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Sea by Russian and Tartar Merchants, residing at Astrachan. It is concoived, that the
Woollens and different Artiolos 60 supplicd.by Russia to the Tartar Kingdom of Karasm are
to a largo annual Amount, and it is presumed that' as the Extension of the sale of their
Woollons, hns always boon recommended by the Hon'blo Company, any Measures for the ■
promotion thereof, void of immiuent Risks, are not unworthy of their Notice. Upon these
Grounds in the subsequent part of this Report, will bo inserted such as appear to have at least
a Probability of throwing the supply of Woollens required as aforementioned, into tho
hands of the Hon'ble Company.
As it appear sufficiently obvious from tho proceeding part of this Report, that the sole Measares which
cause to which the decline of the commerce of Porsia can be justly imputed, is the confusion iUfoto fau«aM°tho
in which for somo yoars past the Government has been involved, it has been therefore judged presont British
Commercial Inter­
unnecessary to givo a detail of this decline, under a soparate head or Division. course with Persia
Tho following sentiments and ideas, nro now offered to the Inspection of tho British Bnd tho countries
bordering upon it.
Government in India with Diffidence and respect. Some of them are formed upon Experience,
assisted by local knowledge, and some of thorn upon the Information, obtai ned from the most
intelligent Merchants residing at Bushire and Bussora.
There appear at present to exist several serious obstacles, to any very great Extension of
the sale, of British Manufactures in the Kingdom of Persia ; and in Regard to those of India,
it is presumed that tho country Merchants, will never fail to import supplies, equal to the
demand of the Market: but it may be reasonably supposed, that tho commerce which the
Hon'ble Company carry on to Persia may be put upon a footing more advantageous to them,
than the one on which it stands at present; and, that if the Measures hereafter pointed out
for that purpose should bo carried into Execution, thoy will tend to infuse a more adventurous
and actives pirit of Commerce, amongst the private Persian Merchants.
It has been already mentioned how inimical to commerce, tho Different Revolutions in
the Persian Government, have always proved, but as tho country possesses great internal
sources of Wealth, a few years of a mild and regular Administration, might not only prevent
tho present decline, but even raise its commerce to its former Importance.
The languishing state of tho Hon'ble Company's commerce, at the Port of Bushire, has
for some time past, given occasion to tho framers of this report, to form an opinion, that the
Factory there either ought to be placed upon a different Establishment to the present one, or
ought to bo withdrawn, as a useless Expence to the Hon'ble Company. The framers of this
roport are however more inclined to favor the former of these opinions, than the latter, and
humbly conceive that, the Establishment of a Factory at the Port of Bushire, upon the Plan
hereafter mentioned, would prove a measure of much publiclutility.
In the present impoverished 6tsto of Persia, it will be necessary, in order to increase the
demand and consumption of British Manufactures, to advert to what advantages may be
gained by bartering, the commodities of Groat Britain for those of Persia. Upon this Plan,
it is presumed the Merchants will often be induced to make very considerable Purchases at
Times, when they might even be nnable and unwilling, to conclude them for Specie.
The framers of this report in year 1788, furnished the Government at Bombay, with
some necessary hiuts on the subject of the Drugs, tho Produce of Persia and of the country
adjaoent thereto; and they are of opinion, that a commerce of the most beneficial Nature, to
the Hon'ble Company, might be prosecuted by an Exchange of different European Articles,
for the Artiole of medicinal Drugs. It is obvious, that the several Drugs procurable ia
Persia, would reach the British Hospitals in India, in a muoh higher 6tate of Preservation
than those which are at present received by way of Europe ; since many of suob Drugs are
the produce of Persia, and are sent to Europe by way of Aleppo, Smyrna and Constantinople.
The liberal policy, observed by the Hon'ble Company, on all occasions, has ever induced
them to pay particular attention to every possible and probable means, for the preservation
of the health of their Troops and of the different persons engaged in their Employ, it is
therefore presumed, that tho possibility of procuring, a constant supply of fresh medicinal
Drugs, in a olimato in which even the freshest, soon loose something of their natural virtue,
is au object worthy of their Attention.
It i* humbly concoived also, that in case it shall hereafter be found practicable, to extend
» com mere- of this Nature, to a certain Extent, it will be productive of public utility. The