Page 175 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

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CCLXXIX.
From Capt Malcolm to the Governor of Bombay & Council.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22-d
Instant, with its Enclosures.
I have perused, with attention, the whole of Mehedi Aly Khan’s Correspond- 1 he lino of conduct
enco, & am happy to find from it, that there is reason to conclude the progress to'tSe'inw^rf
he has made, •& the Connections he has formed, will greatly facilitate the 10 Ma*kat*
attainment of the chief objects of my Mission to the Persian Court.
With respect to the Imaum of Muscat, tho’ it may he difficult to
prove that that Prince, has wilfully, & direc tly violated any of the Articles
of the Coulnamah entered into with Mehedy Aly Khan in October 1798. It
appears very evident, that his Conduct has, in more Instances than one, been
liable to strong Suspicion & under that Idea, I should certainly judge the
best Security Government could have for his faithful Adherence to his
Engagements, would be the Residence of one of their Servants at Muscat, as a
Check on his Conduct. It would be iinmater ial, whether such person resided
in a private, or public Character, & to obviate all objections of the Imaums,
founded on his proteuded previous agreements with the French, & Dutch,
respecting a factory, it would peril aps be most advisable that he should be in
the former, nor could the Imaum consistent with his late professions, make
any reasonable objection to such a measure ; the grounds for the adoptipn of
which might be justly rested ou the English Government’s desire of maintain­
ing uninterrupted, that harmony which was so obviously for his Benefit,
& which could not but be disturbed (at a period like the present) by the
frequent Reports, which designing Men circulated of his Attention, & favors
to the Enemies of the British Nations.
If he is sincere, in his desire of friendship, & means to adhere to his
Engagements, he cannot for a moment object to a proposition of so moderate
a Nature; and if he does not entertain those principles of Amity, which he
professes. It would be, perhaps, better on his real Sentiments appearing
obvious, that an explanation of the most explicit kind, should be made; in tbe
Course of which he might be informed, that altho’ the Company’s Gov­
ernment was far from insisting on any other power, with which it was
connected, entering into a War on its account; yet that where Engagements
were contracted, Adherence was expected, & that it would be folly in any
State, but particularly one so situated in its Relation to the Company’s Gov­
ernment at Muscat, to look for a Continuance of favor, & exclusive Indul­
gence and Privileges. If it neglected the obvious means of securing these benefits
by cultivating the friendship, & strengthening the Confidence of the
Company’s Govt. In short, that it was better for the latter to be wholly
unconnected with the Imaum, than to place any dependence on nominal
Engagements; which in fact answered no purpose, but that of lulling them
into a dangerous Security.
Such is the Language, which I should consider Calculated to have a
favorable effect upon the Imaum; & to incline him to observe a more ' circum­
spect lino of Conduct; but, in this Subject, I venture my opinions with Diffidence
& having expressed them, shall conform in the strictest manner with the
678 F. D.