Page 241 - Gulf Precis (I-A)_Neat

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Knowing that Moolah Ally Shaw had spent all his ready money in main-
aining for theso throo years past Sliaik Raokid and his tribe of Arabs and that
there would bo nothing got by attaoking him in his Fort at Kiahmo made mo
determine to endeavour to get the ship Rahmanuy, which vessel with her gun8
would produce something accordingly I gave Captains Court and "Lindsey
orders to proceed to Loft in which harbour sho lay and take her, but when wQ
came to an anohor about tho distance of two miles from her those gentlemen
examined the pilot as to carrying in the vessels where she lay and after the
examination Captain Court wrote me tho enclosed Letter, and he representing
tho risque and dangers to be very great, I thereupon came to a Resolution to
dispatch the Drake with the two Trankys immediately to Bussorah and tho
Commander of the Prince of Wales was directed to return towards Gombroon
where I had left the Swallow to advise the Tartar where we were gone to.
Had we made an attempt on tho Fort at tho last end of Kiskme we should
have run great risque of miscarrying in the undertaking, the mortar on which
we chiefly depended and which made the Persians evacuate the Fort being
unserviceable as you’l please to perceive by Lieutenant Durnford’s Letter to
me. The Drake and Swallow's Cannon we found at Gombroon did little or no
execution against the walls, the weight of metal they carry not being of a
sufficient bore for battering.
Captain Nesbit having represented to me by letters of the ship Swallows
being weakly manned and requesting a detachment of sepoys, I accordingly
put on board her thirteen of the seopoys who camo on this vessel from
Bombay.
The sepoys, etc., belonging to this place now return they have received
their fish, etc., Money to the 20th ultimo and pay to the 31st January last.
Enclosed is Captain Lindsay’s receipt for—on board the Drake.
I have received two pipes of Madeira wine from the Drake which I have
not paid for not being advised of the price.
My constitution being greatly impaired thro* my long residency in this Retirement of Alex,
unhealthy place which I have little chance of recovering but in my native Dousla8'
climate and Your Honour, etc., not having thought proper to put in immediate
cxcution the Hon’ble Company’s orders regarding me, these considerations
have induced me to return to my standing at the Presidency and to decline
going to Bussora under a Junior servant, and on the Terms you have been
pleased to mention I have received my salary to the 31st July last inclusive
and servant’s wages to the 20th ultimo as to Diet Money I have received none
since the Public table was taken off in April 1761 and therefore leave your
Honour, etc.s to make me such an allowance as you may deem reasonable. I
have received nothing for passage money and as such desire you will please to
order what has been usual to persons in the same post-
I am with respect,
Hon’ble Sir and Sirs,
Your most obedt. humble Servant,
ALEXANDER DOUGLAS.
Ship Princh op Wales, Gombroon Road,
10th March 1763.
Recc’d 22nd April j) Prince of JFalee, No. 707,
3S83 F. D.