Page 305 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VII-Chap. LXV. 283
555. It being expected that some resistance might bo made to tbo
Resident’s embarking on Friday morning, the Rear-Admiral despatched Ike
boats of Her Majesty’s Ship Wellesley and those of tho Clioe and Elphinstonc
uuder Captain Maitland of the Wellesley to sccuro this object. Tho able
arrangements of Captain Maitland and tho sight of ten gun-boats lying off
tho landing placo ready to act, prevented any resistance although Rakhar
Khan Tangistuni with near four hundred of his tribe were paraded on the
dills above tho landing place. At 2 p.m. of the 29th the Wellesley, JElphijistone
and Algerine quitted Bushire for Karrak, whore they anchored on tho
morning of tho 30th. The Clive remained as guard ship at Bushire for protec­
tion of British interests and shipping.
556. In tho opinion of tho Government of India (letter to the Bombay
Government, dated 9th May 1839), this occurrence, though not altogether
unlooked for as a possible contingency, was still to bo regretted. Whether the
first grounds of difference between the British authorities and the Governor
Mirza Assadulah might havo been removed by mutual explanation, and a
conciliatory course of proceeding, and whether tho retirement of the Residency
might not havo been conducted with something less of apparent precipitancy,
it was impossible for tho Govornor-General to judge, but after the extreme
measure of hostile encroachment adopted by tho Government of laying down
the plan of a fortified building in front of tho Residency to command the
landing place, and at his pleasure to stop the direct communication between
tho Residency and tho shipping in the harbour, His Lordship was of opinion
that the Mission could not have been much longer maintained with safety and
with honor,” and he therefore generally approved the measure of removing the
Residency to Karrak.
557. Tho buildings of the British Residency appeared to have been
preserved from injury and a good feeling in British favor was said to exist in
tho town of Bushire, and tho communication with the Island of Karrak
would tend to preserve our friendly intercourse with tlie town uninterrupted ;
exoept in the event of a hostile declaration of tho Persian Government against
us, it was hoped that, in tho then footing of our relations with that Govern­
ment, we should not in tho end have lost ground by the evacuation of tho
British Residency at Bushire, before any hostile declaration was made by the
Government.
558. Tho Governor-General highly applauded the cordial and able
assistance afforded by the officers and crews of Her Majesty’s and the Hon’ble
Company’s ships in the removal of the Resident and his suite from the
Residency on board the ships, an operation which but for their aid might
have boen attended with difficulty and danger.

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