346 Hamilton’s account of the east indies*.

vince or city makes a Ihort fpeech adapted to the occafion, fetting forth the greathonour conferred upon him by the greatefl King in the world, with an admonition tomake future actions deferve the merit of fuch favours.

After the aforefaid manner Mr. Vaux received the Phirmaund in a gilded box,and, according to cuftom, put it on his turban for a little while, and, by an interpreter,returned the governor’s compliment, acknowledging the King’s favours, and thegovernor’s civilities ; and then the governor conduced him from the garden (wherethe ceremony was performed) into the city, through a great concourfe of people,who welcomed him with Ihouts of joy as he palled through the ftreets to the Englilhfactory.

After Mr. Vaux had ftaid in the city about a week, he fent to acquaint the go-vernor of the neceffity he lay under to return back to his government of Bombay ;but the governor fent him word, that none but he could be trufted by the King to feethe performance of the contradl accomplilhed, and begged, that he would not thinkof leaving the city, left the King Ihould take it amifs, and repent him of the favours hehad Ihewed to the Eaft India Company; and fo Mr. Vaux was detained an hoftage forhis mailer’s future good behaviour*

Mr. Harris, according to that Company’s ordinary cuftom, demanded the prelidencyfrom Mr. Vaux, who, to fave contention, gave it to him, though his mind was fodebilitated, that he was but few degrees wifer than an ideot, and, in two years time,Mr. Vaux was fufpended the Company’s fervice, and to remain their hoftage at his owncharges, and fo he continued till the year 1697, when he, by accident, was drowned in'Surat river, by a pinnace’s overfetting, in which he and his lady had been taking apleafure on the water.

This Mr. Vaux had been book-keeper to Sir Jofiah Child in England, and, for hisgood fervices and behaviour, was preferred by his mailer to a fupercargo’s poll in aIhip to China , which trade, in thofe times, was the moll profitable of any within thelimits of the Company’s charter. In anno 1684, he was fent thither on board a Ihipcalled the Carolina, commanded by one CaptainHar'ding ; but Mr. Vaux and Hardingdifagreeing in their paffage to China , Mr. Vaux laded the Ihip, and fent her back toEngland, while he himfelf went paffenger on board a Surat Ihip for Bombay, wherehe was entertained in the Company’s fervice as a fadtor, and wrote to Sir Jofiah Childthe reafons he had for leaving the Carolina, and his refolution of Haying in India . SirJofiah continued his efteem for Mr. Vaux, and procured him feveral profitable polls atone and the fame time in the Company’s fervice, and, amongft the reft, confti-tuted him judge in civil affairs, which brought him both a good falary and perqui-fites. After he was inftalled in that office, Sir Jofiah wrote him a letter of admoni-tion and reminifcence, wherein, after many poftulates, he put him in mind of the manyfavours he had done him, and that now, having the power of condemning theCompany’s enemies, or fuch as Ihould be deemed fo, particularly thofe who ihoulddare to queftion the Company’s power over all the Britilh fubjedts in India , and thathe expedled his orders from time to time, Ihould be obferved and obeyed as ftatutelaws.

Mr. Vaux gratefully acknowledged Sir Jofiah’s favours in his anfwer to thatletter, and promifed, that, as he had put him into that poll of honour and profit,he would ftrive to acquit himfelf with all the integrity and juftice he was capable of,and that the laws of his country Ihould be the rule he defigned to walk by.

In anfwer to that letter, Sir Jofiah feemed to be angry, and wrote roundly to Mr.Vaux, that he expedled his orders were to be his rules, and not the laws of England,

which