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they will in their turns as they possess the means endeavor to obtain a share in that groat
source of wealth and power. The superiority of the Navy of Great Britain, places at a distance
any attempt against the possessions of that natiou in India by an Armament that has to
double the Cape of Good Hope. The Red Sea, and Persian Gulph, therefore, are the only
Channels by which such an attack could be made, aud though but little probability of SUCCC6B
could attend such attempts, the possibility can admit of no doubt, & therefore, every means
of defence should be provided. The descent of the French in Egypt has lately occasioned
considerable alarm, and if they could settle themselves in the peaceable possession of that
Country, no doubt every danger might be apprehended from their future progress whether
under a monarchical, or republican form of Government. The facility with which they con­
quered Egypt, & the wretched exertions that have been made by the Turks to expel them
from that Country, shew in a very forcible point of view, the weak & declining state of the
Ottomon power, and what little depcndauce is to be placed on that Government as a barrier
between India & Europe.
55. The difficulty and danger of the Navigation of the Red Sea, the prevailing Southerly
winds which blow near nine months in the year up that Gulph j the inhospitality of its shores
the heat of the Climate, & the scarcity of fresh water, are ever likely to provo strong objec­
tions to any European power attempting an attack on India by that Quarter. Though the
approach is more difficult, a vory different prospect invites them to the Persian Gulph, two
navigable rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, which when once reached, would afford them a
plentiful present X and facilitate their future progress. In the Gulph itself aro
numerous Islands, and both its shores abound in supplies, the navigation is safe, the Voyage
to & from India practicable at all seasons, & the temperature of the Climate adapted to the
European constitution. To a powerful Nation that proceeded on a steady system of aggrandize­
ment, this would undoubtedly be the route. Baghdad aud Bussorah would be, if once reached
easy Conquests, & these Cities & their surrounding provinces would be, settled before further
progress was attempted. If such event ever occurred, the Sublime Porte perplexed by its
European possessions, could find little support to these distant nominal dependancies.
56. There are only two quarters from which such an attack would seem possible. An
Army from France or any Southern State in Europe might be disembarked at Latichea in the
Mediterranain and reach Aleppo in four days. At that City they would be able from every
account to obtain the most plentiful supplies. In three days more they would reach the
Euphrates, and a march of about 300 miles mostly along its banks would bring them to near
Bagdad.
57. The other quarter is from the Caspian, the navigation of which is completely
commanded by Russia and that great Northern Power has the full means of making vast
equipments in this quarter; to a progress in which many circumstances prove the attention
of the late Empress was 6eriou6ly turned. At herjdeath an Army of thirty thousand men
that had advanced within a fiew marches of Tabriz to act against Aga Muhammad Khan
were X Persia x
58. If ever Russia attacked either the Persian or Turkish Empire on this side of
Asia they would probably be joined by the Georgians and Armenians both of which Tribes
have within late Years repeatedly imployed their protection against their intolerant. Mahora-
madans neighbours.

59. What I have advanced relative to the future possible attempts of 4,600 European
Nations is only conjectural, but if there appears after due reflection, the least probability
of any of those advancing in this quarter, * it certainly becomes an object of immediate
importance to the Hon’ble Company to form a settlement in the Gulph calculated in
the first instance to command the Trade, and in the second, to become an obstacle of
magnitude to the nearer approach to India of any power whatever.
60. Nothing could tend in so decisive a manner to establish the political influence of the
Hon’ble Company on a firm & respectable footing with the Kingdom of Persia & those
parts of Arabia bordering on the Gulph, as there having a Settlement of the nature proposed.