Page 329 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XVIII. 297

notos it was clearly pointed out that there were no such rules. Sir Ikbal-
ud-Dowlah accepted the refusal at once,
External A , October 1885, No*. 8G-S9,
and mado an alternative suggestion, as
follows:—
" I would therefore wish the amount in question held, after my death, at the disposal
of tho person appointed by me as my trustee or executor under iny will, the interest being
paid to him as during my life it is paid to me ; while the expenses and maintenance of my
tomb arc carried out under tho combined consultation and supervision of Resident for timo
being and of my executor."
84. The decision of Government on this application was that tho payment of
tho interest at Baghdad was a special, personal, concession in favour of the
Nawab which the Government of India could not undertake to conlinuo after his
death. There would liowcvor he no difTiculty in having the securities deposited
in any bank in India, which the trustee or executor under the Nawab’s will
might solcct, and in withdrawing the interest, when realized, by selling bills on
the hank. With this except ion, the Government of India approved the arrange­
ment proposed by the Nawab. (foreign Department letter No. 1441-13., dated
lGth September 18S5).
85. Tho Nawab died 21st December 1S87 at Katliimain, 5 miles from
Baghdad, a Shiah sacred town and a favourite residence of the deceased. He left
a will behind, in which Colonel Tweedie rightly remarked thero runs a vein
eccentricity. The Nawab imagines himself “ Royalty,”—a King of Oudh in all
the glories of the old dynasty when in power, directs the British Ambassador at
Constantinople to recover certain balances from the Ottoman Bank and appoints
the Political Resident at Baghdad executor of his trust with ccrtaiu other
residents of Baghdad.
86. The will is written entirely in the Nawab’s own handwriting, and con­
sists of paragraphs each separately attestod relating to his various and frequently
repeated behests.
87. Briefly, it enjoins the following conditions :—
(1) that all the Nawab’s immovoable and moveable property valuables,
excoptiug books and house furniture, should be turned into cash,
and tho proceeds reserved for the up-keep of his tomb and the
house in which it is situated, for ever afterwards;
(2) that the exocutor of this trust should he the Resident in the Turkish
Gulf, with the advice and co-operation of certain other persons
named, e.g.
(«) Abul Hassan his trusted manager of the household and
estato; IChider, son of the above, and after him one of
his capable and sensible descendants, as long as the
family contains a worthy representative; and
(&)• Nawab Mahomed Hassan Khan supposed to be a member
of tho Karnatio family aud honorary Residency Agent
at Kadhimain with Agha Mahomed aud his brothers,
sons of Mahomed Hassan Khan; and
(c) Mahomed Taki Khau, brother of Mahomed Hassan Khan
and honorary Residency Agent at Kerballa.
88. Colonel Tweedie asked the Government of Iudia orders on two points:—
first—“ May the Resident accept the trust imposed, and take the responsi­
bilities of becoming chief executor?” Secondly, if the first is decided in the
affirmative—"How is the will to bo dealt with as regards the laws of probate
and execution ? '*
89. The question of the Political Resident acting as executor of the trust
has a long history of its own. Sir Henry Rawlinson reported in his letter
No. 3‘i of tho 28th October 1847, that tho Nawab had called upon him and said
he was anxious to make a will, whereby his whole estate, with the exception
• Sco goucalogicol toblc in Chapter IV (ix) page