rights and privileges; the instant I recieved this letter, I sent you an answer; but it appears to me that my reply never reached you, for which reason I write again.
I must inform you, that Roger Drake, the Company's Chief in Bengal, acted contrary to the orders I sent him, and encroached upon my authority; he gave protection to the King's subjects who absented themselves from the inspection of the Durbar, which practice I did forbid, but to no purpose. On this account, I was determined to punish him, and accordingly expelled him my country; but it was my inclination to have given the English Company permission to have carried on their trade as formerly, had another Chief been sent here; for the good therefore of these Provinces, and the inhabitants, I send you this letter; and if you are inclined to re-establish the Company, only appoint a Chief, and you may depend upon my giving currency to their commerce upon the same terms as heretofore enjoyed. If the Enlish behave themselves like merchants, and follow my orders, they may rest assured of my favour, protection, and assistance.”[১]
এই পত্রে সিরাজচরিত্রের যেরূপ পরিচয় প্রাপ্ত হওয়া যায়, তাহার সহিত ইতিহাস-বর্ণিত সিরাজদ্দৌলার কত প্রভেদ! কিন্তু ইংরাজেরা সে সকল কথা জানিয়া শুনিয়াও শান্তিপ্রিয়তার পরিচয় প্রদান করিতে পারিলেন না। এই পত্র যখন ইংরাজদিগের হস্তগত হইল, তখন তাঁহারা কলিকাতা পুনরধি
- ↑ Ive's Journal.
