158 Chronological Table. 



This year died Noor Jehan, Empress and favorite Sultana of Jehangir. — Dow. 



1646. — The Dutch obtained a decided superiority in the Persian Gulf, almost 

 ruining the Russorah and other establishments. — Bruce. 



1647- — Courten's association having established a colony at Madagascar, got into 

 difficulties, and resorted to the desperate measure of there coining counterfeit pago- 

 dahs and rials, to the great stain of the English character in India. — Bruce. 



1648. — Bengal silk introduced into the investments. The communications this 

 year, secret, and no despatches forwarded by the Company, in consequence of the 

 danger and badness of the times. 



1649. — Courten's association now assumed the name of the Assada merchants — 

 and after much discussion an union took place between them and the London Com- 

 pany ; but although an " United Joint Stock" was formed, only two ships and £60,000 

 were sent to India this season. The agents in Persia ascribe the deficiency in trade 

 there to the rumours reaching of civil commotion in England, and the " tragicall 

 storye of the Kinge's beheadinge, which would cause the Emperor and the Persian 

 nobles to consider the English as a base, contemptible, unworthy nation." 



1650. — Captain Jeremy Blackman appointed president at Surat, with a salary of 

 about 400 rupees per month : private trade disallowed. 



1651. — The Dutch officer Van Rubek settled a colony at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Outward and homeward ships had hitherto touched here, and journals were secretly 

 deposited at Robben Island, to give information to friends arriving. The Dutch 

 relinquished St. Helena, which the English took possession of. The residency at 

 Surat had obtained enlarged privileges throughout the Mogul provinces, through the 

 agency of a Mr. Davidge, sent to the Mogul's court. — Hamilton. Bruce. 



1652. — Cromwell finding it expedient to employ the fleets and armies of his inse- 

 cure government, declares war against the Dutch, and the question of the injuries 

 to the Company made one of the grounds.— Mill. Hume. 



The indefatigable Hollanders were now rivalling the English at Bengal in their 

 own factories. — Bruce. 



1653. — The English must have established a factory before this at Lucknow, as it 

 is stated, to be withdrawn this year. Fort St. George raised to a presidency, but 

 the garrison, on the 5th February, as per return, had only 26 soldiers. The English 

 lost four ships to the Dutch in the Gulf. — Bruce. Hamilton. 



1654. — Notwithstanding its new rank as a presidency, the Company had ordered 

 the civil establishment at Fort St. George to be reduced to 2 factors, and its military 

 force to 10 soldiers ! Peace signed with the Dutch, and they agreed, as per separate 

 article, to pay the London Company £85,000 for losses at the Eastward, and 

 £3,615 to the heirs of Captain Towerson and others, the sufferers at Amboyna. The 

 island of Palaroon was also restored. — Hamilton. Bruce. 



1655. — The Persian trade suspended, and that of Fort St. George at a stand, prin- 

 cipally from the opposition of the Dutch. There were difficulties also from fresh 

 rivals, called " Merchant Adventurers," who, on petitioning for free trade, were at 

 first patronized by Cromwell. — Bruce. Mill. 



The following extracted statement of the Company's " United Joint Stock" may 

 not be uninteresting ; it was dated 1st September, 1655. — Bruce. 



debit. £ 



Salaries of the Merchants in India for 5 years, at £2,066 2 8 9,641 



Mariners' wages for like term, , 4,000 



Two years' expenses in Surat, 7,600 



" Coast of Coromandel, 5,000 



" Bantam 2,&00 



Salary of Merchants on the three Brothers, 230 



s. 



d. 



J9 



4 











































29,271 19 4 



CREDIT. 



Balance of estate in England,.. ■. ..- 82,053 12 2 



,, remain in Surat and Subordinate Factories, 32,829 5 



At Madraspatam and factories on that Coast, 22,67 111 3 



At Bantam and Subordinates, 26,451 10 7 



Voyage to Palaroon, 1,051 8 



Fort St. George and customs, 6,000 



Three houses in Agra, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow, with the garden 



at Surat, 1 ,932 



Five houses at Bantam, Japara, Macassar, Jambee, and Banger 



Masseen, 3,600 O 



Two ships, a sloop, and pinnace,.. . , 1,000 



1,85,589 7 



