Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/258

 242 COMMERCE WITH elude Prince of Wales Island, because it was not established on the monopoly principles. It was formed chiefly by two private merchants, * and may be looked upon as the first European settlement ever made in the Indian Archipehigo on principles of ti-ue wisdom and liberality. Its rapid prosperity, as lonsr as the views of its first founders were not encroached upon, is remarkably contrasted with the unfailing miscarriage of the visionary views of the monopolists. If we look for a moment to the conduct of the monopoly companies in their intercourse with the great nations who are the neighbours of the In- dian islanders, we shall find that their conduct was governed by the same principles. The result with these populous and powerful nations has indeed been very different, for every where with them the Euro- peans have either been expelled or placed under the severest restrictions, and the native states have pre- served their independence. Beginning from the west, the English, soon after their first appearance in India, settled a factory at Siam, and carried on with that country a beneficial intercourse. They soon, however, in their usual way, declared it ex- pensive and unprofitable, and withdrew it. They again re-established it j and, in 1686, on some idle pretext, removed it, and declared war against the
 * James Scott and Francis Light.