Factory Records: Dacca

Diary and consultations, 1678-1691. Consultations, 1736-1748. Provincial Council of Revenue consultations, 1773-1778. Consultations, 1778-1779.

In the mid-seventeenth century, the Company extended its activities into the Bay of Bengal. Dacca was one of the factories it established, in or around 1666. The town, situated on the north bank of the Buriganga river, was famous for its muslins. In 1765 the district became part of the Company's first territorial acquisitions. In 1773 the Government of Bengal adopted a new plan for collecting land revenue. Five revenue divisions were set up, each managed by a Provincial Council of Revenue. One Council was based at Dacca. In 1781 the Provincial Councils were abolished and their powers were transferred to the Committee of Revenue at Calcutta. The muslin trade continued to be important in Dacca until 1785 when the British government imposed a heavy duty on muslins imported to England. As a result, trade in the area began to decline.

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Balasore, Hugli and Calcutta Factory Records (G/2, G/20 and G/7) Home Miscellaneous H/456F Original Correspondence Bengal Proceedings (Calcutta Committee of Revenue)