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remarked, is a place, that must from situation, in all times flourish. Its commerce must be
extensive. An English Rosidcnt there, after being allowed a sufficient Time of Residence,
to acquire local knowledge, might probably have it in his power to furnish the British
Government in India with a variety of useful commercial Hints, and to discover Modes of
cnorcasing the British Intcrcousc with Arabia bordering on the Persian Gulph.
It may not be improper hero to romark, that the French have latterly made attempts
for the Establishment of a Factory at Muscat; and that the Person actually, in charge of
tho French Factory at Bussora, is said to be destined to that place. The French, from causes
unknown, have hitherto failed in their views. The Partiality and Friendship, which the
Arabs of Muscat have long manifested towards the British Nation however justify the
Ide*, that the Imaum of Muscat, would permit tho British Flag, to fly at that Place, and
cause it to be treated with becoming respect.
The Hon'ble Gonpauy uniformly prohibited their servants from making sales of their
property on credit, and the propriety of the Prohibition has been on all occasions manifested,
and peculiarly so, in those places, in which a scarcity of specie has not prevailed. A mature
consideration of the pecuniary Distresses, under which the Turkish Domiuions now labour^
and a nice observation of the Effects which they have had, on Commercial Intercourses, have
fixed au opinion, that considerable Advantages, accrue to the Venders of Goods iu that
Country, from their making sales on credit. It is therefore submitted to the consideration
and Judgement of the British Government in India, whether a Latitude might not be given
with propriety, to tho servants of the Hon’ble Company stationed at Bussoia to makes sales,
of the Property of the Hon’ble Company entrusted to their care, in some particular cases,
on credit, to People of Mercantile reputation and responsibility. It is to be supposed that
the Gentlemen, who may have the Honor to be empowered by Government, to make such
sales will feel themselves highly flattered by the confidence reposed in their Judgements,
and Integrity and be thereby stimulated, to the most cautious, and wary conduct.
Little Risk cau be incurred by making sales on credit at Bussora; to People of mercantile
reputation and responsibility. The commercial Privileges enjoyed by the Hon’ble
Company at that Place, are, as has been already remarked, very extensive ones, and in cases of
Emergency and Importance, in whioh the Mussaleem of Bussora, or even the Hacha of Bagdad
might shew Disinclination, to support those privileges, the Influence of tho British Embassador
at the subline Porte would never fail to obtain Justice.
COMMERCE OF THE RED SEA.
The Remoteness of Bussora from the Red Sea, and the Want of communication
therewith, renders it extremely difficult for Persons stationed at Bussora, to collect any
Information on the subject of the commerce, carried on in that quarter of the World, and will,
it is feared, prevent them, from furnishing the British Government in India, with a
knowledge thereof sufficiently competent, to enable them to form a Judgement of the
propriety, of using efforts, to encrease the commercial Intercourse which has long subsisted f
between the Ports of India and those of Mocha, and Judda and which has occasionally been
extended to Suez. The Result of Enquiry and reflexion will hero however be submitted to
the consideration of the British Government in India.
It will not be necessary to attempt to give a particular account of the Ports of Mocha*
Hedeeda, Judda and Suez or to describe the Nature of the Governments on the Eastern Coast#
of the Red Sea. It will be proper however to give the following Hints in respect to them.
The Government of Egypt is in itself extremely corrupt, it is not sufficiently vigorous to
keep* the Arabs under it, who are a restless and unprincipled People in Awe, and the rapacity ^
cruelty and Injustice of the Beys, who compose the Members of it, and the Avidity of the
Governor of Suez, must ever subject the Merchants who may frequent that Port with a
view of conveying their property from thence to Cairo, to infinite Inconvenience, Difficulty
and Risk. Indeed the Misfortunes which were suffered by the Adventurers to Suez in the
year 1779 were of a Nature sufficient serious, to annihelate the Trade carried on for a few
years previous to that period, between Suez and the Ports of Calcutta, Bombay and Surat.
A Trade which however beneficial to some Individuals, has been supposed to be inimical to
the Interest* of the Hon'ble Company.