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THE 
SPIRIT OF THE INDIAN PRESS, 
OR 
MONTHLY REGISTER OF USEFUL INVENTIONS, 
AND 
IMPROVEMENTS, DISCOVERIES, 
AND NEW FACTS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE. 
The following is on the 
HISTORY AND CENSUS OF CAL- 
CUTTA, 
by Captain Birch, from the Reformer.''^ 
“ In the year 1998, the English, who had 
already established themselves in these 
parts as merchants, and had obtained a 
firmanixom. the Emperor of Delhi, to carry 
on their commercial transactions, being an- 
noyed by the intrigues of the Dutch, sent 
their agent, Mr. Walsh, to Prince Azeem 
Ooshan, one of the grandsons of the Empe- 
ror Arungzebe, who was then at the head of 
affairs in Bengal ; and solicited from him, 
among other privileges, the grant of the 
villages of Sutanutty, Govindpoor, and Co- 
licotta. Kali Kurtd. After a delay of two 
years in negociations the above villages 
were purchased by the Company from the 
zemindars to whom these places belonged. 
These possessions extended about three 
miles on the eastern side of the Bhagurutty 
river, and about one mile inland. The 
name Calcutta, some say, was derived from 
the goddess Kaly, to whom a temple is 
dedicated, the same which now stands at 
Kaly-ghat. The English factory, which 
had been fortified to resist the attacks of 
the various rebels who disturbed the lower 
provinces, received about this time the 
appellation of Fort William, in honour of 
the then reigning sovereign of England. 
In consequence of the security afforded to 
property within the Company’s possessions, 
and facility for trade, several opulent natives 
were soon induced to make Calcutta their 
residence. This circumstance, however, 
excited the jealousy of the Fouzdar of 
Hooghly, who wanted to send his people 
to administer justice to the natives, liv- 
ing under the protection of the English 
flag ; but he was prevented by the same 
means as those which had obtained for the 
English the oppression of these places, viz. 
large bribes to the Prince Azeem Ooshan. 
About the year 1718, that is ten years 
after the purchase of the villages of Kali 
Kurtdf &c. we find the new town in a flou- 
rishing state. It was then inhabited by 
several Portuguese, Armenian, Hindoo, 
and Mogul merchants, who carried on their 
commerce under the protection of the 
English. The shipping in the port at this 
period amounted to about ten thousand 
tons. The English Authorities, however, 
found it necessary to conciliate the Nawab 
frequently, by presents, in order to carry 
on their commerce without molestation at 
the subordinate factories. The security 
of property and freedom of trade allowed 
within the English possessions, caused the 
town to increase in prosperity. 
Things continued in this state until Seraj- 
ood-Dowlah, in 1756, took into his hands 
the uncontrouled government of Bengal. 
Among other acts of oppression, he demand- 
ed from Rajbullub, the Deputy Governor 
of Dacca, a large sum of money, and so 
alarmed him, that he privately sent off his 
family and property to Calcutta. The refu- 
sal of the English to give up to the Nawab 
Kishenbullub the son of Rajbullub, exceed- 
ingly irritated Seraj-ood-Dowlah, and he 
turned his wrath from every other quarter 
against the English. One of his first acts 
of aggression was the taking of the factory 
at Cossimbazar by force, and imprisoning 
the Englishmen he found there. He then 
proceeded directly towards Calcutta. The 
Hindoo and Mogul merchants residing at 
Calcutta in vain endeavoured to assuage 
the anger of the Nawab, who appeared 
determined to attack Calcutta. At this 
critical juncture, the English applied for 
help to the Dutch and the French, who 
both declined assistance, the latter adding 
an insulting offer of protection to the Eng- 
lish, if they would proceed to Chander- 
nagore. On the 15th of June, 1756, the 
fort was besieged by the Nawab ’s troops. 
This building was situated on the banks 
of the river : its length from east to west 
was two hundred and ten yards, its breadth 
on the south side was one hundred and 
thirty yards, and on the north only one hun- 
dred yards ; it had four bastions, mounting 
each ten guns. The gate-way on the eastern 
side projected and mounted five guns, and 
along the river a line of heavy cannon was 
mounted in embrasures of solid masonry. 
But as this fort was entirely overlooked by 
