?7®
HISTORY OF SETTLEMENTS AND TRADE

book the minifters ventured to affirm, that the conféquence
of running in fearch of rich minerals and glittering
merchandise, would be an inattention to objeds of
real advantage, agriculture, and manufadures ; that
wars, Shipwrecks, epidemical difeafes, and other ac.
cidents, would weaken the whole empire beyond re-
covery ; that the ftate, thus carried out from its centre
by the impulfe of an extravagant ambition, would ei-
ther by force or art, attrad the fubjeds to the moll
diftant parts of Alia ; that even if the enterprife Suc-
ceeded, it would raife a powerful confederacy, which
it would be impoffible for the crown of Portugal to
defeat. Attempts were in vain made, fome time af.
ter this, to convince thefe difcerning men of their
error, by Showing them that the Indians were Subdued,
the Moors repulfed, and the Turks defeated ; and by
exhibiting the tide of wealth that flowed into Portu-
gal. Their opinions were too well-grounded in expe-
rience, to be Shaken by the report of thefe flattering
focceffes. They ftill infifted that a few years would
difcover the folly of puihing thefe purfuits to extre-
mity, and that they muft inevitably lead to a cor.
ruption of morals, and end in ravages and univerfal
confufion. Time, the great arbiter of political mat-
ters, foon confirmed their predidions.
frètent         Of all the conquefts which the Portuguefe had made
portuguefe *n the *"eas of Afia' the^ P°fl"eis none at prêtent but
w India.    Macao, part of the ifland of Timor, Daman, Diu, and
Goa.   The connedions which thefe wretched eftablifh-
ments kept up with each other, and thofe which they
had with the reft of India and with Portugal, were not
maintained with any kind of fpirit.    They have been
ftill more contraded, fince the eftablifhment at Goa of
an exclufive company for China and the Mofambique,
At prefent, Macao fends to Timor, to Siam, and to
Cochinchina, fome few fmall veffels of little value.   It
fends five or fix to Goa laden with merchapdife that
has been refofed at Canton; and the greateft part of
which belongs to Chinefe merchants.    Thefe laft ihips
"are laden, in return, with fanders wood, Indian Saffron.