Page 41 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Port I—Chop. VII. 19

CHAPTER VII.
MALCOLM’S THIRD MISSION TO PERSIA—1810-1811.

45. The Preliminary Treaty concluded by Sir Harford Jones with the Shah
of Persia on 12th of March 1809, had bound the British Government to aid
Persia with troops or on default with an annual subsidy, should it bo attacked
by an European Power. This burdon would probably fall on the Government
of India. At the 6amo time the Persian Government was bound by
corresponding obligation in case British India was invaded by the Afghans
or any other Power. Under this treaty moreover the Shall had cancelled
his treaties with Prance and expelled its Ambassador. In order to
carry out obligations on our part and to seo that the corresponding Persian
obligations were carried out under the Treaty, which Lord Minto thought was
binding on both Powers, was a task which, in his opinion, only an Envoy deputod
by the Government of India would satisfactorily fulfil. Moreover, Lord Minto
believed that the prestige of the Government of India, as an Asiatic Power,
had been lowered by Sir Harford Jones’ proceedings. To restore that prestige
and to see to the carrying out of the recent treaty, and further to collect
information required about the geography, history and manners about Persia,
with which we were now bound by an important treaty of alliance, General
Malcolm was considered the fittest man to bo deputed for these purposes, and he
was accordingly ordered to proceed to Persia as an Envoy of the Government
of India.
46. Malcolm left Bombay with the following staff:—
Captain Charles Parley .... Secretary.
Lieutenant Stewart ..... 1st Assistant.
H. Ellis, Esq......................................................... 2ud AssiBtaut.
A. Jukes, Esq............................................ 3rd Assistant.
Lieuteuant P. Briggs .... Supernumerary Assistant.
Lieutenant John Macdonald ... Ditto.
Lieutenant Little ..... Ditto.
Mr. Surgeon Cohhoun .... Ditto.
Mr. Surgeon Cannick ....
Captain N, P. Grant .... Commanding tho escort.
Lieutenants Frederick, Martin, Lindsay, Johnson
Fotteringham attached to Do.
Ensign Monteith—Engineer ....
Lieutenant Cbristio and Ensign Pottinger.
Many of these played important parts in Persia subsequently.
47. During the voyage to the Gulf, Malcolm left Hankey Smith at Maskat
to transact some business and proceeded to Bushire, where he arrived on 13th
February 1810. He was received with due ceremony and pomp, and escorted
to Teheran with the same attentions and honors as had attended him on his first
mission to Persia in 1800. On his arrival at Teheran Sir Harford Jones did his
utmost to balk Malcolm’s movements and to discredit his position. But the
Shah was determined to receive Malcolm with all the honors as had been
aocorded him on 1800, and Sir Harford Jones was at last obliged to accommo­
date matters with the Indian Envoy. The latter was received by the King on
23rd June 1800, with every demonstration of friendship and respect, and
accepted the presents with evident pleasure.
48. General Malcolm and Sir Harford Jone9 then proceeded with the
Persian Camp, which was moved to Tabriz in order to organize defensive and
offensive operations against the Russian advances; both the Envoys assisted the
Persians much with valuable advice.
49. On their way to Tabriz, Sir Harford Jones received despatches from
England, from the contents of which it appeared that the Horae Government
had determined still to regulate our diplomatic relations with Persia and