Page 124 - Gulf Precis (I-A)_Neat

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oonsent) to take in but a small part of the effects ; he further offers on this
extraordinary emergency in behalf of himself and the other owners of the
Robert and Jenny that those ships the former of which is to proceod in
corn-
pany with the Galley and the latter now at Scindy bo both employed on this
service if it shall be found necessary, desiring no more than fifteen hundred
rupees freight for each ship which is not more than their sailing charges, and if
from an absolute necessity they shall be detained by the gentlemen in the Gulf
a demorage of four huadrod and fifty rupees each per month, and he will also
empower the Agent, &?-*., to sell one or both of said ships to the Persians uuder
the limitations mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
The President is induced to offer and we to accept of these proposals
on considering that if Mr. Waters, should succeed in this point a very
considerable pledge will be secured in our own hands, and must, we think
greatly contribute towards ending our differences on more reasonable terms
besides as it was hoped that the Rose Galley would be sent from Gombroon to
8cindy on this service, should she be there, the Galley and other vessels return­
ing with her, must put a better face on our affairs, and if the Agent,
are pressed with such hard conditions that they oaunot consent to these effect
will be more easily secured, and if matters should come to suoh an extremity
and that no good is to be done with the Persians but that the Hon’ble Com­
pany’s effects and private concerns are seized, we think it our duty, and
accordingly, it is agreed to give positive orders, to the Agent, to take and
secure not only the Ambassador’s effects, if on board our ships, but the Arab
I
f ships that are known to be now in the Gulph, and all other vessels belonging
to Persian sujbects, and in particular to make what reprisals they can on the
I
£ Persian fleet and obstruct as much as in them lies any trade from being carried
d
I on in the Gulph, and that we give the Agent, permission to send our
1
1 vessels up to Bussorah, that if the Persians do attempt it by land and are
likely to take it, they may being away what they can of the merchants’ and
their effects, by which something considerable may be earned, and it is these
considerations which incline us to think the countenance of a ship or two more
than the Galley is really neoessary, and it is the number of vessels not the
quality (which the Persians are not well enough acquainted with to distin­
guish) that will sensibly affect them and prove advantageous to the gentlemen
in their negotiations.
We have thus considered the worst side of our affairs ; but the gentlemen
in their advices seem to hope that the step they have hitherto taken may
cause a more favorable turn and produce some good effect, perhaps a motion
from the Persians themselves to compromise this unlucky business, and if it
should so happen that it would naturally draw after it a treaty for fixing the
Hon'ble Company’s privileges on a better footing than they have been for some
time past, to obtain which, all solicitations hitherto have proved ineffectual,
but this, we apprehend, will occasion some charge and whether we shall in this
case ascertain a quantum or leave it to the Agent’s, prudent management
strenuously pressing them to reduce it as low as possible, is here to be con­
sidered ; we are sensible the Hon’ble Company will little care to be at any
considerable expense for obtaining a confirmation of their grants while the
Empire is in so unsettled a state, and, on the other hand, their affairs being
brought into confusion by 6uch unforeseen incidents, it cannot ho expected
they will at this juncture be in any manner retrieved without some expense

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