lawyers and estate agents as that’s where he is placed in other sections of the catalog.

37a, 41a, and 47a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topics include a report of what Eliott saw in France during his stay there in July and August of 1769; news of acquaintances mutual to Eliott and Irvine; small commissions entrusted by Eliott to Charles Irvine and politics and economy in the North Sea zone.

38a, 40a, 58a, 59a, 60a, and 61a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers, and other professionals to Charles Irvine and related documents. Correspondents and involved parties include Thomas Irvine, John Durno, John Pringle, and Archibald Trotter. Topics include the lawsuit involving Thomas Irvine, Charles Irvine and James Jameson More of Stoneywood.

39a, 44a, 45a, 46a, 48a, 49a, 50a, 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a, 55a, 56a, and 57a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to and about Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Eliza (Betty) Irvine, James Rose, Charles Murray, Alexander Irvine of Drum, Henry Hackson, William Urquhart, Francis Douglas, David Tulloh, and Charles Murray. Topics include the health of Robert Irvine; routine communications; rountine financial and legal transactions; the suit to recover the Irvines’ Drum lands; news of Charles Murray’s son; news of acquaintances mutual to Charles Murray and Charles Irvine; the education of Alexander Irvine of Drum; Henry Hackson’s reflections on life and politics in Sweden c. 1760-1769; William Urquhart’s family; James Rose’s business and personal obligations; matters on the Irvine Drum lands; and Charles Murray’s congratulations on the ending of the legal suit against James Jameson More.

Folder 5, 1770.

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1a, 3a, 4a, 6a, 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 14a, 15a, 19a, 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 28a, and 31a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to and about Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Thomas Irvine, Charles Murray, William Bellenden, William Chambers, Alexander Ogilvie, Captain John Thomson, Francis Douglas, Margaret Ferguson (Lady Kinmundie), Jean Gordon (Lady Millhill), and Mary Clarges. Topics include Charles Irvine’s legal matters, particularly as concerned the Drum lands and the suit between James Jameson More and Thomas Irvine; Charles Murray’s future plans; the unexpected death of George Bellenden; Charles Murray’s discussions of daily matters; the Drum family lawsuit before the House of Lords; the birth of Eliza (Betty) Irvine’s second daughter; news of American colonial affairs; guiding Alexander Irvine’s sight-seeing in London; the ties of Francis Douglas to the Irvine family; the future career of John Wilson, formerly a Director of the SEIC; the health of Robert Irvine; Drum lands of Millhill; the health of Charles Irvine; and routine communications and Francis Douglas’s life in Paisley.

2a, 7a, and 30a. Letters from William Eliott to Charles Irvine. Topic include daily matters of interest; Eliott’s opinion’s of the Drum land claim before the Court of Session and the House of Lords and news of family.

5a, 12a, 13a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 20a, 21a, 22a, and 33a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine and related documentation. Additional correspondents besides Jonas Malm Erickson include William Wilson and Peter von Utfall. Topics include the availability of credit and bills of exchange in Sweden; the sales and news of the SEIC; news of life in Gothenburg; remittances to Charles Irvine; marital alliances in Gothenburg and Swedish society; congratulations on the legal victory in the matter of the Drum lands; the difficulties that Peter von Utfall is having collecting from creditors in order to repay Charles Irvine; news of bankruptcies among the Swedish financial elite; the mental health of Thomas Irvine; and the sale of Thomas Irvine’s teas in Gothenburg and the difficulty of converting the proceeds into sterling.

29a, 32a, 34a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine and related documents. Correspondents include Gordon Avochie, George Moir, and Alexander Brand. Topics include the offspring of Lord Millhill; routine financial transactions; and the account of Thomas Irvine’s Gothenburg merchant house for 1770.

Folder 6, 1771-1774 [Letters to Charles Irvine and to Mary Irvine].

1771, 1a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 9a, 10a, and 12a. Letters from members of Charles Irvine’s personal network to and about Charles Irvine. Correspondents include Thomas Irvine, Francis Douglas, and Mary Clarges. Topics include disagreements between Thomas and John Irvine; routine communications and news; the health of Thomas Irvine’s mother in Auchmunzel; the impending death of John Irvine’s second daughter; visits to Craigston, Kinmundie and Kingcausie by Thomas Irvine; Charles Irvine’s health; and the health of relatives of Mary Clarges.

