I. Firſt, as to the Trade in general.

Concerning which, I will only preſent the few following Intimations, and refer to your great Judgment to make an Eſtimate of what Import and Benefit it may be to the Nation.

The Traffick to thoſe Parts of the World, which are compriz'd in the Eaſt-India Company's Charter, will employ a Capital of Twelve hundred Thouſand Pounds. And after I have ſaid that, 'tis needleſs to obſerve to you, how conſiderably it will augment the Publick Revenue of the Cuſtoms.

It will annually export to amount of about l. 150000: in Woollen Cloths, Lead, and other Commodities of our native Growth and Manufacture.

It will employ about Twenty five Capital Ships, and therein about Three thouſand Seamen: and theſe Ships will be of ſuch Force and Burthen that may render them ſerviceable as well in Occaſion of War, as Affairs of Merchandize.

'Tis by this Trade alone we can be ſupply'd with vaſt Quantities of Saltpeter at cheap Rates, which in the Age we live, is of it ſelf a ſufficient Recommendation.

This Trade do's not only ſupply us with Varieties of Goods for our neceſſary Uſe and Ornament; But the greater Part of the Commodities brought from India are exported to ſundry Parts in Europe, Africa and America, which does further advance our Navigation and Commerce.

It will give Employment to about Two hundred Merchants, Factors and Writers, who will have good Opportunities of advancing their Fortunes; and 'tis not to be doubted, that many of them may return with plentiful Eſtates, which will contribute to the Wealth and Strength of the Nation, as well as their own particular Credit and Benefit.

This Trade, as well in regard to the publick Honor, as the particular Intereſt of the Adventurers, requires to be negotiated with a National Ioynt-Stock, which will render it more diffuſive: For by that means it will not be engroſs'd into the hands of thoſe who are profeſs'd Merchants, but our Nobility and Gentry may partake of the Profit, without any Diminution of their Dignity, or Diſturbance to their Eaſe: For their Talents will be improvd' with no more trouble than to receive the good Fruits of their Adventures, which with large Allowance for adverſe Accidents may modeſtly be computed at 20 l. per Cent. per annum.

As to the Objections have been rais'd againſt this Trade: there are only Three that I know of worth the leaſt notice, and they ſo, only becauſe they have made a popular Noiſe, while the true Merits of the Cauſe have not been duly examin'd and conſider'd by thoſe whom they have rendred diſaffected to this noble and beneficial Commerce.

(1.) The firſt and great Complaint is: That is carries out ſuch vaſt Quantities of our Gold and Silver. And here I muſt confeſs, that to manage this Trade in its due Currency; 'twill require that the Stock employ'd in it be at leaſt Three Fourths in Bullion, and ſo it may be computed: That a general Ioynt-Stock together with what may be adventured for Diamonds and other Things, that will be found moſt proper to be permitted for particular Accounts, may together amount to about Six hundred thouſand Pounds per annum. But after all, 'Tis nevertheleſs true, that this do's not only not in the leaſt diminiſh our Mony; But contrarily, That by the Circulation of Trade it much augments the Treaſure of the Nation in the Species of Gold and Silver. This may perhaps at firſt ſight look like a ſtrange Paradox, but I will exhibit a plain Proof by matter of Fact, which will render it indubitable. From the Year 1675 to 83 incluſive there was ſhip'd out by the Company and Private Traders the amount of about Four Millions and a half in Bullion of Gold and Silver; and I find upon Enquiry, there was likewiſe in that circuit of time coin'd in the Tower above Four Millions more. So that in the firſt place it appears: The great Exportations to India did not then occaſion any Want in the Mint; And, that there were alſo in thoſe Years prodigious Quantities of Plate converted into Houſe Ʋtenſils, and conſum'd in the Ornaments and Gallantries of the Great and Rich, is too apparent to need a Proof. And laſtly, That we then had ſuperabundant Plenty of Caſh current in the Nation, is evident in that, tho the Law allows the Uſurer to take Six per Cent. we all know Mony went about begging Securities at Five per Cent. and vaſt Summs were lent out at Four per Cent. And that I may here fully evince this great Truth, I muſt further obſerve, That for theſe laſt four or five Years, wherein our Company have left off their good old Trade of Merchandize, and apply'd themſelves to the Art of War, they have ſent out little or nothing in Gold or Silver; and yet I ſee not the leaſt Appearance that Bullion or Coin has ſince increas'd upon us, but rather the contrary. So that upon the whole matter this Objection has only given an Opportunity to make it manifeſt. That the Trade to India is a moſt exuberant Source to repleniſh our Treaſuries as well as our Ware-Houſes.

