Useful Tables, Forming an Appendix to the Journal of the Asiatic Society

of Venice itself, soon left Portugal without a competitor of any consequence.—Bruce. Gleig.

1577.—At length, an Englishman, Francis Drake, son of a poor Kentish clergyman, with five ships and 164 seamen, sailed from Plymouth on the 13th December, commissioned by queen Elizabeth. He passed the Straits of Magellan, ravaged the west coast of America, crossed the Pacific, touched at the Moluccas, and stopped at Ternate for some time, whence, after much friendly intercourse, he steered away for the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived at Plymouth on the 26th September, 1580. Drake entertained the queen at Deptford, and was knighted.— Gleig. Mill. Bruce.

1579.—Again, in India, the Portuguese power was almost dissolved, and Don Louis D'Ataide was a second time sent as viceroy. His exertions were successful once more, but he soon died—in 1580.—Bruce.

1586.—Thomas Cavendish sailed 21st July, 1586, with three ships, via Straits of Magellan, and visited, after capturing a Spanish merchantman, the Ladrones, and Philippines, acquiring much knowledge of the Indian Archipelago. He returned to Plymouth 9th September, 1588. This year the Portuguese took possession of Macao, as a station for the China trade.—Gleig. Bruce.

1589.—Diverse English merchants petitioned the queen for permission to make a voyage with three ships, and as many pinnaces, by the way of the Cape of Good Hope.--Gleig.

1591-A squadron sailed, under Captain Haymond, and from disease and a storm, it proved an abortive enterprise—only one officer, Captain James Lancaster, and a few seamen, returned. — Gleig. Bruce.

1593.—An Englishman, Stevens, went to Goa with the Portuguese by the way of the Cape of Good Hope. He wrote an account of his voyage.

1595. In the mean time, the Dutch having gone round the hitherto interdicted Cape, openly opposed the Portuguese in the Eastern seas. They supplanted the Portuguese in the Spice trade; in a very few years expelled by force their rivals from the Moluccas; formed establishments at Java and Sumatra, and swept the Chinese and Pacific oceans with an overpowering force. During the year 1595, they took possession of the Mauritius, then first occupied, but abandoned it thirteen years afterwards. Bantam allowed to be occupied that year by the Dutch, as their first factory, as a reward from the king for their aid against the Portuguese.—Gleig. Mill. Bruce.

1596.—Elizabeth granted strong letters of recommendation to the Emperor of China to Richard Adam and Thomas Bloomfield, merchants and citizens of London, with permission to proceed with one or more ships. The draft of the letter is dated 16th July.—Bruce.

1597.—The Hollanders formed a "society for trade to distant countries."—Bruce. 1599.-The English determining to keep pace with their rivals of Holland, an association of "Merchant Adventurers," was formed this year, a fund raised to be managed by a committee of 15 persons, and the queen again more earnestly petitioned for a charter. Her Majesty referred it to her council, and John Middenhall, a merchant, was sent, via Constantinople, on an embassy to the great Mogul. The first authentic deed of the Company is preserved, and is entitled "The names of such psons as have written with there owne handes, to venter in the ptended voiage to the Easte Indias, (the whiche it maie please the Lorde to prosper,) and the somes that they will adventure, the xxij September, 1599." The fund subscribed was £30,133. 6. 8. divided into 101 shares, varying from £100 to £3,000.—Bruce. Mill.

1600.—A corporation formed in London entitled" Governors and Company of merchants of London trading to the East Indies." Their original petition, as now extant, stated that no "gentleman was to be employed in any place of charge." This corporation is the origin of the present Company, and of the British empire in India. Their capital was £70,000. There were 215 sharers, and the Earl of Cumberland at their head, forming the Company. The first Court of Committees or 17 Directors was held on the 23rd 8eptember, 1600. The number was changed to 24, and then their first regular meeting was on the 31st October. Their Charter was finally dated by the queen on the 31st December of this year. At this era, and at the commencement of the English trade to India, the Portuguese possessions in the East were as follows:—Muscat, in Arabia; Ormus and Bussora, in the Gulf; Diulon on the Indus; Diu, in Guzerat; a fortified factory at Daman; the town and castle of Chaul, and a factory at Dabul; Bassein, the island of north Salsette, and Taunah; the town and fort of Goa. (their seat of power,) and factory at Onore, Barcelore, Mangalore, Cananore; the town of Calicut, a factory at Oranganoie, and the port of Cochin; and factories at Coulan, Quelon, and Taceatra. They had established themselves at Ceylon, and fortified Jaffanapatam. On the Corromandel coast they had stations at Negapatam and St. Thome. In Bengal they had no factories but

