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Article: ANTIQUES.(East India Company)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- The Magazine Antiques
- Article date:
- February 1, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Brant Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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There [in India] laws exist not, and he who rules, must rule the people by his will. If his will be evil, the people will be far more miserable than it is possible for any people to be...but if his will be good as well as strong, happy are the people...for a benevolent despotism is the best of all governments.
Herbert B. Edwardes, A Year on the Punjab Frontier, 1848-49, 1851
At the end of 1600, on the eve of the new year, Queen Elizabeth I signed the charter of the East India Company. The 125 London merchants who subscribed [pound]72,000 had ostensibly formed a joint-stock company "for the honour of this our realm." In fact the profitable spice trade, ...