East India Company Enemies Royal Approva ...

East India Company Enemies Royal Approval and Sex!

Feb 27, 2024

East India Company Enemies

Captain Henry Mcneish made a journey to the Cape of Good Hope off South Africa on the General Goddard, where he arrived on 31st July of that year. She arrived at Table Bay where he states in a letter that two or three of his men had contracted the fever and died during the voyage. It states of plans to remain there until the second fleet from England joins them. They have no certainty of the Dutch squadron’s location. He goes on to state that Admiral Keith Elphinstone is reluctant to let them proceed with so small a force.

In correspondence dated 1st September 1796 he states concerns to an agent, John Pringle, about the safety of the ship due to low army numbers, for the journey to India. Five days later in a letter to Robert Wignam Esq he expresses his frustration at being laid up at Table Bay so long. He makes reference to the fact that suddenly, after six weeks in the Bay, they are asked to set sail without a single ship-of-war to defend them, especially as the French force were known to be very much superior to “the Indiamen”. Early on the morning of 7th September they were due to set sail. However due to several fruitless attempts to leave Table Bay, they did not successfully manage to do so until 16th of that month.

Ships on a Story Sea

"Ships on a Stormy Sea by Willem van de Velde the Younger (c. 1672)" by Royal Opera House Covent Garden is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse&atype=rich

Henry writes to his elder brother William on 15th October 1796, from the General Goddard. In it he states, “Our voyage to the Cape from England was fifteen weeks, and upon disembarking, we had intelligence of a Dutch fleet on their way to attack that place, our troops were consequently disembarked, and we detained until their arrival. The Dutch fleet arrived at Saldanah Bay in August and in the (illegible) end of the month the whole of them were captured by George Elphinstone [George Keith Elphinstone was his full name].

Claret, Beer and Children

It was the end of September before we left the Cape, our passage hitherto has been remarkably good, but as we are bound to Madras, I am afraid it will be yet an exceedingly long time before we reach Bengal. I mean to dispose of as much of my will investment as I can at Madras but think I shall bring on some claret and beer to Bengal. Pray write to any of your friends at Calcutta who may be able to assist and advise me in the sale of my (illegible).” The last word I could not read. Most frustrating. The letter continues, “If any of your friends have children to send home, recommend them to me, I am a famous hand for that kind of thing. The young ones are really good articles, they drink no claret….”

He goes on in his letter to James, “I had ordered a couple of hounds for you, but my ship being chock full of troops made me countermand them”.

There is a document which states the following as sold for ready cash, from the General Goddard in November 1796: one six-volume prayer book, one philosophy book, and two dozen packs of cards. It is not too difficult to see where the priorities of the crew lay!

Captain Mcneish sent a letter to Robert Wignam Esq. from Madras on 3rd January 1797. In it he refers to their successful arrival on 16th November. The voyage took two months. On seeing a squadron of French ships cruising in the Bay, they diverted to another part of the Bengal coast, Trincomalee Bay, to seek convoy to Bengal.

Further correspondence sent to Robert Wignam Esq refers to the General Goddard being in a poor state due to harsh weather encountered on the way up from the Cape, the fact it had sprung a leak in a severe gale, and that Capt. Thomas Graham had done his best to locate it. It refers to much additional expense due to be incurred to repair the sails and rigging. Capt. Henry Mcneish requests in another letter dated 9th February 1797 of the Hon. Sir John Shore, Governor General in Council permission to bring the General Goddard up the river for the purpose of making repairs.

Return to India

Henry writes again to his brother James on 15th May 1797, from Barrackore, in which he describes himself as “one of the most sober in Calcutta”. He also states, “my side pains me a good deal but I persevere with the mercury which now begins to affect me”. Liar! Mercury, as you will know, was not for a painful side. He continues by advising William, “I do hope your illness is getting better; if your illness is at all serious do leave the country at once – a year or two in Europe would set you on your legs, and without cutting deep on your finances”.

Henry regularly wrote to William. The two were remarkably close right up to William's early death in 1805, only his 44th year. They often had an eye for the same woman – marriage did not stop the Captain – as is proven in correspondence from his brother.

William is Sacked

In correspondence of 5th June 1797, and sent from Calcutta, he states regarding William’s removal from his position at Punneah, that “the particular part of your conduct found fault with by government is their being sent to work on the roads without being regularly convicted”. This was not the true reason. William lost a judicial position, which had been particularly important to him, because of sentencing a Suk of Calcutta to death for intemperate conduct. Suks were especially important to the British in India, as they were superior to British cavalrymen and, as such, William’s harsh sentence was politically naïve.

A digital copy of Miss Christian Dalrymple’s diaries was very kindly provided to me by Mark McLean, the Learning Officer at NTS property, Newhailes, in Musselburgh. It shows on several occasions from 1798 Captain Henry visiting for dinner, and often saying overnight at Newhailes. The first reference of this is in her entry of 5th November 1798. “Whist, casino, loo.” And lottery tickets were popular evening games.

Henry's Further Career

He was a Captain in the East India Company in the early 1800s and served on a ship called Wyndham. The Asiatic Annual Register of 1804 mentions “a very brilliant achievement” by Captain Henry, when he captured two French privateers. “The enemy had recourse to their favourite expedient of boarding; his attack was obstinately opposed, as may be imagined. When we add that the first officer was killed, the second officer fell overboard in the confusion and was unhappily drowned. The officer commanding a detachment on board was also killed, whilst the brave Commander had one of his arms shattered but is said not to have quit the deck.”

