The scheme of the subsequent discourse : an East-India trade is highly advantageous to the true interest of England

The scheme of the subsequent discourse : an East-India trade is highly advantageous to the true interest of England

Table of contents

The Scheme of the Subſequent DISCOURSE. An EAST-INDIA Trade is Highly Advantageous to the True Intereſt of ENGLAND.

But Manageable.

1. Not by a Free and Open Trade.

I. In Reference to the Natives.

II. In Reference to the Dutch.

III. In Reference to the Engliſh Intereſt.

2. Nor by a Regulated Trade. As the Turkey Company; for this will fall under moſt of the Premiſed Difficulties, as an Open Trade. Yet alſo it muſt be Conſidered,

3. Nor by a Mixt Trade. This would be Unreaſonable, Abſurd, and Impracticable. For Regulation in one part, and an Open Trade, or United Trade in another part.

4. But only by an United Company, or Joynt-Stock.

National.

§

The Scheme of the Subſequent DISCOURSE. An EAST-INDIA Trade is Highly Advantageous to the True Intereſt of ENGLAND.

[Page]

1. It Occaſioneth the Building and Employment of many good and great Ships, &c.

2. It Employeth a great Number of Seamen, and others; and cauſeth a great Expence of Proviſions, &c.

3. It Exporteth great Quantities of our own Manufactures, and Native Commodities, &c.

4. It Importeth great Quantities of Neceſſary Commodities for our Uſe, Trade, and farther Tranſport, &c.

5. It highly Advanceth the Publick Cuſtoms and Revenue, &c.

6. It raiſeth many Engliſh Merchants (Reſident in India) to great Wealth, which is brought home, and diſpended here: And this chiefly ariſeth from the Trade in India.

7. It is the Greateſt and Richeſt Trade in the Univerſe; is Coveted by all Europaean Nations; Its Proſecution having been Eminently ſignificant to the Grandeur, Strength, and Wealth of many Countries, as its Neglect and Loſs hath been to their Poverty and Contempt.

8. If Neglected by the Engliſh, would be Engroſſed by the Dutch, and thereby make their Country to be t [...] greateſt (if not the ſole) Mart of Europe.

9. It rendreth our Nation Honoured and Feared among Foraigners, and may conduce to the Propagation of t [...] true Chriſtian Religion, as well of our Language, good Laws, Manners, &c.

10. The Improvement of this our Foraign Trade is very Inſtrumental for the Improvement of our Lands, and all great Works of Piety and Magnificence; As alſo for our Inſtruction in all their Foraign Arts, Scienc [...] and Languages.

But Manageable.

1. Not by a Free and Open Trade.

I. In Reference to the Natives.

1. IN thoſe vaſt and various Regions are many diſtinct Kings and Princes, who Act by the Dictates of their own Arbitrary Will, without any fixt Laws; are by Religion, Pagans, or Mahumetans; and apt to Depraedate, Murder, and Deſtroy upon any ſmall Offence, or pretended Fault.

2. All the Governments in India are Abſolutely Monarchical (if not Tyrannical) and value nothing but what cometh under that Notion in a ſingle Perſon, or entire Body.

3. By the Standard-Laws of all thoſe Countries, all Strangers that flye for Protection into any of thoſe Regions, become Slaves to that Prince to whoſe Protection they flye. And in caſe of Shipwrack, all Ships, Goods, and People are a Prey to that Prince in whoſe Territories they met with with that Misfortune.

4. The Indian Kings are unable to Protect us againſt any Invaſion by their Enemies, and yet expect we ſhould ſupply them with Ships, Sloops, Ammunition, &c.

5. The Monſons (or Trade-Winds) being only two (againſt which it is dangerous, if not impoſſible, to Navigate) If our Ships ſhould by diſtreſs of Weather, be forced into any ſtrange Port, they will run an inevitable hazard by the Treachery and Subtilty of the Natives.

6. Thoſe Kings being Arbitrary in their Powers, exact Cuſtoms at pleaſure, either Inward or Outward: To diſpute which, is dangerous; To allow, heavy. And nothing is to be done in thoſe Parts without Preſents.

