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» ^ftSuw^mSf ^*aM)art it has already crossed the river. What the Chaub’s Gallivats tho
Sub *GftiHr»u day before yesterday pushed past our vessels, and joind the camp. That our
Tho^Engfuh ”bi°p« ships burnt one, that another is taken and that tho rest are very much shat-
fttuok th«m. tered. t|int jja^ ^j10 wjn(j oontinucd favourable and the Eagle could have kept
up with them, on all probability the whole would have been destroyed; which
we hope however still of having an opportunity of effecting.
We desire you will acquaint Shaik Nasir of this circumstance, which
we doubt not will be pleasing to him, and that you will inform us as speedily
and as secretly as possible, by tho way of Groin, or any other route, what con­
duct tho Bushire or Bundcreck people intend taking in the present disputes
between the Turks and Persians.
Should any Cruiser arrive from Bombay hurry her up hither as her pre­
sence may be of the greatest consequence.
We are oto,
HENRY MOORE.
GEORGE GREEN.
Wit. DIGGES LATOUCHE.
deceived on 30th March 1775.

ccx.

Henry Moore to the President and Governor, etc.
Hon’ble Sir and Sirs.
The sudden departure of this boat for Muscat affords us only time to
Conncii *nf°rm y°u that Bussora was invested by the Persian Army under the 7th ins-
leave the place. tant, and that under the 11th the Persian Fleet, consisting of near sixty sail
among which were twenty-two large Galivats and Dows, having approached
Bussora with intent as it evidently appeared, to join the Chaub’s which was
above us, we judged it the most advisable measure to endeavour at a junction
with the expected vessels from Bombay. Letters from Mr. Beumont
received under the above date advised us of four being hourly expected at
Bushire, and we thought that their being able to make their way good to us
through such a fleet as was between us and the bar wa9 impracticable. We
therefore under the 11th left Bussora, and in our passage down the river were
attacked by the greatest part of the Persian fleet under the command of Shaik
Nassir, who first made an appearance of waiting for us, but finding us con­
tinue to stand on, he made the be9t of his way to the Halfar, into which he
retreated, and the depth of water would not permit U9 to jmrsue him : as the
Galivats had the advantage of our's and would not permit us to approach
them nearer than random shot, we suffered no damage in the action, and we
believe their loss, if any, must have been very inconsiderable. The Persian
fleet began their attack upon us at £ past 2 in the afternoon, and did not
leave off firing until 7, their scheme appears to us to have got our ships
between them and the Chaub’s fleet, and then by every means in their power
have prevented our proceeding down the river. Sheik Nassir however writes
to Bushire that our vessels attacked him first, and that three of our shots
went through his Galivats, that he notwithstanding will continue a friend to
the English and do them every service in their power.
We have,
H. MOORE etc.,
Bushire Roads;
22nd April 1776.