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1771, 2a, 8a, 11a, and 13a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Charles Irvine. Topics include news of Thomas Irvine’s Swedish mercantile affairs; news of life in Gothenburg and Sweden; the career of James Maul; and Charles Irvine’s account with Jonas Malm Erickson.

1771, 7a and 14a. Letters from estate agents, lawyers and other professionals to Charles Irvine and related documents. Correspondents include William Thom and George Turner. Topics include Charles Irvine’s medical bills; and the Swedish estate of Thomas Irvine.

1771, 15a. A letter from Jacob von Utfall to Mary Irvine, tutrix of Drum and niece of Charles Irvine. Topics in include Von Utfall’s condolences on the death of Charles Irvine and a statement from him regarding the monies he owed Charles Irvine, which he states have been fully repaid.

1772, 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, and 9a. Letters from Jonas Malm Erickson to Mary Irvine, and one draft of a letter from Mary Irvine to Jonas Malm Erickson. Topics include the dispute between John Irvine and Thomas Irvine; and the winding up of the affairs of Thomas Irvine in Sweden and of Charles Irvine’s Swedish estate.

1773, 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a. Letters form Jonas Malm Erickson and George Fletcher to Mary Irvine. Topics include the dispute between John Irvine and Thomas Irvine and the winding up of the affairs of Thomas Irvine in Sweden and of Charles Irvine’s Swedish estate.

1774, 1a and 2a. Letters from Charles Metcalfe of Hamburg to Mary Irvine. Topics include remittances from Jonas Malm Erickson to Mary Irvine via Charles Metcalfe.

II. Series b. Letters to James Rose from Various Correspondents, 1743-1769 (2 folders).

n.b. George Ouchterlony of London is the chief correspondent in this series; unless otherwise noted he is the author of the letters described.

Folder 1, 1743-1747.1743, 1b and 2b. Topics include routine matters of account and a dispute over payment due between James Rose and Robert Ouchterlony, nephew to George Ouchterlony.

1745, 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, and 8b. Letters from George Ouchterlony to James Rose with one letter (7b) from James Rose to George Ouchterlony. Topics include James Rose’s return from his last trip to Canton; news of Charles Irvine’s fortunes in Canton; news of the career of John Rose; James Rose’s younger brother; matters of insurance; other business matters; James Rose’s whereabouts; James Rose’s future career plans; the fortune’s of Thomas Ouchterlony; the 1745 Jacobite Uprising; the credit-worthiness of particular merchants; fortunes of the Rose family in Scotland and England; the fate of forreigners in service to the SEIC; and James Rose’s duty to his uncle Charles Irvine.

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1747, 1b. Topics include difficulties in shipping between Gothenburg and London (smuggling?); and a business dispute between James Rose and one Mr. Inglis; bills of exchange.

1747, 2b, 3b, 5b 8b, 15b, and 17b. Letters from George Ouchterlony to James Rose with one letter (2b) from Mungo Murray to James Rose. Topics include the welfare and fortunes of John Rose; the wherebouts of Arthur Abercromby; the fortunes of Doctor George Irvine of St. Christopher; rumors of the death of James Rose; the exchange of news with Charles Irvine concerning the welfare of his Scots kin; and routine family news.

1747, 3b*, 4b, 5b*, 6b, 6b-1, 7b, 8b*, 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b*, 16b, 17b*, and 18b. Letters from George Ouchterlony to James Rose with one letter (13b) from James Rose to George. Topics include routine financial transactions; the difficulties and cheapness of shipping goods from Sweden to Britain; a legal dispute between James Rose and one Captain Dives; privateering in the North Sea Zone; the arrival of Charles Irvine from Canton on the SEIC ship the Freden.; fluctuations in exchanges; difficulties with routine business transactions; uncertainties surrounding the sale of the SEIC ship Ulrica Eleonora ‘s cargo; and difficulties in shipping Hugh Campbell’s effects to London.