(2.) Another Objection is, That this Trade do's not take off greater Quantities of our Woollen Manufactures. But they who quarrel it on that account ſhould be acquainted with this irrefragable Maxim, That Trade is no more to be forc'd than Faith: and, as we believe according to the 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 Ʋnhealthineſs 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 'tis 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 'twas 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 'tis 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, 'Tis 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,

'Tis 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.

'Tis 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.

'Tis 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.

'Tis 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, 'tis 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.

'Tis 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.

'Tis 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 for ſeveral years together in the Management of the Joynt Stock, which had brought it into a deep Conſumption. I will inſtance in three or four of the principal.

Firſt, the taking up ſuch immenſe Sums at Intereſt. For ſometimes they have ow'd above a Million here in England, and 'twas ſeldom they were not alſo conſiderably indebted in India. This was a conſtant conſuming Charge and a direct Damage to the Company, if their Stock were really worth but the Original Subſcription, when 'twas verbally valu'd at above Two Millions.

Another thing was, The great Expence in making Intereſt at Court to procure a Power to deſtroy both Fellow-Subjects and Foreigners: For beſides the ſeveral Ten Thouſand Guineas to the two late Kings, there was a far greater amount to the Miniſters and Favo • ites; inſomuch, that I am certainly inform'd the Charge now ſtands in their Books at a vaſt Sum under the Title of Secret Services.

To this may be added the great Prejudice done the Stock by ſeveral capricious and coſtly Projects, and ſuch inexcuſable Miſmanagement, In employing Perſons wholly unfit for the Buſineſs, Unneceſſary charge of Dead Freight and Demorage; And ſuch ſtrange improper Quantities and ſorts of Goods ſent out and ordered home; That tho I cannot poſitively affirm the Promoters of theſe ill things were in Combination with the Companies profeſt Enemies, yet this I may ſafely aver. That if they had receiv'd very conſiderable Marks of Esteem (as the French Phraſe it) from thoſe who long'd for their Deſtruction, they could not have more effectually contributed to it.

But above all things of this kind, that which devour'd the Stock by wholeſale, was the moſt unreaſonable and unjuſt Dividends, which were made without the leaſt regard to any real Advance produc'd by the Trade, but as Ambition and Avarice were pleaſed to command; for in the compaſs of Five Years, which was from February 1 • to January 8 ½ they drew out l 741647 and in Two Months afterwards they doubled their Stock. which together made l. 1109673: and all this from a Capital of l. 369891: which was the principal Mony pay'd in by the Adventurers: And if we here further conſider, that in this Interim they were moreover at the Charge of above l. 300000: for Money borrowed at Intereſt and Complements to Friends at Court, It does all together look ſo very ſtrange, that I think it would well deſerve to be eſteem'd the Eighth Wonder of the World, had it not ſoon after appear'd, that they made more haſt than good Speed in this prodigious Carreer, which ſubjected it to the common Fate of all thoſe Motions, that are more violent than the Nature of the Thing will bear. For by theſe ways and means the Stock was brought into that languiſhing Condition, and in ſuch a ſad manner exhauſted, that 'twas apparent, Thoſe who manag'd the Affair had their Thoughts ſo wholly employ'd about the buſineſs of dividing, that they quite forgot to leave any Mony behind to ſatisfie their Debts; for inſtead of continuing thoſe punctual Payments which till then had preſerv'd their Credit in its Virgin Purity, they did ſoon after proſtitute their Reputation by affixing a Paper on the Treaſury Door, declaring that they cou'd not pay any more Mony till after ſome Months time, which, for the Preſumption and the Scandal of it, is perhaps without a Precedent.

