Page 275 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VII—Chap. LIII. 263
473. On 4th morning, as expocted, an attempt was made by Sheikh Nasir
to disavow all intention oi' violence. The most abject professions were mado to
6often tho Resident's resentment and every argument used to impress him
with the utter impossibility of their entertaining such an idea, all founded
on tho high respeot in which tho English were held, tho benefits which Bushire
in particular had experienced from their connection with it, tho severe retri­
bution which would inevitably be exacted for the perpetration of such an out­
rage and abovo all in the grateful feelings entertained both by Sheikh Hussein
and himself towards their benefactor and preserver.
474. But all theso dcoeitful and at best hypocritical arguments were of
no avail against tho diroct cvidenco of facts and the personal observation
of every man in the Residency. The destruction however of every individual
within the Bosidency even if it would havo been effected without risk or
difficulty appears to have been an object of such trivial moment when
compared with its serious and inevitable consequences that the Resident could
scarcoly persuade himself that tho leaders would have contemplated anything
beyond intimidation or perhaps tho gratification of mortified vanity by a
temporary display of superiority ; but such considerations, ho thought, howover
they might lessen tho moral responsibility of Sheikh Hussien and the promoters
of the ferment, could afford no satisfaction for the insult offered to the
representative of the British Government, nor would their utmost exertions
have restrained the violence of the populace had it once been set in motion
by the slightest act of imprudence on either side.
476. Soon after these events the Prince of Pars came to Pars with his
Minister Gil Khan, but his presence did not improve matters much. A
representation made by Colonel Stannus to the Prince brought a reply in the
most offensive language, throwing the whole blame of the recent outrages on
the Resident. Further outrages were added in stopping Residency servants
from carrying water and insulting others in public roads. These proceedings
loft no other course to the Resident than to retire from Busliire to a village
close by.
476. Meanwhile Captain Wilson had been appointed Resident in tho
Persian Gulf, and on his arrival to relieve Colonel Stannus, ho received a letter
from the Prince of Pars promising redress for the outrages to the Residency
and to exclude Sheikh Hussein from the administration at Bushire.
477. The following order was passed by the Government of Bombay on the
reports of the Resident (letter, dated
Volume ffc of 1827, page 466.
28th April 1827, to Captain Wilson):—
2. These despatches confirm the opinion before expressed that no instructions issued at
an earlier period would have been of any avail, the state of affairs daily changing until the
final return of the Residency.
3. The decision of all questions is now much facilitated by events that havo since taken
place, Sheikh Ahmed having remained at Bushire until the Prince's arrival agreeably to his
own request and having been made over to Bis Royal Highness in the manner he himself
wished, has no further claim on the British Government.
4. It only now remains to decide on the course to be pursued towards the Sheikhs in
possession and the notice to be taken of the letters of the Prince of Shirauz.
5. The treachery of the Sheikhs in intriguing while under the protection of the British
Government, their ingratitude in having employed their newly acquired power against their
late protector and the mean subterfuges by which they endeavoured to excuse their un­
provoked violence, leave no room for doubt as to the estimate to be formed of their character.
The only part of their conduct hewever which requires public notice is the open preparation
which they made for attacking the British Residency. Had that attack been carried into
effect, it might have been impossible to admit of any circumstances however strong as a
palliation for an outrage which would havo lowered the impression of the British character
through the whole of the Persian Gulf, but as the Sheikhs had sufficient prudence to stop
before any act of open hostility had been committed, it is reasonable to make some allowances
for the disturbed state of the place, the agitation of their own minds, tho precarious foundation
of their authority and tho alarm which they must havo felt as long as Sheikh Ahmed remaiued
in their neighbourhood and under the protection of tho Resident. These considerations would
dispose the Governor in Council to admit of tho immediate, public and abjeot apologies with
which the violence of tho Sheikhs was followed as a sufficient atonement for their inaefensiblo
proceedings. Even the disavowal of all intentious beyond that of preventing the escape of
Sheikh Ahmed, though contrary to the truth, is a mark of humiliation on the part of the
Sheikhs and a proof of a disposition to deprecate the resentment of the Resident.