Page 197 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter X. 171
aroall in good health and the hc9t possiblo spirits, having arrived hero without
any serious difficulty or annoyance.”
18. The Euphrates then ascended the Tigris as far as near the ancient city of
Opis. Descending down that river, it made an attempt to ascend the Euphrates
river, hut upon entering tho Lamoun marshes of Babylonia, the engine of
the stcamor broke down. Every effort to repair it failed, and the steamer was
let down tho current of tho river to take its Own courso assisted occasionally by
sails. Mcanwhilo Russia had aroused the suspicions of the Porte against the
British being allowed tho right of internal navigation, and as the funds of tho
expedition were getting exhausted, tho British Government decided to spend no
more money upon tho expedition.
19. On tho 23rd January 1837 tho Euphrates expedition was by order of His
Majesty's Government broken up, and the Euphrates steamer was mado
over to the East India Company, on tho understanding that such an amount
should be paid for her as a Committee of Survoy might deem hor to be worth.
(iv) The East India Company’s Euphrates Flotilla—1837-1844:.
20. On the 18th April 1837 the Ifon'blo the Secret Committee forwarded, for
the information and guidance of this Gov­
Pago «3, Volume 703 of 1S37.
ernment, copy of a letter that authority
had on tho same day addressed to the Right llou’hle the Governor-General of
India in Council, intimating that they had appointed Lieutenant (now Com­
mander) Henry Blosso Lynch, of the Indian Navy, then in Eugland, to the
command of tho Euphrates steamer and of any other steamers which might
subsequently ho employed on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Secret
Committee at the same time forwarded copy of tho following letter which they
had on the same day addressed to Lieutenant Lynch, directing him to proceed
to Baghdad for tho above purpose, and containing instructions for his guidance
after his arrival at that place :—
" You will proceed with all convenient speed to Baghdad. On reaching that
city you will report your arrival immediately to Colonel Taylor, the Hon'ble East
India Company’s Rosident, and will act under tho advice of that gentlemen until
you shall receive your definite instructions from the Governor-General of India
in Council. You will inform Colonel Taylor of our wish that you should be put
in command of the Euphrates steamer and of any other steam vessel or vessels
that may ho employed on the Tigris or the Euphrates. Previously to tho receipt
of your instructions from India, you will make all necessary arrangements
respecting tho stores of the late expedition under Colonol Chesney, and tho
wreck of the Tigris, and you will take care that any engagements entered into
with the Arabiau tribes or other authorities in reference to thoso objects shall
he strictly fulfilled. You will iu concert with, and under the guidance of,
Colonel Taylor enter inlofrietidly cotimuniications with the tribes frequenting
the rivers of Mesopotamia, and will endeavour to establish with them such
relations as may be serviceable to the interests of Great Britain, and may adcl
to the facilities for a speedy and regular transmission of mails between the
Persian Gulf and the coast of Syria.
“ You will be furnished with a chart of tho Euphrates, executed by the
late expedition, and you will complete the surveys of that river and the Tigris,
making such astronomical, geographical and statistical observations as the more
direct objects of tho service may permit. You will report to us, and to the Indian
Government, on all subjects connected with the service in which you are employ­
ed, and will exercise a sound discretion in obeying the letter and spirit of your
instructions.
“ Tlie Governor-General of India in Council will he requested to defray the
expenses you may incur in the recovery of the property of tho Tigris, and in
the fulfilment of the engagements of tho late expedition, of which you will
keep a separate account, in order that they may eventually he reimbursed to the
East India Company by His Majesty's Government.”
21. In June 1839 the Ilon'hlc tho Secret Committee sent out from England
(in frame work, via the Capo) three additional iron steamers for scrvico on the
Euphrates and Tigris rivers, named tho Assyria, Nimrod, and Nilocris ; tho
ship iu which tho materials for tlicso vessels were forwarded from Englaud

L.