Page:The influence of commerce on civilization (IA influenceofcomme00ellerich).pdf/22

16 Spanish Inquisition. In the words of Lucretius: "Tantum Religio potuit suadere maloruni", rendered into English verse: "Learn thou then to what damned deeds religion urges men", The enterprise of Spain attracted the notice of the Britons Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, who, though they be called buccaneers, were probably no worse than the Spaniards, whom they bespoiled. This led to the attempted invasion of Britain by the Spanish Armada, the result of which, under Drake's able seamanship, left England mistress of the sea, as far as Spain was concerned. The star of Britain, rising over the horizon as a sea power, now definitely took a place in European maritime commerce. From this on, the defeat of the Dutch, the Napoleonic wars when the British fleet under Admiral Nelson shattered the combined fleets of France and Spain at Trafalgar in 1805, are matters of e very-day history; but this event and the subsequent triumph of the British arms at Waterloo left the commerce of the world, won by war, at the feet of Great Britain. To hark back to our story. On 31st December, 1599, Queen Elizabeth signed the charter of the great East India Company. To wrest this prize from the British Empire was the endeavour of Napoleon, but Nelson, sailing into the Bay of Aboukir in 1798, destroyed the French fleet; while shortly after the French army in Egypt was annihilated by Sir Ralph Abercrombie at the Battle of the Pyramids. Then the way to the East was clear. From hence on a new era in commerce rises, and a new epoch in civilization begins. While reflecting on the failure of Napoleon in his attempt to boycott Great Britain's trade with Europe, we must not forget that much of the trade and commerce of Great Britain was derived from France as far back as the massacre of St. Bartholomew. The operatives, mostly Huguenots,, who were driven from their homes and country, found a place in Britain; and when Napoleon attempted to boycott British commerce from Europe, and even blotted Great Britain from the ma[) of Europe, declaring British property lawful prize, the British Islands to be held in a state of blockade, the continent of Europe to hold no correspondence with nor to transact any business