USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > The Jews of South Carolina; a survey of the records at present existing in Charleston > Part 12
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The advertisement ends with a humor- ous touch of scorn:
"Sealed with my seal, well known in most markets in Europe for these 25 years, as always prime indico, which to this time of life I have not yet forfeited; and it is to nie really a diversion to see some peo- ple in this town pretend to be judges of the quality of indico, to one that has had the experience of upwards of thirty years in it: and I wish they may not, by which they have shipped on board the fleet, ex- perience the presumption."
(South Carolina Gazette, February 27, 1762.)
The importance of the indigo industry to the province of South Carolina may be appreciated from the following historical facts: Indigo began to be cultivated in South Carolina in 1744 and was exported to England as early as 1747, where it attract- ed considerable attention. Great Britain tas consuming annually 000,000 pounds weight of French indigo, paying for it £150,000 pounds sterling, and the statistics showed an annual increase of consump- tion. In 1748 Parliament passed an Act, allowing a bounty of six pence per pound on indigo from the British Colonies. This stimulated the South Carolina production and in 1754 the export of indigo from Charles Town amounted to 216,924 pounds, and ^shortly before the Revolution, had risen to 1,176,660 pounds.
(Year Book for 1883, pp. 402-3.)
The man who had done more to en- courage this important industry (the greatest source of revenue in those days to South Carolina) than anyone in the province was Moses Lindo, This is clear- ly evident from the following:
"The services heretofore rendered to this province by Mr Moses Lindo, in as-
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certaining the quality and establishing the reputation of our indico-manufacture, both at home and at the foreign markets, in April last induced many gentlemen of rank and fortune, merchants, planters and others, to give him the following tes- timonial of their opinion of his abilities, in writing, and of the necessity of having a public Inspector, subscribed with their names, viz:
"In order to bring our indico-produce into reputation at home as well as at for- eign markets, it becomes necessary to have a proper person qualified to ascertain the value of our First Sort. We mer- chants, planters, principal traders and others, do, therefore, hereby certify under our hands, that Mr Moses Lindo, of Charies-Town. merchant, is the only per- son kown to us, capable of rendering this province further service in that article, if he is willing to undertake ascertaining the same and to grant his certificate for the First Sort."
This testimonial was signed by the Hon William Bull, Lieutenant Governor, 5 Members of his Majesty's Council, the Speaker and 19 Members of the late Com- mons House of Assembly, 41 merchants and 7 "considerable planters of, or deal- ers in indico."
THE LEADING INDIGO PLANTERS.
Because of the local interest attaching to the names appended to this testimonial. I print it in full:
*Hon William Bull. Esq, Lieutenant Governor; the Hon Othniel Beale, Esq, *Henry Middleton. John Guerard, *John Drayton and *Daniel Blake, Esqrs, mem- bers of his Majesty's Council.
Benjamin Smith, Esq. Speaker, and *Thomas Middleton, *William Moultrie. *Pater Manigault, William Scott. * Thomas Bee, *William Blake, William Roper, *Robert Pringle, "Thomas Lynch. * Raw- lins Lowndes. "Benjamin Dart, *John Ainslie, *Thomas. Ferguson, *John Parker. *James Parsons, * William Maxwell, *Doet John Murray and *Sir John Colleton. members of the late Commons House of Assembly.
Messrs John Chapman, John Torrans, John Greg, John Poan, *John Smith, Thomas Liston, *Paul Douxsaint, "Miles Brewton, Henry Peronneau. Thomas Corker, John Lloyd, Arthur Perpnneau. William Ancrum, Lambert Lance, *Rich-
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ard Downes, John Benfield. Henry Lau- rens, George Appleby, John Logan, Martin Campbell, John Neufville, Edward Neuf- ville, Thomas Ellis, John Scott, Thomas Farr. jun. James Poyas, Evan Jones,
*John McQueen. William Guerin. John Parrham, Robert Smyth, Peter Bacot, James Laurens, George Ancrum, Thomas Shirley. George Ingi.s. Robert Rowand, John Nowell, Samuel Peronneau, Peter Mazyek and Thomas Moultrie, merchants.
Andrew Johnston, John Moultrie, jun, William Gibbes. Job Milner, Alexander Fraser. John Mayrant, William Brand- ford.
Considerable planters of, or dealers in indico.
(Note -- The gentlemen with the mark * prefixed to their names are likewise con- siderable planters of indico.)
