Bengal was one such place where goods could not be purchased near coast and one had to enter into inlands in order to purchase the goods and there the Britishers had to pay toll taxes at several points and they were harassed by local officers.
In 1651, Shah Shuja (son of Shah Jahan) made a firman by which the company was granted the right to trade in lieu of rupees 3000 annually.
In 1656, another firman (declaration) was passed by which the goods going to the British factories or coming out of it will be exempted from toll tax and those goods shall not be opened.
In 1672, the company obtained a firman from Shaista Khan (governor of Bengal) by which they were exempted of duties.
In 1680, Aurangzeb issued a firman, according to which, not to trouble Britishers for tax and no obstacle should be imposed on their trade. He also ordered a Jizya of 1.5% apart from 2% of toll tax on the goods of the Britishers. But the agents of company could not escape from the demands of the officials. Troubled by the local officials, Britishers changed their policy and decided to defend themselves by the use of power and they planned for fortified settlement in Hoogli so that offensive could be launched when required.
In August 1682, a group of delegates under the leadership of William Hadges (first English governor of Bengal) was sent to the Mughal Subedar so as to put an end to the forced toll tax, but they failed.
In 1686, the Mughals attacked Hoogli and the Britishers revenged by occupying Mughal forts, Thana. But in the end , the Britishers were defeated and had to take shelter on an island, suffering from fever.
In 1687, Britishers got permission to return to Bengal after agreement with Job Charnauk.
In 1690, Job Charnauk built a mansion in Sutanty that led the foundation of the future capital of English.
In 1691, Ibrahim Khan issued a firman by which the Britishers were exempted from toll tax on paying rupees 3000 annually. The Britishers got the permission for the fortification of Sutanty mansion in 1696 in the name of protection against the Jamindar of Burdwan, Shobha Singh.
In 1698, east India Company were given the Zamindari of Sutanaty, Kalikata and Govindpur in lieu of rupees 1200, this team came to be known as Fort William and the Presidency and council were established here.
In 1700, the factories of Bengal were placed under Fort William and Charles Iyer became the first President of Fort William. In Fort William, the Britishers had the right both on the British and Indian subjects. On the British subject as per the English laws and on the Indians by the virtue of Zamindar.
The prosperity beyond expectation of the company made the enemies in England and they start objecting company's monopoly. In 1694, the House of Common passed a resolution that all the citizen of England had the equal right to trade in India. After the resolution, two companies were formed in 1698: General Society and English Company of Merchants. These companies became the competitor of East India Company and it send William Nauris to the court of Aurangzeb in order to get some commercial facilities. These companies decided to merge in 1702 and finally merged in 1707-08.
In 1715, a group of representatives were sent to the Mughal court for securing the trading monopoly over the whole Mughal empire and to get some villages near Calcutta. This delegation was led by John Sumon and was assisted by Edward Stephenson and a surgeon called William Hamilton and an interpreter Khwaja Sehurd (Mughal emperor during that time was Farukshiyar). Hamilton saved Farukshiyar from a chronic desease, please by this he issued a firman in 1717, by which,
1) East India Company had not to pay any tax other than the annual tax of rupees 3000.
2) East India Company was allowed to acquire land on rent near Calcutta.
3) The exemption of tax in Hyderabad was maintained.
4) East India Company had to pay rent in Madras.
5) The coins of the company minted in Mumbai were allowed to be circulated throughout India.
Orme has called this firman of Farukshiyar as 'Magna Carta' of the company.
very helpful.
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