And here we have found the right Key to the Myſtery of the War with the Mogul: For things being brought to this ſad paſs, 'twas now high time to caſt about how to repair the Ruins: And the happy Expedient reſolv'd on, was to ſeize on the rich Fleets belonging to Suratt, and more eſpecially thoſe that traded to Arabia and 〈◊〉 . But there was alſo an ingenious Contrivance antecedent to this Enterprize▪ and that was, To gain an Advantage by the Friendſhip we had with theſe People, before we treated them as Enemies. In making uſe of the Companies Credit, to borrow about l. 300000: and then retire to Bombay to make Spoil of their Ships and Goods. And to ſtimulate their chief Factor Mr. Child to proſecute this great Work with the higheſt degree of Zeal and Diligence, there was procured for him a Patent for a Baronet, with a Commiſſion, ſtyling him General of all his Majeſty's Forces by Sea and Land in the Northern Parts of India, Perſia and Arabia &c. The Commanders of the Ships had likewiſe the Kings Commiſſion, with leave to wear the Royal Enſigns; All which together appear'd ſo abſurd and ridiculous, that as an ingenuous Gentleman writes from thence Our Neighbours the French and Dutch could not put themſelves into a Poſture of laughing enough at it: but while they laugh'd, our Company won (at leaſt it was then thought ſo:) For beſides a great number of ſmaller Veſſels, they took about 13 conſiderable Ships to amount of above a Million Sterling, as has been Sworn in their Majeſties Court of Exchecquer, and the value of about l. 300000: of it has been brought home, as can be prov'd by the Confeſſion of one of the prime Agents in the preſent Committee.

Now all theſe Proceedings were not only moſt unjuſtifiable, for that they had not in reality receiv'd any Injuries that requir'd ſuch Reparations, Nor did they apply to the Mogul for Redreſs of their pretended Grievances, before they acted thoſe Hoſtilities on his Subjects: But the Violence is ſtill further aggravated in regard that ſeveral of the Ships they took had the Security of their own Paſſes, and they have made ſeizure of ſome Goods which were laden on board their own Ships on Freight. And altho the prevailing Intereſt of ſome Members of the Committee did in time of the late King procure a Commiſſion to ſet up a Court of Admiralty on their Iſland of Bombay, which they made uſe of to confiſcate the Eſtates of their Fellow Subjects, yet to the Ships and Goods belonging to Suratt, they did not allow ſo much as the formality of a Tryal and Condemnation, which makes theſe Captures look more like plain Piracy than Lawful Prize. Indeed the whole thing together is ſuch a complicated Evil, That I want a Name for it, Crimen laeſae Majeſtatis & proditae Patriae will ſcarce reach it: And that our Legiſlators have not provided a particular Statute againſt it, and appointed a Puniſhment ſuitable to ſo heinous an Offence; there can be no other Reaſon aſſign'd, but what the Hiſtorian tells us was the Cauſe; That till after the ſecond Punick War, there was in the Roman Conſtitutions no particular Law againſt Paricide.

And here after this Account of the Ground and Progreſs of our Martial Exploits, It may not be amiſs to ſubjoyn an Eſtimate of the Advantages have accrued to us thereby, which may be ſumm'd up in the following Particulars.

It has coſt the Company above l. 400000: in ſundry Expences and Charges; as. Advance on the rate of their Tunnage for ſupernumerary Seamen, Tranſporting Soldiers from England, with their Pay, and the like of great Numbers raiſed in India, Vaſt Quantities of Ammunition and extraordinary Charges of Gariſon in Fort S. George and Bombay, together with thoſe heavy Articles of dead Freight and Demorage.

It has interrupted the courſe of our Traffick for four or five years, whereby the Company (ſuppoſing they had a ſufficient Stock to manage the Trade:) cannot be computed to have loſt leſs than l. 800000: and the Crown about l. 200000: in Cuſtoms.

It has occaſion'd the loſs of ſome Thouſands of our good Soldiers and able Seamen.

It has been the means of deſtroying five conſiderable Ships that we know of, beſides what may be doubted of thoſe which have been ſo long abroad in that unhappy Service.

