29

First Charter of the East India Company.

In the year 1600 A. D. Queen Elizabeth granted
 a charter to a corporation denominated * the
Governor and Company of Merchants trading into
the East Indies.” The powers and privileges conferred
 by this charter were limited to a term of
fifteen years; but by a further charter granted to
the Company by James I. in the year 1609, this
limitation was removed. Other charters were subsequently
 obtained from Charles II., James II., and
William and Mary respectively. In the year 1698
William IIL incorporated a second East India
Company under the name of the « English Company
 trading to the East Indies.” But the interests
of the two Companies ended in their union in the
year 1709, under the terms of an award of arbitrators
 ; and the right of trading to the eastward of
the Cape of Good Hope, together with the government
 of the forts and settlements possessed by the
English in India, became vested in the « United
Company of Merchants of England trading to the
East Indies” By a subsequent enactment the
Company was named the East India Company (3
and 4 Will. IV., cap. 85, Section 111). Down to
the year 1773 the history of the government by the
English of their Indian possessions is one of military
 struggle and civil conflict ; the position of the
Company was by no means secure, and their supremacy
 was confined to their ports and settlements