Page 253 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XII. 227

those buildings, tho Euphrates Elotilla having intermediately boon broken up
by ordor of tho Right llon’blo tho Governor-General of India and the whole of
tho steamers with tho exception of ono having been withdrawn from the rivers
of Mesopotamia, mid transform! to tho Rivor Indus. Captain Lynch was further
informod that as a largo quantity of valuable stores belonging to the Flotilla
still remained in tho Persian Gulf, the Superintendent of tho Indian Navy had
boon instructed to causo them to bo brought down as opportunity offered,
reserving only such as might bo nccossary for the Binglo steamer rctaiuod on the
Euphrates.
233. On tho 23rd May 1844, Major Rawlinson who had intermediately
boon appointed by the Right Hon’ble tho Governor-General of India to succeed
Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, as Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, forwarded to
Government copy of a correspondence which had recently passed betwoen him­
self and Lieutenant Jones of tho Indian Navy, the officer in command of the
Nitocri8 (the steamer left on the Euphrates) on the subject of retaining occu­
pation of tho premises at Marghcil as a Naval Dep6t. It appeared from this
correspondence that Messrs. Lynch and Co., Merchants at Baghdad, into
whose hands the Margheil property had passed, had tendered it to Lieutenant
Jones of the steamer Aitocris for tho monthly rent of Rs. 200. Lieutenant
Jones informed Major Rawlinson of this offer, and at the same time pointed
out the advantages which ho considered would be derived from the retention of
the property for the use of Government. In reply Lieutenant Jones was directed
by Major Rawlinson to make tho best terms he could for the premises pending
a reference which the latter officer stated he was about to make to Government
on the subject. Major Rawlinson at the same time informed Lieutenant Jones
that he considered that Rs. 100 per mensem would be a sufficient rent for the
entire property, including the house, store rooms, wharf and dock.
234. In forwarding this correspondence to Government, Major Rawlison
stated that notwithstanding a former application on the subject of this pro­
perty had been distinctly disallowed by Government, on the ground of the
dep6t being no longer required, in consequenoe of the expedition having been
broken up, still he begged to bring to notice that a very large proportion of
•tores had ever since been, and was still deposited at Margheil, being required
for the use of tho single steamer left on the river. These stores, Major Rawlinson
observed, wore indisponsible for the efficiency of the vessel, and that there was
no other locality where they could ho deposited with nearly the same conveni­
ence and advantage as at Marghoil.
235. Tho Superintendent of the Indian Navy having been consulted by
Government on the subject, that officer in reply on the 30th August 1844,
stated that he considered it “ essentially requisite to the due preservation of
the coal, stores and spare machinery roquired to be kept on the River Euphrates
for the service of tho stream vessel stationed there, that there should be some
place in which to deposit them to protect them from exposure to the
weather and plunder, and as there was no other place, so well situated as
Margheil, not only as regards convenience of approach, but as to the facilities
it possessed for being defended against any attack that may be made on it,
and the further advantages of being distant from any large and its conse­
quences, he recommended that Margheil should continue to beocoupied. ”
236. On receipt of this report this subject was submitted by the Govern­
ment for the instructions of tho Government of India, and by order of that
authority, Major Rawlinson was called upon to state whether he was of opinion
that “ the useful sorviccs of the steamer were commensurate with the expense
attending them. ” Major Rawlinson's reply to this reference having been for­
warded to the Government on the 18th April 1844, this Government was on
tho 2nd May following, authorised to sanctiou the payment of a monthly rent
of Rs. 100 for the occupation of these buildings.
237. In tho accompanying letter Messrs. Remington & Co., as Agents of
Colonel Taylor, applied for payment of the sum of Its. 14,700 on account of
rent for these promises from tho 1st November 1839 to the 1st May 1844, being
the day previous to that on which tho Government of India authorised their
occupation as a depdt, at a monthly rent of Rs. 100. This olaim was