Foreign Mud (Nobody's Child Book 2) by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublishNation
Published: 2020-09-01T06:00:00+00:00

“My name is Jackson, sir, lately of Bombay. Mr Ainslie may have mentioned my name.”

There was a very cautious acceptance that the gentleman – a canny Scot, lean and closed-looking, dressed clean and grey and wearing steel-rimmed spectacles, never one to sport gold – might have heard of both of us.

“I have a substantial sum in bullion waiting aboard my transport and needing safe storage for the short while, sir. I may be indulging in the China trade before too long and will wish to use the services of a London factor.”

“My name is McKay, as you know, Mr Jackson. I am always available to serve the needs of Mr Ainslie’s acquaintance.”

He spoke with no trace of the Scots in his voice, presumably for wishing not to offend London merchants. I discovered on a later day that a proportion of so-called Scotsmen in business in England were of the Jewish persuasion and had never seen Hadrian’s Wall. It transpired that some forms of alien were preferred to others in London and that while Scots might be mocked by the mob, Jews were frequently pelted.

McKay quickly organised dray and horses and six large porters and sent them with me to the ship, condescending to accompany me himself. His distant manner thawed as he watched the flow of crates come out of the little hold; he almost smiled.

“Mainly taels, Mr McKay, but I understand that silver is in short supply in London the while. There is a little – two or three thousands, no more – in gold pagodas and dust. I have some Bills of Exchange that may be discounted for something more.”

McKay raised an eyebrow at that last, wondering just whose Bills they might be. I named four of the biggest firms in the West African Trade, as it was politely called in London, and he nodded approvingly.

“Bills on those names will discount easily, Mr Jackson. Bombay merchants are rarely to be seen at Cape Coast Castle, or so I am told.”

I explained my interest in a private ship of war and how it had come about. He was aware of conditions in the China Trade and was interested to hear that my patron had left Canton.

“The gentleman will hardly wish to remain in Bombay, Mr Jackson…”

I ventured to disagree, in part.

“I believe he will retain a presence there, Mr McKay, for wishing to have access to the Persian trade, an alternative to the Silk Road which is currently experiencing difficulties as order breaks down in the western parts of China and in central Asia generally. There is a feeling that overland trade will fall away these next few years. The lord himself has no intention of staying in Bombay – he would inevitably find difficulties arising with John Company, there being no room for triads in their polity. The feeling was that he will finally gravitate to New York, that city being as corrupt as Canton and without any effective central government to intervene. I was told that the Qing are losing power in China while Washington has yet to gain power in America.

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