consent to its
dissolution.

The new West India Company, warned by the example of its predecessors,
has kept more within bounds, and has certainly managed its affairs
with great prudence and economy. Having formed a project in 1714,
for uniting the East and West India Companies into one,[5] and the
proposition, being rejected, the directors of the West India
Company very wisely turned their thoughts another way; and it is not
improbable, that the rejection of their proposal on this occasion
may have induced them to give encouragement to the proposition of
Roggewein: For, being disappointed in their aim of coming in for a
share in the commodities of the East Indies, they were desirous of
acquiring the same articles of trade by some other means, expecting to
have found these in the continent or islands proposed to be discovered
by Roggewein. This also accounts for the extraordinary heat and
violence of the Dutch East India Company, against those who were
engaged on the present expedition, and is the true secret of the
dispute so warmly carried on by the two Companies, and so wisely
decided by the States-General. When the Dutch East India Company
persecuted and destroyed Le Maire for his voyage of discovery,
under pretence of interfering within their exclusive boundaries, the
government did not interfere, because at that time the power of the
East India Company was of the highest importance to the state: But,
as the government of Holland became better established, and especially
since a share in the public administration has been acquired by such
as are conversant in trade, the concerns of the East India Company
have been viewed in a new light. The first who explained this matter
clearly was that consummate statesman and true patriot, John de Witte,
whose words are most worthy the attention of the reader.

[Footnote 5: A long, indistinct, and uninteresting account of this
project is here omitted, which Harris alleges might have transferred
the whole commerce of Europe to the Dutch, but for which opinion he
advances no substantial reasons, or rather none at all.--E.]

"When the East India Company had attained to a certain extent of power
and grandeur, its interests came not only to clash with, but grew
absolutely opposite to those of the country. For, whereas the
advantage of the nation consists in the increase of manufactures,
commerce, and freight of ships; the interests of the Company are to
promote the sale of fore