Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/357

 Chap. V.j BOMBAY GRANTED TO THE COMPANY. ^^23

"the true and absolute proprietors of tlie port and island, and premises afore- ad. ibtss). said, and every part and parcel thereof" Along with the island were granted • all the artillery, and all and singular arms, armour, weapons, ordnance, munition, powder, shot, victuals, magazines, stores, ammunition, and provisions of war, TemiBofthe and other provisions whatsoever; and all and singular ships, junks, vessels, and l)oats, and all manner of merchandize, and wares, cloathing, implements, beasts/' &C., " which shall be or remain upon within the premises, or any part of thereof, and belong unto us at the time when the said port and island and premises sliall be delivered up into the possession of the said governor and Company. ' Power was, moreover, given them " to take into their service, at their own costs and charges, such and so many of our officers and soldiers as shall then be in or uj)on the said port or island, or within the territories and precincts thereof, as they shall think fit, and as shall be contented or willing to serve them either in the said port and island or elsewhere. '

The port and island thus granted were to be held of the crown " as of tlie inanoi- of Ea.st Greenwich, in the county of Kent, in free and common socage, and not in cap'ite nor by kniglit's service, yielding and paying therefore to us, our heirs and successors, at the custom-house, London, the rent or sum of ten pounds of lawful money of England, in gold, on the thirtieth day of September yearly, for ever." The only restrictions and reservations of any importance Restiutions were, that the Company slioidd not " at any time hereafter sell, alien, transfer, tious. or otherwise di.spose of the said island and premises, or any part or parts thereof, to any prince, potentate, or .state, or other person or persons Avhatsoever, but such as are or shall be the subjects and of the allegiance" of the British crown, and that " the inhabitants of the said island, as om* liege people, and subject to our imperial crown and dignity, jurisdiction and government, shall be permitted to remain there, and enjoy the free exerci.se of the Roman Catholic religion in the same manner sis they did at the time of the said gi'ant to us made by our said brother the King of Portugal as aforesaid, and that such order be observed for the exercise and conservation thereof in all things according to the purport and effect of the said article and treaty in that behalf; and further, also, that the said inhabitants, and other our subjects in the said port or island, shall and may peaceably and quietly have, hold, possess, and enjoy all their .several and respective properties, privileges, and advantages wliatsoever, which they or any of them lawfully had or enjoyed, or ought to have had or enjoyed, at the time of the surrender of tlie said port and island to us as aforesaid, or at an}' time since."

All the inhabitants of Bombay, together with all afterwards born in it, or Judicial

.... ., ,. . , . 11 1 Ti • 1 authoritv.

wnthin its precincts and limits, were to have and enjoy all the liberties and privileges of British subjects under the gcn'ernment of the Conmany, who were to have full power to exercise judicial authority by them.selves, their ministers, and agents, to repel force by force, by sea and land, in case of open hostilities

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