Folder 2, 1748-1769.

1748, 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b, 13b, 14b, 15b, 16b, 17b, 18b, 19b, 21b, 22b, and 22b1. Letters from George Ouchterlony to James Rose with one letter (7b) from Robert Ouchterlony to James Rose and one from James Rose to George Ouchterlony (22b1). Topics include routine financial transactions; European markets for maritime insurance; current practices for maritime insurance; problems with insuring cargos between Sweden and Scotland; difficulties with privateers; hostilities between Britain and Spain; and the market for teas in Europe.Note to those processing the catalog: It would be a good idea to ensure that the item numbers in boldface have been included in the description.

1748, 1b*, 2b*, 5b*, 7b*, and 8b*. Letters from George Ouchterlony to James Rose with one letter (7b) from Robert Ouchterlony to James Rose. Topics include the fortunes of Dr. George Irvine; the fortunes of John Rose; and George Ouchterlony’s assistance to members of James Rose’s network.

1748, 20b. A letter from Francis Ferguson to James Rose. Topics include a request from Francis Ferguson to James Rose for a small set of china.

1749, 1b, 1b-1, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, and 7b. Topics include information on appropriate products for the British market; negotiation of bills of exchange; insurance matters; business activities in the North Sea zone;

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1749, 1b-1*, 2b*, 3b*, 4b*, 5b*, 6b*, and 7b*. Topics include setting John Rose up in a career after his apprenticeship; the fortunes of Robert Rose; and the whereabouts and activities of John Irvine.

1750, 1b. Topics include the fortunes of John Rose; and the fortunes of Robert Rose.

1750, 2b. Topics include routine transactions involving bills of exchange.

1751, 1b and 2b. Topics include shipping items to Mr. Hugh Campbell in London; the welfare and fortunes of John Rose; and the investments of the Irvines into John Rose’s shipbuilding business.

1752, 1b. Topics include the fortunes of John and Robert Rose; gifts exchanges between George Ouchterlony and James Rose; and maritime insurance of non-British East India ventures by British underwriters.

1755, 1b and 2b. Topics include the fortunes of Hector Rose, John Rose, and John Irvine; and the death of Robert Rose in India.

1756, 1b and 2b. Topics include the purchase of raisins for wine-making and other small transactions involving foodstuffs for personal consumption; the forging of postal franks; and a business deal involving Messrs. David Barclay & Sons Linnen Drapers of Dublin.

1757, 1b. Topics include the routine exchanges of foodstuffs for personal consumption.

1758, 1b, 2b, 4b, and 6b. Topics include the routine exchanges of foodstuffs for personal consumption.

1758, 2b*, 3b, 4b*, and 6b*. Topics include the fortunes of John Rose; George Ouchterlony’s efforts on behalf of one of his servants; and the fortunes of Hector Rose.

1759, 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 9b, 10b, 11b, 12b, and 13b. Topics include the fortunes of William Rose; the fortunes of Dr. George Irvine of St. Kitts; routines communications between James Rose and John Rose; and the wintering plans of Charles Irvine.

1759, 1b*, 2b*, 3b*, 4b*, 6b, 7b, 8b, 10b*, 11b*, 12b*, and 13b*. Topics include the routine exchanges of foodstuffs for personal consumption; and routine transactions involving bills of exchange.

1760, 1b, 2b, and 3b. Topics include the routine financial transactions involving bills of exchange; and routine exchanges of foodstuffs for personal use.

1760, 1b*, 3b*, and 4b. Topics include delivering letters to John Rose; the whereabouts of Charles Irvine; and George Ouchterlony’s assistance to the mother of one of his maidservants.

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1761, 1b. Topics include finding a manager for John Rose’s South Carolina shipbuilding business during his planned absence in Britain.

1766, 1b. A letter from Joseph Turner, Elizabeth Turner, Jarl Henrietta Campbell, and Mundford Allen to James Rose. Topics include selling a shipment of china belonging to Hugh Campbell; and transferring the proceeds to his heirs.

1768, 1b and 2b. Letters from Mundford Allen to James Rose. Topics include selling a shipment of china belonging to Hugh Campbell and transferring the proceeds to his heirs.

