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We shall also bo happy to have your Lordship’s instructions on the means
your Government may possess and think advisoablo as to accomodating his the
Imam’s wishes in respect to the additional quantity of Government.
Wo have tho honour to bo,
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient bumble Servant,
Jonathan Duncan,
otc. Council.
Bombay Castle,
The 29th October 1798.

CCLXVI.
Irom Mr. 27. M. Smith to the Governor and Council, Bombay.
Conformable to your injunctions of the 29th August and 3rd September,
ofUhufefoMfto°nd * delivered over charge of the Hon’blo Company’s offices here tho 3rd ultimo
deliver over tho to Mehedi Ali Khan but for the following roasons which I now submit to
Meh'di Alt Ki.an. your Hon’ble Board I have not entrusted him with the British Flag.
1st. Because I did not conceive it my duty therefore could not justify
my conduot without express orders from your Hon’ble Board to deliver the
British Flag to the will of a Mussalman.
2nd. Beoause I could not deliver the British Flag to the will of a
Mussulman who may make it subservient to his pride, or interest and subject,
it to insult with impunity to the dishonor of the British Nation without express
orders from your Hon’ble Board.
3rd. Because I have thoroughly ascertained that the British Flag will never
again receive that respect which every Englishman it is justly tenacious of
when the inhabitants observe with surprise what they suppose impossible that
the British Flag should be so unprecedently and strangly appropriated.
4thly. Because the Shaik has publickly declared to mo in the presence of
the principle people of the place and several of the Persian King’s officers that
the British Flag can never be of that consequent he has always been taught
to suppose it was if it is delivered to the will of a Mussulman who is com­
manded by the tenets of his religion to despise it as the Flag of infidels and can
mentally have no other respect for it than to serve his own views and that he
will be universally considered to entertain these sentiments whether he does
or not and must confess them amongst his compatriots of heirs desirous of
being thoughts man of principles where he is to display the British Flag to the
derision of every English subject.
5thly. Because I concoive it repugnant to the honour of the British
Nation consequently infamy in me and disgraceful to the name of the Englishmen
to deliver the British Flag to the will of a Mussulman subject to the despot
of Persia in whose dominions he is residing and where he is himself a
dependent on the will of a tyrant without the shadow of ability or pretentions
to support .the British Flag, much more to guard its dignity so sacred to every
English subject.
6thly. Because he is residing in a maritime Town where there is not a
British subject and where tho British Flag be treated with indignity without
any knowledge or redress being obtained for the National disgrace, but its
being exposed to still farther insult.
7thly. Beoause if he is a faithful Mussulman and a true observer of tho
rites of the Coran perhaps on other inducement but self interest at least to my

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