was selected, and, as most of these vessels bore reputations established by former passengers, the various vessels, together with the manners and morals of their commanders, received due attention; then, and this was most important, the other passengers—friends or foes—who had taken or who might be taking passage, received proper scrutiny. Cabins, or what are now known as staterooms, were then engaged, and furnished with great care, for, on those voyages, it was the custom for passengers to provide their own furniture, in order that their personal ideas of comfort might be carried out. All of these matters being arranged and a stock of private stores, wines, etc., laid in, the passengers were ready to embark upon a voyage which was almost certain to last at least five months, probably six or seven months, and possibly eight months or even longer: so the voyagers to and from India and China came to regard these ships as their floating homes, and settled down comfortably to the full enjoyment of the benefit and pleasure of an ocean voyage.
Naturally, it would be interesting to follow the romantic career of this colossal monopoly—with its fleets of heavily-armed frigate-built ships, its governors, boards of council, tyepans, forts, and armies; but a brief sketch will suffice to indicate the scale upon which the affairs of "The United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies" were conducted.
In the year 1708 the old and the new Companies were united, the resultant Company becoming in
