In Short, All, Or
At Least Most, Of The Advantages Proposed By The Dutch West India
Company's Joining With Their
East India Company, of which a large
account has already been given, might be procured for this nation,
by the
Establishing a colony in this island of New Britain, and
securing the trade of that colony to the African Company by law; the
very passing of which law would give the company more than
sufficient credit, to fit out a squadron at once capable of securing
the possession of that island, and of giving the public such
satisfaction as to its importance, as might be requisite to obtain
further power and assistance from the State, if that should be found
necessary. It would be very easy to point out some advantages
peculiarly convenient for that company; but it will be time enough
to think of these whenever the African Company shall discover an
inclination to prosecute this design. At present I have done what I
proposed, and have shown that such a collection of voyages as this
ought not to be considered as a work of mere amusement, but as a
work calculated for the benefit of mankind in general, and of this
nation in particular, which it is the duty of every man to promote
in his station; and whatever fate these reflections may meet with, I
shall always have the satisfaction of remembering that I have not
neglected it in mine, but have taken the utmost pains to turn a
course of laborious reading to the advantage of my country.
But, supposing that neither of these companies should think it
expedient, or, in other words, should not think it consistent with
their interest to attempt this discovery, there is yet a third
company, within the spirit of whose charter, I humbly conceive, the
prosecution of such a scheme immediately lies. The reader will
easily discern that I mean the company for carrying on a trade to
the South Seas, who, notwithstanding the extensiveness of their
charter, confirmed and supported by authority of parliament, have
not, so far as my information reaches, ever attempted to send so
much as a single ship for the sake of discoveries into the South
Seas, which, however, was the great point proposed when this company
was first established. In order to prove this, I need only lay
before the reader the limits assigned that company by their charter,
the substance of which is contained in the following words:-
"The corporation, and their successors, shall, for ever, be vested
in the sole trade into and from all the kingdoms and lands on the
east side of America, from the River Oroonoco, to the southernmost
part of Terra del Fuego, and on the west side thereof from the said
southernmost part of Terra del Fuego, through the South Sea, to the
northernmost part of America, and into and through all the
countries, islands, and places within the said limits, which are
reputed to belong to Spain, or which shall hereafter be found out
and discovered within the limits aforesaid, not exceeding 300
leagues from the continent of America, between the southernmost part
of the Terra del Fuego and the northernmost part of America, on the
said west side thereof, except the Kingdom of Brazil, and such other
places on the east side of America, as are now in the possession of
the King of Portugal, and the country of Surinam, in the possession
of the States-general. The said company, and none else, are to
trade within the said limits; and, if any other persons shall trade
to the South Seas, they shall forfeit the ship and goods, and double
value, one-fourth part to the crown, and another fourth part to the
prosecutor, and the other two-fourths to the use of the company.
And the company shall be the sole owners of the islands, forts,
etc., which they shall discover within the said limits, to be held
of the crown, under an annual rent of an ounce of gold, and of all
ships taken as prizes by the ships of the said company; and the
company may seize, by force of arms, all other British ships trading
in those seas."
It is, I think, impossible for any man to imagine that either these
limits should be secured to the company for no purpose in the world;
or that these prohibitions and penalties should take place,
notwithstanding the company's never attempting to make any use of
these powers; from whence I infer that it was the intent of the
legislature that new discoveries should be made, new plantations
settled, and a new trade carried on by this new corporation,
agreeable to the rules prescribed, and for the general benefit of
this nation; which I apprehend was chiefly considered in the
providing that this new commerce should be put under the management
of a particular company. But I am very well aware of an objection
that may be made to what I have advanced; viz., that, from my own
showing, this southern continent lies absolutely without their
limits; and that there is also a proviso in the charter of that
company that seems particularly calculated to exclude it, since it
recites that.
"The agents of the company shall not sail beyond the southernmost
parts of Terra del Fuego, except through the Straits of Magellan, or
round Terra del Fuego; nor go from thence to any part of the East
Indies, nor return to Great Britain, or any port or place, unless
through the said straits, or by Terra del Fuego: nor shall they
trade in East India goods, or in any places within the limits
granted to the united company of merchants of England trading to
East India (such India goods excepted as shall be actually exported
from Great Britain, and also such gold, silver, wrought plate, and
other goods and commodities, which are the produce, growth, or
manufactures of the West Indies, or continent of America): neither
shall they send ships, or use them or any vessel, within the South
Seas, from Terra del Fuego to the northernmost parts of America,
above three hundred leagues to the westward of, and distant from the
land of Chili, Peru, Mexico, California, or any other the lands or
shores of Southern or Northern America, between Terra del Fuego and
the northernmost part of America, on pain of the forfeiture of the
ships and goods; one-third to the crown, and the other two-thirds to
the East India Company."
But the reader will observe that I mentioned the East India and
African Companies before; and that I now mention the South Sea
Company, on a supposition that the two former may refuse it.
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