The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-08
n,,,,.n con.uesss sna British Rule.

Rrlsfsh Conauests snd British Rule.
The influence an pre- udiC es that have been
broueLt to bear on the discussion OF the great
question whica is now convulsing Europe to its
centre, VII xcite smile Of riGiC ule and con-
tempt in h future reader o. the history OF our
times. Removed from the sphere of their
operation, e will be enabled to Judge dis
passionat ly of the real motives and designs of
The actors en- the seem AM he will have this
advantage over u, that he will be in position
to compare his deductions with the evidence of
all tie cot, oyersy TO which tie Eastern ques-
tion has given rise, TIE antecedents of one
Power 81 ould have been so closely overhauled
whilst those of tie most formidable of her ad-
versaries, who has been playing the part of a
political Tartufie throughout The whole of this
pol,mic, and justifying course of action
favorable 10 her own interests, on high moral
and chivalrous grounds, should have been en-
tirely overlooked. The people of Europe have
been SO engrossed by q consideration OF the
dangerous consequences likely to result from q
Russian occupation of Cons tinople, that they
have forgotten TO inquire if it be the probable
interest or object Of any other government to
obtain possession of that coveted prize, Let
us endcavor to repair the omission 10y placing
before them series Of facts, illustrative of the
stealthy, but sure and steady, progress of Great
Britain in the path Of universal dominion, and
of the right which she has to cry wolf" when
she sees another about to seize the prey upon
which she has cast longing eye.
1t is now about two centuries and half since
an association of London traders laid the foun-
dations of that vast empire which, from modest
factories in Calcutta, Madras, and Surat, has
gradually pushed and extended its limits, I'M
til they comprise at the present moment an area
of upwards of 100000 square miles Of terrific
ry, with coast line of about $500 miles.
The Portuguese had been suffered to monopo-
lie, for nearly century, the fruits Of their
great discovery of the ronte to India by the
Cape Of Good Hope, and the Dutch had already
begun to display their flag in the Eastern seas
before the attention of the English was turned
in that direction. The voyages Of Stephens,
Drake, and Cavendish, the first English ex-
plorers of the Indian Ocean. had, of course, at
tracted notice; but it was not until the cap
ture of some Portuguese East Indiamen, with
rich freights, by Burroughs and Drake, that the
cupidity of the English merchants was thor
ougbly aroused, and that the commercial com
pany was formed to which we have just allud-
ed. Its beginnings were humble and gave but
small promise Of the vast results which they
have since attained. It's nominal capital
amounted at first to only about G3Ic, 900; but
of this sum only portion was paid up, as
many CT the stockholders could not be induced
to come forward to defray the cost Of the first
expedition. This difficulty led to the forma-
ton of subordinate association, com
posed OF those who were willing to pay,
and it was by this body that for the
frss fifteen years. term OF the company's
chefter, its operations were conducted. The
results of the first expedition, though fitted out
or small scale, were so encouraging that the
enterprise was year after year, actively prose-
outed, and in 1912 the company obtained from
the court at Delhi number of important pri-
vileges, and amongst others that of establishing
a factory at Surat which became the principal
British station in the west Of India until the
acquisition of Bombay.
| Thus, to use fgurative expression, was Tho
| small end of the wedge of British influence
and interference introduced in the internal
affairs of India. The Portuguese, tlie Dutch
and the French, struggled hard TO resist itf
further extension: but like al other nations
who come into collision with the Anglo Saxon
race, they were eventually compelled to sue.
cumb to the superior energy and perseverance
of their rivals. 1t was during the reign o
Aurungzebe that the Briti4h East India Com
pany first departed from the purely CONNER
cisl principles that regulated their association
and began to take part in the disputes anC
wars of the native princes. Restricted to thu
limits OF the old native towns of Calcutta
Madras, Surat and the Island ofBonibay, thei
operations had scarcely attracted the notice
much less the jealousy. OF the Eastern govern
ments, and it was only when they sent mill
taxy force into the field TO assist the Emperor
| against the Portuguese and others Of his enc
mics, that their real power became felt. Thei
| factories had become fortresses. and with thei
| commercial they had united a military as wei
| rs naval organization. Subsequent mismanage
inent and recklessness on the part Of Sir job
Child, brought upon them. however, the ven
& eanoe of the Emperor, an1 but for the luck!
accident Of the death of the officer sent agains
th EN-. ii is questionable whether they would no
| ha We been expelled from their settlements
l Tn cir Incorporation with the new ,eiarterc,
l company formed in London in 1907, led to q,
l uproyprrnnt in their or "a ration and NOW l;f
7 and vigor was thenceforward infused, m oniy
Il into the governing body, but ilto all Blanche
1 of the service. The subsequent history ri th
means by which British supremacy was astab
I ished in India Is too well known to render i
necessary to Tecaptulate its successive stages
Suffice il to say. that fraud. styatagem ant
| fierce respectively contributed to the grati6ca