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writes you regarding a request made by Curim Oaun, the Vakeel of Persia, for
the English and Turkish ships to assist him in his war against the Muscat Arabs
a request Your Excellency must suppose that is not in my power, with respect
to the English ships to comply with ; the Vakeel threatens in case his request is
not granted, to march down his force and destroy Bussorat this intelligence
confirmed to me by a lottor written thirteen days ago from Sehiras by
Messieurs Beaumont and Green and received by me yesterday ; In my humble
opinion therefore it behoves Your Excellency to order down your troops imme­
diately for the defence of this place, and give orders to the different tribes of
Arabs to march down to the banks of this River, to prevent the Persians from
landing on this side of it—the sooner this is done the better, as Bussora accord­
ing to my notions is in no state of defence whatever; Was it not for my appre­
hensions of the Persians coming down, and of the Plague’s breaking out again
in the spring, it would be very oasy for me to send down a Cruizer to Muscat
in order to convoy up the trade from that place; but according to the present
unfavourable appearance of things, the English Cruizers I am muoh afraid
will have other employment.

CCIV.

Extract from a letter from the Agent at Basrah to the Basha dated the 14th December
1774.
The accounts that I have received here of the hostilities that have taken
place in Coordistan between the troops of Your Excellency and the troops of
Currim Caun, the vakeel of Persia, and the warlike preparations that I also
learn Currim Caun is making induce me to suspect the Caun may have some
design against Bussorah. * My design is to embark on
on the board English cruisers, with all the English gentlemen that are at
present at Bussorah and continue in the river until I know the result of
Currim Caun’s operations. I indended also to have shipped off all the Com­
pany’s property and the property of all the English merchants, but as your
Mussaleem has informed me that my doing this would be the ruin of the place,
because it would occasion all the inhabitants to leave it, I have therefore
desisted, your Mussaleem, the Dufterdar and Sheikh Derviso ; having engaged
in your and the Sultan’s name, amply to indemnify the India Company and
all the English merchants at Bussorah for whatever losses they may sustain by
their being prevented from shipping off such effects as they may at present
have laying in their warehouses at Bussorah.

ccv.

To—'The Honourable William Hobnby, Esq., President and Governor, etc.,
Hon’blb Bib and Siks,
Our last address of the 16th February and the extracts of our diary Letter from
relative to Persian affairs then transmitted will have informed you of the reports Agiw£d °0^