Ledger and Sword Author:Beckles Willson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. The French Flourish the Torch. In 1716 green tea first began to be used in England, before which period Bohea was used in polite circles.1 But w... more »hatever the variety of the leaf, the growing popularity of " the cup that cheers but not inebriates" could only enrich the Company's coffers. Early in the eighteenth century the Company's trade with China was not secure at any one port: a ship was sent to Ningpo or Chusan, or if not to Chusan, to Amoy or Canton. Another was sent to Pulo Kondor and Amoy or to Canton via Surat; another to Pulo Kondor, Amoy and Macao.2 But by the year 1715 regular trade was established with Canton. At stated seasons ships, each having its own supercargoes, were despatched thither for the purpose of selling the outward cargoes and investing the proceeds in tea, silks and other products of China. When the trade was still in its infancy at the principal port of Canton an attempt was made by the Chinese authorities to carry on the entire commerce there through the " Emperor's merchant," a nativewho paid a large sum of money for the exclusive privilege of trading with all Europeans. This was largely protested against by the other merchants and the local authorities at Canton. The so-called " Emperor's merchant " was wholly unfitted for trade, he had literally no goods; and the others were debarred selling on account of his patent. The English determining to advance no money, the Emperor's merchant finally allowed others to trade, upon payment to him of something like 5,000 taels per ship. 1 Oh, had I rather unadmired remained In some lone Isle or distant northern land ; Where the gilt chariot never marks the way, Where none learn ombre, none e'er taste Bohea ! pope, 1713. Auber. 5 67 The origin of the 4 per cent, duty which followed i...« less