But above all we have thereby loſt that invaluable Jewel, our Reputation and Reſpect; and of the moſt belov'd and favour'd are juſtly become moſt abhorr'd and infamous in the Eſteem of that People. There needs no further Proof of this than the very Phirmaunds or Patents lately granted by the Mogul, at our Readmiſſion to Trade in his Countries, which were tranſlated out of Perſian, and ſent to the Company by their Factors at Suratt, in theſe following Words:

The PHIRMAUND for Bengale.

KNOW this, that the good Fortune of the Engliſh hath directed them the right way to end their Faults, they are ſorry and aſham'd for what they have done, therefore have ſent their Vakeels [Factors] to our noble Court, with a Petition for a gracious Phirmaund to pardon their Faults; which the King out of his great Favour and Mercy always ready to pardon, doth freely forgive them; Therefore his clear and unſpotted Order is ſuch, which you are to obſerve, as you do his that you pray to, That ſo ſoon as this gracious Phirmaund reaches your hands, you ſuffer no body in your Juriſdiction to moleſt, hurt, or hinder the Engliſh Nation in their Buſineſs, but ſuffer them to carry it on in the ſame manner as formerly. This underſtand, and act accordingly.

The PHIRMAUND for Suratt.

ALL the Engliſh having made an humble ſubmiſſive Petition, That the ill Crimes they have done may be pardon • d, and requeſted a noble Phirmaund to make their being forgiven manifeſt, and ſent their Vakeels to the Heavenly Palace the moſt illuſtrious in the World, to get the Royal Favour. And Ettimand Chawn The Governour of Suratt's Petition to the famous Cou • t, equal to the Skies, being arriv • d; That they wou • d preſent the great King with a Fine of 150000 Rupees to his noble Treaſury, reſembling the Sun, and wou'd reſtore the Merchants Goods they took away to the Owners of them, and would walk by the ancient Cuſtoms of the Port, and behave themſelves for the future no more in ſuch a ſhameful manner:

Wherefore His Majeſty according to his daily Favour to all People of the World, hath pardon • d their Faults, mercifully forgiven them, and out of his Princely Condeſcenſion agrees, That the Preſent be put into the Treaſure of the Port, the Merchants Goods be return'd, the Town flouriſh, and they follow their Trade as in former times; and Mr. Child, who did the Diſgrace, be turn'd out and expell • d.

This Order is irreverſible.

Theſe are their new Patents, but may much more properly be ſtyl'd Gracious Pardons: And although I am well aſſur'd the Mahometans will religiouſly obſerve them▪ if the Chriſtians that are concern'd do punctually perform the Conditions on their Part; yet certainly there is no Mankind but muſt needs be affected with moſt paſſionate Reſentments, to ſee the Honour of his Mother Country expos'd to this Contempt and Ignominy, and our common Name ſtigmatiz'd with ſuch opprobrious Epithetes; But what ſtill makes the conſideration much more 〈◊〉 is, That the black Characters are in a manner indelible, for theſe Inſtruments are repoſited amongſt the Records in the Court of that great Prince, where they are like to remain as long as God continues a Being to the World, and ſo the Reproach will be entail'd on our Poſterity, and Generations to come may feel the dire Effects of ſubjecting the Dictates of Reaſon to the Power of the Purſe by the fatal device of Complicated Votes. For 'tis by that means alone that our Affairs have been brought into theſe moſt unhappy Circumſtances.

From which melancholy Relation I proceed to the laſt thing demanded of me.

III. Concerning the moſt proper Manner and Method of eſtabliſhing this opulent Trade, to the Honor and Intereſt of the Nation.

That the Commerce to the Eaſt Indies, as well in regard to the publick Reputation, as the Security and Advantage of the Adventurers, requires to be negotiated by a National Ioynt Stock, is a great Truth ſo generally receiv'd amongſt our ſelves, and confirm'd by the univerſal Conſent and Practice of other Nations, that 'twou'd be a Tautology to offer any Arguments for Proof of it, and therefore I will here only repeat what I before occaſionally intimated; That ſuch a Conſtitution will moſt conduce to the common Good, in communicating the benefits to all Degrees and Profeſſions amongſt us: So that the Thing now to be conſider'd is, How Juſtice and Prudence will direct us (under the preſent Poſture of Affairs) to lay a good Foundation for this Great Work.

