The History of Java, v. 1-2Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
History
The History of Java, v. 1-2
Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
Java (Indonesia) -- History
To confine the Company's future trade to opium, spices, pepper, Japan
copper, tin, and sugar, as far as the European and Japan markets
would require. To abandon the trade to Western India to the Company's
servants and free merchants, under payment of a certain recognition.
To abandon several factories in that quarter, and to reduce the
rest to mere residencies. To make considerable reductions in the
establishment on the coast of Malabar and in Bengal. To reduce the
establishments on the coast of Coromandel to three factories. To
abandon the establishments on the West coast of Sumatra, and to leave
it open to a free trade. To diminish the expenses at Ceylon by a
reduction of the military force, and by every other possible means to
animate the cultivation and importation of rice into that settlement.
To open a free trade and navigation to Bengal and Coromandel, under
the superintendence of the Company, on paying a certain recognition.
To encourage, by every means, the cultivation of rice in the
easternmost possessions, and especially at Amboina and Banda, for the
sake of preventing the inducements of a clandestine trade, which the
importation of rice to those places might afford. To abandon several
small factories to the eastward. To adopt a plan for the trade of
Malacca proposed by Governor De Bruem. To introduce a general reduction
of establishment at Batavia and elsewhere. To introduce new regulations
with regard to the sale of opium at Batavia. To improve the Company's
revenue, by a tax upon salaries and a duty upon collateral successions.
And finally, to send out commissioners to India, with full powers to
introduce a general reform in the administration.
In a memorial subsequently submitted by the Commissioners, which formed
the basis of all the measures recommended and adopted at this time, for
the better administration of affairs in India, after shewing that, from
the year 1770 to 1780, the Company had on the whole of its trade and
establishments on the coast of Coromandel, Bengal, Malabar, Surat, and
the western coast of Sumatra, averaged a profit of only 119,554 florins
a year, they recommended the introduction at Batavia of a public sale
of the spices, Japan copper, and sugar, wanted for the consumption of
Western India, and the establishment of a recognition of ten per cent.
on the piece goods from Bengal, and of fifteen per cent. on the piece
goods from Coromandel. Under such a plan of free trade, they calculated
that, after the diminution of the Company's establishments in Western
India, and the abolition of several small forts and factories to the
eastward, it was highly probable that the administration in India
would, in future, cover its own expenses, and thereby save the Company
from utter ruin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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