7. Upon any Injury received, they take Satisfaction from the next Ship, or People of that Nation, which they meet with.

8. Thoſe Kings frequently raiſe and fall the Prizes of Pepper, &c. at their pleaſure; will not be denyed to be Truſted, often force our Goods, and ſeldom perform Contracts.

9. The King of Bantam is a great Merchant, hath ſeveral Ships of our Building, many Seamen of our Nation (ſome Fugitives to him, others forced from us) and often Commands out of our Factories all ſorts of Goods, Ammunition, Ships-tackle, and Proviſions.

10. The King of Bantam being a great Merchant, ſupplies his own Neighbour-Ports with all Neceſſary Commodities from India; private Ships can only buy Pepper with Ryals 8/8; the Companies Goods being moſt Sold on Truſt, payable at the Monſons in Pepper.

11. That if any Affronts be given to Private Ships, by Exactions, Seizures, or Aſſaſſinates, they are unable to Revenge, but muſt fall a Sacrifice; and if unrevenged, leave a Precedent of Ruine to the next commer.

12. That all Ports in thoſe Regions are dangerous for Theft, Poyſon, and Amócks; ſo that there is ſmall Security there on Shoar, by Day, without Arms; and at Night, without Guards.

13. That if any Civil Wars, Inſurrections, or other Inteſtine Troubles happen among the Natives there, they will prove Fatal to any Private Concernments, who are unable to Defend themſelves in Port, or on Shoar; nor can depart at their Pleaſure from the Shoar, nor well out of the Land, but at the Seaſon of the Monſon.

14. In thoſe Climates (whether by Natural Inclinations, Irregularity of Manners, Remiſsneſs in Temperance, or frequent Temptations) our Europaeans are too apt for looſe and Debauched Practiſes; which, though Committed by ſingle Perſons, yet often prove Fatal to the Concernment of that whole Nation.

II. In Reference to the Dutch.

1. The Dutch being an United Body, and Acting in an United Stock, Rich, Potent, Subtle, and Envious of our Commerce, will not neglect to Inſtigate the Kings in India (Clandeſtinely) in time of Peace; and (openly) in time of War, to ſeize our Perſons, Ships, and Eſtates; expel us their Countrey, or ſurrender us to the Dutch.

2. If a War with the Dutch in India, no Private Traders dare to Adventure; if they do, they muſt be loſt.

3. Our former Grounds of Jealouſie for the Inhumanity uſed by the Dutch to our private Ships, may juſtly make us fear the like again; the meaneſt of their Souldiers and Seamen being under an Oath of Secreſie.

4. The Dutch will be glad to ſee our Engliſh Intereſt laid open; whilſt they (for ſome Years) would under-ſell, and over-buy us, till we were diſcouraged, and forced to decline the Trade; and then Oblige the Natives by general Contracts to Trade only with them.

5. The Dutch alſo on any pretences ſeek to poſſeſs themſelves of all places fit for Trade; and in their Wars with the Indians, block up their Ports, and permit no Freedom of Trade with any; others they bind up by Articles: And yet have Peace with us in Europe.

6. The Dutch on all Occaſions are very intent to foment any Diviſions among the Natives, that they may be invited to the Aſſiſtance of either Party; and then they ſoon give Laws to, or become Maſters of both.

III. In Reference to the Engliſh Intereſt.

1. Every Man will value his own Intereſt above the Publick, will ſtrive for the firſt Port, and firſt Market; under-ſell, and over-buy; without any care for the future.

2. They will be ſubject to great Fractions and Diſcontents; when all their Appeals muſt be to the Kings, who know how (ſubtilly) to blow the Coals of ſuch Animoſities, for their own Concerns, to our Prejudice, if not Ruine.

3. Every Man will be nibling, whilſt a Proſpect of Profit, and ſo over-glut the Trade with Commodities for two or three Years, that the Prizes would grow Contemptible. But, no Profit in a ſhort time thereby ariſing, the Trade for the future would ſoon be neglected; and all the Forts, Factories, Priviledges, and Engliſh Intereſt loſt.

