Page 298 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

276 Part VII-Chap. LXIV.
furthor bo requested to despatch tho Hugh Lindsay to the Gulf, with a view of conveying rapid
intelligence to India of the stato of affaire in Persia in the present highly critical emergency.
8. Hie Lordship understands from a demi-official communication with wliioh Your
Excellency has favoured him, that it is your intention to proceed to Herat with a view of
prevailing on His Majesty tho Shah to raiso tho siege of that city. Your Excellency is fully
awaro of tho great importance attnehod by tho British Government in India to tho preserva­
tion of tho integrity of that place, and His Lordship would bo glad at any efforts you can
mnko to aavo it, which may not be inconsistent with tho instructions under which you aro
acting from Her Majesty's Government.
4. Tho Governor-General has recently received letters from Knmrnn Shah and his Vizier
and His Lordship’s replies aro sent herewith. Copies accompany for your information. Your
Excellency will be best able to judge as to the expediency and practicability of having them
delivered. A duplicate of the present communication has been sent through Captain Burnos.
6. With my letter of the 27tli ultimo, I had tho honour of forwarding for Your Excel­
lency's information copy of a letter written on tho samo date to Captain Burnes at Cabool
presenting the conduct he has to pursuo in tho present exigency, together with a copy of a
despatch from His Lordship to tho Hon’ble the Secret Committee.
536. Tho necessary instructions were given to the Government of Bombay,
who passed tho following orders, dated
Volumo 78—062 of 1838-1830 (Consul., 23rd 19ih May 1S38, from which it will bo
May 1638, No. 2260).
6een that they selected Kurrak island as
the more convenient place for landing the troops :—
Proceedings held at an Extraordinary Council at Malabar Point on Saturday the 10th May 1838.
Read and recorded a letter from Mr. Secretary Macnaghten, dated the 1st instant, with
its enclosure of the same date, being copy of a letter from Mr. Secretary Macnaghten to His
Excellency John McNeill, Esq., Her Britaunio Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia.
2. The Board having taken tho above letters into consideration, and having consulted
Bear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm, Superintendent of the Indian Navy, Major Neil Campbell,
Acting Quartermaster-General of the Array, Captaiu Turner, Mint Engineer, and Captain
Lowe, Commanding the Hon'ble Company's Steamer Berenice, as to the best and easiest mode
of equipping and transporting a small force to the Persian Gulf, it is unanimously resolved as
follows:—
3. 1st—That in consideration of the probable importance of the despatches received
yesterday by express from the Governor-General at Simla, it is not expedient that the departure
of the Berenice with the overland mail on tho 21st instant should be interfered with,
4. 2nd—That with reference to that part of the Governor-General's instructions, directing
that the Hugh Lindsay steamer be sent to tho Persian Gulf, His Lordship be informed that
both Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm and Captain Lowe being-of opinion that at this late
season of the year it is more than doubtful whether this vessel could reach Muscat, and that
on failure thereof, she would have no alternative but to return to Bombay, it is impossible that
this part of tho instructions can be carried into effect,
5. 3rd—That it appearing that the Hon'blo Company’s Steamer Semiramis can be got
ready for sea in ten days from this date, and that as this vessel has been directed to proceed
to Calcutta to try an experiment, which ought to yield to the necessity of complying with the
Governor-General's orders in an emergency of the present description, she be despatched to
the Persian Gulf with as many troops on board as she can conveniently accommodate.
0; 4th—That, as it distinctly appears from the statement of Sir Charles Malcolm that
the Tigris can carry no troops, and the Coote a very few men, while the Semiramis cannot,
well carry above 800, Sir Charles Malcolm bo directed to endeavour to engage a vessel of 400,
or 500 tons, for the conveyance of troops to the Pereiau Gulf.
7. 5th—'That he be directed to prepare the Hon'ble Company's Sloop of War Coote for
service in the Persian Gulf, with all practicable despatch.
8. 6th—That the Hon'ble Company's Brig-of-War Tigris, now ready for sea, bo ordered
to proceed to the Persian Gulf, as soon as despatches can be prepared for the Envoy in Persia
and the Resident at Bushire informing those officers of the measures about to be adopted by
this Government, to giye effect to the instructions of the Governor-General.
9. 7^—That by the above vessel, orders be issued to the Resident at Bushire to concen-
trate the whole of the squadron in the Persian Gulf at Bushire or at the Isle of Karrack.
10. SM—That proyided tonnage can ho obtained, a force consisting of five hundred rank
and file of Native Infantry, and two six pounders completely equipped for service bo despatched
with as little delay as possible to Bushire.
11. 9tA~'That the Native Infantry be composed of detachments from tho 15th, 28rd and
^ j1 an^ thp Marino Battalion, now forming part of the garrison of Bombay, in
order to sdmit of those castes being selected, which are Ijkcly to suffer least from a 6ea voyage.
12. 10lh—That it being highly desirable that an officer of judgment and experience
should be selected to command on this service, tho Right Hon'blo the Resident proposes that