we speak of what may be accounted really considerable and that is their Fortifications of Bombay and Fort St. George And because there are some who have given themselves a loose to say any thing and publish'd what they dar'd not own to magnifie our Companies Interest at those Places far above its just worth I cannot forbear to assert what I 'm sure the true Reason of the Thing will justifie That he who thinks those or any other Fortifications in the Mogul's Dominions can be of good use to us longer than we hold a Friendship with the Government of the Country had better keep his Opinion to himself than expose his Ignorance in the Affairs of India And I cannot fear that those who judg according to the true merits of the Cause will suspect me the less devoted to the Service of my Country or the Welfare of the Company when I declare That were it not more for the Dishonour than any other real Dis-Interest to the Nation I cou'd heartily wish Both those Forts now in the Mogul's Possession For 't is a certain Truth That to have a prudent and intelligent Person always resident at the Court of that Great Prince would signifie more to our Security and Advantage than Ten Fortifications and cost less than the tenth Part of the Charge of One. I say this with the more Assurance from the great Things I have seen done by some ingenious Gentlemen Chiefs of the Companies Factories who were duly sensible of what great Import it was to have a good Friend or a faithful Servant continually attending at Court and acted accordingly For I was in Bengale when Mr. Shem Bridges did superintend their Affairs in those Parts and he had only a House for the Residence of the Factory wherein I am sure he cou'd no more pretend to any Strength sufficient to offend or defend himself from the Government of the Country than a single Gentleman amongst us can engage with a whole County Yet I saw That by the good Correspondence he kept at the Court of the Mogul's Vice Roy in that Kingdom and by his great Prudence in his Converse and Intercourses with the People he did not only live secure with the Companies Affairs flourishing under his judicious Direction but he obtain'd to exercise a Jurisdiction there and for any Affronts Frauds or Failures he did imprison the Delinquents And inflicted what corporal Punishment he pleas'd not extending to Life And such was his Art and Management in all Respects as did great Honour to the Nation and made himself belov'd or fear'd by all about him The like Encomiums are also justly due to Mr. William Jearsey formerly Chief at Metchlepatan where he had nothing more like a Fortress than a House in the midst of a populous Town contiguous with other Buildings But he found out Ways of making so potent an Interest at the Court of Golcondah as not only gave him a general great Respect and remov'd all Obstructions in his Business with the Merchants and People of the Country But the very Governors stood in some awe of him And one great Thing he did for our Honour and Interest ought not to be forgot tho I fear 't will never be requited which was his saving the Ship Constantinople Merchant from being taken in the first War the late King Charles made with the Dutch That Ship was riding in the open Road of Metchlepatan when our Enemies sent Three or Four Ships of War to seize her but this Gentleman had made timely and effectual Provision to frustrate their Design For he obtain'd a positive Command from the King to the Governour of the Province to bring a Force before the Dutch Factory and threaten Destruction to them and all they had there in case they offer'd any Violence to our Ship in the Poâ—â—… 〈…〉 cool'd their Courage that they let her remain peaceably to take in 〈…〉 wherewith she afterwards safely arriv'd in England I hope I shall not be misunderstood 〈…〉 Things and while I am pursuing Truth be suspected to have any 〈…〉 to the Present Companies Prejudice Or that I would have it inferr'd 〈…〉 I have said That Fort S. George and Bombay are of no value I am 〈…〉 my Intentions and I must declare my self of a contrary Oâ—â—â—â—… 〈…〉 have them I think we are under a Necessity of endeavouring 〈…〉 and Justice will require That this Company have a reasonable Consideraâ—â—â—â—â—r what they presented to the Crown for the one and paid to their Predecessors â—â—â— the other together with what more may have been since expended in necessary and useful Additions to them And truly I am sorry for their sakes I cannot say the same thing for their new Garrison at Tegnapatan whereof we had lately an Account in the Gazet acquainting us That they had purchas'd it for about Twelve Thousand Pounds I know the Place and should have been glad in their behalf if in the room of that Intelligence they had heard of some unavoidable Loss to the like amount for then they had known the worst at once But I doubt the next Letters will bring them a melancholy Account of the growing Charge in repairing that ruinous Building and accommodating its many Wants and when all that is done there can no more be made of it than a New