Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
The dominating factor in the China trade for over two centuries was the problem of “laying down the dollar”. The dollar was not the currency of China; but during those two centuries—positively to 1834, and practically to 1857— it was the token by which the pound sterling and the woollen cloths of England were converted into the taels of silver and the silks and teas of China; and on the answer to the question whether the dollar delivered to the Company's treasury at Canton had cost to lay down four shillings, or five, or six, might depend the degree of profit on the round voyage.
page 228 note 1 Wissett, , Compendium of East Indian Affairs, i.Google Scholar
page 228 note 2 Peter Mundy, Travels of, vol. iii, Hakluyt Society, Sec. series xlv (1919).Google Scholar
page 229 note 1 Diary of Supercargoes, Return, 1672–1673.Google Scholar
page 229 note 2 D. of Sup. Barnardiston, 1680–1681.Google Scholar
page 229 note 3 So called for the first time in the records.
page 229 note 4 Court to Bantam, D. of Amoy Factory, 1682.
page 230 note 1 Diary of Supercargoes, Macclesfield frigate, 1699–1700.
page 230 note 2 Diary of Sup. Aurungzebe, 1702.Google Scholar
page 230 note 3 Cloth of Arras, so called.
page 231 note 1 Diary of Supercargoes, Kent, 1704.Google Scholar
page 232 note 1 Court to Supercargoes, Loyal Blisse (1713)Google Scholar, Hester (1714)Google Scholar, Dartmouth (1715).Google Scholar
page 232 note 2 Diary of Council, Canton, for 1730.
page 233 note 1 Diary Council, Canton, 1732.
page 233 note 2 Diary Supercargoes, Walpole, 1739.Google Scholar
page 233 note 3 Diary Supercargoes, Duke of Dorset, 1741.Google Scholar
page 234 note 1 Diary Supercargoes, York, 1741.Google Scholar
page 234 note 2 Diary Supercargoes, Defence, 1742.Google Scholar
page 234 note 3 Court to Council, Canton, , 1751.Google Scholar
page 235 note 1 Diary Supercargoes, Compton, 1732–1733.Google Scholar
page 236 note 1 Diary Supercargoes, Richmond, 1736–1737.Google Scholar
page 236 note 2 Diary Supercargoes, Harrington, 1739.Google Scholar
page 238 note 1 Court to Sup. Sarah, Trumball, China Merchant, and Neptune, 11 1700.Google Scholar
page 238 note 2 Court to Council, China (at Chusan), Nov. 1701.
page 240 note 1 Milburn, , Oriental Commerce, ii, p. 480.Google Scholar
page 241 note 1 Consultations, China Council, 1777.
page 241 note 2 Ships despatched from London to Canton via Madras.
page 242 note 1 Fort St. George to Canton, Consult., China Council, 1781.Google Scholar
page 243 note 1 Consult., China Council, 1776.Google Scholar
page 244 note 1 Consult., China Council, 1778.Google Scholar
page 244 note 2 Consult., China Council, 1779.Google Scholar
page 245 note 1 Consult., China Council, 1782.Google Scholar
page 246 note 1 Consult., China Council, 1779.Google Scholar
page 246 note 2 Consult., China Council, 1777.Google Scholar
page 246 note 3 Diary, China Sel. Com., 1788.
page 247 note 1 Consult., China Council, 1775.Google Scholar
page 251 note 1 Consult., China Council, 1786.Google Scholar
page 252 note 1 Consult, Sel. Com. China, 1789.
page 253 note 1 Consult., Sel. Com., 1787.
page 253 note 2 Ibid.