Page 303 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

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JOB CHARNOCK FOUNDS CALCUTTA 303

when approached, would have nothing to do with the Eng­
lish. This was the crowning stroke to the failure of Heath’s
ambitious plans, or at least he conceived it to be so. As
he “ could not persuade those foolish people from the
present ruin and destruction which is just upon them,”
he gave orders for the watering of his ships prepara­
tory to a voyage to Madras. In due course Fort St.
George was reached, on the termination of one of the
most singular cruises in the early history of the English in
India. 1
' Failure seemed to be written broadly across the posi­
tion as it was left by this unfortunate adventure of Heath’s.
The foothold already obtained in Bengal had been lost,
the Company’s representatives everywhere in the province
were in captivity, and the feud with the Mogul govern­
ment had been aggravated until it menaced the Company’s
entire Indian trade. At the moment, however, when the
sky seemed blackest it cleared in a surprising manner.
The transformation was worked by the exercise of the
:
will of Aurungzebe. The Emperor had never been greatly
(
drawn to the English, and their recent policy had not
tended to increase his regard for them. But he had been ■
impressed by the strength that they had displayed at
sea, and he reflected that if he continued at variance with
them he would not only lose a lucrative source of trade
but would find the route from India to the Holy Places in
Arabia in the infidel’s hands. He therefore issued instruc­
tions to the Nabob of Bengal that as it had been “ the
good fortune of the English to repent them of their irregular
)
past proceedings and their not being in their former great­
ness,” he was “ not to create for them any further trouble,
but let them trade in Bengal as formerly.”
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