Page 305 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

JOB CHARNOCK FOUNDS CALCUTTA 305

nobody of power thinks it their interest to prevent us.”
Here spoke the voice of true statesmanship. The purely
trading era had passed away ! That of the administrator
had dawned.
The English never had any reason to repent their
trustful action in renewing their connexion with Bengal.
The Mogul Nabob was a man of peaceful and benevo­
lent disposition, more of a student and philosopher
than an administrator. He genuinely desired that there
should be a lasting accommodation and used all his
influence to smooth matters for the Company. It was,
however, not until February 10, 1691, that what may
be termed the title deeds of Calcutta were obtained by
the issue of an imperial order authorizing the English
to trade on the payment of Rs. 3,000 yearly in lieu of
all dues.
Now the feet of the English in Bengal were on firm
ground. They had what they had been long striving for,
a conveniently placed headquarter settlement from which
they could prosecute their trade with some assurance of
I
freedom from irritating interference. How upon this
site finally arose the vast city which ranks amongst the
world’s greatest capitals is a story which is part of the
history of British India and need not be related here. But
as in the case of Bombay, and to a lesser degree as in the
case of Madras, the comparison between what was and
: what is affords an inspiriting exercise to all patriotic
Britons. A forlorn waste for the most part when first
occupied, it has become by the energy and enterprise and
policy of the paramount race a populous centre of abound­
ing wealth and prosperity. Its merchants are amongst
the world’s leaders of commerce; its trade touches the
u

i