But If It Should Be Thought Too Burdensome For A Company In So
Flourishing A Condition, And Consequently Engaged In
So extensive a
commerce as the East India Company is, to undertake such an
expedition, merely to serve the public,
Promote the exportation of
our manufactures, and increase the number of industrious persons who
are maintained by foreign trade; if this, I say, should be thought
too grievous for a company that has purchased her privileges from
the public by a large loan at low interest, there can certainly be
no objection to the putting this project into the hands of the Royal
African Company, who are not quite in so flourishing a condition;
they have equal opportunities for undertaking it, since the voyage
might be with great ease performed from their settlements in ten
months, and if the trade was found to answer, it might encourage the
settling a colony at Madagascar to and from which ships might, with
the greatest conveniency, carry on the trade to New Guinea. I
cannot say how far such a trade might be consistent with their
present charter; but if it should be found advantageous to the
public, and beneficial to the company, I think there can be no
reason assigned why it should not be secured to them, and that too
in the most effectual manner.
A very small progress in it would restore the reputation of the
company, and in time, perhaps, free the nation from the annual
expense she is now at, for the support of the forts and garrisons
belonging to that company on the coasts of Africa; which would alone
prove of great and immediate service, both to the public and to the
company.
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