I 
COM 
trade to all parts of Hudson’s Bay, and in- 
vested with great powers and privileges. 
The establishment excited the jealousy of 
the French, who in 1686 seized on all their 
forts or factories, except that at Port Nel- 
son ; they were, however, retaken in 1693 ; 
but they have been annoyed by the same 
power at several subsequent periods ; and 
in 1782 a French squadron, under La Pe- 
rouse, destroyed the settlements, forts, 
merchandise, &c. of the company, to the 
supposed value of about 600,0001. sterling, 
but without retaining possession of the 
place. 
The Company’s charter not being con- 
firmed by parliament, they have no right 
in law to an exclusive trade ; but the nature 
of the trade is such that private adventu- 
rers cannot engage in it in competition with 
them. The Companyis under tlie direction 
of a governor, deputy governor, and a com- 
mittee of seven members : their capital 
stock is said not to exceed 110,0001., which 
is in tlie hands pf a yery small number of 
proprietors. 
Company, Sierra Leone, was instituted 
in the year 1791, with a capital of about 
230.0001. The general object of the sub- 
scribers was the introduction of civilization 
into Africa, for effecting which end they 
proposed to establish a secure factory at 
Sierra Leone, with tlie view to a new trade 
in produce, chiefly with the interior of tlie 
counti'y ; but the reception into the settle- 
ment of near 1200 blacks from Nova Sco- 
tia, in March, 1792, produced much em- 
barrassment, which was increased in 179.s 
by the war, which interrupted their trade, 
and subjected them to depredations. In 
1794 the colony was attacked and taken by 
the French, who destroyed every desciip- 
tion of property belonging to the Company, 
by which they sustained a loss of about 
52.0001. In 1798, however, the colony 
bad so far recovered as to contain about 
1200 inhabitants : the heads of families 
were about 300 5 of whom about one half 
were supported by their farms, many were 
mechanics, about 15 were retail shopkeep- 
ers, 20 or 23 followed the business of fish- 
ing, 10 or 15 traded in small vessels of their 
own, 4 were employed as schoolmasters, 
12 or 15 as seamen, and about 20 as la- 
bourers under the Company : from 3 to 400 
native labourers worked in the settlement 
for hire, chiefly on the farms, which were 
increasing rapidly. 
’ Further difficulties and losses have been 
experienced, from an insurrection of the 
COM 
Nova Scotians in 1800, and an attack of 
some of the neighbouring tribes in 1801, 
but the colony is now possessed of more 
effectual means of defence, and a great 
impediment to its progress has been 
done away by the abolition of the slave 
trade. 
Company, Dutch East India. This once 
celebrated establishment wris formed by 
the union of a number of separate compa- 
nies in 1 602 : it carried on for many years 
a very flourishing trade, which has since 
declined very'^ rapidly, particularly from 
about the year 1770, and in 1799 it w'as 
entirely suspended. The Dutch have like- 
wise had West India Companies, a Levant 
Company, Companies for the Baltic sea, the 
whale fishery, &c. 
Company, French East India, was esta- 
blished in 1664, but never became of much 
importance. In 1769 the trade was laid 
open. A new Company was established 
in 1785, but was abolished in 1790. The 
other commercial Companies of France 
were principally a West India Company, a 
St. Domingo Company, the Senegal Com- 
pany, tlie Mississippi Company, the Compa- 
ny of the West, and tlie Bastion Com- 
pany. 
Company, Danish East India, and also 
the Swedish East Company, still possess a 
share in the commerce of the East, although 
it is not very considerable. 
Company, in military affairs, a small 
body of foot, commanded by a captain, 
who has under him a lieutenant and en- 
sign. 
The number of centinels, or private soL 
diets in a company, may be from 50 to 80 ; 
and a battalion consists of thirteen such 
companies, one of which is always grena- 
diers, and posted on the right ; next them 
stand the eldest company, and on the left 
the second company ; the youngest one be- 
ing always posted in the centre. 
Companies not incorporated into regi- 
ments are called irregulars, or independent 
companies. 
Company of ships, a fleet of merchant- 
men, who make a charter-party among 
themselves, the principal conditions where- 
of usually are, that certain vessels shall be 
acknowledged admiral, vice-admiral, and 
rear-admiral ; that such and such signals 
shall be observed ; that those which bear 
no guns shall pay so much per cent, of their 
cargo ; and in case tliey be attacked, that 
what damages are sustained, shall be reim- 
bursed by the company in general. In tire 
