166 Chronological Table. 



to prolong his detention, by bribes and iniquitous misrepresentations to tbe natires. 

 The disputes between the rival servants still kept up in adjusting accounts and out- 

 standing commercial transactions. — Bruce. 



1705. — The treachery of Sir Nicholas Waite fully discovered by the disclosure of 

 his instrument, Rustum, a native broker ; but in defiance of orders from rhe Gene- 

 ral Court, he retained authority, and Sir J. Gayer was still in confinement at Surat. 

 — Bruce. 



1706. — At Bengal the affairs were becoming settled ; Sir Edward Littleton, the 

 late president of the new Company, having been recalled, and Mr. President Beard 

 having died. Messrs. Hedges and Sheldon were appointed jointly to succeed and 

 bring up the accounts of the two Companies. — Bruce. 



1707. — Aurungzebe died on the 20th February. His revenues were equal to 38 

 millions sterling. To shew the general fear entertained of the imperial power by 

 foreigners then in India, it was thought neces-avy to announce it to the Court in an 

 allegory. Thus in a letter dated 1st March, 1707, Sir J. Gayer (previously released) 

 represented, " that the sun of this hemisphere had set, and that the star of the second 

 magnitude being under his meridian had taken his place, but it was feared the star 

 of tht first magnitude, though under a remoter meridian, would struggle to exalt it- 

 self," thus conveying the news of the Emperor's demise, and of the disputes between 

 his sons for the sticcession. — Bruce. 



The works at Fort William were by this time respectable, with a number of guns, 

 and 125 soldiers, of whom half were Europeans : many natives began to settle in 

 its vicinity. — Brace. 



Madras at this period had only 300 European settlers, of whom 200 were mili- 

 tary. — Hamilton. 



1708. — The time drawing on far to final incorpoiation of the accounts and affairs 

 of the two Companies, which was ordered for this year, their feelings and interests 

 became identified by a sudden demand from H. M.'s government for £2,200,000, 

 without interest. All their closing dissentions gave way to avert the common danger, 

 and on the 29th September, 1708, a final award and charter was adopted. By this 

 act, 6 Anne, cap. 17, the privileges were to be extended to March, J 726. At this 

 juncture, the number of directors, their duties, committees, mode of sales, ware- 

 housing, and home establishments were adjusted, and have remained with little 

 alteration on the same footing to the present day. 



Thus were closed the transactions of the English in establishing a trade with 

 India, until the act of legislature confirming the corporate capacity of the united 



COMPANY OF MERCHANTS TRADING TO THE EAST INDIES. — BiUCC 



1709. — It may be gathered from the following circumstance, how deeply the con- 

 tentions of the two rival Companies before their union had injured the entire trade, 

 and the prosperity of the English in India. — The King of Persia just before this 

 period wished to send an embassy to Bombay, but ashamed to betray the weakness 

 of its defences and garrison, and the general poverty of the place, the English autho- 

 rities refused to admit it. — Hamilton. 



Thomas Pitt, Esq. Governor of Madras, was succeeded (30th of September) by 

 Gulston Addison, Esq. brother of the celebrated Addison. His authority lasted but 

 a month, as Edmund Montague, Esq. relieved him provisionally on the 28th Octo- 

 ber. While he again was superseded on the 14th November by William Fraser, 

 Esq. — E. I. Chronologist. 



The Company's grant of perpetuity by writ of privy seal was issued 22nd April. — 

 Folio state papers. Do. 



The exports of this year were £l6S,357, half as much again as those of the pre- 

 ceding season. — Mill. 



1710. — Sadut Ally Khan commenced his government of the Carnatic. — Orme. E. I. 

 Chronologist. 



171 1, — William Fraser, Esq- Governor of Madras, was succeeded (July 22nd) by 

 Edward Harrison, Esq.— E. I. Chron. 



J7 j 2. — Shah Aulum, who had succeeded Aurungzebe, died. Azeem Ooshan, the 

 patron of the English in Bengal, lost his life in the struggle for the succession, end 

 Feroksere, his son, afterwards gained the throne. — Mill. 



1773. — The Bengal Presidency apply home for permission to send an Embassy to 

 Delhi.— Mill. 



1714. — Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, granted commissions to ships to trade 

 to the East Indies. He afterwards founded the Ostend Company, so injurious to 

 the interests of the English and Dutch. — Anderson's Hist, of Com. East India Chron. 



Fort Marlborough built near Bencoolen. — Grant. 



1715. — Messrs. Surman and Stephenson, the ablest factors of Bengal, also an 

 Armenian, as Interpreter, and Mr. W. Hamilton, as Surgeon, were sent on an 

 Embassy to Delhi, where they arrived on the 8th July. The Emperor Feroksere, 