There has too much been already ſaid (if the Laws of Truth cou'd have been diſpens'd with) to make it evident, That the Nation has ſuſtain'd irreparable Prejudice by the Errors of thoſe that have preſided in the Management of the preſent Companies Concerns, who, beſides many other high Miſdemeanors, have divided and conſum'd the Stock in ſuch a manner, that they have not left a ſufficient Fund to negotiate the Trade, which will be totally loſt to us, if ſome ſpeedy and effectual Remedy be not apply'd to ſupport and reeſtabliſh it. But it do's not therefore follow, That the Preſent Stock muſt unavoidably be concluded and broke up, and another Subſcription promoted intirely new and ſeparate from it. Becauſe though the Authors of all this Miſchief deſerve to be ſeverely cenſur'd; yet it ought to be remembred, That there are ſome very honorable Perſonages, and many very worthy Gentlemen intereſted in this Company who ſhou'd not have any thing offer'd to them that do's ſo much as look like the leaſt hard Uſage. And therefore that equal Right may be done to all, It ſeems more agreeable, That the Remains of the preſent Company, as well Dead as Quick Stock, be equitably valu'd, with a due conſideration of all their juſt and reaſonable Pretences; And that a General Subſcription be made throughout the whole Kingdom, to be conjoyn'd thereto, and this to be incorporated and confirm'd by Act of Parliament as a National Eaſt-India Company, with ſuch Priviledges and under ſuch Regulations as to the great Wiſdom of our Honorable Repreſentatives ſhall ſeem meet.

And here, tho perhaps it may look like too fond a Conceit of my own Sentiments, yet I cannot forbear to ſay, That there is no Perſon concern'd in the preſent Stock, who has an honeſt Intention directed by a true Cognizance of the State of their Affairs, but muſt readily accord to this Propoſal, and not only acknowledge, That 'tis indiſpenſibly requiſite it be done with all poſſible Expedition, But That 'tis likewiſe the utmoſt, Juſtice can allow to be done in their Favor; while at the ſame time I am not ignorant, that there are ſome Conſpirators as hard at Work, as ever Guy Faux was in the Cellars under the Senate-Houſe, in contriving to get this Company confirm'd at the next Seſſion of Parliament, without any Inſpection into their Bottom, or Reformation of their notorious Abuſes; and they depend upon ſupplying their want of Stock, by Mony to be taken up at Intereſt, which they promiſe themſelves will flow in to them, on the Credit of ſuch an Eſtabliſhment.

Theſe are a ſort of Men, who Act as if 'twere a principal Article of their Creed, that their main Buſineſs in this World is to aggrandize their Families, though they raiſe their Fortunes by the Ruin of their Country; and they go on with a ſtrange aſſurance of Succeſs to their evil Deſign; for they have cut out a Bill in readineſs, and preſume they ſhall make an Intereſt for its paſſing without oppoſition; whereby one or two aſpiring Men hope to be inveſted with a more Deſpotick Power over our Lives and Eſtates, than their Majeſties aſſume or exerciſe on the Throne; And thus after all the Boaſts we have made to the World of the great Liberties we enjoy, they would make us the moſt abject Slaves in Nature; For thoſe Impoſings may in ſome reſpect be tolerable from the hand of a Sovereign, which wou'd be worſe than Death from a Fellow-Subject, eſpecially from ſuch who have not the leaſt Pretence to any Superiority, more, than they fancy they have acquir'd by amaſſing a great deal of Wealth in a little time; whereas this their imaginary Gain and Glory is their real Loſs and Shame, and ſo eſteem'd by all good Men who have a true ſence of Things, and rightly conſider how their Accounts muſt be audited in another World. Wherefore I cou'd heartily wiſh theſe Gentlemen wou'd recollect, and ingage their Minds and Monies on ſome more laudable Enterprize. Not that I fear that all their Artifice and Influence can accompliſh their Ends: my ardent Deſire of ſeeing this mighty Trade revive and flouriſh, inſpires me with better hopes, and aſſures me, They ſhall not obtain. For indeed there only wants a publick Repreſentation of things in their proper Colours, to take off that deceptio Viſus wherewith they have diſguis'd the Face of Truth; and all their Endeavors will ſoon appear as vain and fruitleſs in their own Eyes, as they are ignoble and ungenerous in the Opinion of others. I have heard of ſome of their little Arguments (or rather Evaſions) whereby they wou'd fain perſuade them that are Strangers to theſe Affairs, That 'twill be very incommodious, if not impracticable, to make any Alteration in the preſent Company. As;

