Page 115 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter IV. 93
CHAPTER IV.
History of the Basrah, Baghdad and other agencies and Con­
sulates.

(i) Origin aud growth of tho Basrah and Baghdad Agoncies, 1646—1783.
An cxhauslivo Prdcis of tho corrcspondcuco iu this subject is given in the
jPrfais of information regarding the East India Company's connection with
Turkish Arabia, 10 LG—1816, drawn up in tho Bombay Secretariat, and wo
liavohoro only to iudicato the main oveuts.
2. A pinnace, with a small investment, was sent by tho East India Company’s
Agency at Gombroon to Basrah as early as 1635 (Bruco’s Annals op the East
India Company Yol. I, pages 330 and 334). Messrs. Thurston and Pierson
were sent to Basrah in 1040 with goods, which they were allowed to land by
tho Pasha. The Civil war in Turkish Arabia rendered, however, tho project of
establishing a factory at Basrah difficult. In 1013 the Agency at Gombroon
is reported to havo decided to continue the factory at Basrah (Bruce’s Annals,
Yol. I, pa'gcs 370, 383 and 100.)
3. But it appears that the East India Company had no Agent constantly
residing at Basrah till tho beginning of
Pricis of information regarding Edit India Com-
pang’s connection tc«7A Turkish Arabia Precis tho 18til COUtury, 0110 Or mOl’C of tlioir
igi6-58lo, paragraphs si, 34,35. servants belonging to tho Factory at Surat
or in Gombroon in the Persian Gulf, being, from time to time, sent to Basrah
for the sale and purchase of investments, who returned to their station on the
completion of the service on which they have been sent.
4. In January 1001 a Treaty of 07 articles was entered into between Great Turkish Arabia
Britain and Turkey, Appendix A., anuoxod to tho Prdcis quoted above. pafagJJ'ph^?^*1816,
This Treaty was concluded on the part of the British Government by Ileneage,
Earl of Winchelsca, Ambassador Extraordinary from His Majesty Ring Charles
II, to the Court of Mahomed Sultan of Turkey. The Treaty, amongst other
stipulations, provided that all vessels sailing under tho British flag should be
permitted to trade without molestation to all ports within the Turkish limits ;
that all British subjects should freely and securely come and go by land
through all tho imperial limits of the Turkish dominions ; and at their own
pleasure, safoly and securely, navigate and traffic in all parts of those domi­
nions, and that all accusations, of whatever kind, mado against Englishmen resid­
ing in or passing through Turkish territory should be investigated in the prcsonco
of the Ambassador or Consul. It was further agreed that all privileges and
capitulations which in former times had been granted by tho Turks to the
Ercncli, or any other Christiau nation, should also be conceded to tho English ;
that no English Consul or Resident iu tho Turkish dominions should, under
any circumstances, bo subject to imprisonment; and that no merchandize
belonging to the English should be subject to a higher rate of customs in the
Turkish dominions than 3 per cent.
5. In September 1675 a further Treaty, Appendix B to the Prdcis quoted Paragraph 23.
above was concluded between Great Britain and Turkey, continuing, with
several amendments, tho abovo Treaty, and clearing up several ambiguous
expressions in the former Treaty, which were considered to require explana­
tion. A consolidated edition of the Treaties of 1661 and 1675 is printed in
Aitohison’s Treaties (1892) Yol. XI.
6. From a lcttor dated the 14th July 1077, addressed from Surat by the ph 21.
President in Council, Surat, to tho Deputy President in Council, Bombay,
it appears that the Bast India Company’s factories at Basrah and all ports
of Persia wore under the control of tho Agont in Council at Gombroon.
C. Tliero are numerous letters on record, dated between the years 1683 PM*&r*pb34*
and 1707, written from tho Factory at Gombroon and from the Chief in
Counoil of that Factory from Ispahan while on occasioual visits at that place.
In those letters, however, no allusion is mado to any Agent on the part of tho
East India Company being permanently stationed at Basrah. These letters
alludo to tho sale of Company’s investments in Persia, but no specific allusion
is made to Basrah, further than that the " Basrah ships ” are occasionally
montioned, but no account is given of their arrival or departure at that placo, or
of what sales wero effected there on the Compauy’s account.
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