In consequence of the above testimonial and an application to the Governor, his Excellency, on Tuesday last, was pleased to order the following commission to be issued, viz:
SOUTH CAROLINA:
By his Excellency THOMAS BOONE, Esquire, Captain General, and Governor in Chief, in and over the said Province.
TO MOSES LINDO, GENTLEMAN:
WHEREAS, several of the most consid- erable inhabitants of the said province, as well planters as merchants, have by a writing signed by them, certified, that, in order to bring the indico produce into reputation at home and at foreign mar- kets. it is become necessary to have a proper person qualified to ascertain the First Sort; and that the said Moses Lin- do is the only person known to them ca- pable of rendering the province further service in that article, if he is willing to undertake ascertaining the same, and grant his certificate of its being the First Sort. And, whereas, the said Moses Lin- do, in order to give such his certificates the more weight and authority in Great- Britain, has made application to me, that he may be appointed Surveyor and In- spector-General of Indico in the province aforesaid. I, therefore, in consideration of the premises, and being convinced of the fitness and ability of the said Moses Lindo for discharging the said office, do hereby nominate. constitute and appoint
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you the said Moses Lindo to be Surveyor and Inspector-General of the Indico made in the said province, for the ends and pur- poses above mentioned.
This commission to continue during pleasure.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Charles-Town, this 21st day of September, Anno Dom. 1782, and in the second year of his Majesty's reign.
THOMAS BOONE.
By his Excellency's command.
George .Johnston for John Murray, Dep Sec.
(South Carolina Gazette, September 25, 1762.)
The next notice in the Gazette is an an- nouncement of Moses Lindo officially as Surveyor and Inspector General of In- dico. It is as follows:
MOSES LINDO.
Surveyor and Inspector-General of IN- DICO made in South Carolina,
GIVES THE FOLLOWING NOTICES:
That as there is at present no obligation on any merchants or planters to submit their Indico to his inspection, or on him to take that trouble for nothing. he will be ready and willing, after the 16th in- stant, to inspect any parcel for either, as- certain the FIRST SORT, and his certifi- cate therefor for the smail consideration of ONE per cent on the value of the Indi- co so certified.
That he will make no distinction of per- sons in inspecting and giving certificates, in regard to the quantity, but will with equal readiness serve a planter who brings only 50 Ib to market, as him who may bring thousands.
That where any differences arise, on al- lowances to be made for bad mixtures, the accidental dampness, or designel wet- ness of Indico to disguise the quality, he will expect TWO per cent for his decision and ascertaining the value; i. e., ONE per cent from the seller, and as much from the buyer.
That all orders gentlemen intend to ťa- "your him with, to purchase Indico on their accounts for exportation, must be delivered to him, or left at Mesers Inglis, Lloyd & Hall's, on or before the 16th in- stant; after which he will receive no more till those then in his hands are complest- ed.
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And, that no planter or other person may complain that he means to injure them (which is far from hs intention) he deciares, that ne will not buy another parcel, till they have tried the market eight or ten days: when he will purchase. on orders upon some of the principal houses in town, at three months' credit. N. B .- He begs pardon for having omitted among the subscribers to the tes- timonial or certificate, in consequence of which he obtained his commission from the Governor, to give the printer the fo !- lowing gentlemen's names:
(South Carolina Gazette, October 9, 1762.) THE THREE SORTS OF INDIGO.
A few days later Moses Lindo an- nounces:
That he has opened an office on Mr Beresford's whart, where constant at- tendance will be given every day in the week. (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed at other offices, excepted,) from 8 o'clock in the morning till 1 in the af- ternoon, in order to survey, inspect and grant certificates for all parcels of indico that shall be brought to him for tha! purpose of the FIRST SORT.
That he will not give his certificate for any indico, unless the planter produces a proper certificate of its being the growth of his plantation.
That for deciaring the first sort, and granting his certificate thereor, he ex- pects to be paid at the rate of twenty shillings currency, for every hundred pounds weight of indico mentioned in such certificates, and the like sum for settling any difference between buyer and seller, on every hundred pounds weight.
That if any planter, in eight days after obtaining his certificate for the First Sort, desires him to procure a purchaser for the same, he in that case expects to be paid 5 per cent commission, if such indico is not in any merchant or factor's hands; but if in a merchant or factor's hands, then only 20s per cent.
That he will not sort, garble and seal the First, Second and Third Sorts of in- dico of the present crop for exportation, but for the following gentlemen, who fa- voured him with their orders for that purpose before the 16th insrant, or by orders obtained from them; for which his charge will be 3 per cent, Casks and all other expences included.
Io
That all his fees must be paid him be- fore the delivery of his certificates.
