[Merchants] The TEMPORAL GOVERNMENT. [of India.]267

[Merchants] The TEMPORAL GOVERNMENT. [of India.]

and for their Supporters, two Sea-Horses, or rather Lions, Or and Azure, and for their Motto above the Crest, Deus indicat: and below, Deo Ducente, nil nocet.

This Company, for the better negotiation of their great affairs, is governed by a Governor, Deputy, and Court of Assistance, consisting of twenty four. Who about the middle of April are annually elected by the Adventurers of the said Company: amongst which there must be eight new ones chosen, the rest may be again elected; as also the Governor, and Deputy Governor. And these accordingly meet at their House in Leadenhall-street, now called the East-India-House, generally weekly, and keep Courts for the management of their affiars; as the vending their Goods, making of Dividends, raising of Money, viewing their Accounts from their Presidents, Factors, &c. buying in of Goods, setting forth Ships, sending over Factors and Servants, and for the ordering of their Factories kept at Camboya, Bombay, Surat, Curwar, Baticale, Calicut, Fort St. George, Pentapoli, Masolipotan, Ougeley, Gonru, Ormus: with several other Factories in the Isles of Asia, in China, and Japan.]

In the Year 1690. there came forth a little Piece, called, A modest and just Apology for, or Defence of the present East-India Company, against the Accusations of their Adversaries. Wherein the Crimes alledged against them are fairly examined, the Calumnies confuted, and all submitted to the judgment of impartial and unprejudiced Persons. This Tract was written (tho' no name be set to it) by that discreet and knowing Merchant, Nathaniel Tenche, Esq; mentioned before; and was occasioned (as the Writer expresseth in the beginning) by Calumnies daily inculcated in all noted Coffee-Houses: wherein this Company was not only set forth as Bankrupts, as to their present Condition, but represented as vile and odious as Malice it self could invent. Aspersions thrown on them: whereby the Enemies endeavoured, not only to impose upon the unthinking Vulgar, but upon the Members of the Honourable House of Commons: and by putting Papers into their Hands, wherein were many things notoriously untrue. This was in order to the compassing of an Endeavour now made for a new East-India Company. And new Subscriptions with a Preamble were printed; and the very Terms of an Act of Parliament for that purpose, propounded to the Legeslative power of the Nation, King, Lords and Commons.

An Apology and Defence of this Company against the Interlopers.

J. S.

This was chiefly set on foot and managed against the Company, by those they called Interlopers; who traded into the Places of their Privileges, and were not free of the said Company. Whose Ships and Goods the Company stopped, and used other Ways and Means to hinder their Trade.

A new East-India Company.

There was afterwards a new East-India Company set up by Act of Parliament. Whereby the old was to be dissolved after some Years: which might suffice to bring forth their Effects. But after much endeavour and meetings of Persons appointed out of both Companies, to confer and concert matters, they were both amicably united into one. This new Company held at first their Meetings at Skinners Hall. But now for some Years past it is held at the old House in Leaden-hall-street. They have a Governor, Deputy Governor, and twenty four Directors, to manage the Companies Affairs.

In short, the Trade to the East-Indies, lay open from the Year 1653 to 1657. Then this Method of private Trade, proved so very destructive to the several private Traders thither, that the governing Power at that time, found it necessary to unite them all into one joynt Company with a joynt Stock. But in the Year 1698. an Act of Parliament was obtained, for laying the Trade open in a Method of a regulated Company. Which upon tryal the separate Traders, who procured that Act, found it necessary to unite themselves: So as to Trade only with one joynt Stock. And tho' there was seemingly an irreconcileable contest between the New and Old Company, yet both of them became so sensible of the destructive Consequences of Trading by a dividend Interest, that they are now happily joyned into one Company again, having the same joynt Stock, Interest and Design.

The Traders to India united into one Company.

Ann. 1657.


A List of the Names of the Directors of the united Company of the Merchants of England, trading to the East-Indies; Elected for the Year 1718.

 

Mr. Robert Brisco.
Captain Richard Boulton.
Francis Child, Esq;
John Cook, Esq;
Sir John Eyles, Baronet and Alderman.
Mr. John Elwick.
Sir Richard Gough, Knight.
John Gould, Esq;
Edward Harrison, Esq;
John Heathcote, Esq;
Nathaniel Herne, Esq;
Thomas Heath, Esq;
Mr. Henry Kelsey.
Henry Lyel, Esq;
Mr. Robert Michel.
Sir Robert Nightingale, Baronet.
Sir Gregory Page, Baronet.
Sir William Stewart, Knight and Alderman.
Samuel Shepheard Jun. Esq;
Mr. John Styleman.
Edward Turner, Esq;
John Ward, Esq;
Sir Godfrey Webster, Knight.
John Wordsorth Esq;

In which Year this Part of the Book was writ.]


New MERCHANTS ADVENTURERS.

 
[ Click here to view Image of coat of arms, New Merchants Adventurers   ]

A New Company of MERCHANT ADVENTURERS, but of their incorporating I am able to say nothing: but the Coat and Crest of their Arms were given and granted by Sir William Seger, Garter, and Master William Camden, Clarencieux, Kings of Armes, the thirteenth Day of November, in the 14th Year of King James I. 1616. Their Motto is, Reddite cuique suum. [Extinct.]

The