Commercial stations, or houses of trade. They had factories at Pegu, traded up the Martaban river; had a station at Junkceylon, and possessed the valuable town and fort of Malacca. They had establishments in the Moluccas, at Amboyna, Manilla, and Macao, in China. Notwithstanding these valuable possessions, the Portuguese power in the East had visibly decreased, and was prepared to give way to the Dutch and English, now entering the field.—Bruce.

1^01. The earliest ship purchased was the Susan of 240 tons, for £1,600, thus the first Indiamnn in the service. The Company fitted her out with three others, the Malice-scourge of 600 tons, the Hector of 300, the Ascension of 260. and a pinnace of 100 tons, freighted with cloth, tin, lead, cutlery, glass, amounting to £6,860, and with £28,742 in bullion. The fleet was commanded by Captain James Lancaster as "General or Admiral," and Captain Davies, 2nd in command, called "Pilot Major; the latter to have £100 wages, £200 in credit, and if the voyage gave cent, per cent. £500 at the end, if 200 per cent. £1000, if 400 per cent. £2000. The scale of remuneration to Captain Lancaster or others does not appear. They sailed on the 2nd May. The French this year endeavoured to obtain a footing in India, sending out three ships from St. Maloes, but they failed to reach their destination.— Bruce. Gleig.

1602.—Captain Lancaster, who had been furnished with general letters from queen \ Elizabeth" to the greate and mightie kinge of our lovinge brother greetinge," arrived at Acheen, and formed with its king the first treaty of the Company in the East; with permission to settle a factory, our first establishment.—Bruce.

1C03.—The English fleet returned in September, having made a successful voyage. After touching at Acheen, they captured in the Straits of Malacca a Portuguese ship of 900 tons; then put into Bantam in Java, setting there a factory or "house of trade," from whence to England. Bruce.

1604.—King James granted a license to Sir Edward Michelborne and others, to trade to the East; the first violation of the exclusive privileges of the Company, who designated the parties interlopers or private traders. A French East India Company chartered this year; it failed, and was afterwards dissolved.—Bruce. Mill. B. I. Chronologist.

1605.—Akbar died, after a reign of nearly 50 years.—Orme.

1606.—Cloves purchased at Amboyna for £2,948, 13; sold afterwards in England for £36,287.- Bruce.

1608.—Captain Hawkins visited Agra as Envoy.—Gleig.

1609.—A new charter granted by James to the Company, who now saw the evil of separate licenses; the privileges rendered perpetual. One of the Company's ships this year, called the Trades Increase, was eleven hundred tons.—Bruce.

1610.—Trade attempted with Japan, and the king's permission obtained to erect a factory at Ferando.—Bruce.

1611. The court began to receive regular communications and dispatches from their factories in India.—Bruce.

1612. Great efforts by the Company to extend the commerce. Attention was turned to Western India, and new factories contemplated. After repelling much opposition from the Portuguese, the English were permitted to avail themselves of a Firmaun obtained on the 11th January of the following year, to erect factories at Surat, Ahmedabad, Cambaya, and Goya. -Bruce. Gleig. Mill.

1613.-Up to this year, eight voyages, realising nearly 200 per cent, had been performed by various fleets, only one expedition failing; the ships of 1607, having been lost.—Mill.

1614. Mr. Edwards of the Surat factory went to Ajimere as envoy to the Mogul, Jehanguire; was presented on the 7th February, by Asaph Khan, brother of the beautiful empress Noor-Mahal, and obtained an additional Firmaun. A Portuguese fleet and powerful armament defeated at Swally, with a loss of 350 men, by the English.—Bruce.

1615.—Sir T. Roe reached Agra, as ambassador from James I., the Company being at the expense of the embassy.—Bruce.

