'■^'■'^ JIISTOHV OF INI>I, [Book 11.
A.D 1084. associates. In terms of this arrangement, tlie i.^lanU va.s formally 8un-en«]ere<l on the 19th of November, 1684. In tlie beginning of the following year a new i-eign commenced by the death of Charles on 6th tV-bniary, 1685, and the acces- .sion of James II. A great change in the policy <A' the Company immediately took place; but before tracing it, it will be proper to attend U) the cllange.'^ which had in the meanwhile been taking place in the other settlements of tin- Company.
A temiits to Notwithstanding the numerous obstructions to which the trade of the Com-
ciiiiiii trade, pany was subjected m the Eastern islands, it was determined still to persevere, and Bantam, as the most convenient intermediate point, continued to engross a considerable share of the annual investments. In the season 1 676-77, the share allotted to it consisted of eight vessels, amounting in the aggregate to 3180 tons. The spice trade was still the great inducement, Vjut a new interest had been created by the prospect of establishing a factory in China. In that case. it was supposed that Bantam would become the entrepot between China and India. This purpose it was already serving to some extent ; and the agent of Bantam was under orders to send annually, on the Company's account, tea of the best quality to the value of 100 dollars. In this season, however, a direct intercourse was to be attempted, by sending a small vessel to Amoy under the charge of a person of known prudence and intelligence. From his information, the expediency of adopting further steps might be judged This hopeful experi- ment was frustrated by an atrocity. In April, 1677, Mr. Miite, the agent, and a number of the principal servants of the agency, while sailing up the river of Bantam in tlieir boats, were waylaid by the natives and barbaroiLsly massacred The king and his sons were suspected of complicity, but denied it, and promised to make every exertion to discover and punish the perpetrators. Whether they did so is very doubtful, but the promise was all that the few survivors could obtain. The effect was a temporary extinction of the agency. In the subse quent season new appointments were made, but they appear not to have been judicious. Instead of attending to their proper duties the pei'sons appointed neglected them, and spent their time in squabbling with each other. In such circumstances trade languished, and before it could be revived the opening which had been anticipated at Amoy was closed by a Chinese civil war. Amid these discouragements, the only favourable incident was an overture from the Viceroy of Canton offering to admit the English to trade. In more prosperous times it would have been eagerly embraced, but the Company contented them- selves with returning a respectful answer, and requesting to know what privi- leges of trade would be mven if an Enijlish factorv were established at that port.
Tra.ievith In the scasou 1679-80, the prospect at Bantam had again brightened; for
three ships, carrying 1600 tons and a stock of £69,000, chiefly bullion, were despatched to it. The inducement does not clearly appear ; but from its being