Thing and nothing But I leave these Things to be more particularly inspected and examin'd by those may have it in Charge to consider of them and what I have now farther to offer is That I am well assur'd all these Remora's wherewith the Conspirators endeavour to obstruct a happy Reform and Re-establishment of this Trade will be effectually remov'd If the Parliament shall in their great Wisdom see Cause to give Life to the Great and Good Work by encouraging a National Subscription to be conjoyn'd to the Nett Remains of the Present Stock for a Grand Capital Something of this kind notifi'd to the Publick and the negotiating Part recommended to a Committee of Merchants whose Parts and Probity qualifie them for this Occasion wou'd most certainly in the Term of five or six Weeks accomplish the matter in readiness to be reported for further Consideration concerning the establishing this National Company by a Law And for the speedier perfecting the whole Matter The very same Gentlemen that shall be Commissioned for the new Subscriptions may be conjoyn'd with the like Number of the Members of the Committee for the present Company and at the same time proceed in adjusting the value of things that are to be incorporated into the National Stock having Power to examine Persons upon Oath and to inspect all Books Papers and Records as they shall find requisite for their Information Thus with the Assistance of the present Accomptant General Mr. Buyer who has so great Knowledge in the liberal Science he professes That all Europe cannot produce one who excells and but a very few that equal him together with the Notices may be receiv'd of several Gentlemen
Dictates of our Consciences so we buy and sell both as to Quantities and Sortments as our Interest directs Wherefore tho we may wish that Market would vend more of our home-made Goods yet methinks we have no more Reason to fall quite out with it on that Score than because our Ships do not return intirely laden with Pearls and Diamonds I have before intimated what I am sure will in fact prove true in this matter and I may take this Occasion to add That I have good ground to hope something more considerable may hereafter be done in it by industrious and proper Applications 3. The third Complaint is That these tedious and unhealthy Voyages destroy great numbers of our Seamen And indeed I must own That by some late unaccountable Proceedings there has been too much Cause for this Clamor which I wish they whom it concerns would seriously consider and bethink themselves what Answer they can make for that Blood will certainly be requir'd at their hands in another World however they may scape with Impunity in this For many hundreds of our Seamen have been sacrific'd to the irrational Obstinacy and wicked Designs of those who have assum'd an arbitrary Predominancy over the Companies Affairs By sending out Ships at most improper Seasons and detaining them in the Indies on occasion of the unhappy and unjustifiable War with the Great Mogul and his Subjects This is the real Truth of the Thing and the dismal Mortality has of late happen'd amongst our Men imploy'd to India is so far from being justly imputable to the Tediousness of the Voyage or Vnhealthiness of the Places we trade to That I may safely affirm because I am sure I have the concurring Evidence of our experienc'd Commanders who are the best Judges of it That there is no Navigation used by our Nation loses fewer Men than our Indian Voyages when Ships are duly dispatch'd and detain'd in the Country no longer than the honest and prudent Management of our Mercantile Affairs do's require This is what I have to represent in relation to the first Demand and humbly referring it to your judicious Censure I proceed to the Second II. Concerning the Constitution Management and Condition of the Present Company The present East-India-Stock was first incorporated in the Year 1657. And although 't is true that the Trade has never been improv'd to that National Advantage and with such regard to Posterity as may justly entitle the Managers to the Character of Publick-spirited Patriots yet it must be confess'd That those Gentlemen who had the Conduct of these Affairs for about Twenty Years did so well discharge themselves To keep the Trade alive tho they did not industriously assist it's Growth And to their Honor be it said They were always very careful to preserve the main Basis of our Dependencies firm and entire And that was our Credit and Reputation with the Natives which by their just and punctual dealings had impress'd in that People such a high Opinion of our Candor and Probity that we were preferr'd in their Esteem before any other Europeans living amongst them with great Security to our Persons and Estates and enjoying very advantageous Immunities in our Commerce The first Subscriptions to the general Stock amounted to about l. 739782 But it pleas'd those who then over-rul'd the Affair to take in but a Moyety of it which so cramp'd the grand Enterprize in its Infancy that it could never since be