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gold and silver bullion. Had we been paid for all we sold, the sum would have been much more considerable. The Rumbold, the year before, also brought bullion to a considerable amount. This money was received on account of sales of Bengal and Madras cloths, opium, iron, copper, lead, hardware, and glass. Some inquiries were made for broad cloth, but we unfortunately had none. These are matters of a trifling nature. In the sequel I hope to fix the attention to many of greater importance.

The situation of Cochin China is excellently well adopted to commerce. Its vicinity to China, Tonquin, Japan, Combodia, Siam, the Malay coast, the Philippines, Borneo, the Moluccas, &c. renders the intercourse with all these countries short and easy. The commodious harbours found on the coast, particularly that of Turon, afford a safe retreat for ships of any burden, during the most tempestuous seasons of the year.

The nations of Europe, having hitherto found it impossible to provide cargoes sufficiently valuable to barter for the commodities of China, are obliged to make up the deficiency by sending thither immense quantities of bullion, by which means it has, for a number of years past, drained the eastern and western worlds of their specie. The number of junks annually resorting to Cochin China plainly proves how much the productions of it are in demand among the Chinese. These productions, had we a settlement and a confirmed influence in the country, might with ease be brought to center

with us, purchased with the staples of India and of Europe; Turon would become the emporium for them, where our ships bound to Canton, from whence it is only five days sail, might call and receive them. The quantity procurable it is impossible to determine; whatever it might be, it would prove a saving of so much specie to Great Britain or India, as the value of the commodities amounted to in China; in a few years there is every reason to believe, a very considerable investment might be provided.

Our trade to China has ever been burthened with enormous imposts and exactions; these, under various pretences, are annually increasing, and in process of time may become insupportable. It is an opinion latterly grown current that the Chinese are desirous of totally excluding all Europeans from their country: may we not hazard a conjecture, that the vexations they oblige them to suffer are the premeditated schemes of this politic people to effect it? Were such an event to happen, the want of a settlement to the eastward would be severely felt. The Chinese would export their own commodities, and Java or the Philippines, as the nearest ports, would become the marts for them. As there is no reason to suppose that our inability to procure them from the first hand would hinder their consumption, we must buy them either from the Dutch or from the Spaniards. A settlement in Cochin China will give us a superior advantage to either, both as its situation is nearer, and the Chinese are more accustomed to resort thither; in

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all events there is reason to suppose it will enable us to procure the commodities of China at a much more reasonable rate than now purchased by our factors at Canton, and certainly on less humiliating terms to the nation. Large colonies of Chinese have from time to time emigrated from the parent country and fixed their abode in different parts of Cochin China; these have their correspondents in every seaport of the empire; through their means, teas, China ware, and the various other articles, the objects of our commerce with China, might be imported in junks to our own settlements, equally good in quality, and cheaper, as the Chinese are exempted from the exorbitant duties levied on foreigners. Some of the best workmen might be encouraged to settle in Cochin China, and under their direction manufactories carried to as great a degree of perfection as in China itself.

The intercourse between Japan and Cochin China might be renewed, and we might participate in a trade for many years monopolized by the Dutch.

An advantageous trade might be carried on with the Philippine, Islands, and Madras and Bengal goods introduced amongst them by means of the junks for the consumption of Spanish America.

The Siamese and Cambodians would bring the produce of their respective countries and barter or sell them for such articles as they wanted from Cochin China. Amongst them it is probable a vent might be found for quantities of Bengal cloths.

The lower class of people in Co

chin China are, for the most part, clothed in canvass, a coarse cotton cloth brought from China; but the preference which I had opportunity of observing they gave to Bengal cloths, on account of their being wider and cheaper, would soon induce them to adopt the use of them.

The demand for opium, already, in some measure, become a necessary of life to the Chinese, would increase in proportion to the facility of procuring it. The importation of it no longer confined to Canton, but carried by the junks in every seaport in the country, would spread the demand of this drug to the remotest parts of the empire.

