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on the coast, at Bengal, Madras, and Bombay.
Bengal was the chief presidency, and those of
Madras and Bombay were governed in imitation
of the policy pursued by the Supreme Government
at the chief presidency. During the sixty-five
years which elapsed from the union of the two
Companies down to the Regulating Act of 1773,
great acquisitions of territory were made, and the
position of the Company was gradually changed
from that of tenants of factories, owing obedience
to the Mogal Emperor, to one of practical and
independent sovereignty.

Territorial Acquisitions.

The first possession of the English was the
Island of Bombay, ceded to Charles II. in 1661 by
the King of Portugal as part of the marriage
dowry of the Infanta. Charles II. granted it to the
East India Company, who, about the same time,
gained possession of some factories on the west
coast of India. Somewhat later, factories were
established at Madras and other places on the east
coast. Last of all, the Company made trading
settlements in Bengal, and founded Calcutta, The
factories of Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta became
the leading factories in their different localities,
and exercised control and supervision over the
subordinate depts and places in their vicinity.
The decline of the Mogal dynasty was very rapid
after the death of Aurungzeb in 1707; and it was