Page 319 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

316 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

belonged. In 1720—to take a year a little beyond the
period at which our narrative in the main closes—there
was sold “ by public outcry” at Anjengo, the birthplace
existence. It was for many a life of dull heart-breaking
of Sterne’s Eliza, the following books belonging to dif-
monotony, varied only by the visitations of disease or the
ferent persons: Coles’ English and Latin Dictionary, The
vicissitudes incidental to the precarious relations in which
Worthies of Devon, Tillotson’s Works, Government of the
the English stood to the native powers in whose territory
Tongue, Atkinson’s Epiphany, The History of the World,
they resided.
2nd volume of The Toiler, Art of Self Government, The
This work has been written in vain if it does not show
Present State of England, Ccesar’s Commentaries and Moll’s
how much Britain owes to these men and more especially
Geography. Here is a decidedly miscellaneous list, far
to the leaders, who by their devotion and heroic self-sacrifice
removed for the most part from the reading of the ordinary
gave such a splendid impetus to the cause of national
Englishman of to-day who lives in the East. It must be
expansion. Lancaster, Courthope, Jourdain, Middleton,
remembered, however, that when these books were sold
Downton—these are names worthy to rank with those of
Pamela had only just been born, that Clarissa Harlowe the seamen of the earlier generation who won fame on
was still to arrive—that, in fact, the modern novel had f
the Western main, and they will compare not unfavourably
yet to be created. with the naval heroes who in a later age secured for Britain
It is difficult to part with the old era without a pang the mastery of the sea and with it the consolidation of her
of regret. It was a spacious age in which great things
overseas possessions. They are of the immortal company
the face
were accomplished with scanty means and in of whom Tennyson sang in his memorable lines :—
of enormous difficulties. Only men of the finest fibre could
“We sail’d wherever ship could sail;
heroes did, successfully through
have passed, as most of our We founded many a mighty state;
the ordeals which marked their careers. Though all were Pray God our greatness may not fail
traders, intent on commercial gain, they could at times Through craven fear of being great.”
rise to the loftiest heights of self-abnegation in the interests And of the prominent figures who played their part
on
of their country. We cannot in these days, perhaps, land in this overture to the great drama of British dom­
realize to the fullest extent the sacrifice that most of them inion in the East may we not also say that they too are
made. Expatriation to the East had an added terror in of the body of the elect—true Empire builders ? Though
that period when the voyage was oftentimes an odyssey of their deeds
were not so spectacular as those of the great
disease and misfortune and when a comparatively small administrators and soldiers of subsequent centuries, Oxen-
proportion of those who went out to fill assigned positions den, Aungier and Charnock were worthies whose achieve­
of the luxuries ments we cannot overlook in appraising the human forces
ever returned home. There were none
! tolerable to the which assisted to build
which now make life in the tropics up the British-Indian Empire.

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