Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-16

III leroS ana neallnG virtues, IN forest,
and in precious ores, could exhaust
their enterprise. Their merchants had
perused every work which shed light on
the western world, gathered intelligence
from narratives of sailors and now they
planned privileged company, which
should count the States General among
its stockholders, and possess, exclusive
ly the liberty of approaching America
from Newfoundland to the Straits of
Magellan, and Africa from the tropics
to the Cape Of Good Hope. The Span
iards are feeblest. it was cofidentially ur-
ged, where they are believed to be the
strongest; there would be no war but
on the waters the home of Batavians,
whose country, congenlal to adventure,
and thrust into the lap of the ocean, nur-
sed its children in the discipline of ma
rhine fatigue 1t would morcovcr, be
glorious TO bear christianity to the hea-
then and secure them from their op-
pressors. PrincipaIitics might eaisly be
won from the Spaniards, whose scatter
ed citadcls protected but a narrow zone.
To the eagerness of enterprise it was
replied, that war had its uncertain
events. the sea is treacherous, the Span
iards would learn naval warfare by ex-
ercise |; and the little fleets of the prov.
inces could hardly blocade the ocean, or
quarrel with Spain for continent :; and
the cost of defence would exceed the
resources of the State home would be
lost in the search for foreign world
ofwhich the air breathes pcstilencc. the
natives were cannibals, tho unoccupied re-
gions were infinitely and hopclessly
wild. The party which desired peace
with Spain, which counted Grotius and
old Barneveldt among its ornaments, for
a long time succeeded in repressing the
energy of hope, and defeating every ef.
fort at Batavian settlements in the west.
While negotiations with Spain post
poned the formation of the west India
Company, the Dutch found their way
to the United States through another
channel. The first efforts Of the Dutch
merchants to share in the commerce of|
Asia, was accompanied with desire to
search for north west passage; and
the i'll success of Cabot, and Froblsher,
of Willoughby and Davis, did but ami.
mate the Netherlands to a generous ri
valry. Twice in the sixteenth centu-
ry did they seek a passage by the north
and vainly coasted along Nova Zembla
and Muscovy. Again Q596) did the
envoy of Amsterdam descend within
ten degrees OF the pole, passing a win.
ter in Nova Zembla, rendered horrible by
famine, by the fcrocity Of polar beasts
of prey, and by ice; the ship was frozen
in hopelessly; in two little vessels the
wretched crew hardly escaped. The
voyages of the Dutch were esteemed
without parallel for their daring.
The establishment of the East India
Company, March goth, 1902 with the
exclusive right to commerce beyond the
Cape ofGood Hope on the one side, and
beyond the straits of Magellan on the
other, with all powers requisite for con-
quest, colonization and government COW
cred the seas of Asia with fleets OF In.
diamen. The provisions in the charter
ot this first in the series of commercial
were not new: they did but
convey to corporation the baroniaI
privileges which had in England been
granted to Cabot and Raleigh.-AnaIo-
5ous to feudal privileges, they equally
suited the genius of the aristocratic re-
ouhlic: the states unwilling to pledge
themselves to warfare in the East, pur-
ooscly secured the interest of tho com
2any by the largest privileges.
Meantime Q6O5-O6) Europe had
lot relinquishel the hope of nearer pas s
'age to Asia; and Denmark took its $
place among the states whose ships I
,ainly toiled for discovery. 5
No sooner was the failure known than {
company of London merchants excited t
" immense profits of voyages to the +
East. contributed the means for new S
lttempt; and Henry Hudson was the G
chosen ieader ofthe expedition. Sail, il
ng to the north, with his only son for a
lis companion, he coasted the shores of f
greenland, and hesitated whether to at v
empt the circumnavigation of that coun- u
ry, or the passage across the pole. r
What though he came within eight de- h
rees Of the pole. thus surprising every Il
arlier navigator? After reviewing the n
iscovery of Spilzbergen, vast masses p
ice compelled his return. q
But the zeal Of Hudson could not be c.
and the next year (l60s) "
eheld him once more engaged IN n III