Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/24

18 renewed the same inconveniencies, which had forced the English to quit Hughley: it was therefore counteracted by a bribe given to Azim-al-Shan, who forbad the governor of Hughley from proceeding in his intentions. By this constant attention to money, Azim-al-Shan in three years amassed three millions of pounds sterling, which he carried with him out of, the province: but he left behind him his son Furrukshir to get more; who, in 1713, gained the throne, after his father had perished in disputing it with his brothers.

The union of the two companies, by augmenting the stock, increased the trade, and enlarged the views of the direction: who, at the same time, warned by the late examination of the company's affairs in parliament, exerted themselves with zeal and intelligence, in order to confound the clamours of those who exclaimed against the institution of an East India company, as a monopoly detrimental to the mercantile interests of the nation. The commerce of Bengal more especially became the object of their attention: the subordinate factories of Cossimbuzar, Dacca, and Ballasore, which had been abandoned, were now resettled: the exports and imports were doubled in value and in quantity; and the garrison of Calcutta was augmented to 300 men: all which the government of Bengal, contrary to its usual maxims, beheld without repugnance, and even without demanding money as the price of its forbearance and favour. This was the longest term of repose from vexations, which the English had experienced since their first establishment in the province; and the increasing importance of the colony induced the company in 1707 to withdraw the settlements in it, from their former dependance on Madrass, and to declare Calcutta a presidency accountable only to the direction in England.

But the nabob Jaffier Khan, who at this time was appointed to rule Bengal, did not suffer the English to remain any longer in this state of ease and independence: and the respite which they had lately enjoyed served only to convince him, that, as being better able