Hamilton’s account of the east indies,

Fourth per cent. Our requeft is, to be free of this tax, that we may have liberty offending what is neceffary for fupply of the King’s people and faid ifland.

“ XXVIII. A fhip, with her cargo, to the amount of 254,000 rupees, came out ofEngland without our King’s licence, which came to Surat . Our King’s orders cameto us to feize Ihip and cargo, which accordingly we did ; but Salabat Caun thenbeing governor, forced her from us, and delivered her to Mr. Boucher. Our defireis, the faid fhip may be re-delivered us, that Mr. Boucher and his broker give us ajuft and true account of the remainder of the cargo, and that the governor take careit be not fquandered away by them.

« XXIX. It is the King’s grant, that merchants pay but onecuftom for their goods,without farther moleftation, and, when they pay it, to take a difcharge. Of lateyears, the officers have forced us to pay double euftom, befides their perquifiteswhich they have demanded, which has been a great hindrance to the timely arrival ofour goods. We defire we may not be forced to pay more than accuftomary.

« XXX. We formerly rented a piece of ground for ffables, on which we were atconfiderable charges in building and reparations. Meer Naffam, by buying it, de-prived us of it. We defire he may latisfy us the faid charges.

“ XXXI. Some years fince we loft an anchor at the river’s mouth, which MirzaMoffum’s people took up. We have often demanded it, offering to defray the chargeshe was at, but cannot get it. Our requeft is, that his ion Mirza Mahomud Araff de-liver the fame, we paying the charges they were at.

« XXXII. At the arrival of our fhips, they fend the boat up with news. At thecuftom-houfe they flop her a whole day before they will let our people come on fhorewith letters, which is a great impediment to our affairs. Our requeft is, that theymay not be hindred for the future, but fuftered to land as foon as they come to thecuftom-houfe.

“ XXXIII. As concerning my Bengal, we hear feveral fhips have been taken andburnt, in which affair we are not concerned, neither do we know whether peace beconcluded there or not. Our requeft is, that the King ifl'ue out his orders, that noperfon queftion us, or make demands on us on that account.

“ XXXIV. Some years ago the Sedee, with the King’s fleet, wintered at Bombay,in which time fome of his people murdered two of our Englifhmen, which made ourmen refolutely refolve to revenge "heir death, but, with great perfuafions were pacified,being promifed fatisfaction. We acquainted the governor of it, who ordered themurderers to be imprifoned; but, three days after, they were cleared by the Sedee.Our requeft is, they may be delivered that we may profecute them, and that jufticemay be done.

“ XXXV. When we are minded to take our pleafure out of the city, although wereturn before the ufual time of fhutting the gates, the porters fhut them againft us,demanding money before they will let us enter the city. Our requeft is, that orderbe given by the governor, that we be no more affronted by thofe people.”

Thefe grievances were the foundation on which General Child built a war with theMogul, without ever fending them to court to know the King’s pleafure, but, withoutdeclaring war, feized his fubjecls fhips v'herever they were found, although they hadthe fanttion of his own paffes. If the fourth article be Chriftian the Mahometans andHeathens abhor it. The feventeenth and twenty-third are unjuft, as well as the twenty-eighth ; and the thirty and thirty-firft were but weak arguments to help to fupport hiscomplaints and raile a war, that coft his mafters above 400,000 pounds before they couldlay it, befides the lofs of their credit with the Mogul and his fubjedls, which, to tins time, is

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