Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/465

 I OF THE ARCHIPELAGO. 4^1 The result was what might have been expected from the superior power of the Dutch, and the use they were wont to make of their advantages. The old Sultan was defeated ; the young one confirmed ; the English, Danes, and all other Europeans, ex- pelled for ever from Bantam ; a monopoly secured to the Dutch ; and, of course, the trade and pro- sperity of the country annihilated. * The power of the Dutch was never equal to their ambition. They attempted, by intrigue, what their resources wera unequal to accomplish by avowed conquest. Their counsels were often capricious, and commonly unjust, and the principles of commercial monopoly on which their acquisitions were governed, were sure to disgust the people. p. 127) gives the following flippant, but tolerably accu- rate, account of the transaction. " The first place of com- merce on the west end of Java is the famous Bantam, where the English and Danes had their factories flourishing till anno 16'82, at which time the neighbourly Dutch fomented a uar between the old king of Bantam and liis son; a^, be- cause tiie father would not come into their measures, and be their humble slave, they struck in with the son, who was more covetous of a crown than of wisdom. They, with the assist- ance of other rebels, put the son on the thron«, and took the old king prisoner, and sent him to Batavia ; and, in 1683, they pretended a power from the new king to send the Eng- lish and Danes a-packing, which they did, tvith a great deal
 * Hamilton (New Account of the Kist Iiuiies, V'ol. II.
 * / insolence J according to custom"