1617 An English factory established at Macassar. At this period the Company's chief factories were at Surat and Bantam, but they had establishments at Acheen, and Tekoo in Sumatra; Jaccatra, Jambee, Potania, Siam, Japan, Succadania, Borneo, and Banda.--Br«ce.

1613.—The Dutch obliged the English to resign all pretensions to the spice islands. They introduced themselves now as rivals also at Surat, The English Company's ship Ann, Captain Shillinge, obtained freedom of trade at Mocha.—Bruce.

1619.—A commission, called the Council of Defence, consisting of four members of the English, and four of the Dutch Companies, established by treaty between the nations, to prevent dispute in India. It availed nothing, as the Dutch influence preponderated. The Dutch this year attacked an English fleet of four ships at Tekoo,

sunk one, and seized the others. Firmaans were obtained from the Court of Persia, for facilities to trade in Persia.—Bruce. Mill.

1620.—English Agents deputed from Surat to Agra, two also sent to purchase cloths at Patna.—Sketches of Bengal.

1621.—James I. wrote to Shah Abbas, king of Persia, dated 19th March, thanking him for favor shown to English merchants, and requesting a continuance of such protection.—Bruce.

1622.—The English joining the Persians, attacked and made themselves masters of the island of Ormuz, resigning the same to their allies for part of the booty, and a grant of a moiety of the customs of the port of Gombron.—Gleig. Bruce. Mill.

1623.—In February, Captain Towerson, with nine Englishmen, nine Japanese, and one Portuguese, were seized by the Dutch, at Amboyna, and accused of conspiracy to attack the garrison: they were tried, put to the torture, and executed.—Bruce. This cruel transaction caused much sensation, receiving the name of the Massacre of Amboyna ever after, but the particulars of the case may have been exaggerated. The king issued a commission for inquiry, yet the Dutch obstinately maintained their ground as the exclusive and rightful possessors of the Moluccas, Banda, and Amboyna; and strange though it may appear, the English government, in spite of the popular indignation, seem quietly to have acquiesced until a partial compensation, after a delay of 20 years, was enforced by Cromwell.—Mill. Hume.

1624. The English factories and agencies, unable to cope with the Dutch, nearly all withdrawn from stations in the Archipelago. The Company obtained, this year, for the first time, permission to punish their servants abroad by martial as well as municipal law. The factories at Siam, Portania, and Japan withdrawn at the time.—Bruce. 1625.—The English, alarmed at the late massacre at Amboyna, had retired, the preceding year, from Batavia to the Island of Lagundy, in the Straits of Sunda; after much mortality, were forced to abandon it, from its unhealthiness.—Bruce.

1626.-In 1621, the factory at Bantam sent to the Coromandel coast, to open a trade at Pullicat; but the Dutch effectually opposed the attempt. In the following year, they seem to have succeeded in establishing a trade house at Masulipatam, and secured a considerable quantity of coast goods. In February, 1826, the English erected a small factory at Armagon, under Mr. Johnston, a Factor, which they slightly fortified, as a subordinate station to Masulipatam, and as a retreat, in case of need. Thus originated our transactions on the coast of Coromandel. The English wished to seize the Island of Bombay, and fortify it as a retreat from the native powers; the plan was not carried into effect, but now also was attention first directed to Bombay.—Bruce.

1627.-Jehanguire died.—Orme.

1628.—In consequence of the oppression of the native Governor of Masulipatam, it was abandoned for a time by the factory for Armagon, which now mounted 12 pieces of cannon, and had 23 factors and soldiers.—Bruce.

1629.—Bantam reduced to an agency, dependant on Surat; this proving inconvenient in its relations to the Dutch, it was again, in five years, restored to a presidency. —Bruce. Hamilton.

1630.—Armagon reinforced by 20 soldiers, and placed under the controul of Surat. Off Surat, the Portuguese, with a large fleet, and 200 soldiers, made several fruitless attempts against the English shipping. They also made violent efforts without success, to regain their power in the Gulf.—Bruce.

