Page 100 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part IV—Chap. XXII. 78

occasion j I of courao complied and on the 24th early in the morning I went attended by the
guard and the principal inhabitant and met the beater of the lirmaun a little way on tho
road, and proceed with him to the tent, where the firmaun was publicly read by the Shaik's
Mirza and I was regularly invested with the Khalat, consisting of an elegant Persian Khinkhab
coat, a ditto, gold worked Charkbasio. a shawl and a gold worked Koindir; and then after
getting 6omo time, during which trays of sugar candy was placed boforo the audience and
receiving their congratulations, I proceeded in stato to tho Factory, whore sweetmeats, etc.,
was again displayed ns before; after which Toral Peg retired to tho housoof Muhammad
Ilossain Khawn, the son of the late Mchcdy Ali Khawn) whom I had requested to attend to his
wants; during his stay here tho threo following days was taken up in paying and receiving
visits from Toral Beg and Muhammad Ilossain Khan Kulchio; and yesterday they again
accompanied with tho Shaik paid me a private visit at tho Faotory, when Muhammad Ilossain
Khawn informed me that orders had been received at Shiraz by the Prince to 6ond a Khalat
to the British Resident at Bushiro, and to cultivate in tho strongest tho good understanding
which existed between Persia and tho British Government, by showing marked attentions to
these Agents, and to inform me that Ilia Majesty would always be happy to accodo to any
wishes our Government might requiro; and for us not to suppose that in conscqucuco of French
Agents having lately come into Persia, that his friendship towards us would any way alter,
but on tho contrnry, that tho good understanding which now existed and had done so far so
great a length of time, would, it is hoped, over remain. Ho also said that the Prince nnd
Nassur Ulla Khan requested that I would keep up a regular friendly correspondence with thorn
and begged I would communicate these particulars to your Ilon'blc Board, as also ineution
in my answer to Nassur Ulla Khan the particular of what he had 6aid, that this Minister
might be certain of his having fulfilled his instructions ; I told him I of course should aequaiut
your Hon’ble Board of these particulars and agr. eablo to his request would mention them
in my lotter to Nassur Ulln Khan ; and that I could safely say on the part of tho British
Government, that l he good understanding which now existed would never be infringed by
them, that whenever wo formed connexions with other Governments it was always pure and
disinterested on our part; be also told the Shaikh in my presence that he was ordered to
inform him ihat he was to attend ti every requisition made by tho British Resident here,
upon pain of meeting the soverest displeasure of His Majesty in case of not doing it.
I shall write answers to the firmaun and lettors I have received to-morrow or next day and
hope by tho next despatch to forward copies of tho firmauu nnd different letters with their
translations for the information of the Hon'blc Board.
It will be requisite to make a handsome present to Toral Bog and Muhammad Ilossain
Khawn on their leaving this, with a few small ones to these Mirzas, etc., and of course shall
be guided in this agreeable to the etiquette of the country and the credit of tho British Gov­
ernment. Tho present for the Prince which ought to accompany the answer to the firmaun,
I shall defer sending till the ariival of Mr. Smith, when it will answer for two purposes, both
for tho firmaun and to accompany Mr. Smith’s letter informing of his arrival.
What His Majesty’s views may be in this instanco, it is impossible for me to divine,
but I am inclined to believe it is the forerunner of something of more importance, and that he
brings to find bis new friends the French are not only too far removed but that these vain
professions are not to be taken for the more solid and lasting ones of his near neighbours tho
English.
!
i£r. N. H. Smith, 186. Mr. N. H. Smith soon after arrived at Bushire and took charge of his
Betident at
Bushire, 1807' appointment as Resident.
1808.
Captain Patley, 187. When General Malcolm returned from Bushire in July 1808,
1808.
Mr. Smith accompanied him to Bombay, Captain Pasley was appointed to aot
for General Malcolm as also Resident at Bushire.
Lieutenant Bruce, 188. Captain Pasley left Bushiro in September 1808 appointing Lieuten­
1608.
I ant Bruce to act for him. The following instructions were left by Captain
Pasley for Lieutenant Bruce’s guidance (letter dated 14th August 1808): —
You are intimately acquainted with tho various considerations which have at length
induced me to resolvo upon tbc removing the mission from this place, that any explanation of
my motive for adopting that measure is entirely unnecessary and little therefore remains to be
done but to afford such hints as may serve for the regulation of your conduct during my absence.
These will be concise; the infirm state of my health will not permit me at present to be diffuse
and you own personal knowledge and information happily precludes tho necessity of detailed
instructions on any point.
The powers of tho Political Resident with which I was invested by General Malcolm on
his departure I now commit into your hands and desire that you will consider yourself fully
invested therewith in all affairs, which do not relate to those large questions connected with the
important interests which are exclusively committed to my control as tho bead of the mission
to the Court of Persia.
You will consider yourself at liberty to correspond with the Government of Shcraz on all
points connected with your local situation at Bushire to decide according to the best of your