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38. From the general statement it appears that Muscat is at present the great Emporium
of the Trade carried on between the Gulph, the Red Sea & India. At that Port a Duty of
C or 6$ per cent, is taken on Imports, but the amount of this Collection, would even, though
correctly known, be far from affording a standard on which a just estimate could be formed of
the Commerce of a place where the Prince who pays no duties, is the principal Merchant, &
all his Ministers and favourite officers have exclusive privileges.
39. Upon the grounds I have already stated, I should calculate that Muscat is indepen­
dent of its own internal consumption, the medium of au annual trade of one Crore of rupees,
& when we further consider that most of this is freighted on Vessels belonging to that Port,
we are at a loss to account for its present prosperity.
40. I now come to the third Division of my subject, vis. The mode by which it appears
to me the Hon'ble Company could best improve and promote that Trade, and reasons that
occur both on Commercial, and political grounds for their adopting this mode.
41. It is unnecessary for me to remark to Your Lordship, that the Hon'ble continuing
their Trade with Persia on the same footing on which it has hitherto been carried on, can
promise no solid or permanent advantage.
42. The State of Persia since the first establishment of this Commerce to the present day
ha6 been at once weak, & divided, & the transient appearances of settlement which it has
at times assumed, from the success or vigour of a temporary ruler, though events of a nature
to encourage the speculations of private Merchants never appear to have merited the attention
of the first Commercial body in the World, and must have become less an object as the
Hon'ble Company increased in power. If in a Country like this, the acts of one Prince could
be binding on another; if, in short there had been any Government, there were sufficient
Firmans bestowing, & confirming privileges granted to the Factories at Gombroon and
Abu Sheher to have rendered them the most favored and flourishing settlements that ever were
established on a foreign Shore. But these Firmans which were generally obtained at a consi­
derable expence, were little better than waste Paper, and seem in no instance than I can
discover on the Records of either of the Factories, to have saved them, or their Agent
employed inland from the violence of the Government, or the extortion of its Officers. Unless
as they were, it was always thought expedient to renew them, and further cxpence was incurred;
this added to occasional sums which necessity obliged the Residents to give in presents to the
Governors of Towns, &ca., and the expence of Vessels kept at Ports for the safety of the
Company's Servants when threatened with attack, form an amount that must have more than
twice consumed the profits of the most advantageous Trade.
43. It is impossible in my opinion that any Commercial Agreement formed with the
present King of Persia can be an object (whatever other specious advantages it may offer)
the Hon'ble Company & their subjects ... as at present with stability
and good faith of this Government.
44. The Commerce with Arabia stands on nearly similar grounds, & if the Trade with
the Gulph of Persia be desireable, which it no doubt is, it should so far as I am able to judge
be put upon a footing that will command the respect of the nations with whom it is carried
•n. To do this, it appears to me indispensible that the Hon'ble Company should have an
!
I establishment of strength at somo Convenient Port, where they could concentrate the Commerce
to the Gulph, and give efficient protection not only to their own Factories, but to their
numerous Indian subjects, among whom it is of ultimate consequence, to excite a liberal spirit
of commercial enterprize & adventure, and it is a sense of the. important benefits that must
arise • to the State from a general diffusion of this spirit, that would make me recommend the
Trade of all Indian Goods being left open to Individuals, although I am convinced there are
several Articles, particularly Chintz, Spices, & Sugar from an extensive trafic in which,
considerable immediate profit might arise to the Government. This Commerce in the hands
of private Merchants, will be more brisk, & exclusive, & their industry & exertions will
ultimately tend more to the increase of the Hon'ble Company's Revenues & to advance the
prosperity of that great Empire of which they are Sovereigns.
46. I shall here shortly enumerate the most obvious reasons that occur on Commercial
grounds to recommend establishing a respectable Settlement. It appears a matter of somo