befallen the mother country were followed by an event, which it seems the
Commissioners had hardly dared to suspect, and which, in ©very case, would
have frustrated all their designs. This was the dissolution of the Company,
in consequence of a resolution taken to that effect on the 54th December,
by the body then representing dié government pf the United States of
Holland.
New views of policy were of -course suggested by this important change.
In the year 1SQ0 there appeared a small volume, entitled “ A Description
“ of .Java and of its principal Productions, shewing the Advantages to be
“ derived therefrom under a better Administration, by Mr. Dirk Van Hogen*
“ dorp,” in whioh the writer, after observing that the .true state of Java
and its importance to the mother country had hitherto been little known,
or at least that no correct ideas had yet been formed in Holland with regard
to its value, fertility, population, and advantageous situation ftf trade,
establishes,
“ 1. That the system on which the trade in India had hitherto been con-
“ ducted and the possessions administered, was no longer good under present
circumstances, but contained in itself the seeds of decline and ruin.
■ƒ*•* 2. That the exelutive trade was in its nature injurious, and naturally
“ cahsed the ruin of the colonies,
| <3. That under a different system, those colonies would flourish, and
“ yield much greater advantages than ever.
& }4» That a revfaHif, founded mi the principles of freedom trade,
“ property in the sod, and equality pf imposts, could be easily introduced.
* 0. And imahy, tihat all the benefits which woqld thereby accrue to th®
“ mother country« from the territorial revenue, the duties on trade, the
“ industry and wealth ffor which that trade would furnish employment, and
v the treasures which the distribution of produce throughout Europe must
“ bring into the mother country, would greatly exceed the highest advantages
that could be calculated upon, even under the most favourable prospects,
" b y
“ by the means of the fallen Company or a continuation of its former sysL
terndH) ,,
Many parts of this pamphlet abound, in violence and invective^ ami others
are too highly colouredbut witbthese exceptions, it may be safely asserted
that it contains, a more correct View .of the state .of society, andi of the
resmwee^ o£. ^€|, country, than any paper which had preceded it,, and the
author is .most .justly entitled to all. the credit of having chalked! ora* to bis
countrymen, the road to r .honour andprosperfty, iht the-future administration
of the, Dutch-East-Indian colonies.
Having, in the'eouBfe-^fj the foregoing sketch of, the decline and fell of
the Dutch East-India. Company, exhibited a statement of(-these resources,
under the mercantile system-of the Company,, it maybe- interesting, also- td
State what, in the opinion of Mr. Hogendorp, the island of Java alone
Was capable ®fl, affording eventually, under a. system founded on the priftci.
plej of property in the.sqil-, freedom of cultivation and trade, and the impartial
administration of^ju&,tice> according to,! equal rights,, « When the
.- exclusive .and, - oppressive trade ,<pf , th© Company, the: fpreed deliveries,
the jfepdA services, ! ft\! short, the whole system, of feudal government,., is
‘/• ■done away.withy and when the effects, of this,important revolution are felt
;$ * n <fee;.«®rt«n increase of cultivation and trade, Mr.
Hffgendpfp, " |h f limits of probability will by no means be exceeded^ iff
**- estawatingiflKs aggregate of the revenues of Java, in progress of time, a t
twelve), ^millions of rix-dollars, or twenty-four millions of guiMea's,
‘f aimiually.” ;.
■ statement, calculated with reference,-, to, the comparative produce-
of‘the West India Islands, has been generally considered by the colonists-
asexhibiting a very exaggerated view, of what the island could, under any
cir®um#tanee&, afford,,; an d hymauy as too wild a peculation to deserve
attention; but to this ft should fee added, that The plan c * which it was
founded,-, viz, an entire change in the internal management of the emmteyr
considered as- equally wild and romantic by those wfeo declaimed the
f 2 " ^ ‘loudest