Seven Months Had Now Been Vainly Spent In Soliciting The Signing And
Sealing Of The Articles Of Amity And Commerce, Formerly Detailed, And I
Had Nothing But Promises And Delays, From Day To Day, And From Week To
Week.
Therefore on the 3d September, the English fleet being hourly
expected to arrive at Surat, I delivered to him a memorial, containing
the articles I desired to have an order for, that they might be observed
in the unloading of the ships.
These were, 1. That the presents coming
for the king and prince, should not be opened at the port, but sent up
to court under the seals of the customhouse officers. 2. That
curiosities sent for presents to other persons, and for the merchants to
sell, should also be sent to the court sealed, for the prince to make
the first choice. 3. That the gross merchandize should be landed,
reasonably rated, and not detained at the customhouse, but that the
merchants, on paying the customs, should have full liberty to sell or
dispose of it as they pleased; and that the ships should be fully
supplied with provisions, without paying any custom for the same.
On the 4th, Asaph Khan sent me back my articles, after so long
attendance and so many false promises, some of them altered, and others
struck out, together with a letter, saying there was no need of any
articles, as an order from the prince to trade at Surat was quite
sufficient, he being lord there, and that no grant of trade at Bengal or
Sinde could ever be allowed.
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