Series 4 > William Melrose in China, 1845-1855

154
WILLIAM MELROSE IN CHINA
though, that the overland muster was so much better than the stock,
but tea generally improves in canister. I know many people here
have given up sending tea samples home just for that reason and
put no dependence on valuations of overland samples. Ewart will
tell you the same.
I am sorry you think the purchases for your account and Schaw’s
will not do much good; for my own part I would rather have had
them than any of the rest of the purchases. Chops 7 and 8 I thought
better at the money than almost any of the Naomi's.
Confound that Superb - had it not been for her making such an
awful passage, her shipment would have paid well. I don’t think
there is any fear about the policy. As your shipment joint with
J. R. & Co. has been re-insured, of course that is all right; the other
two shipments, ours and yours joint with Schaw’s, are both insured
in the Canton office, Jardine’s own office, so they must have known
well enough she was going into the Cape. Besides, the policies are
made out with liberty to touch, stay and trade at all intermediate
ports, and I cannot understand why Messrs J. R. & Co make out
that the Superb had no liberty to stay at the Cape granted in the
policy, because if I recollect rightly it was particularly mentioned
in the policy. However, I don’t see any cause to suppose she is lost
yet. Many good vessels take six months and start in a better season
without going into the Cape to stay; look at the W. Morrice and
Gresham last year for instance.
I have sent your letter to Murrow but he has made no reply as
yet. I wish I had my own from him, some $3,000 to $4,000 if I
recollect rightly. He has no insurance office here now, he has joined
one Stephenson in partnership at Hong Kong. What they do I do
not know. He is always at law with somebody or other and is
known to be the most litigious character in China. He will most
likely write you himself. . . d
I do not know what to think about next year. Tea must either
come down or exchange, or the price go up at home, which is not
likely looking at the awful quantity gone. The only redeeming
feature is the light stock. I had expected valuations of the box of
Souchongs per this mail as the Southampton mail was in the 20th.
I will be glad to receive the statement of the account current
1 The passage omitted refers to Naomi cargo; see above, p. 151.