Page 156 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

134
Part V—Chap. XYX.
committed without the permission of tho a British ship (Ahmed Shah), somotimo in 1814
British Qovornmont. Tlio Persian Govern- whioh was duly reported to Government. This
mont will not thoroforo be antisfiod with his ship grounded near the island and might oasily
continued rosidonco in Persia, wo therefore have boon got off and saved witL the cargoe^
re^uost that you will write to tho British most of whioh belonged to tho ‘Honourable
Minister in India to appoint anothor person Company, if assistance had been rondored from
to tho situation of Resident and to dismiss tho shore. Ou tho contrary, tho Shaikh seized
Mr. Brucofrom the omploy,as his continued tho vessel and property and after taking what
rosidonco in Persia will not bo productive of he plensed ho set firo to the ship. A gentleman
advnntago to either State, and it is necessary was sent down from ’ Bushiro to remonstrato
Mr. Bruoo should rostoro tho amount of tho with the Shaikh Abdulln-bin-Ahmcd and suc-
los8 ho has oooasioned to Persian subjects. ceodod in recovering a small portion of tho
property, consisting of tronsuro belonging to tho
merchants of Bushiro, and of a few, I bcliovo
marcs belonging to Govornmont. Tho seizure
of this vessel was reported to M. Morier,
His Majesty's Minister at Tehran, who promised
a firman from tho Shall on His Royal High­
ness tho Princo of Shuar to enforce restitution
from tho Shaikh of Charak ; this firmuun liko all
orders of this nature in Persia, which aro not
speoially enforced, was never attended to, al­
though tho subject was repeatedly urged from
tho Residcnoy, this port was also one of those
pointed out in Sir W. G. Koir'e instructions to
bo visited as they aro now notoriously in league
with tho pirates, and had been for 6ome years.

Hie Majesty's Chargd d'Affaires made Mr. Bruce as before stated never went on
some observations in defence of Mr. Bruce, any mission to Bahrein, excepting for the
but as ho has acknowledged the destruction purpose of destroying boat6. The boats alluded
of the Lingua and Charak boats, he will to were destroyed by *the squadron under
certainly not disavow Mr. Bruce’s mission command of Captaiu Loch of His Majesty's
to Bahrein, and his mediating to effect the Ship Eden. Mr. Bruce stated to what ports
views of the Shaik of Bahrein, the exoul- the boats belonged, and the senior officer
pation of Mr. Bruce's conduot is that the considered it his duty to destroy them. The
Lingua and Charak boats wore destroyed by Persian Minister appears particularly anxious
the Captains of the British ships, according that restitution should be made to the subjeots of
to the representation of the Shuar Govern- Persia for the trifling losses they would wish to
ment. Mr. Bruce superintended the destruc- substantiate, but they never hint at restitution
tion of the3e vessels; if this duty was affected to British subjects and the Honourable Com-
by other as the officers from India were not pany for the very heavy losses which the inhabit-
acquainted that the people of those ports ants of the ports they wish to proteot have
were subjects of His Persian Majesty, but subjected them to. Applications on this head
acted from the information which Mr. Bruce were made to the Prinoe of Fare, as the corre-
gave them. He must repair the loss occa- spondence from the Residency with Hia
eioned to Persian subjeots. Royal Highness and His Ministers will Bhew :
His Britannic Majesty's Charge d'Affaires if Hia Royal Highness or his Suntam have
has noticed his former statements relat- mislaid these communications, copies can be
ing to this affair. True, but in this furnished from the Residency rooords.
manner ‘‘that the ships of the people of
Lingua and Charak in retaliation for the
offences committed and for their disobedience
to the orders of the Prince of Fare and their
connexion with the Joapmls will be des­
troyed, the answer to this communication
was that the Arabs of these ports are the
subjeots of Persia, and if they have officers
they are amenable to the Persian Govern­
ment, the punishment of the Joasmis is
the provinoe of the British,’the officers of the
Arabs of the Persian Coasts must be stated
to the Prince of Fare who will punish any
that have offended against British subjects.
His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires construed Mr. Bruce's present did not reach His Royal
the Firmaun addressed to the Officer Com- Highness for a very considerable time after it
manding the Foroe and the mark of the ^d **en honoured with the Prince s mark of
Prime's favour to Mr. Bruce to an approba- favour, and it was in consequence of this mark
tion of the services of the expedition, yes, of attention on the part of His Royal Highness
the Offioer Commanding before the trans- that Mr. Bruce made a present in return.
ac&Ztt ascribed to Mr. Brace, in a letter to