That he will not accept, or undertake to execute any orders from Europe or from any of his correspondents elsewhere, to purchase indico for them this crop. And.
That if any unfair dealings should be discovered, by fraudulent mixtures, after he has given his certificate for any par- ceis of indico, he is determined to expose such intended imposition.
That after the first day of February next, he will not act in this or any other capacity, in purchasing or declaring the qualities of indico, until some regulation is made by Act of Parliament to encour- age the planting and manufacturing that valuable dye. * *
(South Carolina Gazette. October 23. 1702.)
The following will give an idea of the prices brought for South Carolina Indico of the first sort:
"MOSES LINDO. Inspector and Survey- or-General of South Carolina INDICO. Having granted certificates for the FIRST SORT, sold at the prices opposite to the names of the respective makers (which he declares to be equal in quality to the best French that has been taken during the last or present war) viz:
s. d.
"His Honor the Lieut. Gover-
nor's, sold at .. 27 6 per Mb
George Saxby, Esq .. .40 per ib
John Moultrie, jun. Esq .. .40 per lh Sir John Colleton. Bart .. .30 per It
Mr Edmund Bellinger .. .30 per 1b
Alexander Fraser, Esq .. 26 and 40 per m 23 per lb Mr Charles Elliott ..
David Deas, Esq .. 27 6 per I
.24 per 1h
Mr George Marshal .. .27 per in
John Pamor, Esq ..
George Seaman, Esq .. .28 per Ib
Mrs Mary M. Daniel .. .23 per ID
Mr William Campbell .. .21 per 1b
Mr William Pearson .. .25 per 1b Mr Phillp Porcher .. .27 6 per 1b
Mir James 'Laroach .. 22 6 per Ib
Mr James Commander 25 per m
Mr William Johnson .. .27 6 per 1b
Part of which is now on board the Bos- cawen, capt David Jenkins, commander, bound for London.
IN THIS PUBLIC MANNER
Requests, that the commissioners of his Majesty's customs in London, will desire 15 or 16 gentlemen, merchants, salters and brokers, conversant in this trade, to in- spect the said indico when landed. and declare their sentiments thereon in all the public papers.
And, whereas, several other parcels of indico have been shipped on board the said frigate, by divers persons, in like pack- ages, which have not been inspected or surveyed by him, he has, therefore. thought proper to give a certificate for every cask that has undergone his inspec- tion, and been sealed by him, specifying in the margin the kind, weight and tare, and registered the same in his office; which certincates Mr William Richardson. broker in London (one of the best judges of indico now left in England) will take care to cancel after inspection. This pre- caution is so eventually necessary for the interest of a colony where any manufac- tures are produced, that in England the law has made it felony punishable with death, to counterfeit, imitate or alter any public inspector's mark."
(South Carolina Gazettte. January 15, 1763.)
In his next notice Mir Lindo refers to his last big shipment.
"When the last 55 hogsheads arrive in England. I flatter myself the world will be satistled of my Integrity of heart and the uprightness of my intentions: as well as be convinced, that I have devoted myself to the service of my native country, and equally so to this province; for, if the indico that has undergone my inspection. and obtained my certificates, shall bẹ proved equal in quality to the best French (which I am confident it will) in that case £12,000 sterling per annum bounty will be saved to the Government. and the planter here always sure of getting 25s currency a pound for the First Sort, and in propor - tion for the Second and Third. which will be sufficient to encourage them to go on in the planting and manufacturing that valuable dye." * * *
IGNORANCE OF SOME PRETENDERS.
It would thus seem as 1º Moses Lindo had been meeting with criticism and op- position. He ends his long letter: "Your publishing this letter may prevent some
evil-minded persons continuing to insinu- ate, that, sensible of my superior knowl- edge and experience in all dyes and drugs to any in Europe or America. I only take the advantage of exposing the ignorance of some pretenders to the like which is not my intention. I must, however, say that no person whatever, that has not been ten or twelve years constantly em- ployed às a broker of indico, can be a competent judge of that article. 'or the true value of each quality: therefore, an error in judgment after that time must be desmel a crime, not an oversight."
(South Carolina Gazettte, March 26, 1763.) In his next notice Moses Lindo ali- nounces amongst other things, that he will not purchase any Indico himself, in less than three or four days after it has been surveyed; when, if no better price can be obtained for it than his valuation. he will receive it at that, and pay for the same as he has hitherto done.
