A. D. 1 68 1. 607 



infomucli, that among the projects, called bubbles, of the year 1720, we 

 fliall fee, that this was made one of them ; yet, fince that year the ma- 

 nufadure of tinned plates is brought to greater perfedion in England 

 than in any other part of the world. 



The proteftants in France being dayly more and more perfecuted by 

 their moft chriftian monarch. King Charles was advifed by his council 

 to ifllie a proclamation, or order of council, promifing to all proteftants, 

 who fliould withdraw from France, ample privileges in England, where- 

 upon confiderable numbers of them came hither, even before the linal 

 revocation of the famous edid of Nantes, in the year 1685. 



So great was the ftrength and power of the Dutch in Eaft-India, at 

 this time, that Sir William Temple, who was well acquainted with their 

 affairs, obferves, that, befides the eflablifhment or conquefts of their com- 

 pany there, they had, in a manner, ereded another fubordinate com- 

 monwealth in thofe parts, where, upon occafion, they could bring to fea 

 40 or 50 fhips of war, and 30,000 landmen, by the loweft computa- 

 tion. 



1682. — After the Englilh Hudfon's-bay company had, with much la- 

 bour, and charge in fadories and fettlements, eftablifhed their trade 

 with the natives, while they were building a fort at Port-Nelfon, in the 

 fouth part of that bay, the French from Canada came privately and 

 fuddenly, with two {hips, into the river Nelfon, and furprized our com- 

 pany's men, difpoflefled them of that fettlement, and carryed them pri- 

 soners to Canada. This was the firfl time that any French veflel had 

 ever failed into Hudfon's bay. But this piratical expedition was dil- 

 owned by the French king, who promifed fatisfadion to our company, 

 though whether any adequate fatisfadion was really made, docs not ap- 

 pear. Our company there alfo ereded a fort at Charleton ifle, whither 

 all the peltry, &c. were to be brought from the other fadories, for load- 

 ing the fhips for England. On Albany river, and on Hay's illand, were 

 forts and fadories alfo fettled ; and the company fent urgent inftrudions 

 to their governors, by all means to endeavour to fave the great expenfe 

 they were put to in fending annual fupplies of proviiions from England, 

 by trying to raife corn, &c. in that country. But this was foon found 

 to be impradicable, by reafon of the intenfenefs of the cold, and long 

 winters there, which foon deftroys almofl every thing fowed or planted 

 in it. They had by this time live fettlements there, viz. Albany river, 

 Hay's ifland, Rupert's river, Port Nelfon, and New Severn. 



hi this year the Englilh Eafl-hKlia company loft one of the bed fac- 

 tories which they had ever pollelled in all India, occafioned by a quar- 

 rel between the old king of Bantam and his fon. Our company took 

 part with the father, as the Dutch company, on the contrary, fidedwith 

 the fon, and fent their forces to his aifiltance from Batavia, whereby 

 the old king was vanquiilicd, and fhut up in prifon. Hereupon the 



