In 1001, the firm secured the frst free licence to export teas to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, which they have continued to do to the present day. When the monopoly hela' by the Bast India Company came to an end in 1894, they were the frst to ship cargoes of free tea to London, Liverpool, and Glasgow.
Tu 1804, in conjunction with Davidson & Ca, the predecessors, Dent & Ca,, they founded the Canton Insurance Society, the first with its head office in China, Each firm acted as secretary for alternate triennial periods until 1835, when Dent & Ca. started the Unton Insurance of Cantion, Jardine, Matheson & Ca. continued with' the Canton Insurance Society, of which they still are managers.
Of the early members of the firm ttle is known. Alexander "Shank must have kept a good cellar, since he disposed in his will of one-and-a-halt pipes of madeira, one pipe of surceyal madeira, one butt and six dozen of sherry and two quarter casks malmsey" wine, Hollingworth Magniae was short and fat, so that the Chinese called him "the stationary devil." Thomas Beale reached China {in 17@5 at the age of seventeen and committed suicide in 1841, He lived in one of the finest of old Portuguese houses in Macao, enclosed within high wells on a narrow road known as Beale's Lane, from his brother Daniel) "having lived there previously. He was one of the old school in ite fullest significance, stately in person, somewhat formal with distinguished manners, His garden and aviary, which included a bird of ise from the Moluccas and the first Reeve's pheasant to be kept in captivity, was one of the sights of the town.
"Steady and Ardent as Friend"
William Jardine, the outstanding character in the British community, was "steady and ardent as a friend, equally steady and implacable as a foe, a gentleman of great strength of character and unbounded generosity. To discourage idlers and shorten interviews, he allowed no chairs in his office." He once waited 26 hours at a Customs station between Canton and Macao, rather than pay 20 dollars that were not due without securing a receipt, From that day to this his firm has been known as "a Scottish firm which keeps the Sabbath and everything else that it can lay its hands on." On one occasion when presenting a petition at the city gate, he was struck a sharp rap on the head with a bamboo pole. He never inched or gave any indication of the hurt From this was derived his Chinese nickname of "iron-headed old rat" Until 1815 he was a surgeon In the Honourable Company's service on board the Windham. The next year he resigned and in 1819 came out to China as. supercargo for 'Thomas Weeding of London and Framjee Cowasjee of Bombay. Being a private trader, he was unable to stay in Canton' for more than season, until 1825 when he became a partner in Magniae & Ca, who were protected by letters patent from the King of Prussia Great Suavity of Manner"
James Matheson was a man "of great suavity of manner and the per. [Sonideation of benevolence." But he appears from his bills to have been somewhat of a dandy as well. He wore white beaver hats, black velvet fand marcella aisteoats, and white cotton night caps. "He bought powder puffs by the pair after wigs were no Tonger worn. "He washed with Maple soap, and anointed himself with pomatum, Dr, Smith's Milk of Roses, Hullo Antique, and eau de cologne: He owned the only pianoforte in Canton and kept two Arab ponies and a Bengali milch cow.
He first came to China in 1819 as 'a partner in Taylor' & Matheson, protected by papers which made him Danish consul. On Taylor's death in 1821, he Joined forces with Xavier Yrisarri, one of the principal Spanish merchants in Calcutta with extensive connections in Manila and Maxico. Trading under the name of Yrisarri Ca, he started coastal trade up the East Coast of China in 1821 in the Merope and San Sebastian, In. 1827, he founded the "Canton Register," the frst English newspaper in the Far East, and he continued to direct its policy until he left China in 1842. As early as 1880 the paper advocated the occupation of Hongkong and the use force if necessary to establish a Fepresentative of the British crown at the Pekin Court, On the death of Yrisarri in 1827, he joined his friend William Jardine as junior partner in Magniac & Ca. 'On' the retirement of Hollingworth Magniae in 1892, the firm's name was changed to Jardine, Matheson & Ca. Mr. Davis, the future Governor of Hongkong, wrote to Matheson, "it is usual to congratulate ladies on their change of name, but I do not know the rule is the same in regard to firms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.