Description | Private journal of a voyage aboard the ship "Augusta" under Captain Townshend, for China, 26th September 1744 - 19th August 1745. Also journal of return journey from Batavia, 1st May 1761 - 16th October 1761.
Items in DD21/1/42 (an anonymous narrative written in 1844 about the Gardens of Troup) and DD21/1/8/2/72 (a legal summons from 1769) have helped identify the author as Peter Garden (1723-1785), son of the 3rd Baron of Troup. The anonymous narrative states "Peter of Delgaty ... seems to have figured in early life in a commercial capacity in India. The narrator has heard that he was 15 years in Batavia; which, if true was certainly too hard a trial for any European constitution. He purchased the capital Estate of Delgaty from the Earl of Erroll about 1761-2, and married Catherine, daughter of Balnavie[Katherine Balneaves Campbell] of Eddiadour Perthshire by Miss Campbell of Glenlyon". The legal summons states "Peter Garden now of Delgaty son to Aleander Garden of Troup having gone abroad to push his fortune he pitched upon Batavia as a place proper for that purpose and having applied to Dr Scott [Physician to Baron van Imhoff Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies] was received by him in the most kind and friendly manner and he introduced the said Peter Garden then a Stranger to a variety of persons of the first rank and note in the said settlement". Scott returned to Britain in Oct 1751 leaving Garden to manage his affairs in Batavia, which led to a legal dispute and the summons. |