292 A. D. i6i8. 



time added many new fortifications and outworks to that city, which is 

 about fix miles in circumference, and contains about 80,000 people. 

 They have likewife built many forts and i-edoubts, at proper diftances, 

 for feveral miles round it, for the fafety of their plantations, farms, and 

 pleafure-houies ; fo as to be deemed long fince out of danger from any 

 attack of the natives, according to NieuhoflP's voyages, publifhed in 

 1676, who then'reckoned 6720 fighting men in it, befides the Dutch in- 

 habitants, and the families of great numbers of Chinefe, Malayans, 

 Amboynefe, Moors, and Javanefe. They have fugar-houfes, powder- 

 mills, paper-mills, and all other conveniences, without being obliged to 

 depend on the uncertainty of iupplies from Europe. And their coffee 

 is reckoned next to that of Mocha for goodnefs. They have alfo pep- 

 per, rice, wax, benzoin ; magazines of iron, timber, and naval flores ; 

 founderies for cannon ; docks for fliipbuilding, &c *. 



The Engllih Ruflia company were now difputing with the Hull men 

 their whale-fifhing at the ifle of Trinity, lying in the north fea towards 

 Spitzbergen, that company claiming an exclufive right to the fifhery ; 

 yet the Hull fhips having firfl difcovered that ifle, and very early fifhed 

 at it, it was this year granted to the corporation of Hull by King James 

 for their whale-fifhing. 



Although the Englifh (as we have feen) had, fo early as the year 

 1 536, reforted for commerce to Guinea or the wefl coafl of Africa, yet, 

 by reafon of lofTes and difappointments in that traflfic, they became ne- 

 gligent of it, and even feem to have difcontinued it entirely, till now 

 that Is^ing James granted an exclufive charter to Sir Robert Rich, and 

 other Londoners, for raifing a joint flock for a trade to Guinea. Never- 

 thelefs, as feparate traders would not forbear reforting to that coafl, 

 fuch difputes arofe between this company and them as foon ended in 

 the difTolution of the company, the proprietors withdrawing their 

 fliares. This occafioned that trade to he negleded during the refl of 

 this king's reign, and alfo fome part of his fon's reign, w^hilfl the Hol- 

 landers perfifted in improving their own trade on this coafl. That 

 fhort-lived company had foon fpent the greateft part of their capital ; 

 the gold and drug trade alone not being fufEcient to fupport fadories 

 and forts there ; there not having as yet been any trade for negro flaves 

 for our own American ifland plantations, fcarcely as yet exifting. 



1619 — Tlie Ruflia and Eafl-India companies of England fitted out 

 nine fhips and two pinnaces for the whale-filhery at Spitzbergen in the 

 year 1 61 9. But the voyage proving unfortunate, the two companies, 

 after carrying it on jointly for two years without fuccefs, agreed to give 

 up that fijhery. 



* An ample account of this Duttli capital of tlie Eaft, may be found in the Voyages of Stavori- 

 mis, a commander in the fervice of the Dutch Eatt India company. M. 