South Carolina Gazette, October 22, 1763.) In the Gazette of March 21. 1:64. we read that "Moses Lindo, Esq; has lately been presented with the commission appointing him Surveyor and Inspector-General of Indico, under the great seal of the prov- ince.
We continue to meet with Moses Lindo in the Gazettes for some years longer. Sev- eral of the advertisements are of no par- ticular interest. others are extremely in- feresting. For the sake of completeness. I shall jot down all the references to him in chronological order. He advertises on October 8. 1704. In his advertisement of May 4, 175. he refers to "All the iniquitous practices which have been committed with Carolina Indico,". and which he declares he will never countenance."
AS A MEDICAL EXPERT.
The next item is very amusing. It oc- curs in the Gazette of July 28, 1766. Moses Lindo in his investigation into the proper- ties of "roots and weeds," makes a valua- tle medical discovery, and, while not, as far as I know, a member of the medical profession, he is public spirited enough not to desire to retain the boon for himself. so he writes this letter to the Gazette:
"MR TIMOTHY:
"HAVING lately made a valuable dis- covery. the CURE of that grievous and common disease among the Negroes,
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called the YAWS. * ** I beg leave to
make use of the channel of your paper to make the Recipe public for the good of mankind, without the least view to my private advantage; and to request that such gentlemen whose negroes have been, or may be cured, will make the same pub- lickly known, so as to be communicated to his Majesty's other American domin- ions. I am yours, &c.
MOSES LINDO,
Inspector General of Indico.
RECIPE TO CURE THE YAWS, &C.
To a pound of Poke root, add three ounces of Tobacco, and an ounce of Ro- man Vitriol. boil the same in five quarts of water, till reduced to a gallon. and strain it. With this, wash the infected part three times a day. A pint is suffi- cient for ten or twelve days.
At the same time use a diet drink, made of Two pounds of
Lignum Vitae shavings, four ounces of the bark of Sas- safras root, four ounces of Anniseeds, and half a pound of brown sugar, boiled in four gallons of water till reduced to three. The patient to take a pint a day, mixed with three pints of water for twenty days.
Being a member of the medical fraterni- ty, and morally bound by the ethics of the profession-one rule in the code of which is, that all valuable discoveries are to be- come the property of all, I hasten to an- nounce my discovery to my confreres and hope that they may find the recipe as use- ful for the cure of the "Yaws," as did its original discoverer Moses Lindo.
Moses Lindo advertises again on No- vember 10, 1:66, and on January 19. 1767, he writes a long letter to Mr Timothy on the present status of Carolina Indico abroad.
"I have lately observed with concern, in an account of a public sale of 12 casks of French, and 23 of Carolina Indico on the 2Sth of August last * * * t that all the French sold at 4s 5d per Io, while only one cask of the Carolina allowed to be fully as good as the best French, obtained no more than 3s &d, and all the rest sold amazingly low." He attributes the dif- ference to a combination at home among the importers of foreign indico, to dis- courage its cultivation in his Majes- ty's Colonies. He "publickly avers" that the Carolina Indico, which he distinguishes as FIRST SORT, properly prepared by the
dyer, will yleld a superior dye to the very best French. He ought to know more cer- tainly than the generality of people for "I have been allowed to be one of the best judges of Cochineal and Indico on the ROYAL EXCHANGE, for upwards of 25 years past; and have not been thought un- worthy (when Sir Stephen Theodore Jan- sen represented the city of London in Par- liament) to be called with Mr Samuel To- rin, and Mr Daniel Valentine, to give my sentiments of Carolina Indico to the hon. House of Commons of Great Britain."
OUR FIRST PLEA FOR "PROTEC- TION."
Lindo was a man of resources and a true protectionist. He suggests, that as there exists a préjudice of 25 per cont against Carolina Indico brought about by the com- biration, that the British Parliament, in- stead of continuing the present bounty. should lay is a pound duty on all the French, exported from Britain and which would save no less than £12.000 per an- num to the Government and at the same time give sufficient encouragement to cul- tivate 1,500,000 Ib in his Majesty's Colonies, for the use of British manufactories, * * * As Inspector-General of Indico in this province (though without a salary) he thinks it his duty "to rescue that valua- ble branch of our staples from the ma- lign influence of designing men," as far as it lies in his power.
In the Gazette of October 10. 1771, Moses Lindo has a lengthy communication in defence of the custom of packing Carolina Indico in the Spanish shape. "Judges," he says, "never buy from outward appear- ance; they will examine its inward Quality. Therefore, there can be no Fraud in the Imitation." He quotes in defence of his contention the custom of mercers who, in order to get off their fine silks, are often obliged to call them French, though wholly wove in Spitalfields. He makes several observations on Carolina, Flori- da and Guatemala Indico and ends by the statement that he has the interest of this country' "as disinterestedly as much at heart" as any native, and is resolved to spend the remainder of his days here, where merit will meet with its reward, without partiality, from the highest to the lowest of its inhabitants.