1769, 1b and 2b. One letter (1b) is from Mundeford Allen alone, the other (2b) from Mundeford Allen, Joseph Turner, Elizabeth Turner, Robert Hampden Pye, Jarl Henrietta Pye, and Frances Allen to James Rose. Topics include selling a shipment of china belonging to Hugh Campbell and transferring the proceeds to his heirs.

1769, 3b. A letter from Joseph Cruttenden to James Rose. Topic concerns a routine bill of exhange.

III. Series c. Selected Letters from Charles Irvine to Various Correspondents and from Various Correspondents to John Irvine and Others, . . . . ., 1732-1756 (1 folder).

This folder contains sixty-two items, most of which are letters in draft as opposed to fair copy form. Some items lump the drafts of several letters together. Those drafts written by or immediately connected to Charles Irvine have a bearing on four aspects of his life: 1) his connection to Arbuthnot & Co. of Rouen, where he had done his merchant’s apprenticeship (items 32-1c, 33-1c); 2) the family patrimony (i.e. lands) of Charles Irvine’s family, the Irvines of Drum (items 33-2c and 39-1c); 3) Charles Irvine’s business activities in Europe (items 36-1c to 37-9c and 40-1c); and 4) Charles Irvine’s activities as an SEIC supercargo (items 33-1c, 34-1c, 40-1c to 42-26c). This last grouping of letters, which comprise the lion’s share of the folder’s contents can usefully be viewed as Charles Irvine’s record of what happened during voyages taken on the Tre Cronor and the Stockholm/Fredericus Rex, c. 1737-1742. All of these drafts should be thought of as loose-leaf equivalents of the materials gathered in the letter-books in series k of the collection; see section IV of this finding aid for more on this series. The remaining items in the folder are not drafts written by Irvine himself, but rather letters from various people in Charles Irvine’s network to various other people in the network. The chief individuals involved are George Ouchterlony (Charles Irvine’s London correspondent), Colin Campbell (Director of the SEIC when the letters were written), Pye & Cruikshank (Charles Irvine’s Amsterdam correspondents), James Gough (Charles Irvine’s Cadiz correspondent) and John Irvine (Charles Irvine’s nephew and a himself a supercargo for the SEIC). These letters cover items 44-1c to 56-4c and are really separate in origin from the other items in the folder.

Note to those processing the collection: In my initial draft of the catalog I judged that this series was not really intact and therefore required less description. With

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my present state of knowledge of the Irvine/Rose network, however, I would be able to add more to what is above. I would be happy to go over these letters in more detail if that were wanted. I would require only copies of them or time to work through them at the James Ford Bell Library. Alternatively, someone else can take on this task or it can be left aside.

IV. Series k. Letter books containing letters from Charles Irvine to various Correspondents, chiefly written while on board ship or in Canton.

1736, 2h. Letters written by Charles Irvine while on board the Tre Cronor, c. 1736-37. The letters provide a loose record of the voyage out and of Charles Irvine’s trading activities once in Canton.

1742, 1h. Letters written by Charles Irvine while in Gothenburgh between his voyages on the SEIC ships Stockholm/Fredericus Rex and Calmar. The letters provide an excellent secondary record of the business activities discussed in series a (CIC) and series b (JRC) of the collection.

1743, 1h & 1747, 1h. Letters written by Charles Irvine while in preparation or on board the Calmar. The letters provide information on the preparations for the voyage, the voyage out and back, and Charles Irvine’s trading activities while in Canton.

_____________________________________________________________General Remarks to those Processing the Catalog: Overall I am fairly satisfied with the above, though I have determined, as the above annotations and items in boldface show, that some elements of the first draft were problematic. I have indicated to Maggie Ragnow that I would be happy to write an introduction to the above if it were wanted, in the course of which I would go over the catalog again to check against what I have been finding in my subsequent research beyond the James Ford Bell holdings. I would also situate the Irvine collection in the broader context of other holdings on both the Irvine and Rose families as well as the histories of the Swedish East India Company, Göteborg, and Sweden and Scotland more generally.

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