96 



THE PREDECESSORS OF THE 



deposited till His Majesty's pleasure should be known ; and 

 this reserved moiety was' shortly afterwards granted to the 

 Company by a Charter bearing date the 1 9th September 

 1757 (31 Geo. II), with the exception of such ships, treasure, 

 and other things as might have been taken from any of His 

 Majesty's subjects, which were to be returned to the owners 

 on payment of salvage. Within four months afterwards 

 His Majesty, by a Charter dated 14th January 1758 (31 

 Geo. II), granted to the Company all booty and plunder 

 which, since the Charter of 19th September 1757, had been 

 or should be taken or seized from any of the enemies of the 

 Company, or any of His Majesty's enemies in the East 

 Indies, by any ships or forces of the Company within any 

 places or limits of their trade. And it was further granted 

 that they should and might, by any treaty of peace made 

 between them and any of the Indian Princes or Governments, 

 dispose of any fortresses, districts or territories acquired by 

 conquest from any of the said Indian Princes or Govern- 

 ments. Power to punish the mutiny and desertion of officers 

 and soldiers in their service had already been granted to 

 them by the Act 27 Geo. II, c. 9, the provisions of which Act 

 were extended by 1 Geo. Ill, c. 14, to the Company's Settle- 

 ment of Fort Marlborough, near Bencoolen on the west coast 

 of Sumatra, where the Company had been empowered by 

 Royal Charter, dated 20th December 1760, to erect and hold 

 Courts of Judicature as well for civil as criminal causes. In 

 the following year they obtained three several Charters or 

 Letters Patent of Commission for the trying of pirates at 

 Fort St. George, Fort Marlborough, and Bombay respec- 

 tively, dated the 27th January 1761 (1 Geo. Ill) ; and a 

 Charter or Letters Patent of Commission for the trying of 

 pirates at Fort William, dated 13th March 1761 (1 Geo. III). 



War had been again declared between England and France 

 in 1756. Bussy had easily made himself master of Yizaga- 



