ABSTRACT
from Bodleian Library, MS. Eng. Hist, c 269, pp. 23–5. Laurence Sulivan is describing the misfortunes which had befallen him at the 1769 Company election. He had been part of a syndicate which had borrowed a large quantity of India stock at an inflated price in order to create extra votes with it. A sharp drop in the price of the stock due to bad news from India had left the syndicate with heavy obligations which they were unable to meet. Sulivan is writing some ten years after the event for the benefit of his son Stephen, who is about to sail for India in an effort to restore the family fortunes. Sulivan hoped that his tale of woe would produce a sympathetic response from Muhammad Ali, Nawab of the Carnatic. He was to be disappointed.
