第 15 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  commonly mismanaged the trade。 With an exclusive privilege they
  have both mismanaged and confined it。
  The Royal African Company; the predecessors of the present
  African Company; had an exclusive privilege by charter; but as
  that charter had not been confirmed by Act of Parliament; the
  trade; in consequence of the Declaration of Rights; was; soon
  after the revolution; laid open to all his Majesty's subjects。
  The Hudson's Bay Company are; as to their legal rights; in the
  same situation as the Royal African Company。 Their exclusive
  charter has not been confirmed by Act of Parliament。 The South
  Sea Company; as long as they continued to be a trading company;
  had an exclusive privilege confirmed by Act of Parliament; as
  have likewise the present United Company of Merchants trading to
  the East Indies。
  The Royal African Company soon found that they could not
  maintain the competition against private adventurers; whom;
  notwithstanding the Declaration of Rights; they continued for
  some time to call interlopers; and to persecute as such。 In 1698;
  however; the private adventurers were subjected to a duty of ten
  per cent upon almost all the different branches of their trade;
  to be employed by the company in the maintenance of their forts
  and garrisons But; notwithstanding this heavy tax; the company
  were still unable to maintain the competition。 Their stock and
  credit gradually declined。 In 1712; their debts had become so
  great that a particular Act of Parliament was thought necessary;
  both for their security and for that of their creditors。 It was
  enacted that the resolution of two…thirds of these creditors in
  number and value should bind the rest; both with regard to the
  time which should be allowed to the company for the payment of
  their debts; and with regard to any other agreement which it
  might be thought proper to make with them concerning those debts。
  In 1730; their affairs were in so great disorder that they were
  altogether incapable of maintaining their forts and garrisons;
  the sole purpose and pretext of their institution。 From that
  year; till their final dissolution; the Parliament judged it
  necessary to allow the annual sum of ten thousand pounds for that
  purpose。 In 1732; after having been for many years losers by the
  trade of carrying negroes to the West Indies; they at last
  resolved to give it up altogether; to sell to the private traders
  to America the negroes which they purchased upon the coast; and
  to employ their servants in a trade to the inland parts of Africa
  for gold dust; elephants' teeth; dyeing drugs; etc。 But their
  success in this more confined trade was not greater than in their
  former extensive one。 Their affairs continued to go gradually to
  decline; till at last; being in every respect a bankrupt company;
  they were dissolved by Act of Parliament; and their forts and
  garrisons vested in the present regulated company of merchants
  trading to Africa。 Before the erection of the Royal African
  Company; there had been three other joint stock companies
  successively established; one after another; for the African
  trade。 They were all equally unsuccessful。 They all; however; had
  exclusive charters; which; though not confirmed by Act of
  Parliament; were in those days supposed to convey a real
  exclusive privilege。
  The Hudson's Bay Company; before their misfortunes in the
  late war; had been much more fortunate than the Royal African
  Company。 Their necessary expense is much smaller。 The whole
  number of people whom they maintain in their different
  settlements and habitations; which they have honoured with the
  name of forts; is said not to exceed a hundred and twenty
  persons。 This number; however; is sufficient to prepare
  beforehand the cargo of furs and other goods necessary for
  loading their ships; which; on account of the ice; can seldom
  remain above six or eight weeks in those seas。 This advantage of
  having a cargo ready prepared could not for several years be
  acquired by private adventurers; and without it there seems to be
  no possibility of trading to Hudson's Bay。 The moderate capital
  of the company; which; it is said; does not exceed one hundred
  and ten thousand pounds; may besides be sufficient to enable them
  to engross the whole; or almost the whole; trade and surplus
  produce of the miserable; though extensive country; comprehended
  within their charter。 No private adventurers; accordingly; have
  ever attempted to trade to that country in competition with them。
  This company; therefore; have always enjoyed an exclusive trade
  in fact; though they may have no right to it in law。 Over and
  above all this; the moderate capital of this company is said to
  be divided among a very small number of proprietors。 But a joint
  stock company; consisting of a small number of proprietors; with
  a moderate capital; approaches very nearly to the nature of a
  private copartnery; and may be capable of nearly the same degree
  of vigilance and attention。 It is not to be wondered at;
  therefore; if; in consequence of these different advantages; the
  Hudson's Bay Company had; before the late war; been able to carry
  on their trade with a considerable degree of success。 It does not
  seem probable; however; that their profits ever approached to
  what the late Mr。 Dobbs imagined them。 A much more sober and
  judicious writer; Mr。 Anderson; author of The Historical and
  Chronological Deduction of Commerce; very justly observes that;
  upon examining the accounts of which Mr。 Dobbs himself was given
  for several years together of their exports and imports; and upon
  making proper allowances for their extraordinary risk and
  expense; it does not appear that their profits deserve to be
  envied; or that they can much; if at all; exceed the ordinary
  profits of trade。
  The South Sea Company never had any forts or garrisons to
  maintain; and therefore were entirely exempted from one great
  expense to which other joint stock companies for foreign trade
  are subject。 But they had an immense capital divided among an
  immense number of proprietors。 It was naturally to be expected;
  therefore; that folly; negligence; and profusion should prevail
  in the whole management of their affairs。 The knavery and
  extravagance of their stock…jobbing projects are sufficiently
  known; and the explication of them would be foreign to the
  present subject。 Their mercantile projects were not much better
  conducted。 The first trade which they engaged in was that of
  supplying the Spanish West Indies with negroes; of which (in
  consequence of what was called the Assiento contract granted them
  by the Treaty of Utrecht) they had the exclusive privilege。 But
  as it was not expected that much profit could be made by this
  trade; both the Portuguese and French companies; who had enjoyed
  it upon the same terms before them; having been ruined by it;
  they were allowed; as compensation; to send annually a ship of a
  certain burden to trade directly to the Spanish West Indies。 Of
  the ten voyages which this annual ship was allowed to make; they
  are said to have gained considerably by one; that of the Royal
  Caroline in 1731; and to have been losers; more or less; by
  almost all the rest。 Their ill success was imputed; by their
  factors and agents; to the extortion and oppression of the
  Spanish government; but was; perhaps; principally owing to the
  profusion and depredations of those very factors and agents; some
  of whom are said to have acquired great fortunes even in one
  year。 In 1734; the company petitioned the king that they might be
  allowed to dispose of the trade and tonnage of their annual ship;
  on account of the little profit which they made by it; and to
  accept such equivalent as they could obtain from the of Spain。
  In 1724; this company had undertaken the whale…fishery。 Of
  this; indeed; they had no monopoly; but as long as they carried
  it on; no other British subjects appear to have engaged in it。 Of
  the eight voyages which their ships made to Greenland; they were
  gainers by one; and losers by all the rest。 After their eighth
  and last voyage; when they had sold their ships; stores; and
  utensils; they found that their whole loss; upon this branch;
  capital and interest included; amounted to upwards of two hundred
  and thirty…seven thousand pounds。
  In 1722; this company petitioned the Parliament to be
  allowed to divide their immense capital of more than thirty…three
  millions eight hundred thousand pounds; the whole of which had
  been lent to government; into two equal parts: The one half; or
  upwards of sixteen millions nine hundred thousand pounds; to be
  put upon the same footing with other government annuities; and
  not to be subject to the debts contracted; or losses incurred; by
  the directors of the company in the prosecution of their
  mercantile projects; the other half to remain; as before; a
  trading stock; and to be subject to those debts and losses。 The
  petition was too reas