The Wyndham was an armed merchant ship carrying 20 guns but by 1810 had been modified to carry more than 26, probably because of the Napoleonic wars. These were heavy ships, often between 800 and 1300 tonnes. They could hold their own against pirates and other raiders. However, the French captured the Wyndham later that same year despite modification, having changed hands four times in ten months. The Asiatic Annual Register of 1809 notes concern for its capture. Henry Mcneish was still serving as a Captain with the East India Company in 1825, as noted in a court case of the time.

Captain of an Army Thanks to King George III

The Mcneish papers contain a Charter dated 22nd May 1804 from James, Duke of Montrose, on behalf of King George III, to Henry Mcneish, commissioning him to be Captain of a Company in the Eastern Battalion of Stirlingshire Volunteer Infantry. It goes on to state that he was not allowed to take rank unless called into active service. His role was to exercise the officers and soldiers and keep them in good order and discipline. Later in the Charter it is stated that it was given by the Duke under his hand and seal, 6th November 1806.

King George III Statue

"King George III Statue" by andreboeni is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse&atype=rich

Tax Avoidance

In an interesting insight into how Window Tax was addressed by the wealthy, in a letter from William Stirling at Glenduich Castle, who was working for Henry at the time, the following line is contained; “I have caused the doors and windows of the (illegible) to build up with stone”. Henry was staying at No 2 North Parade in Bath at the time, 5th April 1808.

Henry latterly changed his surname to Henry Graham Stirling. Strowan was the estate of his maternal uncle Sir Thomas Stirling of Ardoch. He succeeded to it upon the death of Sir Thomas. The estate of Strowan was to go to Captain Mcneish's second son Thomas, but being very extravagant, he kept it. Evidence of this is in the manuscripts. His son had to take him to court for it! It seems that much of the land was used for growing crops, as this is specifically mentioned in the family papers.

The Purchase of a Child

One W. Houston sends a letter to Henry at Glenduich Castle on 7th June 1813. It starts with a very harrowing sentence: “I must confess that I thought you had had from experience more knowledge of the (illegible) in existence for the support and protection of that unfortunate class in society, bastard children”. As the letter continues it is clear that it refers to the adoption of “James”. A section in it quotes thus, “the child’s mother might keep the child till it was 14 years of age without giving up any part of her claim against him for its support.

The day I was in Glasgow I had the pleasure of an interview with the wicked woman. She said that she would not give her son James without payment, but that she would give up her claim on him for £32, to be paid by you, which is £4 a year instead of £6 for the remaining 8 years. I think she would take less, and I believe it would be better for James to settle the business in this way”. I found this particularly disturbing, not least as I am adopted. Ouch!

A Legal Challenge

An interesting legal document is a petition brought to the Lords of Council and Session by local farmers and distillers in the county of Clackmannan against Henry McNeish Esq of Glenduich Castle, in respect of repair and maintenance of a harbour he owned. The agent of Henry’s defender’s was James Dundas. The Dundas family of Arniston and the Mcneish family had close ties over at least two generations.

There are many legal papers contained in the Mcneish manuscripts, where James Dundas acts as agent both for and against Henry Mcneish.

William Stirling writes again to Henry on 28th Dec 1822, who is now back at Glenduich Castle. In it he requests “the honor of Henry’s company to the funeral of Miss Erskine, his sister-in-law on Thursday next at 12 o’clock from G(illegible) to the place of internment…” There are many references to funerals and illnesses throughout the Mcneish papers.

Sex Club Membership

Amongst the manuscripts I came across a list of members, with rules abridged, for a local sex club! Club rules state that the club can have no more than 70 members. The 19th member is a prominent member of Scottish Society. The 58th member is Henry Mcneish. The third rule states that “the six regular stated meetings to be on the second Wednesday of December, January, February, March and April, or the day immediately following the regular meetings of the Caledonian Hunt; and the sixth meeting to be upon Thursday of the race week in Edinburgh”.

Also amongst the papers was an advert for a lost gold chase watch, “Chasing on the case consists of four heads and four busts. Blue ribbon for chain” and offering a reward for its return. There is no indication that Thomas ever had it returned to him.

This concludes the most recent correspondence specific to Captain Henry Mcneish. Clearly, he was a remarkably successful and brave man, devoted to his career and his family. He would have been fascinating to meet and talk with, but that is for another life.

Bady Boy Sex Club

"BAD BOY SEX CLUB" by Newtown grafitti is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse&atype=rich

 If you enjoyed this I am certain you will enjoy reading about the first part of the life of Henry Mcneish here.

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Bibliography

Mcneish Family Papers – National Library for Scotland

History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland Volumes I & II – Burke

Sable a Book of the Mcneishes, published in 1903 by William Brown of Princes Street

Register of Burials in the Chapel Royal or Abbey of Holyroodhouse', 1706-1900, Edinburgh, 1900.

Asiatic Annual Registers

Scottish History Society Vol XXIII 1897

Scots Peerage Vol II, published by David Douglas 1905

Bibliography of British & Irish History – Judicial Review 1937 Vol 49:4 by Thomas Miller

Juan Agÿfffffcero, former Warden, Holyrood Palace

Miss Christian’s Diaries – courtesy of Mark McLean, Claire Robertson & Anne Munro, at Newhailes House

Also, with thanks to the Scottish Genealogy Society. Opening details are on their website.

Fraser Paterson

Freelance Tour Guide (warmer months)

Freelance Writer (colder months)

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