Firman of the Emperor Shah Alum

At this happy time, our royal Firman, indispensibly requiring obedience, is issued ; that, whereas, in consideration of the attachment and services of the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company, we have granted them the Dewanny of the Provinces of Bengal, Behar and Orissa from the beginning of the Fasal Rabi of the year 1172, as a free gift and ultumgan, without the association of any other person, and with an exeption from the payment of the customs of the Dewanny which used to be paid by the Court ;  it is requisite that the said company engage to be security for the sum of 26 lakhs of rupees a year for our royal revenue, which sum has been appointed from the Nawab Nudjamut-dowla Bahadur, and regularly remit the same to the royal sircar ;  and in this case, as the said Company are obliged to keep up a large army for the protection of the Provinces of Bengal &c., we have granted to them whatsoever may remain out of the revenues of the said provinces, after remitting the sum of 26 lakhs of rupees to the royal sircar, and providing for the expenses of the Nizamut. It is requisite that our royal descendents the Viziers, the bestowers of dignity, the Omrahs high in rank, the great officers, the Muttaseddes of the Dewanny, the manager of the business of the Sultanat, the Jaghirdars abd croories, as well the future as the present, using their constant endeavours for the establishment of this our royal command, leave the said office is possession of the said Company, from generation to generation, for ever and ever. Looking upon them to be assured from dismissal or removal, they must, on no account whatsoever, give them any interruption, and they must regard them as excused and exempted from the payment of all the customs of the Dewanny and royal demands. Knowing our orders on the subject to be most strict and positive, let them not deviate therefrom. (Aug. 12, 1765)