That 'twill be a Work of Time to adjuſt all matters 'twixt the old and new Adventurers, and ſo may occaſion an Interruption in the Trade, which will be a great Prejudice to the Nation.

That they have not for ſome Years paſt receiv'd Accounts from their Factors, and are thereby unacquainted with the true State of their Affairs, and Value of their Effects in India.

That 'twill be a very difficult thing how to compute an equitable Conſideration for their dead Stock abroad in Caſtles, Forts, Colonies, Cities, Towns, Factories, &c.

Now beſides the Invalidity of theſe empty Pretences, I cannot but take notice, That our Cunning Men are ſometimes ſo unlucky, to outwit themſelves by their own Sophiſms; for certainly 'tis not well conſider'd to give a Hint of the Damage 'twould be to the Publick, to have the Trade interrupted for a little time, Becauſe it may give occaſion to the Government, to make ſtricter Inquiry into the Reaſon of the late Interruption for four or five Years together, and to exact ſatisfaction for the great Loſs ſuſtain'd thereby, which, as I before intimated, cannot be computed at leſs than a Million to the Crown and the Company.

Nor will it paſs for better than a Blunder in the School of Politicks, To bring upon the Stage an Accuſation againſt their Servants, in alledging they are ſo long behind in their Accounts; Becauſe ſuch unpardonable Failures abroad, will arraign the Underſtanding or Integrity of Some body at home, who has had the choice of all their Servants for ſeveral Years paſt; and make it manifeſt, that there has been Care taken to provide Perſons, juſt ſo fit to aſſiſt in their Mercantile Affairs, as Coachmen wou'd be to command their Ships. But moreover this Thing is not more improper to be offer'd, than 'tis in part, if not altogether falſe; for to my certain knowledg there were General Books of Accounts brought from Fort St. George by the Chandois, in the beginning of February laſt, tho I cannot ſay they are now where they ought to be, in the Companies Houſe in Leaden-Hall-ſtreet, for I have been told that a certain Man, who is at preſent no more than one of the Committee, did lately take away ſeveral of their Books and Papers to his own Houſe about ſix Miles from London; which, if true, is in my Opinion a ſort of Felony that ought not to have the Benefit of Clergy.

As to their dead Stock, what I have already ſaid concerning it, will vouch for me, That 'tis as far from my Will, as my Power, to deny them full Satisfaction for every particular. But I muſt here ſay, 'Tis very idle (I had a'moſt ſaid ridiculous) in thoſe that pretend 'twill be ſuch an inſuperable Difficulty to make a reaſonable Valuation of it. For 'tis but doing over again, what has been done ſeveral times before, and the very ſame thing that this Company did to the preceeding. Wherefore however they expreſs themſelves about this Concern, their Meaning is plain, and the Uſe they hope to make of it is this; That if it do's them no further Service, 'twill help to prepoſſeſs People with an Opinion, that it muſt needs be for ſome mighty Things that they make ſo great a Noiſe, and ſo it may prepare the way to make a Noble of Nine-pence by a more current over-valuing thoſe matters, when they come to an Adjuſtment of them. Thus do our ſage Seniors, who have made their Will a Law to the other Adventurers, and us'd the Committee as the French King do's his Parliament at Paris, contrive to impoſe on the whole Nation at once. But their Wits that have ſerv'd them ſo well in other Attempts, will fail them in this. For as I hope there is no Man wiſhes them the leaſt wrong, ſo I know there are ſeveral now in England, who can, and I'm ſure will, do a general Right by an Impartial Account and Eſtimate of all thoſe Particulars.