extended to its full Dimensions This was the fatal Error in the beginning which has done such irreparable Prejudice to us and inestimable Benefit to our Neighbours For had those Conductors been endow'd with so much Magnanimity to call in the other part and bestow'd all in impregnable Fortifications on their Spice Island of Polloroon They had merited to have their happy Memories celebrated amongst us by glorious and lasting Monuments For by that means we had not only been Masters of Fruitful Plantations of those Rich Spices Mace and Nutmegs to serve our own Expence and help supply the World But this had been a commodious Seat for an Emporium of Trade to the adjacent Countries which would have burthen'd us with Wealth And I will not doubt but I may without overvaluing the Abilities of my Countrymen declare my Opinion That if this grand Affair had been under the Conduct of Persons of Skill and Courage which might have been sound amongst us we had long ere this gain'd the Ascendent over another European Nation who have set up their Standard near this place Because the Integrity and Courtesie which is native to a true English Spirit could not have fail'd to obtain far more advantageous Conquests than the others have effected by rougher means For we shall always find That as long as Self-Preservation and desire of Liberty are the genuine instinct of Human Nature The Cords of Love will bind faster than Fetters of Iron But alas this fruitful Garden lay neglected for fear of the Charge of Cultivating and Fencing it For all the Company did was to send out what may more properly be called the Model of a Wooden Fort than the thing itself and that was set up for a Show So that in the Year 64 when the late K. Charles made War with the Dutch They only sent a small Ship from Batavia which had nothing else to do but quietly to take Possession and remove about Twelve of our People they found there to new Lodgings at their foresaid City I could also here remember how much our First Movers were wanting to the Nation and themselves in neglecting to recover their Right to a Moyety of the Customs at the Port of Gombroon in Persia which was granted to their Predecessors for assisting the Sophie to take Ormuze from the Portuguese And 't was indeed a very valuable Acquisition For in the Years 1671 and 72 when I was there the Customs amounted to about 80000 l. per Annum And tho our Agent did then sit in the Custom House when he pleas'd and some of the Companies Servants constantly attended there to take exact account of the Income yet we were so good Natur'd to accept of about l. 3000 for our half of that great Sum whereas had our Company at their beginning duly consider'd their Interest and dar'd to throw so much Bread upon the Waters as would have defray'd the Expence of an Embassage to that Court by some Person well qualified for the Occasion I cannot doubt but we might have successfully asserted our just Claim But after this long Interval without any effectual Motion on our Part I fear Prescription may be pleaded as a Law against us And yet I would not quite despair but when it shall please Their Majesties and the Parliament to settle this invaluable Trade on a good Bottom and in the Hands of able and Honest Managers It would be worth the attempting to retrieve this lost Stake If we could find out some excellent Person for the purpose who can
but Copy after Sir Thomas Row formerly at the Court of the Great Mogul or Sir William Hussey at present with the Grand Signior And now from these Intimations of what the first Managers of our Company lest undone I come to take notice of something they did which has prov'd much more injurious and destructive For by the former we only lost a Part but the fatal Consequence of this has hazarded the entire ruin of all our Trade and Interest in those Parts I mean that pernicious Usage of Multiplying their Votes according to their Stocks rating every Vote at l. 500 This evil practice had it's being with the present Company and was never us'd by the former Joint-Stocks to India nor in any other publick Society that ever I heard of till This first gave it Birth And 't is worthy a Remark the Ingenious Hypothesis they have fram'd for the Ground of this Projection whereby they hope to lick over the Arbitrary Monster into the Shapes of a reasonable Creature by such slight insinuations as these That the Stock ought to govern the Stock and those who have most Mony in it should have most Power in the Dispose and Direction of it But a little serious Thought will fully discover the Iniquity of this false bottom'd Argument I am sure 'T is utterly destructive of our Darling Property and directly contrary to those Measures which the Justice and Wisdom of the Nation has taken in choice of our Representatives who are the Preservers of it But surely there can need no more Verbal Confutation since we know it by its Fruits and such woful Experience has prov'd That he who has the biggest Purse is not always the most Honest nor able to manage so weighty an Affair For 'T is by this means