4. It will cauſe a greater Export of Bullion and Coin, than in a Company; nor can it be Controlled.

5. A Ship Laden with Europe Commodities only ſhall not find Vend at any one Port, from the Cape of Good Hope to Surrat; nor from Surrat to the Bay of Bengala; nor from the Bay of Bengala to China, or all over the South Seas; but muſt hunt for a Trade from Port to Port, which hazard and tediouſneſs will Neceſſitate all or moſt part of her Cargo to be inveſted in Ryals 8/8 and Gold.

6. If the Return-Trade be made by the Weſt Indies, or any other Parts than England; (which for Advantage ſome will adventure to do) it will prove very pernicious to our Nation, by the Detriment of our Cuſtoms, and perverting the Trade from the Mart of London, &c.

7. Ship-wracks, Mutinies, Combinations to Caſt away Ships (for Bodemery or Enſurance) or to run away with Ships, muſt be expected; wherein not only the Adventurers, but the Nation is Concerned.

8. The Trade not being fully Diſcovered, ſuch farther Diſcovery will moſt Advantagiouſly be made by a Company, from their ſettled Factories, than by any new and private Adventures from hence.

2. Nor by a Regulated Trade.
As the Turkey Company; for this will fall under moſt of the Premiſed Difficulties, as an Open Trade. Yet alſo it muſt be Conſidered,

1. That the Empire of Turky is entire, under one Prince, who ſeldom commits any Notorious Outrage upon us, without ſome ſpecious Pretence, being under the Eye of many great Chriſtian Potentates. India is Remote, under various Princes, Laws, Religions, Languages, and Diſpoſitions. The Turky-Trade is ſubjected to no Trade-Winds, is near to England, can ſuddenly Correſpond over Land, as well as by Sea; whither a Fleet may ſoon be ſent, for Revenge; having a ſhort Voyage, and many Friendly Ports, for our Relief and Succour.

2. That Empire being under general Articles of Peace with our King, and the People more Civilized; one Ambaſſador at that Court, with a Conſul in each Province, may ſuffice for that Commerce: Their Laws being fixt, Trade free, and Cuſtoms (generally) certain.

3. That the Kings of India are many (ſome Great, and ſome Small) the Great Kings will expect Reſidentiary Ambaſſadours (beſides Conſuls, &c.) And the Small Princes, (at leaſt) Conſuls, or Chiefs; which would amount to an unimaginable Charge. Nor is it unlikely, but that under ſo many ſeveral Ambaſſadors and Conſuls (unleſs all be Subordinate to ſome one Superiour Power in India) many Fatal Diſcontents may ariſe.

4. In Perſia, Indoſtan, and Bengala (being more Civilized) ſuch a Model of Regulation may be Practicable, (perhaps) although it is to be feared, it would not be there long-liv'd: But as to China, Japan, and the South Seas, &c. it is wholly Impracticable without Forts, Gariſons, Colonies, or Staple Factories in ſome convenient places.

5. That the Premiſes for Forts, Gariſons, Ships, and People being conſidered, eſpecially in time of War (when few, or no Ships can Arrive) it will be almoſt impoſſible to raiſe ſo great a Charge: Nor will any ſuch Society dare to engage to ſecure it.

6. That the preſent Forts and Gariſons on the Iſland Bombaim, and Fort St. George, and all the other Reſidencies and Factories, will amount to a vaſt Sum, which will puzzle a Regulation to raiſe at the firſt Undertaking; and in good Conſcience they ought to be paid for, to a full and ſatisfactory value.

7. Nor can ſuch a Regulation make a Company more National than the preſent Company in their United Stock. And ſhould our Nation Engage to aſſiſt them with a Fleet, it would be ineffectual, without ſome convenient Ports and Colonies, for their Security, and freſh Proviſions; which would alſo meet with many Difficulties, ſince two or three Ships could hardly Arrive together.

8. Should this Kingdom aſſiſt them with a Fleet, a Regulation could hardly contrive any Propoſal to raiſe the Charge for its Expedition and Support.

3. Nor by a Mixt Trade.
This would be Unreaſonable, Abſurd, and Impracticable. For Regulation in one part, and an Open Trade, or United Trade in another part.

1. No good Reaſon or Conſcience can admit, that the ſour ſhould not go with the ſweet; That they who are Covetous for the Profit, ſhould not bear the Burden.

