Chap. in. the ^Empire 
It ebbs and flows, is poffeflrd now by one Nation, and 
then by another j and that when it is once loft, it is 
very hard to be regained. If therefore we obftinately 
perfift in the old Road till the Northern Nations aftu- 
ally become poffefled of this and other Branches of 
Traffick, and in Confequence thereof, ot a great 
Naval Force, it will be to no Purpofe to look bacfk, or 
to conlider by what Means this might have been pre- 
vented. There is a natural Vigour that attends an in- 
creafing and growing Trade ; and there is alfo a natural 
Supinenefs and Negligence which accompanies the De- 
clenfion of Trade ; fo that when Nations in thefe diffe- 
rent Circumftances come to contend with each other, it 
is no difficult Thing to perceive which muft goto the 
Wall. 
We well know, that there was a Time when we had 
very little Trade, that it was with great Difficulty we firft 
raifed and then extended it, and that outdoing this, made 
Way for the Declenfion of the Spanijh and Portuguefe 
Trade, which have never recovered fince. We alfo know, 
nay we even remember, when the Swedes and Danes had 
little or no Trade, and when themfelves confidered it 
as impradicable for them to interfere with us, or 
the Dutch in the Trade of the Ea{i-Indies % but we now 
learn from Experience, that they are able to do it, and 
we cannot but be fenfible, that the greateft Obftacles to 
fuch Endeavours are felt at the Beginning •, and that 
when thefe are once got over, as in Refped to them, 
they are already got over, Things go on a-pace, that 
is to fay, Exportation increafes. Navigation is extended. 
Wealth rowls in, Shipping multiplies, and a naval 
Power is fuddenly raifed. . The Bufinefs therefore is to 
refledl in Time, and to make Enquiries into the pro- 
pereft Means for preferving what we have got, while it 
is yet in our Hands. Opportunities Once flipc, are never 
to be retrieved % we are ftill a naVal Power, and a great 
naval Power ; but if we imagine that this depends upon 
the Nature of our Government, upon the Supplies 
•granted for the Navy, and the Orders iffued from the 
Admiralty, we ffiall very foon become fenfible of our 
Miftake. Philip II. of Spain fell into this Miftake, 
he fancied that naval Power might be maintained, as 
well as employed, by Policy ; but what followed ? 
In 1588, the Efforts of Spain were terrible to 
Europe in general, and to us in particular j in lefs than 
twenty Years the Returns from the Indies became ab- 
folutely precarious, the Spanifh Fleets were the Con- 
tempt of their Enemies, and in half that Time both 
we and the Dutch infulted the Coafts ol Spain. The 
Source and Support of a naval Power is Commerce, 
and if we cannot keep this, we muft lofe that, let the 
Adminiftration in this Country be ever fo honeft, or fo 
wife *, from whence my Conclufion is, that though there 
may be other very important Concerns, yet the moft 
important ©f all is our Trade ; and may Providence 
iodine us to fee this in Time ! 
But that we may not feem to be always complaining, 
and never thinking of any Means of removing the 
Evils of which we complain, let us conlider a little with 
ourfelves, if forhewhat may not be thought of, which 
may afford us rational Hopes of preferving the Com- 
merce we have left, and even of extending it. Such 
an Attempt as this would be ferviceable many Ways ; 
it is peculiarly adapted to our prefent Situation; we have 
a rich and powerful Company, wdio are intruded with 
the Commerce in thefe Parts, and who might be exci- 
ted by the Defire of expreffing their Gratitude to the 
Publick for what they have received, to try what might 
be atchieved on this Side, 
We have in the former Volume mentioned fomewhat 
of the Poffibility of venturing once more intothelflandof 
Japan. But if that Ihould be thought too hazardous, what 
can hinder fome of our Ships from vifiting Formofa ? a 
fruitful, pleafant, and well fituated Ifland. Are there 
not a thoufand Pretences that may be fuggefted for put- 
ting in there ? and if the Veffel that makes this Attempt 
be a Ship of Force, and well manned, is there any Reafon 
todo ubtjt hat ffie would be able to procure that Refped 
^ China. 999 
which would make way for Trade ^ It may be replied,- 
that the Chine fe Laws are fo ftrid, that there is no Trad- 
ing in FormOfa without the Emperor^s I.,eave. To 
which I reply, that it is very well known the Chinefe in- 
fift upon their Laws in the moft peremptory Manner, 
where they are lure they have Force enough to fupporc 
and carry them into' Execution. On the other Hand, 
where this is not to be done, they are very flow in com- 
ing to Extremities, and had rather' bate fome of their 
Pundilio’s, than run . the Hazard of a Difpute that 
might be attended with bad Confequences. 