that one of our Fellow-Subjects did about 14 years ago mount himself into the Supremacy and has ever since usurp'd an absolute Dominion over all the other Adventurers 'T is by this means such great Havock has been made of the Lives and Estates of the Subjects of England as has been represented by numerous Petitions to the Parliament in every Session since the late happy Revolution 'T is by this means such notorious Frauds have been acted in underselling the Company 's Goods by Private Contracts and unheard of Deductions afterwards whereby it can be prov'd that the Joynt-Stock has been wrong'd above One Hundred thousand Pounds in two or three years last past Surely those Gentlemen that make such hast to be rich by these oblique ways never seriously ask'd themselves that great Question Quid prodest homini si mundum universum lucretur c. For besides the common Obligation to Honesty there is no Member of the Committee but has twico plighted his Faith by two solemn Oaths to be true to the Company 'T is by this means that so many injur'd Persons groan under heavy Oppressions and can obtain no Relief for if the Concern be not very considerable 't is adding Grief to Affliction to content it at Law there are such Tricks and Contrivances practis'd to render the Suit tedious and expensive which has put many Persons upon choosing the less Evil in referring Matters to some of their own Committee and yet sometimes even that Condescension has not prevail'd for there has appear'd so great an Aversion from doing any thing like Justice and Reason that the humble Osser of a Reference to a principal Person in the Committee has been rejected as was lately taken notice of in the high Court of Chancery on occasion of a Motion made by a Complainant against them before the Lords Commissioners when the Right Honorable Sir John Trevor was pleas'd to declare his Sense of their unjust and arbitrary Oppressions reprehending them for their illegal Seizures of the Ships and Goods of their fellow Subjects who were honestly employing themselves and their Estates in their Trade of Merchandize and reproving them for the Methods he observ'd they took to delay and evade making Restitution to those they had wrong'd and he then told them he was inform'd of a certain Person who had a matter depending with them And frankly offer'd to refer it entirely to Sir Joseph Herne the present Governour which was refus'd and indeed it ought to be recorded to the Honour of that Worthy Gentleman and the Infamy of those who oppos'd his being intrusted with the Affair for the Reason of it is very obvious Because there could not be the least Pretence to doubt of his doing the utmost for them that could possibly consist with right Reason His own Interest and his Relation to them doubly obliging him to it But Some Body was jealous that his Virtue would influence his Inclinations and restrain him from taking greater Lengths in their Favour than Equity and good Conscience could extend to And for that Cause he was no fit Person for the Purpose 'T is by this means that the Trade has not only of late been let out to particular Men amongst our selves but Foreigners have been invited into England to lade their private Stocks on the Companies Shipping which can bear no other Construction but that either they have made such over-large Dividends as has not left a sufficient Fund of their own to carry on the Trade or those amongst them who do what they please with all their Affairs make some particular Advantage to themselves by this publick Scandal to the Nation and Detriment to the Company 'T is by this means our noble Trade has degenerated into Trick and instead of employing a Stock in honest and generous Adventures abroad according to the laudable Practice of Merchants There is lately set up a new Society of Artificers who blow the Price of Stock up and down as best suits their Design of enriching themselves by the ruin of others and this Legerdemain is manng'd by a strange sort of Insects call'd Stock-Iobbers who devour men on our Exchange as the Locusts of old did the Herbage of Egypt But all these and many more the like evil Effects of Plurality of Votes will appear very inconsiderable when we exhibit that one monstrous Production of making War with the Great Mogul and the King of Syam As to the latter of these I have formerly presented the Honorable House of Commons with the pretended Grounds of it and prov'd that there is not the least shadow of Reason to help extenuate much less justifie that unaccountable Quarrel nor can I possibly imagine what should provoke our Indignation against that obliging Prince unless it were because those rich Presents which the chief Minister in that Court did by my means make to the two late Kings were not rather directed to Wanstead than Whitehall Now concerning the Violences have been done to the People of Suratt and Bengale in plundering them by Sea and Land which has been call'd by the name of a War with the Great Mogul The naked Truth of the thing is this There had been very ill Measures taken