Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/23

Book VI. superintend the three governments of Bengal, Behar, and Orixa. This prince was son of Mahomed Mauzm, who reigned after his father Aurengzebe, with the title of Behader Shah; and Azim-al-Shan himself seems likewise, even at this distant period, to have had an eye to the throne: for he came into Bengal with a resolution to amass money by every means. This avaricious disposition the English plied with presents, which in 1698 obtained his permission to purchase from the Zemindar, or Indian proprietor, the towns of Soota-nutty, Calcutta, and Govindpore, with their districts, extending about three miles along the eastern bank of the river Hughley, and about one mile inland: the prince, however, reserved the annual fine of 1195 rupees, which this ground used to pay to the Nabob of the province. But at this time, when the English settlements seemed on the point of emerging from continued difficulties to a state of prosperity, the erection of a new East India company, in opposition to the old, renewed all their former evils. The new company established their factory at Hughley, and the competition between the respective agents was carried on with the same animosity as exasperated their principals in England, which exposed the concerns of both to the impositions of the Nabob, and of the merchants of Bengal, who took every advantage of this rivality. However, the spirit of commerce, which knows no resentments that are prejudicial to its interest, soon reconciled the contending parties in England, and produced a coalition, of which the preliminaries were adjusted in 1698; but the final union did not take place till seven years after: this time being necessary to blend the different concerns of both companies into one common stock.

In the mean time, the settlement of Calcutta had attracted such a number of inhabitants, as excited the jealousy of the governor of Hughley, who, pretending that he should be punished for suffering so many of the Mogul's subjects to withdraw themselves from his jurisdiction, threatened to send a Cadi, or Mahomedan judge, and officers of the police, to administer justice amongst the natives living under the English flag. The measure would have renewed