Page 116 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

91 Part II.
Paragraph >0.
7. On the 6tli April 1721, as appears from the following entry from tho
Diary of tho Bombay Government, a special meeting of tho President and
Governor in Council was held, at which tho following resolutions wore
passed :—
“ Road and approved our Inst consultation. Tho President acquaints the hoard tho
occasion of this meeting is to consider of the state of our hon'blo masters’ affairs in Persia,
nnd the needful directions to ho given that Agoncy by tho Cotnploir, now under despatch for
Gombroon ; and first our settlement at Basrah, when it is observed there is nothing yot done for
the ndvantago of our hon’blo employers, more than a promise obtained from tho Pasha that
wo shall pay but three pcrcont. duties on tho broadcloth, none of which being disposed of at
tho time Mr. Iloussay despatched thoso advices; tho pvospoct he gives us of selling it scorns
rather an amusement than any real application to sorve his employers, while ho continues so
much involve in privato trade.
Mr. Fronoli obtains from the Paoha of Basrah a Firman granting authority to the Enst
India Company to punish their own servants, in tho ovout of their committing any crime, with­
out any interference being cxcroised by the Turkish Government. A stipulation is also made
that in any disputo on the subject of debts or contracts between the Hast India Company*s
Factory at Basrah and tho inhabitants of that place, an investigation shall bo made by the
Turkish Cazee in the presence of the British Resident, which shall bo opon to appeal by that
offiocr to the Pacha.’'
8. Tho abovo extract shows that thoro wa9 Rcsidont at Basrah in 1721.
PrragTtph 83. 9. In a letter to tho addross of tho Hon’ble tho Oourt of Directors, dated
the 18th April 1759, the Resident at Basrah stated that tho French Resident
at that place had a short time since proceeded to Baghdad and had obtained
a Firman from Soliman Pasha, directing that thenceforth he (the French
Resident) should “ he first received on tho ceremonial visits and be respected as
first of the European Residents.*’ In consequence of his having obtained this
firman, the French Resident, after his return to Basrah, treated Mr. Shaw with
indignity, and issued an order that all the great men of the place and also the
merchants (particularly Christians) should on all public days visit him previous
to their paying their respects to the British Residont. This order was resisted
by the parties to whom it was addressed, who stated that they felt a preference
for tho English, and that their inclinations led them to pay their first visit on
these occasions to the British Resident. Mr. Shaw accordingly represented
this circumstance to Soliman Pasha, who in consequence sent an order to the
Mussalim at Basrah—
4C directing him and all his officers to regard the English as first in his esteem."
The Pa9ha at the same time addressed a letter to tho Fronch Resident at
Basrah reprimanding him for the above order. Tho Pasha also addressed a
letter to Mr. Shaw expressing his concern at the Frenchman’s impudence.
10. The Pacha, in August 1760, issued an order for tho exaction at Basrah
Paragraph 92.
•of a duty of 6 instead of 3 per cent, upon all European goods landed at that
place. On the remonstrance, however, of tho Resident at Basrah the Pasha
relinquished this demand.
11. On tho 22nd January 1763 Government directed the removal of the
Paragraph 99.
Oombroon Factory to Basrah and appointed Mr. William Andrew Price
,c JProvisional Agent in Persia?' and directed him to establish his head­
quarters at Basrah.
12. His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople obtained in
Paragraph 107.
August 1761, a “ Consulary Birat ” for the English East India Company's
Agent at Basrah, Mr. Garden and “ whoever he Agent in f uturo and who­
| ever be British Consul for transacting their affairs in tho city of Basrah or
other places there belonging or dependent thereon.”
13. In 1765 Mr. Garden was sent to Baghdad with a representation to the
Paragraph 110.
Pasha in order to effect some sales of the East India Company's goods, hut was
recalled, and Mr. Dymoke Lyster, one of the Council at Basrah, was ordered to
proceed on to Baghdad and relieve Mr. Garden. The Agent in Council at
Basrah about this time made a recommendation that for the future ono of the
Company'8 servants should permanently reside at Baghdad. This arrange­
ment was approved by Government on the 16th January 1766, and Mr.
James Morlcy, then in Bombay, was appointed Resident at Baghdad, where
be arrived on the 2nd May following, when Mr. Dymoke Lystor returned to