But what inspires the most flattering hopes from an establishment in this country is its rich gold mines; celebrated for ages as producing the richest ore, so pure that the simple action of fire is said to be sufficient to refine it; I omitted no opportunity of making inquiries respecting this valuable article, and was informed that mines were formed in different parts of the northern provinces, particularly in Hué, where the ore lay so near the surface of the earth that it was dug up with little labour. Under the direction of a skilful metallurgist, what might not be expected from such

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of any hostile power, either going to or returning from that country: we should become formidable neighbours to the Dutch and to the Spaniards, and in the event of a war with either of them, attack with advantage their most valuable settlements. In short, all the arguments in favour of a settlement at Balambangan may with much more propriety be urged for one in Cochin China

Should any thing that has been said, appear sufficiently wellgrounded to induce the Company to form a settlement in Cochin China, it may be effected on principles strictly just and at a small expense. Several of the royal family, besides the Mandarines who were in Bengal, with many officers of the late government, urged me to use my endeavours with the government of Bengal to induce it to afford them assistance, promising a powerful support whenever we should heartily engage in their cause: to restore their lawful sovereign to the throne, would be now a measure so popular, that the sincerity of their offers cannot be doubted. To relieve an unhappy people groaning under the weight of the most cruel oppression would be an act worthy the humanity of the British nation. Fifty European infantry, half that number of artillery, and two hundred seapoys, would be sufficient for this and every other purpose. The natives of Cochin China are infi

nitely below the inhabitants of Hindustan in military knowledge; I have however no doubt that a body of them well disciplined and regularly paid, would prove as faithful to us, and contribute as much to the security of any possessions which we might acquire to the eastward, as the sepoys do to our territories in India. In case of any distant expeditions, they would be found superior; being entirely free from all religious prejudices, and having no objection to the sea.

While Cochin China remains in its present distracted state, a favourable opening is presented to the first European nation that may attempt to obtain a footing in the country. Three years ago, the French sent a frigate to Turon Bay, and from the pains taken to be informed of the produce and political state of the country, there is strong reason to conclude some such design was in agitation. Since that period, the accurate accounts Mr. Chevalier must have received of Padre Loreiro during his residence with him at Chandernagore, added to the loss of all their settlements in India, will most probably induce them to resume it. If they do not, some other power may alopt the scheme. Should the Company therefore entertain a design of making an establishment in Cochin China, no time should be lost in carrying it into execution. 1778.

POETRY.

POETRY.

PARADISE AND THE PERI.

From Moore's "Lalla Rookh," an Oriental Romance.

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"Mid flowers that never shall fade or fall!

Though mine are the gardens of earth and sea, "And the stars themselves have flowers for me, "One blossom of Heaven out-blooms them all!

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Though sunny the Lake of cool CASHMERE, "With its plane-tree Isle reflected clear,

"And sweetly the founts of that Valley fall; "Though bright are the waters of SING-SU-HAY, "And the golden floods, that thitherward stray, "Yet-oh 'tis only the Blest can say

"How the waters of Heaven outshine them all!

"Go, wing thy flight from star to star, "From world to luminous world, as far

"As the universe spreads it flaming wall; "Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, "And multiply each through endless years,

"One minute of Heaven is worth them all!"

The

The glorious Angel, who was keeping
The gates of Light, beheld her weeping;
And, as he nearer drew and listen'd
To her sad song, a tear-drop glisten'd
Within his eyelids, like the spray

From Eden's fountain, when it lies
On the blue flow'r, which-Bramins say--
Blooms no where but in Paradise!
"Nymph of a fair, but erring line!"
Gently he said-" One hope is thine.
""Tis written in the Book of Fate,
"The Peri yet may be forgiven
"Who brings to this Eternal Gate

"The Gift that is most dear to Heaven!
"Go, seek it, and redeem thy sin ;-
"'Tis sweet to let the Pardon'd in !"

Rapidly as comets run

To th' embraces of the Sun :—
Fleeter than the starry brands,
Flung at night from angel hands
At those dark and daring sprites,
Who would climb th' empyreal heights,
Down the blue vault the PERI flies,

And, lighted earthward by a glance
That just then broke from morning's eyes,
Hung hovering o'er our world's expanse.

But whither shall the Spirit go
To find this gift for heav'n?" I know
"The wealth," she cries, "of every urn,
"In which unnumber'd rubies burn,
"Beneath the pillars of CHILMINAR ;-
"I know where the Isles of Perfume are
Many a fathom down in the sea,

"To the south of sun-bright ARABY ;—
"I know too where the Genii hid

"The jewell'd cup of their King JAMISHED,
"With Life's elixir sparkling high-

"But gifts like these are not for the sky.

"Where was there ever a gem that shone

"Like the steps of ALLA's wonderful Throne ?

"And the Drops of Life-oh! what would they be
"In the boundless Deep of Eternity?”

While thus she mus'd, her pinions fann'd
The air of that sweet Indian land,

Whose air is balm; whose ocean spreads
VOL. LIX.

2 Q

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