History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c83.s6.11

v5.c83.s6.11

On 25th July the Madras Council decided to send Charnock back to Bengal as Agent, and he arrived once more at Sutanati on 24th August. This was the foundation of Calcutta and of the British Power in Northern India. Ibrahim Khan's subordinates respected the traders, and on 10th February 1691 an imperial order (*hasb-ul-hukm*) was issued by the grand wazir to the diwan of Bengal, allowing the English to carry on their trade in that province without molestation on paying Rs. 3,000 a year in lieu of all custom and other dues. In the terms of this imperial rescript, Ibrahim Khan issued a circular letter (*parwana*) to all revenue and other officers in Bengal to "take, instead of custom, but Rs. 3,000 of the English yearly, and in their buying and selling take not a pice more ;...that ye assist their gumashtas in their lawful and just business upon all accounts ; and that no one, upon the account of *rahdari*, *jamadari* or *farmaish* &c., be suffered to defraud or molest them, it being forbidden by the Emperor.'' [Ibid, App. viii and ix].