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prevailed liorc that Syud Sultan meditated an attack on Bussorah on account
of certain ancient pecuniary claims of his deceased father, on the Pachalio
of Baghdad, resisted by Soliman Pacha, and that in order to enable himself
effectually to execute his hostile intontions, he was engaged in negotiating a
poaco with his formidable enemy, Seeggin Ebu Raschcd il Mutter, the
Jooasemo Shaik, and towards the close of the month of July, this report was
confirmed by the receipt here of letters from Mascat, communicating tbo
designs of Syud Sultan in greater detail. On the 20th August the. Pacha
invited Mr. Ueinaud at Baghdad to a confidential conversation in which His
Excellency represented to that gentleman, that his servant, the Mussaloem of
Bussorah, had commuuieated to him intelligence respecting certaiu designs
entertained by Syud Sultan of Maskat, which considering the war in which
he was engaged against the Wahabi Shaik and the recent inimical proceedings
of the French against the Ottoman Empire in the invasion of Egypt ho felt to
be rather of a puzzling and unpleasant nature, and desired in the most forcible
and pressing manner that he (Mr. Reinaud). would immediately communicate
to me his (the Pacha’s) request, that, as a still further and finally convincing
proof of mv friendship for him, and of my personal regard for his wolfare and
Jiis interest, I would, without delay, write letters to Syud Sultau and to Shaik
Suggur, strongly expressive of my hope that they would, on mature considera­
i
tion, give up the idea of operating hostilely against a friendly power
peculiarly connected by existing circumstances with the British Empire.
Mr. Reinaud, in a qualified reply to the application of the Pacha, in which
he carefully and prudently avoided committing either himself or the Residency,
consented expeditiously to communicate to me His Excellency’s important
wishes. I received early in September Mr. Reinaud’s private letter, and a
letter from the Pacha on the subject, and the Pacha in his communication,
which was a very friendly and satisfactory one, advised me of his having
ordered the Mussaleem to oo-operate with me towards the accomplishment of
his desires On the reoeipt of these advices, I instantly communicated with
tbo Mussaleem, and expressed to him my intention to despatch two of the
factory Janissaries without delay to Mascat and Razilkbima, charged with
letters from me to Syud Sultan, and Shaik Suggur couched in terms even
exceeding the ardent wishes of the Pacha. The Mussaleem iu reply informed
me that the active inclination, which I manifested to promote the interests of
the Pacha’s Government, could not fail very highly to gratify His Excellency,
but that as he bad himself written to Syud Sultan and Shaik Suggur on the
interesting subject, and early expected their replies to his letters, he ventured
to suggest the eligibility of my postponing my intended proof of friendship
towards this country, until it might be possible further to ascertain the real
intentions of Syud Sultan regarding Bussorah, I willingly closed with the
proposal of the Mussaleem. I despatched a ohocadar belonging to Govern­
ment to Baghdad, charged with a proper letter for the Pacha, addressed to the
care of Mr. Reinaud, to whom I gave instructions respecting its delivery to
His Excellency. Mr. Beinaud presented the letter to the Pacha in person,
and on giving it into his hands, he, in obedienoe to my orders, assured His
Excellency that I should always have the highest pleasure in facilitating the
accomplishment of his general wishes, and that on the particular occasion in
question, I was ready to adopt any tneaus for their attainment, consistent with
good policy, and with the anoient amity fortunately subsisting between our
respective nations. The Pacha, after having read my letter with pleasure and