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mo. ch. more tlmu suffices for their real Expense this measure will be
approv’d at Bombay, & that it was always the Opinion of our Officers in both
the Marino and Military. Department, that our Force was not suffioient to
Spare any Men for the Land Service, is well known, as well as that the Chaub
by a most artfull Alacrity no sooner fouud himself Capable to resist the Fleet
but immediately after the Engagement with his Gallivats went off to Damrach,
whero by the situation of the place it was impossible for Our Vessells to come at
him, which together with the tardiness of the Turks, their waiting for Reinforemt
fromBagdat, &c., shews the real Causes of the Service being so long protracted ;
to which wo beg leave to remark that had tho Fleet been withdrawn and sent
to India without effectually reducing this Bcbel Shaikh, his sea power was such
as ho wou’d very shortly afterwards have been again Master of all the Country
even to the Walls of Bussora, which wou’d in all likelyhood have ended in a
Devolution of Government with the entire extripation of the Turks who wou’d
for their own security have Cutt off all Communication from Bagdat to Bussora
at least till they cou’d Collect and prepare a sufficient Force to Cope with the
Arab9 & then this Town and Country must have been involv’d in the greatest
Confusion, all Trade at a stand, and both publiok & private property
expos’d to him; On the other hand even had We at first found the Chaub
of flexible Disposition Omitting to enter upon a Treaty of peace with the
English, there was little or no probability of the success of Our Mediations to
have established one between the lurks & him, as the Grand Signiors Orde
were arriv’d to take his head & he had actually made the necessary prepara­
tions, to enable the Bashaw* to carry on the War with Vigour, relying on the
National Faith & honor of the English that they wou’d not refuse their assis­
tance after their having apply’d to Bombay for it, & for Us to have set
down at Bassora in this situation with a separate peace with the Chaub, We
dare 9ay Your Honors will judge wou’d have been to little or no purpose, but
that we must ofi course have been forc’d to withdrawn, & given up all Our
Dems. to the Turks, who it is reasonable to Suppose wou’d in this case never
have paid us a Fluce ? of Ho’d : Eusuup’s Debt or any others, at least it wou’d
have been very difficult if even we cou’d have recover’d them, & by the
arrival of the Bengal Ships soon after we had at State a most considerable Con­
cern in private property besides that of the publick, as well as an immediate
proBt accruing to Your Honors by a great encreaseof the ConsulageHaving
taken the licerty to explain in some measure the Motives for Our Conduct with
respect to the detention of the Fleet we are in hopes the same will meet Your
Honors approval as wo have allways most Earnestly attended to every thing
that Concern’d Your Interest, & with the greatest assiduity us’d our utmost
endeavours to bring this long depending Affairs to as speedy a Conclusion as
speedy a Conclusion as possible, which we doubt not from all present appear-
will bo entirely sav’d anccs framed structionby the English is likely to turn out
one of tho most flourishing Marts for Trade in all India, Your Credit' & Interest
much more Considerable than ever it was before.

May it please our Honours,
&o., &o.
PETER EDWIN WRENCH
GEO. SKIIP.
Bassora,
24U Augutt 1766.