Letters to Richard Oswald, 1759-1784.

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Letters to Richard Oswald, 1759-1784.

Ten letterbooks containing business correspondence to Oswald from his agents, factors, nephews and Edinburgh attorney, all written after his "retirement" to Scotland. The letters include extensive information on on Oswald's trading ventures, particularly his trade with the American colonies and his West African slave trade (based at Bunce Island), and his Scottish land investments. The letters from his London agent Michael Herries contain detailed reports on individual ships and cargoes; political news, particularly information on the growing revolt and then open warfare in the American colonies, and the reactions of Parliament and the London public; and copies of letters from agents in Charlestown, South Carolina and Bunce Island. Letters by Oswald's nephews, particularly by Alexander Oswald, include much information on the tobacco trade with Virginia, as well as the impact of the American Revolution on trade with the Continent. Letters from John Levett, who was agent for Oswald first at Bunce Island and then in British India, contain speculation on the governmental changes in India and the East India Company's changing role there, in addition to general trade and business news.

10 v. (in 8 v. and 3 boxes)

Related Entities

There are 10 Entities related to this resource.

East India Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6r8265w (corporateBody)

The East India Company (formally called the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies (1600-1708) and the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies (1708-1873)), was an English company formed for the exploitation of the spice trade in East and Southeast Asia and India. It was incorporated by Royal Charter in December 1600. From the guide to the East India Company, 1647, 1647, (Senate House Library, University of London) ...

Mille, George, fl. 1775.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62c18rs (person)

Great Britain. 1783 Sept. 3.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q89m2v (corporateBody)

Levett, John, fl. 1770-1780.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qj9v9n (person)

Oswald, Richard, 1705-1784

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zk5smv (person)

Scottish merchant for many years engaged in business in America and London; in 1781 he gave bail to Henry Laurens when he was imprisoned in the Tower; negotiated the peace with the Americans, and signed the preliminary articles of peace at Paris, Nov. 30, 1782. From the description of Papers of Richard Oswald [manuscript], 1779-1781. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647860036 British merchant and politician, chief negotiator of the peace treaty that ended the Am...

Muir, George, fl. 1780.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sr19w9 (person)

Russell, John, active 1765-1766

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hf0j0k (person)

Oswald, Alexander

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bg52n0 (person)

Herries, Michael.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6156tp1 (person)

Oswald, James, 1770-1802

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fx9n7k (person)