Among The Early Voyages Of The English To The East Indies, None Have
Been Preserved That Were Made To China,
Nor have we been able to
discover any satisfactory account of the commencement of the trade of
our East India
Company with that distant country, now said to be by far
the most profitable branch of the exclusive commerce. In the Annals of
the Company,[319] several references are made to the China trade, but
more in the nature of notices or memoranda for the purpose of after
investigation, than as conveying any actual information on the subject.
In this singular paucity of materials, we are reduced to the following
short "Observations and Remarks, by Doctor James Cunningham, made during
his Residence as Physician to the English Factory at the Island of
Chusan, on the Coast of China." Doctor Cunningham is stated by Harris to
have been a fellow of the Royal Society, distinguished by his natural
talents and acquired accomplishments, well versed in ancient and modern
learning, and to have diligently used these advantages in making
judicious remarks on the places where he resided in the service of the
Company. Yet all that has been recorded by Harris of these remarks, give
only a very imperfect account of Chusan and of China. This short article
consists of extracts from two letters written by Cunningham from Chusan,
and a brief supplement by Harris respecting two unfortunate factories at
Pulo Condore and Pulo Laut. - E.
[Footnote 318: Harris. I. 852.]
[Footnote 319:
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