1631.—A proclamation* by Charles I. enumerates, this year, the exports and imports of the Company, viz. exports, "perpetuanoes and drapery, (broad cloths, &c.) pewter, saffron, woollen stockings, silk stockings and gaiters, ribbands, roses edged with gold lace, beaver hats with gold and silver bands, felt hats, strong waters, knives, Spanish leather shoes, iron and looking glass;" the imports were "long pepper, white pepper, white powdered sugar, preserved nutmegs and ginger preserved, myrabolums, bezoar stones, drugs of all sorts, agate beads, blood stones, musk, aloes Socatrina, ambergris, rich carpets of Persia and of Cambaya, quilts of sattin, taffety, printed calicoes, benjamin, damasks, sattins and taffaties of China, quilts of China embroidered with gold, quilts of Potania embroidered with silk, galls, worm seeds, sugar-candy, China dishes, and porcelain of all sorts."—Bruce. 1632.—A Firmaun obtained from the king of Golconda, for the re-establishment of the factory at Masulipatam.—Bruce.

1633.—The Emperor of Delhi ordered the Soubadar of Bengal, Kassim Khan, to "expel the (Portuguese) idolaters from his dominions." In consequence, the fort at Hooghly, under Michael Rodrigues, was seized after a brave defence. The Por

The proclamation does not mention Indigo; but about this period there was a large contract for its supply to the English, at Agra, and much loss was sustained, as it found, at that juncture, no ready sale either in Persia or England.

tuguese were spared, but their idols were destroyed. This is the first act of hostility against Europeans recorded by the native historians.—Dow.

A French Company again attempted, with a fruitless effort, to colonise Madagascar.—Gleig.

1634. On the 2nd February a Firmaun was obtained from the Mogul, for liberty to trade in Bengal, without any other restriction, than that the English ships were to resort only to the port of Pipley. This fixes the precise period in which the English were first permitted to enter the Ganges. The President and Council at Surat, in great disgrace with the Court, having been discovered, from quarrels among themselves, to have been largely carrying on a private trade; they threw themselves on the mercy of the Court.—Bruce.

Mr. Morris, a factor from Masulipatam, sent to Bengal to avail himself of the Emperor Shaw Jehan's Firmaun: he reported from Pipley, that provisions for the Company's factories on the coast, and abundance of fine white cloths, were procurable on reasonable terms.—Bruce.

1635. A new English Company, or association, under Sir W. Courten*, chartered by Charles, upon the unjust grounds that the London Company had "neglected to establish fortified factories, or seats of trade, &c." The latter petition against the infringement, and send orders to their servants ia India not to assist or encourage the interlopers.—Bruce. Anderson.

The

1636.—Courten's vessels seized and plundered two junks of Surat and Din. Mogul authorities would not comprehend the distinction of Companies, and imprisoned the president and council of Surat for this aggression of their countrymen. Pirates also seized the opportunity of investing the Indian seas. The President released only on paying 1,70,000 rupees to the Mogul. English Trade depressed at Surat, while the Dutch brought 22 large ships, with proportionate stock, to Bantam. Bruce. Mill.

1637.—Captain Weddel, formerly a Company's servant, but now a leading instrument of Courten, fixed an Agency at Goa, and at Batticolo; he obtained a grant for a factory at Acheen, and attacked and carried a fort at Canton, collecting many bales of China goods, but being obliged to quit those seas, he fixed a factory at Rajahpore, in the king of Vijiapore's dominions.—Bruce.

1638.—Armagon found unsuited to commerce.—Bruce. Hamilton.

1639.—Mr. Day, one of the council, sent, in consequence, to the vicinity of St. Thome, who reported Madraspatam as favorable, and that the Naig of the district offered land and every aid for building a fort. So important did the situation appear, that, on their own responsibility, the council at once commenced the fortification, and it soon became surrounded with the town. They named it Fort St. George.— Bruce. Hamilton.

1640. The distress of Charles I. made him oblige the Company to sell him 607,522 hogsheads of pepper, at 2s. Id. per hogshead, for which he gave bonds and re-sold it for Is. Sd. ready money. The Company under great difficulty in these unsettled times. Trade opened to Bussorah from Surat.—Bruce. Mill.

1641.—Fort St. George made subordinate to Bantam.—Bruce.

1642.—The first regular dispatch from Madras received at home is dated this year, and it is curious that Mr. Day, who founded Fort St. George, immediately went to Bengal, and that the first regular dispatch to the Court from the latter place also bears his signature, and was received the same year: it is dated 3rd November, 1642, from Balasore.—Bruce.

