82 1
IIISTOUY (JF INDIA.
[Book II
A.D. 1600 with foreign enemies; and " in cases of lelx-llion, mutiny, or sedition, of refusing to serve in wars, fleeing to the enemy, forsaking colours or ensigns, or other offences against law, custom, and discipline military, in as large and ample a manner to all intents and purposes whatsoever as any captain-general hy virtue of his office might do."
The very liberal terms on which Charles II. conferred Bombay on the Com- pany, and the very ample powers with which he invested them for the purpose of governing it, justify a suspicion that the act was not quite so disintere.sted I'lobabie in j^g hag bccn represented, and that the Company had already begun the practice
tothegrant they aftcrwards followed of smoothing the difficulties in their way by the free distribution of money in influential quarters. They did this to an enormoas extent, as will afterwards be seen, in the comparatively pure period which immediately followed the Revolution, and endeavoured to ju.stify it by alleging that it had- long been customary. If so, it is not uncharitable to presume that Charles and his corrupt courtiers did not allow the custom to be forgotten in this instance. But whether obtained by a free grant or a corrupt bargain, the port and island of Bombay was unquestionably the most important acquisition which the Company had yet made. Even in a pecuniary view its value was by no means contemptible. According to a statement transmitted to the British government by the deputy-governor, Captain Gary, the year before the Com- jiany entered into possession, the annual revenue, derived principally from rent, produce, and customs, amounted to £6490, 17s. 9d. It was understood that this amount might be largely increased ; and consequently that in Bombay the Company had not only acquired a position which might be rendered impregnable by land and sea, but a revenue which, duly husbanded, might meet all the outlay necessary for fortifications and other improvements. The brightening prospect thus opened appears to have emboldened the Company greatly to extend their operations, and their investments became larger than at any foimer period.
I rejected
improve ments at Bombay.
CHAPTER YL
Administration and progress of Bombay — Difl&culties — State of the other settlements of the Company.
>MBAY was at first made subordinate to Surat. Sir George Oxinden, though still continuing to reside and hold his position as president at the latter, was appointed governor and com-
i^ mander-in-chief of the former; but at the same time authorized to send one of the members of Ids council, as deputy-governor, personally to administer the affairs of the island. With this view a series of directions had been drawn up by the court in England. The fort or castle was
