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A vory extraordinary Giroumstance has lately taken place hore. Letters
had been received from the Hindoos and other inhabitants of Muscat, stating princh'shlpi. °£
that two French Ships of force had boon scon between that place and Aden. As
.it so happened, the Brig Shannon imported here and landed lnr packet on tho
28th July, and on the evening of tho same day arrived a two masted English
Merchant Vessel from Cochin. Next morning they both proceeded to
liussora ; and about uoon a Ship of War have in sight, tho flag war accordingly
hoisted, but she passod on without touching at the Bunder. We wore all in tho
greatest amazement at tins proceeding, wondering, why, if slio wore an English
Vcssol, tho Captain at least did not come on shore ; when all of a suddon a
firing of guns was heard, and near twenty distinct reports counted. It no longer
in short remained a doubt, but that this was a Erench 81iip and that she was
engaged with the two English Brigs.
The Eirman, which I had obtained from bis Majesty, ordering the deten­
tion of any of the Eronch Nation that might appear, was unfortunately at
Sliaraaz in the possession of Major Malcolm who had sent for it some time before.
It accordingly struct mo, if I could get on board one of the English Vessels
with ton or twenty such people at the as tho place afforded, if, as I had no
doubt, she bad guns on board, that we might not bo altogether useless. Let
God’s will be done for the rest. With this view I hired a botella for the sum of
300 Kroosh ; and agreed with the ownors, that, in case I was killed and the boat
taken, they should receive a remuneration of 3,000 more from the Factory.
In the moan time a packet came in from Captain Malcolm, enclosing me
the Eirman, after he had perused it. As Nusser Khan therefore was then at
Kharek with ton Vessel and 1500 men ; and as it was no positive duty of mine
to fight the Froucli, I thought it more advisable to send him the Firman
which I did with a Letter from myself, saying, that he had now such
a force with him, and that if, obedience to the Royal diploma, he was to make a
Capture of the privateer, it would be ensuring him the applause and admiration
of both kingdoms. I agreed also to give him from myself, in recompense for
his Services—ten thousand piastres for the Ship’s papers.
This I dispatched without loss of time; but next morning I had the
satisfaction to hear, that all our fears had been groundless ; that the stranger
was an English Ship carrying a Europe packet from the Red Sea, with which
she was making the best of her way to Bussora.
One of the officers on board states, that the French formed the design of
sending 30,000 men by land against Judda, to convey information of which to
Europe was the object of her present voyage. It appears indeed from the
Letters of Merchants in Syria and Aleppo, that the Erench were never in firmer
possession of Egypt than they are at this moment.

ccxciv.

From the Governor of Bombay to the Resident at Bushive, dated 29th September 1890.
I have been favored with your two Letters of the 1st and 2nd of August
and have duly understood their oontonts.
Your answer of tho 1st of Robby al awal to the application to you from
Shoikh Seif was a very propor one; and ub tho treating of tho same subject I