fifteen hundred to two thousand years have been passed in this process of acclimation.

Why should we undergo this long process, when a few thousand dollars may introduce them among us?

It is well known, that among other plants, the sugarcane may be gradually introduced into a climate which was at one time incongenial to it. The Otaheite has been introduced into Louisiana. What a gain it would be to our country if a variety could be procured which could be raised one degree farther north than the Otaheite! The advantages from this single plant alone would a thousand times compensate for all the expenses of such an experiment. For the introduction into this country of the various. fruits and vegetables which such a country as China must produce, might be attended with advantages almost incalculable.

We have already received from China one animal, the benefits of which to our country surpass a thousand times the expenses which might accrue in setting on foot the proper inquiry in relation to this matter. The Chinese hog is the animal to which we allude. A long series of years devoted to the selection of animals having a propensity to fatten, could alone have produced the breed, which has added so much to the wealth of our farmers, and to the pleasure of our epicures who admire a nice ham. What would our gardeners think of the immense piles of headed lettuce, described by travellers in China as heaped up at the gates of the cities, preparatory to entering and being distributed among the morning markets? We have nothing of the kind in the United States or Europe. We cannot have, unless by hundreds of years of persevering industry and care.

These things are more particularly of importance, because they are those in which the great mass of the community are directly and principally interested. They add to the comfort of the poorest as much as they do to that of the richest. All are benefited, and none could complain of any expenditure which all acknowledge is for the benefit of all classes, and all sections. If there be any section that may be more benefited than another, it is from latitude 32° south.

The introduction of one single vegetable, the turnip, into England, changed the whole face of a large district of country, and

rendered it, from being almost barren, one of the most fertile in the kingdom.

As to the commercial advantages, independent of other articles of commerce, which might be brought into view by means of such inquiries, we have no doubt that the introduction alone of the iron of Formosa into our country, would be found in ready demand. That iron is of so superior a quality, that, for some particular purposes, it would be invaluable. Such is the temper that can be given to it, it is stated, that swords made of it will sever with ease those made of ordinary steel. What a desideratum to all the mechanic arts would be a sufficient quantity of it to make our finest edgetools, and most delicately constructed instru

ments !

CHAPTER XX.

European rivalry in the east-Formation of the East India Company-Its conquests in India-First American vessel sails from New-York, and visits Canton-Interesting correspondence-Tabular view of our trade-Expiration of the company's charter-New state of things opening in the east-Increased vigilance necessary on the part of our government-Free trade with China.

For a century after Vasco de Gama had reflected so much glory upon his nation, by discovering the passage around the Cape of Good Hope, the Portuguese had enjoyed, as well as greatly abused, the advantages of superior knowledge and art, amid a feeble and half-civilized people. They explored the Indian Ocean as far as Japan; visited islands rich in some of the favourite productions of nature; had achieved the most brilliant conquests; and, by their commerce, poured into Europe, in unexampled profusion, those rare commodities of the east, on which the nations of the old world, at that time, set an extraordinary value.

These new sources of wealth could not fail to attract the attention of the other powers of Europe. For even when confined to the narrow limits which a carriage by land had prescribed, this trade was supposed to have elevated feeble states into powerful ones. History bears abundant proof that it contributed largely to the support of the Grecian monarchies, both in Syria and in Egypt; for a long succession of years retarded the downfall of Constantinople; and raised the otherwise obscure republic of Venice to the rank and influence of the most potent of kingdoms. No wonder, therefore, that the new channel opened by the Portuguese to the east, should have aroused the cupidity of all the maritime powers of Europe.

England had shared largely in the improvements of Europe at that period; and that active spirit of commerce, which was destined to encompass the whole globe, had gone boldly forth; while. the felicitous reign of Elizabeth was highly favourable to the accumulation of capital, and all of those projects on which the life of commerce depends.

During the sixteenth century, the merchants of Bristol had extended their trade to the Canary Islands; those of Plymouth to the coast of Guinea and Brazil; the fisheries were prosecuted on the banks of Newfoundland; the exclusive trade of Russia was in their hands; while to the Mediterranean, Germany, and the central ports of Europe, their trade was prosecuted with such vigour as to elicit the open jealousy of the Hanse Towns.

The Protestant inhabitants of France and the Netherlands, flying at that time from the persecutions of their bigoted governments, contributed largely to the commercial resources of England, not more by the introduction of capital than of mechanical skill.

Spain was followed to the new world, and Cabot, in fourteen hundred and ninety-seven, traced these shores from Labrador to Virginia. In fifteen hundred and twenty-seven, a project was presented to Henry the Eighth, which was intended to put England on a footing with Portugal, at that time claiming an exclusive privilege, and defending, by an armed force, the passage to the east by the Cape of Good Hope. And this project was a northwest passage. Two efforts were made during the reign of that prince, and though unsuccessful, reflected the highest credit on the nautical skill of the English. Indeed, so ardent was the desire of England to share in the trade of the east, and so anxious to find a channel to which the monopolizing Portuguese could have no claim, that repeated efforts were made to make voyages to India, by the northwest, and also by the northeast passage. These voyages, though they extended the limits of geographical knowledge, and opened new channels of trade with the north of Russia, were unsuccessful, and several of them tragical in their results.

During the many years spent in these unsuccessful projects, England had steadily increased in wealth and naval power; so that in fifteen hundred and eighty-two, throwing aside all disguise, vessels to India were despatched by way of the Cape of Good Hope. Others followed, with a letter from Elizabeth to the Emperor of China. These voyages, though far from being profitable, did not in the least damp the commercial spirit of the people; which, in fact, at this time, received a new impulse from the remarkable voyage of Drake, who returned to Plymouth in fifteen hundred

and eighty, and exhibited to the wondering eyes of the spectators, the first ship in England, and the second in the world, that had circumnavigated the globe. An ardour for maritime exploits pervaded the highest ranks. The Earls of Cumberland and Essex, Sir R. Grenville and Raleigh, Gilbert and Dudley, prepared squadrons at their own expense, and sailed in them to different parts of the world.

In fifteen hundred and eighty-six, followed the celebrated voyage of Cavendish, which, like that of Drake, was eminently successful. On the day of his arrival, he wrote to the chamberlain of Elizabeth as follows:-" I navigated to the Islands of Philippines, hard upon the coast of China, of which country I have brought such intelligence as hath not been heard of in these parts; a country, the stateliness and riches of which I fear to make report of, lest I should not be credited. I sailed along the islands of Molucca, where, among some of the heathen people, I was well entreated, and where our countrymen may have trade as free as the Portugals, if they themselves will."

The tide of maritime adventure, so much augmented by the return of these splendid voyages, now flowed naturally and steadily to the east.

In fifteen hundred and eighty-nine, "divers merchants" petitioned the lords of council for permission to send ships on a voyage to India; which, in fifteen hundred and ninety-one, was followed by another expedition, set on foot, not so much with the view of trade, as to harass the Portuguese; a species of commercial enterprise which our worthy ancestors appear to have understood from a very early period of their history.

The Dutch at this time ventured boldly, and sent vessels by the East Cape to India. This spurred on the English, and in fifteen hundred and ninety-nine, an association was formed, and thirty thousand pounds subscribed. Political relations with Spain. greatly retarded, but could not defeat the commercial spirit of the people; so that in sixteen hundred, a charter of privileges was obtained, vessels were again prepared for the east, and thus was laid the foundation of a power so anomalous, and which, in the hands of the East India Company, has exercised so much influence in distributing the wealth of the world! By repeated efforts, sharp and hazardous conflicts with her more powerful competitors,

A a