'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎24v] (50/226)

18 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
affairs at Bussorah and at the factories in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. with refer
ence to the then unsettled state of affairs between the Persians and
Turks. At this Special Council the followiiig' resolutions were passed by
the Bombay Government:—
" The President acquaints the Board that, by the advices he has received from Goa, he
apprehends the Queen Caroline has missed the orders that were sent for her returning
hither, and consequently passed by this port in her way to Gombroon, and therefore he
has desired this meeting to take into consideration the last advices from Persia, and
to resolve on some proper instructions to be given the Agent, purposing also speedily to
return the Prince of Wales galley with Messrs. Waters, Whitwell, and Kay to the
Agent's assistance.
" We find the Persians seem bent on demanding the assistance of our shipping and
men in their second enterprize against Bussorah. and we fear they will very stiffly insist
on this point as the only reasonable reparation we can make them for preventing the
success of their first attempt against that city. Though in Europe any power can
stop the shipping of any nation in their ports, and employ them for transports, or
other services, and the same not be esteemed any breach ot the peace in the party thus
forced, yet we are very doubtful what may be the consequences of our making such a
condescension to the Persians, since we are strictly cavitioned not to commit any act
of hostility, or give any extraordinary umbrage to an European State in amity with
His Britannic Majesty, as in either of these cases we apprehend our Hon ble masters
charter would be greatly atfected. Besides, the Turks being a people soon irritated
to extravagant revenge, they might, in the first transport of their disgust at our appear
ing against them, make such seizures of our European merchants' effects in their coun
try, and even treat their persons so ill, as would bring upon us a very severe resentment,
and therefore we must positively forbid the Agent, &c., lending our vessels to the
Persians for this service on any terms.
" But if the Agent, &c., in debating with the Persians on this point find that the
selling them of a ship or two is the only means they have left to soften them and
induce them to waive their other demands, and that it fully appears the Hon ble
Company's estate and privileges in that kingdom cannot be secured on any other
terms, we think, in such case, we may give them a liberty to make use of this expedient,
which, however, is not without its inconveniences, and therefore they must be cautioned
not to make use of this liberty but at the last extremity, and to look on it as a
medium proposed to prevent a greater evil.
" As the Persians have not yet been able to remove their Ambassador's effects
from Scindy, which, we understand, are very valuable, and now lie ready to be embarked
for Persia, the President proposes that the galley be ordered to call in there, and that
Mr. Waters be allowed to offer the transporting of the Ambassador's people and effects
to Gombroon ; and as the galley will be near full of provisions for herself and the Rose,
and may be able (if the Persians consent) to take in but a small part of the effects, he
further offers on this extraordinary emergency, in behalf of himself and the other
owners of the Robert and Jenny, that those ships, the former of which is to proceed in
company with the galley, and the latter now at Hcindy, be both employed on this service
if it shall be found necessary, desiring no more than Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 1,500 freight for each
ship, which is not more than their sailing charges ; and, if from an absolute neces
sity they shall be detained by the gentlemen in the Gulf, a demurrage ot Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 450
each per month ; and he will also empower the Agent, &c., to sell one or both ot said
ships to the Persians under the limitations mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
" The President is induced to offer, and we to accept of, these proposals, on considering
that if Mr. Waters, &c., should succeed in this point, a very considerable pledge will be
secured in our own hands, and must, we think, greatly contribute towards ending our
differences on more reasonable terms. Besides, as it was hoped that the Rose galley
would be sent from Gombroon to Scindy on this service, should she be there, the galley
and other vessels returning with her must put a better face on our affairs; and if the
Agent, &c., are pressed with such hard conditions that they cannot consent to, these
effects will be more easily secured; and if matters should come to such an extremity,
and that no good is to be done with the Persians, but that the Hon'ble Company 's
effects and private concerns are seized, we think it our duty, and accordingly it is
agreed, to give positive orders to the Agent, &c., to take and secure not only the Ambas
sador's effects, if on board our ships, but the Arab ships that are known to be now