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explained in our letter of the 1st instant by the Tyger Schooner and from whom,
it is not probable we shall receive advices untill December or January next.
Either the Defiance or Bombay Grab with a Schooner and Gallivat are
sufficient for the protection of the Haffar, or any other services that this end of
the Gulpli can at present require: situated as our affairs are just now with
Carim Caun, Bush ire needs not the protection of our vessels—one or other there­
fore of the before mentioned Capital Cruizcrs, and the Salamander, will be for
three months entirely inactive, unless we employ them upon the present
expedition.
By undertaking this expedition just now we save a considerable deal of time
because, neither our honour, nor the service which our Superiors at Bombay are
so desirous of doing to the owners and freighters of the Islamabad, would cleverly
admit of the Cruizes leaving this Gulpli, without endeavouring something for
their benefit. Though Shaik Abdulla of Ormusc was neither the murderer of
Captain Sutherland and his officers, nor the person who was immediately
concerned in the plunder of the Islamadab, still, as by all accounts he is in pos­
session of that ships treasures, knowing them to be stolen, and has not been
sufficiently honorable to return them to us. Justice most assuredly demands
this restitution.
In a letter from Mr. Skipp dated Schiras the 4th August 1767, he mentions
Carim Caun desires that we would reduce this said Shaik Abdulla of Ormuse for
him: he further observes that the Caun consents to our keeping the Ship that
now lays there and all the Gallivats that may be taken from him it is not there­
fore reasonable to imagine Crira Caun would be in the least disgusted at our
demanding restitution of the Islamabads treasures, nor at the same time as
Allies to Carim Caun, insisting upon the delivery up of the Chaub’s ship and
Gallivats to him.
By this we convince him of our power, we convince him of the conse­
quence of our Alliance: we give him a testimony how willing we are to be his
friends if his mistaken friendship for the Chaub and ignorance of his own
interests docs not prevent our being so.
The next point to be considered is the force to be employed upon this
occasion.
We have no other guide to go by, than that mend* in Captain Justices
letter entered in the preceding part of these considerations and that, sets down
Ormuse in a state almost defenceless—there is no doubt therefore but that the
Defiance, the Salamander Comb, and Wolf Gallivat with a strong Detachment of
Military and Scapoys on board them, as our present situation will admit, will be
sufficient for the purpose we intend.
We are now in daily expectation of the Bombay Grab from Bushire: oh
the Defiance sailing therefore for Ormuse, the Grab will be ready to relieve
that Ship in the blockade of the Haffar: our wishes are to have employed the
Grab upon this expedition : but, as the season of the year gives reason to explicit
blowing weather in the Gulph, and the Grab from age and infirmity would not
be so well able to buffet with it as the Defiance we for that reason prefer the
Defiance for this service.
The force to proceed against Ormuse being thus fixed, it natuarally leads
us to the consideration of the measures to be pursued on the arrival of the
Defiance etca off Ormuse.
In regard to this point we are of opinion that, hostile measures be avoided,
if affairs with Shaik Abdulla can bo settled by treaty : the first object to be
demanded of him, is ample restitution of the treasures belonging to the