Treaty Between Alaung-hpaya and the British East India Company in 1757
TREATY of FRIENDSHIP and ALLIANCE, between The Honourable The United
Company of Merchants of England, trading to the East Indies, Subjects of His most
Sacred Majesty, George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France,
and Inland, King &c. &c. &c. of the One Part, and the Great King of Ava and
Pegu, The greatest King upon Earth, Allaum Praw &c. &c. &c. of the Other Part.
Be it known, unto all whom it may concern, that the Parties abovementioned,
wisely considering that the Riches of Kingdoms are derived from Commerce, for
the Promotion and Prosperity whereof, it is necessary, that Security and a Free
intercourse should subsist, between the Nations trading together, they the said
Parties have, therefore, for their mutual Benefit and Advantage, Agreed on the
following Articles
1st. The King of Ava and Pegu doth hereby, for himself, his Heirs and successors,
freely and absolutely grant unto the said Honourable United Company, and their
Successors, the Island of Negrais, which from henceforth for evermore they shall
and may peaceably and quietly possess and enjoy, together with all Benefits and
Advantages arising therefrom.
2d. The King of Ava and Pegu, for himself and his Successors, doth also hereby
freely and absolutely grant, unto the said Honourable United Companyy, and their
Successors, a Spot, or Tract, of Ground situate on the Bank of Persaim River,
opposite to the Pagoda Hill, and the Old Town of Persaim, of the following Extent,
Viz. Two hundred Bamboos square, each Bamboo containing 7 Cubits, which said
Spot, or Tract, of Ground at Persaim, The said Company and their Successors, shall
and may henceforth, for evermore, peaceably and quietly possess and enjoy,
together with all Benefit and Advantage arising thereby, and with full Liberty to
build Fortifications, and erect such other Buildings thereon, as they shall think fit.
3d. The King of Ava and Pegu doth hereby further for himself, his Heirs and
Successors, freely and absolutely, grant unto the said Honourable United Comfany,
and their Successors, and the Servants of the said Company, the full and unlimited
Priviledge of trading, in what kind of Goods or Merchandize they shall think fit,
throughout all his Dominions, without let or hindrance, and free of all Duties or
Customs whatsoever; provided that the Commander of every Ship, arriving at any
of his Ports, and claiming the above previledge, do produce before he can be
entitled thereto, Certificate signed by the Governors, Chiefs, Factors or Agents of
the said Company, that the Goods onboard such Ship, are the sole Property of the
said Company, or their Servants, but all Goods whatsoever belonging to Strangers,
or Persons not actually in the Service, of the said Comfany, shall pay the
accustomed Duties.
4th. The King of Ava and Pegu doth hereby give and grant unto the said
Honourable Company, and their Successors, and Servants, the free Liberty of
employing such Artificers, Workmen or Tradesmen of his Subjects, as shall be
willing to engage in his Service, on paying them the usual and accustomed Wages,
And the King doth also hereby promise, that he will publish to his Subjects, free
Liberty of engaging themselves in the said Company’s Service as aforesaid.
5th. The King of Ava and Pegu doth hereby promise, that in Case any of his
Officers, or Subjects, shall at any time invade, or molest the said Company, or their
Servants, in any manner of wise, or abridge them of any of their Priviledges of
Trade, herein before expressed, on due Complaint thereof made, he will, to the
utmost of his Power, without delay, protect and defend the said Company, and their
Servants, and support them in the exercise and enjoyment of the said Priviledges.
6th. In consideration whereof, the said Honourable Company do hereby promise
and oblige themselves to present unto the King of Ava, and Pegu, annually, one
Piece of Ordnance to carry a twelve pound Shot, as likewise 200 Viss of good
Gunpowder, as an Acknowledgement, that they bear in remembrance the King’s
Friendship, in granting the said Island of Negrais, with the Spot, or Tract of
Ground, situate on the Bank of Persaim River, as before-mentioned, to the said
Company.
7th. The said United Company do hereby, tor themselves their Heirs and
Successors, fully and absolutely grant unto the King of Ava and Pegu, and his
Successors,and his and their Sublets the full and unlimited Priviledge of trading in
what kind of Goods or Merchandize they shall think fit, at the said Company’s
Ports, of Fort St. George, Fort St. David, Deve Cotah, and Vizagapatam, on the
Coast of Choromandel, or any other of the Company’s Ports in India, without any
Let or hindrance, and free of all Duties and Customs whatsoever, provided that the
Commander of every Ship, arriving at the said Ports, and claiming the above
Priviledge do produce, before he can be entitled thereto, a Certificate, under the
King’ Chop, that the Goods on board such Ship, are the sole Property of the King,
or his Subjects.
8th. The United Company do hereby, for themselves and their Successors, promise
and oblige themselves to aid, assist and defend, the King of Ava and Pegu, and his
Successors against all their Enemies by Sea and Land, and for that purpose to
furnish such a number of Troops, with proper Warlike Stores, as the Occasion may
necessarily require, and the said Company can conveniently spare, from the
Defence and Protection of their own Territories; upon consideration, nevertheless,
that the King shall defray the Wages, and all Charges whatsoever, of such Troops,
during the Time they shall be in his Service, and pay for all Warlike Stores that
shall be expended.
9th. The said Uniitd Company do further for themselves and their Successors,
promise that in Case the King of Tavoy, should, at any time hereafter, take up
Arms against the King of Ava, and Pegu they will not on any Account give him the
least Aid or Assistance; but on the contrary they do oblige themselves to protect
and defend the King of Ava, and his Dominions and Subjects, to the utmost of their
Power.
In Witness whereof, I the Great King of Ava. and Pegu, &c. Allaum Praw, have
hereunto affixed my Royal Signet, this 28th day of July 1757.
“The King of Ava & Pegu’s Royal Signet.” [seal]
Source: Alexander Dalrymple, Oriental Repertory, (London: William Ballintine for
the East India Company, 1808): 1.223-1.226.
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