Page 103 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

81 Port IV—Chop. XXIII.
of tho inefficiency of our occasionally reserved and qualified authority over either singlo
officers or bodies, acting at the same tirao under a superior powor, and os from the nature of
things similar consequoncou must we apprehend be always more or less contemplated; we
feel so far an interest that the arrangements now to be determined should be calculated, as
far as possible, to avoid a projudicial oolliaion of authorities, in whichever channel it may be
thought most beneficial for tho public service that it should bo exorcised.
192. In March 1810 Mr. N. H. Smith, Resident at Bushirc, who was about PoU.Dspt. Diary
to proceed to Maskat on duty, appointed Lieutenant William Bruce his assistant pP°. 2290 and 2133.
to take charge of the dutios of Resident during his absence. Soon after,
however, Lieutenant Bruce was ordered by General Malcolm to proceed up
country, with the Persian mission,’ and left Mr. S. Babington in charge of the
Bushiro Residency.
193. In his letter dated 1st May 1810, Mr. Smith informed the Bombay ibid, p. 2334.
Government, that the pernicious effect of tho climate of Maskat obliged him to
resign all further charge of the duties of that station. In these circumstances
the following Resolution was recorded by the Bombay Government on 9th
May 1810:—
In consequence of Mr. Smith's relinquishment of the station of Muscat, the appointment
of Messrs. Babington and Williams as assistants to the latter in the Political Department at
Bushirc and Muscat must of course bo dissolved; and a9 Mr. Bruce who has so long acted as
assistant to tho Commercial Rctidcnt at Bushirc, from which ho cannot bo removed without
undue hardship or some fault on his part, constituted an establishment quite equal to all the
purposes of the existing or even the prospective views of the Iion'blo Company, as to any
extent of trade that can be carried on in the Gulph on their account; it appears under these
circumstances necessary to revert to that part of the original instructions to Captain Wain-
wright aud to Colonel Smith, which had for object to provide a more healthy station for tho
residence of the person or persons who might be destined to have tho future superintendence of
the Company's concerns at Muscat, in which view these officers are now to be requested by the
Secretary to report the result of their enquiries and observations.
Meanwhile, it should be communicated to Mr. Babington and Mr. Williams that although
they are no longer to consider themselves as Assistants at Bushirc than to the end of April
last, yet they might remain there and tho former perform tho dutios of that Residency as
committed to him by General Malcolm aud Mr. Bruce, till further orders.
It is in the meanwhile to be earnestly enjoined to these gentlemen to qualify themsolves
fully during their abode at Bushire for future employment in the Gulph by acquiring a
thorough and practical knowledge both of Persian and Arabic.