Arnold Wright

“ Not the least interesting feature of the century of which we have treated was the gradual growth of these English communities in the East which in some cases formed the germs of the great ports and cities of our own time. ”

“ At the time of Roe's embassy much trouble arose through a sudden irruption of Englishwomen—Steele's wife and another—upon the factories at Surat and Ahmedabad. In his irritation at the disturbance of his peace, for which the ladies were responsible, the ambassador, strongly urged the directors to prohibit their servants from having their wives in India with them. This ungallant advice was followed, with the consequence that until the door was practically forced by the establishment and growth of permanent settlements the single roof of the factory covered the entire English community. ”

“ There is evidence in the correspondence of the period that men kept up their acquaintance with the classics, and that they took a real pleasure in intellectual pursuits. At the Surat factory, quite early in its history, a library was formed with the Company's assistance. The collection of books furnished was, perhaps, not exactly of the kind which would have appealed to the tastes of the average man. ”

“ The passing of the era of adventure—The early English communities in the East—How they lived—Their religious observances—The first Indian convert—The pomp observed by the chief officials—Their dress—Few Englishmen in India—Drinking habits of the men—Literary tastes—What expatriation to the East meant in the seventeenth century—The debt Britain owes to the early adventurers
WHEN the three great centres of British influence in India had been definitely fixed a new era was entered upon in which life ran in more regular channels. ”

“ But when all has been said that can be said of the work of the early adventurers something is left for explanation as to the causes which produced the wonderful results which are seen visibly shaping in the immediately preceding chapters. England, beaten, humiliated, discredited in Eastern Asia, turns her face to India. Her resources are limited, her prestige is lower than at any period in her recent history, and she has almost lost faith in herself amid the misfortunes of a period of internal conflict and;subsequent degeneracy of national morals and instincts ”

“ Only men of the finest fibre could have passed, as most of our heroes did, successfully through the ordeals which marked their careers. Though all were traders, intent on commercial gain, they could at times rise to the loftiest heights of self-abnegation in the interests of their country. ”