1643.—Great competition between the Dutch and English for firmauns from the Mogul, but the commerce of the Europeans must have been looked upon as inferior by the Imperial Court, for the "profusion of presents," as appears from Surat, was only 9,000 rupees alw>gether.—Bruce.

1645.-The sum of £2,294 expended hitherto on the works of Fort St. George. It required at this date £2,000 farther to complete it for a garrison of 100 men. This year is memorable for the curious and unexpected extension of our incipient power in Bengal. Mr. Gabriel Broughton, surgeon of the Hopewell, was sent for from Surat to attend the Emperor Shah eh A'n. His daughter was severely burned, but Mr. Broughton cured the princess, and in reward for his services was granted, at his disinterested request, additional and new privileges for his countrymen in Bengal. In 1646 he rendered professional benefit to prince Shujao, then in the Government of Bengal, and by his subsequent intercession, factories, on advantageous grants, were established at Balasore and Hooghly.—Bruce. Hamilton. Mill.

1645. The rigid and austere manners of the republican party at home, injuring the trade of the Company, the same was officially explained to the king of Persia as the reason why silks, formerly a luxury, were now less in demand. The civil wars detrimental to all sales.—Bruce.

* Sir W. Courten died immediately after this; but the charter was continued to his son.

This year died Noot Jehan, Empress and favorite Sultana of Jehangir.—Dow. 1646.—The Dutch obtained a decided superiority in the Persian Gulf, almost ruining the Bussorah and other establishments.—Bruce.

1647.—Courten's association having established a colony at Madagascar, got into difficulties, and resorted to the desperate measure of there coining counterfeit pagodahs and rials, to the great stain of the English character in India.—Bruce.

1648.—Bengal silk introduced into the investments. The communications this year, secret, and no despatches forwarded by the Company, in consequence of the danger and badness of the times.

1649.—Courten's association now assumed the name of the Assada merchants— and after much discussion an union took place between them and the London Company; but although an "United Joint Stock" was formed, only two ships and £60,000 were sent to India this season. The agents in Persia ascribe the deficiency in trade there to the rumours reaching of civil commotion in England, and the tragical) storye of the Kinge's beheadinge, which would cause the Emperor and the Persian nobles to consider the English as a base, contemptible, un worthy nation."

1650.—Captain Jeremy Blackman appointed president at Surat, with a salary of about 400 rupees per month: private trade disallowed.

1651.—The Dutch officer Van Rubek settled a colony at the Cape of Good Hope. Outward and homeward ships bad hitherto touched here, and journals were secretly deposited at Robben Island, to give information to friends arriving. The Dutch relinquished St. Helena, which the English took possession of. The residency at Surat had obtained enlarged privileges throughout the Mogul provinces, through the agency of a Mr. Davidge, sent to the Mogul's court.—Hamilton. Bruce.

1652.—Cromwell finding it expedient to employ the fleets and armies of his insecure government, declares war against the Dutch, and the question of the injuries to the Company made one of the grounds.— Mill. Hume.

The indefatigable Hollanders were now rivalling the English at Bengal in their own factories.—Bruce.

1653.—The English must have established a factory before this at Lucknow, as it is stated, to be withdrawn this year. Fort St. George raised to a presidency, but the garrison, on the 5th February, as per return, had only 26 soldiers. The English lost four ships to the Dutch in the Gulf.—Bruce. Hamilton.

1654.—Notwithstanding its new rank as a presidency, the Company had ordered the civil establishment at Fort St. George to be reduced to 2 factors, and its military force to 10 soldiers! Peace signed with the Dutch, and they agreed, as per separate article, to pay the London Company £85,000 for losses at the Eastward, and £3,615 to the heirs of Captain Towerson and others, the sufferers at Amboyna. The island of Palaroon was also restored.—Hamilton. Bruce.

1655.—The Persian trade suspended, and that of Fort St. George at a stand, principally from the opposition of the Dutch. There were difficulties also from fresh rivals, called "Merchant Adventurers," who, on petitioning for free trade, were at first patronized by Cromwell.—Bruce. Mill.

The following extracted statement of the Company's "United Joint Stock" may not be uninteresting; it was dated 1st September, 1655.—Bruce.

DEBIT.

Salaries of the Merchants in India for 5 years, at £2,066 2 8
Mariners' wages for like term,