The East India Company of Holland, the elder sister of that of England, now a nonentity, though once the most extensive and most flourishing commercial establishment that ever existed, long ago published, or permitted to be published, a very extensive series of voyages of commerce and discovery, called _Voyages which contributed to establish the East India Company of the United Netherlands_. It were, perhaps, worthy of the _Royal Merchants_ who constitute the _English East India Company_, now the unrivalled possessors of the entire trade and sovereignty of all India and its innumerable islands, to publish or patronize a similar monument of its early exertions, difficulties, and ultimate success.--E. SECTION I. _First Voyage of the English East India Company, in 1601, under the Command of Captain James Lancaster_.[85] INTRODUCTION. From the historiographer of the company[86] we learn, that the period of this voyage being estimated for twenty months, the charges of provisions were calculated at £6,600 4:10: and the investment, exclusive of bullion, at £4,545; consisting of iron and tin, wrought and unwrought, lead, 80 pieces of broad cloth of all colours, 80 pieces of Devonshire kersies, and 100 pieces of Norwich stuffs, with smaller articles, intended as presents for the officers at the ports where it was meant to open their trade. Captain John Davis, who appears to have gone as chief pilot, was to have £100 as wages for the voyage, with £200 on credit for an adventure; and, as an incitement to activity and zeal, if the profit of the voyage yielded _two for one_, he was to receive a gratuity of £500; if _three for one_, £1000; if _four for one_, £1500; and if _five for one_, £2000.[87] Thirty-six factors or supercargoes were directed to be employed for the voyage: _Three_ of the _first_ class, who seem to have been denominated _cape merchants_, were to have each £100 for equipment, and £200 for an adventure; _four_ factors of the _second_ class at £50 each for equipment, and £100 for an adventure; _four_ of the _third_ class, with £30 each for equipment, and £50 for adventure; and _four_ of the _fourth_ class, with £20 each for equipment, and £40 for adventure.[88] They were to give security for their fidelity, and to abstain from _private trade_; the _first_ class under penalties of £500 the second of 500 marks, the _third_ at £200 and the _fourth_ of £100 each.[89] These only exhaust fifteen of the thirty-six, and we are unable to account for the remaining twenty-one ordered to be nominated. [Footnote 85: Purch. Pilgr. I. 147. Astl. I. 262.] [Footnote 86: Ann. of the H.E.I. Co. I. 129.] [Footnote 87: Id. I. 130.] [Footnote 88: Ann. of the H.E.I. Co. I. 131.] [Footnote 89: Id. I. 133.]