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In the Gazette of July 23. 1772, Mioses Lindo advertises that it would afford him great satisfaction. if three or four per- sons, well experienced in the indico busi- ness. would undertake the sorting and gartling of Indico for exportation, by which means that valuable produce might recover its reputation both at home and at foreign markets. His own services are only at the disposal of his regular pa- trons, whose names are appended * * *
On August 6, 152, there is an announce- ment that Moses Lindo, Esq, has resigned the Place of Inspector-General of Indico for this province.
On August 20. 1722, Lindo publishes a letter to Henry Laurens, Esq. containing his reasons for refusing to ast any longer as Inspector-General of Indico. He would not seal certain classes of Indico "and bring disgrace on the Seal with a Crown over G. R." He would still continue, how- ever, to serve his friends, if his knowl- edge can be of any use to them.
On November 12, 1712. advertises again vindicating the action he has tak- en.
SENDS A TOPAZ TO THE QUEEN.
The next item is a most interesting one and deserves to be investigated if only for curiosity, by some English-Jewish an- tiquarian. It occurs in the Gazette of March 15. 1773.
"Moses Lindo, Esq, his Majesty's In- spector General of Indico. having, about eight years ago, accidentally met with. and for a Trifle purchased, a Stone (among others) found in this province, which he judged to be a WATER SAP- PHIRE or TOPAZ, and then declared to be too valuable a jewel to be possessed by any other than the Queen of England, making a Vow, that it should be sent to her Majesty; we hear, has accordingly sent the same, In the Eagle Packet-Boat, by the Hands of the Right Hon Lord Charles-Greville Montague, to be present- ed to her Majesty. The size and shape of this Stone is like Half-a Hen's Egg, and the Weight 526 Carats."
I confess that I am curious as to the subsequent fate of this stone and I. pro- pose to try and find out something fur- ther about it.
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On September 6, 1773, Lindo publishes a lengthy letter to Mr Jobn Ledyard. of Melksham, in Wiltshire, pointing out many fallacies in the statements made Abroad concerning Carolina Indico and showing him how he may prove his own statements by actual experiment, the ma- terials for which he is sending him. This letter is a splendid illustration of Lindo s patriotic feeling and of his unnring efforts in behalf of the province.
On November 22, 1773, Lindo makes a statement of the fight he is making against the combination in London against Carolina Indico. He recites what he has done to promote the welfare of the prov- ince and refers to a recommendation that is to be made to the General Assembly to allow him a yearly salary besides fees. He has not become wealthy as the result of his work: "Should any accident berall me thro' the infirmities of age or other- wise, I am persuaded it is not difficult for you, or any of my friends to conceive how very wretched a being would be Yours, &c, "MOSES LINDO."
He still signs himself Inspector-General of Indico.
On December 27, 1:73, there is a notice that 13,000 pounds weight of Indico, be- longing to two planters, were last week sold by Mr Samuel Prioleau, jun, at a Dollar a pound to Moses Lindo, Esq; In- spector-General, who has declared that the whole quantity is equal if not superior to any French that, in the many years' experience he has had, has gone thro' his hands, or fallen under his observation.
DIES HERE IN 1774.
Moses Lindo died in 1774. The South Carolina Gazette in which he had adver- tised so extensively for so many years, makes no mention of his death, but in the South Carolina Gazette and Country Jour- nal of Tuesday, April 26, 1774, we read:
Charles-Town April 25, DIED. Moses Lindo, Esq; for many years Inspector- General of Indico in this Town.
There is but one notice more and that in the South Carolina Gazette of May 23, 1:74: "Moses Lindo, Inspector-General of Indico, having departed this life, his Es- tate and Effects * * * will be sold at public outcry on Saturday, the 11th of June next." ...
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I have thus kept track of the subject of my sketch from the time he landed in South Carolina till his death, Moses Lin- do left no will. The inventory of his es- tate, dated May 17. 17#, and appraised at £1,199.17.8 is recorded in the Probate Office Book V, p. 591. It has been pleasure to me to perpetuate the memory of this public spirited and patriotic Jew who was a resident of Charles-Town from 1756 to 1774. He is but one example of many of his faith who have contributed in no small way to the upbuilding of this great country.
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