Sketches from Formosa.

270
SKETCHES FROM FORMOSA
It certainly is not generally known that, during the
latter half of the seventeenth century, the English East
India Company had one of their factories on Formosa
but there can be no doubt about
for a number of years ;
the matter, because the old yellow documents which were
courteously produced for my inspection at India Office
abundantly prove it. The representations made by
"
Mr. Wm. Cambell, a Scottishman, then serving with
the Dutch/' may also have had something
to do with
this development ; for our British Company gave as
large an honorarium for his written Statement to them as
Milton received for his manuscript of Paradise Lost.
One of the letters preserved in India Office, London,
is dated 1670, and is addressed to the King of Tywan ;
its opening sentences running thus :
" Charles, by the
grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and
Ireland ; having most graciously licensed severall of his
Merchants to trade into all the habitable partes of the
World, amongst whom Sir Wm. Thompson, with some
other Merchants, to trade into these
Now for the directing and overseeing
Eastern partes.
their Affairs at
Bantam and partes adjacent, they have appointed mee
(Henry Dacres) Agent. The said Henry Dacres, there-
fore, on behalf of the said Sir Wm. Thompson, Governor,
sends greeting unto your most Excellent Majesty ;
and
having seen your most gracious Letter directed to all
Merchants in Generall, inviting them to trade into the
partes under your Majesty's Jurisdiction, has, without
delay, sent this small Ship and Sloope with Mr. Ellis
to acquaint us with the Merchandise
4 -
Crispe, Cap
desireable to bee Imported, and of Merchandise proper
for us to Exporte, and when wee shall bee acquainted
therewith by him, and have the permission of Friendship
and Affection of your Majesty (which wee moste
humbly desire) wee shall requeste the said Sir Wm.