2. The Fate of Sir William Courteen, and his Deſign, muſt not be forgot.

3. The different Intereſts would make a Schiſm in the Engliſh Blood in India; and (perhaps) in England too; not only to our ſhame, but Prejudice.

4. The whole Trade of India (if poſſible) ſhould be only driven by one Hand, and not ſhared between ſo many Europaean Nations, which Opportunity of Graſping and Engroſſing the Dutch will not omit.

4. But only by an United Company, or Joynt-Stock.

1. United Powers under good Conduct and Reſolution may Attempt any thing, drive through any Deſign, and ſeldom fail in Succeſs.

2. This being Potent in it ſelf, keeps an awe upon all Rivals, and is able to bear up againſt any Misfortune by War, or Loſſes in Trade; being United in Counſels, as well as Stock.

3. In this, Perſons of any Quality may be Participants; and yet the Trading Stock ſufficient for other parts, not be in the leaſt diverted from the Publick Good.

4. Since all other Europaean Nations manage this Trade in a joynt Body, it would be an unaccountable Preſumption in the Engliſh, to vye with them by ſingle Parties, or faint-hearted Squadrons.

5. This only can Anſwer the Bulk of that Trade.

1. By a general Commerce to all Parts at the ſame time, and to the full.

2. By Patience for long Voyages; and tedious Returns.

3. By a due Management of the Trade from Port to Port in India.

4. By Engroſſing the Native Commodities in India, at any time, for a general Advantage; their Credit being always greater than their Trading Stock.

5. By Vending our own Native Commodities and Manufactures low upon Occaſion; or detaining them for a convenient Market.

6. By keeping the Indian Commodities low.

7. By Encouraging the Natives to Plant, Make, or Procure great Quantities of ſuch Commodities as are moſt deſirable by us.

8. By Obſerving a due Balance in that Trade, ſuitable to the Reciprocal Occaſions of England and India.

6. This only can ſettle and maintain Fleets, Forts, Gariſons, Colonies, Factories, Wars, Embaſſies, &c.

7. This only is moſt proper for the making farther Diſcoveries into Magellanica, &c.

8. This only can hope for a future Trade into Zeilon, China, Japon, the Philippinae, Molucco, and Banda Iſlands.

9. This only can make London the General Mart of Europe.

10. This only can make London the greateſt Exchequer of Europe.

11. This only can be Inſtrumental for the Propagation of our Chriſtian Religion; for our Inſtruction in their Languages and Arts, and the Improvement of our own Knowledge.

12. This only can ſecure our Honour, Perſons, and Eſtates in India, and to England! and upon any Occaſion add a Formidable Power to our Royal Navy.

But to add Perfection to ſuch United Stock or Company, whereby to Anſwer all the Intereſts of the Nation, it ought to be Ratified by Royal Charters and Acts of Parliament; and ſo to be made National and Perpetual.

National.

1. By Confirming the preſent Company under Neceſſary Regulations: A Diſſolution in this, before a New Stock ſettled, or any intermiſſion in the Trade, will prove Fatal.

2. Or by a New Stock, and Addition of New Subſcriptions, the preſent Company being fully paid and ſatisfied for all their Charge, Endeavours, Pains, and long Expences; with the Publick Thanks of the Nation.

The Arguments and Inſtances in each Article being duly Conſidered, and the reſulting Objection Anſwered; The Truth of their Aſſertions will be Satisfactorily proved to any Unbyaſſed and Impartial Judgment. By a True Engliſh-man. [...]. 1683.

§

London, Printed by Henry Hills, in Black-Fryers.

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Title statement

The scheme of the subsequent discourse : an East-India trade is highly advantageous to the true interest of England

True Englishman.

Edition statement

1683

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2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A62342

ID [STC]

Wing S865A

ID [STC]

ESTC R8224

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

11902948

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ocm 11902948

ID [VID]

50620

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— The scheme of the subsequent discourse : an East-India trade is highly advantageous to the true interest of England, True Englishman..

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Printed by Henry Hills ...,. London :: 1683.. (Broadside.) (Caption title.) ("By a true English-man" from colophon.) (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

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