In Times paft, the Dutch midt the Conqueft of this 
Ifland, or rather the Dutch Eajt-India Company made it, 
and kept Poffeffion of it an Spite of the whole Force 
of the Chinefe Empire. I am Very far from faying, that 
this fhould become a Precedent to ouv Eajl- India Com- 
pany, or that they ought to attempt either a Corlqueft^ 
or a Settlement by Imrce ; all I contend for is, that if 
the Dutch Eaft-India Qoxnpmy conquered it, the Englijh 
Eaft-lndia Company might find a Way to trade there. 
They would find their Account in it, and the Nation 
would find their Account in it ; and though it might 
coft fome Time and Trouble to bring it about, yet this 
very Time and Trouble would for fo long a Space, 
exclude other Nations, and we might perhaps find a 
Means of putting the Trade there on fuch a Foot as to 
keep it wholly and for ever to ourfelves. 
If we never try, it is -certain we fhall never fuceeed ; 
and if the Swedes or Danes had been difcouraged by 
Inch Obftacles, there is no Doubt that they had never 
brought that Trade to bear which they now enjoy, Be- 
fides, when our Drake's and Cavendiflj's undertook thofe 
perilous Voyages in the Dawn of our Navigation, they 
had much greater Difficulties to ftruggle with’ and 
much lefs Affiftance to hope for, yet they overcame 
them all ; and to their Boldnefs and Intrepidity we owe 
that Figure we have fince made as a Maritime Power. 
If therefore a Spirit of this Kind could be raifed, or 
rather revived, why ftiould not we expedf fome fuch- 
like Effeds ? or why fiiould we reft fatisfied with the 
prefent State of Things, and Jay afide all Thoughts of 
improving or extending our Commerce, when we fee 
other Nations, far lefs able and powerful than our own, 
and under much greater Difficulties than we have any 
good Grounds to fear, making fuch Attempts, and ma- 
king them with Succefs .? 
But to put this Matter out of all Doubt, and to fet 
the Thing in fo clear a Light that every Reader of to- 
lerable Underftanding may be able to judge of it, I 
have added another Sedion, which relates to a Coun- 
try that hitherto we have little or no Knowledge of, 
with which we never attempted any Trade, and to 
which, notwichftanding there is the higheft Probability 
that an advantageous Commerce might be carried on. 
Whether this be pradicable or not ; whether it will be 
ever attempted by this Nation ; or whether the Hints 
here given may prove ufeful to fome more confi- 
detateand enterprizing Nation, muft remain in the 
Womb of Time. 
Yet till this ffiall be difclofed, I ffiall have the Satis- 
fadion of knowing that I have done my Duty ; and 
that with infinite Pains and Trouble I have coileded 
and reduced into their proper Order, all the fcattered 
Hints and Paffages relative to a very Jaro-e and fruit- 
ful Peninfula, not lefs wealthy, not le!s°populous in 
Proportion to its Bignefs, than China itfelf, and of 
which there is not hitherto extant any regular or tole- 
rable Defeription in any Language ; fo that if I ffiould 
mifs in my great Aim, and which ought to be every 
Man’s Aim, that of doing good to and improvino- the 
Trade of my Country, I ffiall at leaft fficceed as an 
Author, by enriching with a new and curious Sedion 
this great Work, which I commit to the Perufal and 
Confideration of Pofterity, and more efpecialJy of thofe 
heroick and enterprizing Spirits deftined to ftrike out 
of the common Path, and to acquire immortal Glory 
by bringing new Advantages to Mankind. ^ 
SECTION 
voL. II. N’^cxxxvm, 
II X 
