1700—1703年东印度公司在舟山的贸易尝试--以东印度公司与其职员的往来文书、信件为研究中心

The East India Company’s Trade Attempts in Zhoushan from 1700 to 1703--Interpreting from Documents and Letters Exchanged between the East India Company and Its Employees

清康熙三十七年(1698),清朝在舟山设立浙海关衙署,同年,“英格兰东印度公司”在伦敦成立。为与更早成立的旧东印度公司竞争,新公司在清康熙三十九年(1700)派出商务管理委员会乘坐商船到达舟山,寻求常态化居留与贸易,英格兰东印度到舟山官员的欢迎。然而,清英双方及英国商人内部在贸易各环节上由于多种原因不断产生矛盾,让英国人在1703年最终放弃了在舟山的贸易。但是这次不成功的贸易尝试让英国人更加了解清朝官员和商人,也让英国商人借机对舟山的航路与自然条件做了初步调查,对舟山的认识也更加全面。

During the 37th year of the Kangxi(1698),the Qing Dynasty government set up an office of the Zhejiang Customs in Zhoushan.In the same year,“the East India Company of England”was founded in London.In order to compete with the earlier-established Old th East India Company,the new company dispatched a commercial council aboard a merchant ship to Zhoushan in the 39 year of Kangxi(1700),seeking regular residence and trade.They were warmly welcomed by Zhoushan officials.But continuous conflicts arose not only between the Qing and English sides,but also between British merchants themselves at different links of trading due to various reasons.Ultimately,in 1703,the British abandoned their trade activities in Zhoushan.However,the unsuccessful trade attempts not only allowed the British to gain a better understanding of Qing officials and merchants,but also took the opportunity to take a preliminary investigation of the route and natural conditions of Zhoushan,and had a more comprehensive understanding of Zhoushan.