They are pleas'd to make uſe of a great many ſeveral Names, but all the various Sounds ſignifie one Thing, when 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 'tis 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 'twill 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 Po ••… 〈…〉 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 O ••••… 〈…〉 have them, I think we are under a Neceſſity of endeavouring 〈…〉 and Juſtice will require, That this Company have a reaſonable Conſidera ••• •• r what they preſented to the Crown for the one, and paid to their Predeceſſors ••• 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 who have reſided in India, and are well acquainted with the Nature and Condition of every thing relating to the Company there; The great Affair cannot fail to be fully effected in the foreſaid Term, and in the Interim Ships will be fitting, and may well be in readineſs for diſpatch to the ſeveral Parts of India, 'twixt the beginning of January and the end of March next, which is the moſt proper Seaſon. So that the Conſpirators may be at eaſe, and no longer diſturb themſelves with anxious Doubts and Fears of any Interruption happening to the Trade, by this moſt deſirable Revolution and Fixation of it.

The next great Conſideration is, concerning a Committee to manage this National Stock. And where there muſt be ſo great a Truſt repos'd, there cannot be too much Care taken in the choice. For 'tis not only, That that wicked Thing of valuing the Man by his Stock, muſt be anathematiz'd, and never ſo much as nam'd amongſt us, but all poſſible Cautions muſt be us'd, That the Elections be intirely influenc'd and guided by thoſe intrinſick Recommendations of Integrity and Knowledge, abſtracted from all other Invitations or Motives whatſoever.

But after all that Care which Human Providence is capable of, in laying the Foundation of this noble Enterprize; There is one important thing more muſt be done with the firſt beginning of the Superſtructure, if ever we hope to erect a Glorious Fabrick; And that is, The obtaining of Their Majeſties the Grace and Favor to ſend an Ambaſſador in their Royal Name, to the Great Mogul, to retrieve our loſt Eſteem, and reinſtate us in our Commerce on Honourable and Advantageous Terms, which I am very ſure may be effectually done by proper Applications from a Perſon of good Port and Conduct: And 'twill much facilitate his Succeſs, by giving an acceptable Proof of our Intentions to become the ſame honeſt Engliſh Men they have formerly known us, If that Part of what the preſent Company have taken from the People of Suratt, and is now here in their Poſſeſſion, be return'd by his Lordſhips hands to be reſtor'd to the Right-Owners. Nor ſhall we herein only advance our Reputation to the higheſt Degree with that People; but ſuch a meritorious Action at our Entrance, will be a moſt effectual means to attack Heaven itſelf by a holy Violence, and ſecure the Divine Benediction to our future Adventures.

I Have thus, Right Honourable and Moſt Honoured SIRS, endeavour'd to diſcharge the Duty incumbent on me by your Command, and I have done it faithfully; for whatever I have aſſerted as matter of Fact, I am ready to Prove by full and particular Evidence: And wherein I have offer'd my Opinion, I have impartially ſet down thoſe Sentiments which my Acquaintance with theſe Affairs dictated to me. And now, if I may hope what I have ſaid ſufficient to convince, That the Trade to India is worthy your Regard, and That the Honour and Intereſt of the Nation do's indiſpenſibly require ſome ſpeedy and effectual Care for the Preſervation of it; Then I am well aſſur'd, The ſame good Principle that prompted you to demand this Paper of me, will alſo incite you to make uſe of all your Intereſt and Influence with the Government, in promoting the happy Eſtabliſhment thereof; Whereby you will do a moſt beneficial and acceptable Service to the whole Kingdom, and in a moſt eſpecial manner highly oblige thoſe honeſt Gentlemen and Merchants who have a right Cogniſance and Eſteem of this grand Concern: Amongſt whom, I beg leave in the loweſt Poſture of Reſpect to render the moſt humble and moſt grateful Acknowledgment, of

Moſt Noble LORDS, and moſt Honoured SIRS, Your moſt Obedient And moſt faithful Servant, GEORGE WHITE.