Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-09-21
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HISTORICAL LETTERS.

20 THE EDITOR OF THE VIRC INA Argus.
LETTER XIV.
(Concluded)
Formation ofthe Kingdoms Of Modern En-
rohe, after the fall ojrthc Roman Empire.
ASIA, including TURKEY, ARABIA, PER-
STA, INDIA, and the TARTARIEs.
The Egyptians and Phenicans, the most
ancient navigators mentioned in history,
were the first people of the west who open
ed communication by sea with India. The
first establishment of any foreign power there
is supposed to be that of the Persians, I'M
der Darius, the son of Hystaspes. For many
centuries Alexandria was the chief seat of
trade with it, aud it has been conjectured
that it was one grand object with Alexander
the Great, in order to promote his political
views, to open to Asia and Europe in ge-
neral more eligible routes for commerce
with that fiourishing country. Several at
tempts were made, subsequently to the cx-
peditioh of Alexander, by princes of Asia,
TO make conquests in India; but none of
them proved very successful From about
one hundred years before the Christian era
till the close of the sixteenth century, when
che Portuguese, by doubling the Cape of
d
with the East, no European power acquired
territory or fixed its dominions there. In
tercourse, nevertheless, was kept up; and
Indian manufactures have uniformly been in
great demand in all countries where naviga-
ton OF commerce have been objects of pur-
suit.
In the year 1897, under the reign of king
Emmanuel the Great, of Portugal, Nascodi
Cana, after navigation of thirteen months,
arrived at Calicut, OH the coast of Malabar.
He scarcely took time to view the country !;
and was followed, in second voyage by AL
varez Ca5ral, vino laid the foundation of
Portuguese glory. In a third expedition AL
buquerque established the power of Portu-
gal there. The decay of her power, howe
yer, was as rapid as its growth. The Dutch
drove the conquerorS from almost all their
newly acquired possessions; and in 1907,
they only preserved in that quarter of the
globe Macao, upon the coast OF China, a
part of the island of 'rimor, Goa, and Diu,
and some other small establishments on the
Malabar coast.
The first expedition of the Dutch to India
was under Cornelius Kaufman in the year
1895. The second voyage was undertaken
by Van Meek, in 1898: he met with consi-
derabe success, and returned laden with
riches. On his return the india company OF
Holland was formed, which sent out to those
parts admiral Warwick, with proper e.
quipment; and he is considered the found
CIR of the Dutch power in Asia. They were
very successful in forming establishments on
the islands of the Indian seas Batavia, in
the island of Java, is the capital of ali the
possessions of the Hollanders in India. They
are the only Europeans who have been per-
mitted to trade at Japan But their glory
and their p wer in that quarter have been
sbscurcd by the English.
The conflicts of the Portuguese and the
Dutch in India, at the commencement of the
seventeenth century, attracted the attention
of Europe, and drew thther the English, in
order TO secure part other spoils. Their
present donnion over the best part of In.
dostan attests the success of their arms
They have not, at this time, European
competitor, and draw annually from thence
TO Great Brtainimmense wealth.
Ofthe various attempts of the English, in.
svidualIy, to open trade thither, none
proved successful till queen Elizabeth, by Z
sharter, dated December 81, a. ID 1900
established the first Incorporated compan,
by the name Of the London East Lndfa COM
bany. The original shares were fifty pounds
Sterling each, and the capital was uudeI
Sour hundred thousand pounds. The share
holders after considerable charges, were
subsequently, designated by the name O
g U1iited Comhauy Of Merchants of Eng
khfid trading TO me East Indies" BY de
grees this body has become the richest an,
most powerful corporation that ever existed
and has for long time enjoyed controlling
influence in the British government.
In the reign of Louis XIV. the FrencI
minister Colbert endeavoured to secure somt
of the profits of East-lndian Commerce t,
bis countrymen; but although they obtained
footing in Bengal, and on the coasts of Co
pOmandel and Malabar, and maintained Sc
we're conflicts with the British for superiorit,
they have never been able to secure an ad
yantageous establishment in the country
In 1913 the Danes made settlement ol
the Coromandel coast, called TranqueGar
and towards the close of tine sixteenth cen
fury the Spaniards settled themselves at IN,
Philippine Islands, the only possessions whi-l
riiey have in Asia.
India on this side Of the Ganges, has beet
called the Mogul empire, from the name O
the Tartars who subjugated it and it is al
go denominated Indostan, from the Hindoos
or Gentoos, who inhabit it. The Mogul EN-
pire was shattered by Thomas-kouli-Kahu
in re.establishing the dethroned prince, LET
him nothing more than a shadow of power
The present Great Mogu, possesses it'll
more than the city Of Delhi md the adjacen