At the last meeting of the Chinn Branch of the Royal Asintic Society, Mr. Z. H. Volpicelli, road a paper, before'a numerous audience, including most of the Consular body, upon Early Portuguese Commerce and Settlements in China."
The Lecturer commenced by remarking that the early Portuguese settlements in Chinn form an interesting study, as they mark the furthest advance of that European nation which Jed the way in the continue) movement of colonial and commerce [ist four handred yours, and which forms sion which has been going on
such an important: factor in the modern history of the world, The cause of Portus guese expansion he ascribed to her geogras phical positi the West of Eurspe, sting out that the other nations which jad formed or attempted to form empires,—England, Spain, Holland, and France—were all similarly situated, but st the same time there was a difference in gin of the Portuguese colonial empire compared to that of other nations. The others, even when most successful, as in the cate of England, lind expanded unconsciously, either seizing opportunities which presented themselves or being driven to cor quest by circumstances: they had never cai ried cut a plan elaborated for years an persevered in: against every discouragement and difficulty, though with the certainty that immense wealth would be the reward success, Portugal started with A CLEAR PLAS, though fraught with many difficulties; the disouvery of a uew trade route, which she sun must give hur. for" long tine the monopoly of Eastern commerce. This was anew departure in history. Hitherto all the products of further Asia had been brought to the European markets through the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, sud the wealth and prosperity of the Tali maritime cities during the Middle Ages was owing to their monopoly of the carry ing trade of these produeta in the Mediterranean. The genius of Prince Henry the Navigator inspired him with the bold plan of reaching India by direct soa-route round Africs, thus securing for Portugal nut only the monopoly enjoyed: by the Italians in the Mediterranean, but also that of the Arabs and Indians in the Indian Ocean, To this purpose nearly century of unceasing exertion was sacrificed. Slowly but unceasingly they crept along the African const, until at last the end of the continent was reached, and in 1486 the Cape of Good Hope was doubled. 'The curious alliance which the zeal of Portuguese explorers brought about between their own country and ing been noticed, the Lec-that he drew' attention to it ins series of articles in the Italian papers about three years ago,—he proceeded to trace the rapid growth of Portuguese influence which reached Malaccain 1509, and in 1516 Cochin-China and Siam, he Portuguese were tuo flushed by success to care for casual losses incurred by local hostility, and' too well-trained: by their trials. of a
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.