Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-05-09
The East India Company.


In looking through file of English
newspapers, of recent date, we find that
bill has been introduced in the Parlia-
ment of Great Britain for "the dissolution
of the East India Company" !" the said bill
providing that its affairs shall be wound
up "by June 1st, 1874" This is the IA
nous commercial company founded two
and three-quarters centuries ago, and
which has not only great commercial,
but an important colonial and political
history. The first commercial intercourse
of Great Britain with the East Indies was
Il private adventure of three ships, fitted
out in 1891; but only one of said ships
reached the Indies, the two others being
| lost through mutiny and shipwreck. The
| successful argosy commanded by Capt.
LancasteD returned to England after three
| years absence, richly laden with the fruits
| of her voyage to the semi-tropical regions
of 'the far East" Captain Lancaster's in
| formation led to the establishment of
| THE East India Company" which was
chartered in December, 1900, with a CAPT
| tai stock of e72000. This company built
four ships, and meeting with extraordinary
| success, increased the number to a re-
| spectacle feet, and through a monopoly
of the East India trade made all its stock
holders immensely wealthy. The original
| price of share was one hundred pounds
sterling, but as early as 1853 these shares
were sold for five times that amount
Another evidence of the immense wealth
of this great corporation is the fact
that in 1850 its gross revenue was G135,-
100000, or nearly $675 100000 in our cur
rency.
The almost fabulous prosperity of this
commercial association-whose members
founded some of the wealthiest families in
England-led to an opposition company,
which was chartered in 1893. Both asso-
Citations throve and prOspered, side by
side in the great harvest of Oriental COM
merce; but in order to still further mo-
nOpOliZe the business, these companies
were united in 1902. The field of the con-
solidated EAST India Company's" trade
at that time were two small ports in Hin
dostan lone of which is now Calcutta), a
trading post in Siam, and also light
business with Sumatra. But eventually
this great corporation extended its COM
merce throughout the greater part of the
peninsula of Hindostan, from the Indies
to the frontiers of Burmah; also to the
islands of Ceylon, Malacca, Sumatra and
Borneo. 1t has been rumored, and gen
orally believed that this great monopoly
at one time kept up an Illicit trade with
ancient Cathay, and that much merchan.
disc was purchased from piratical Chi,
/ nese traders. There is no evidence to-day
| to cOrrobOrate these rumors; hence we
must believe that the East India Com
pany's" gains were earned by honest and
legitimate trade
The colonial and political history OF
British. India is largely identified with the
rise and progress of this identical East
India Company" Up TO 1854 British In
/ do ,,rortipo1lu nnHar tba CONTROL a N
influence of the company. In 1857 Bonn
, bay was erected into a presidency" al
! though its protector was not Great Britain
but the EAST India Company
Some half a century later the provinces
of Calcutta, Madras and Bengal, by an ac
, of the British Parliament, were placed
under the administration of Governor
I General. Lord Give, who went to Madras
in 1747 as a commercial agent soon passed
: to the military service, and by a success
= sion of conquests added immense terrific
= rial acquisitions to British India. Thest
9 exploits so pleased Lord Chatham that ht
= termed Give "a heaven-born General"
!, and so gratifed was the east India Com
: pany" that it put him in possession o
/ enormous wealth. British India also CAV,
= him the title of "Omrah of the Mogu
= Empire"; and Great Britain conferred OF
: him an Irish peerage. In 1773, after h,
!, had returned home, savage attack wa
:, made upon him in the House of Com
Z mons, respecting his political conduct il
4 India; but the motion was rejected, and
!, vote of thanks passed declaratory of hi
) eminent foreign services He committed
suicide the following year, and was sin
It cerely mourned by the people of Britail
IS as the great founder of the British Empir
It in India. Still, the measures which h
n adopted, to carry out his colonial and pc
a, litical policy, do not accord with tn
q strict honor and justice of to-day,
IS For more than two centuries Gf we ca
T. interpret history, was the Empire of In
G, dia, with upwards of two hundred milliO
ct people, ruled and managed solely for tn
% benefit of the East India Company.
&c This great corporation, which dethrone
Le the Mogul dynasty and conquered its dC
70 minions, had but one object in view-th
ID purchase and sale of ivory, spices, dii
e. monds and ingots of gold-and care
N nothing for the welfare or happiness {
L the people of that vast Empire who's
le territory il had conquered by commercii
Of greed and military superiority. The e,
as traordinaTy power, influence and arr
K gance of this company was first checke
le by William Pitt, in 1874, who got throug
Parliament bill called "The Board
We CONTROL Wnlcn placed inc aHalTs OF u
IN company under the control Of the Britt:
n. Government, and which ultimately co
u. trolled the executive and political cover
or ment of India. Hence, we must accord
is, that great statesman the credit of changiI
he the administration of British India from
re mere policy of commercial avarice TO ol
he of justice, civilization and progress.
ed This brief and imperfect sketch of 4
sr. famous "East India Company would