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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 2, p. 467.

xIII] EARLY EUROPEAN SETTLEM4ENTS 467 It is due to the European Companies to state that, in thus refusing pilots to the new-comers, they were carrying out the orders of the Native government of Bengal to which they were then strictly subject. ' If the Germans come here,' the The Nawab had written to the English merchants on a rumour of Nawab's orders the first Embden expedition reaching India, Lit will be very against the bad for all the Europeans, but for you worst of all, and you Prussians. willafterwards repent it; and I shall be obliged to stop all your trade and business.... Therefore take care that these German ships do not come.' 'God forbid that they should come,' was the pious response of the President of the English Council; 'but should this be the case, I am in hopes they will be either sunk, broke, or destroyed.' They came, nevertheless, and some years later the English English Court of Directors complained that their Bengal servants were agent privately anxious to trade privately with the Embden Company. 'If trade with any of the Prussian ships,' wrote the Court, 'want the usual Prussian assistance of water, provisions, or real necessaries, they are to Company be supplied according to the customs of nations in amity one with the other. But you are on no pretence whatsoever to have any dealings with them, or give the least assistance in their mercantile affairs.' The truth is that the German Company had effected an entrance into Bengal, and found the French, English, and Dutch merchants quite willing to trade with it on their private account. But the German investments were made Frederick without experience, and the Embden Company was before long the Corn- sacrificed by the Prussian king to the exigencies of his Euro- pany. pean diplomacy. Such is a summary of the efforts by European nations to Causes of obtain a share in the India trade. The Portuguese failed, failuthre because they attempted a task altogether beyond their strength: Portu- the conquest and the conversion of India. Their memorials guese; are the epic of the Lusiads, the death-roll of the Inquisition, an indigent half-caste population, and three decayed patches of territory on the Bombay coast. The Dutch failed on the of the Indian continent, because their trade was based on a monopoly Dutch; which it was impossible to maintain, except by great and costly armaments. Their monopoly, however, still flourishes in their island dominion of Java. The French failed, in spite of the of the brilliancy of their arms and the genius of individuals, from French. want of steady support at home. Their ablest Indian servants fell victims to a corrupt court and a careless people. Their surviving Settlements disclose that talent for careful administra- tion which, but for French monarchs and their ministers and aha