'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' [‎25r] (51/226)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. —1646 TO 1846.
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in the Gulf, and all other vessels belonging to Persian subjects, and in particular to
make what reprisals they can on the Persian fleet, and obstruct as much as in them
lies any trade from being carried on in the Gulf; and that we give the Agent, &c.,
permission to send our vessels up to Bussorah, that if the Persians do attempt it by
land, and are likely to take it, they may bring away what they can of the merchants
and their eflects, by which something considerable may be earned ; and it is these consi
derations which incline us to think the countenance of a ship or two more than the
galley is really necessary, and it is the number of vessels, not the quality (which the
Persians are not well enough acquainted with to distinguish), that will sensibly affect
them, and prove advantageous to the gentlemen in their negociations."
" We have thus considered the worst side of our affairs, but the gentlemen in
their advices seem to hope that the step they have hitherto taken may cause a more
favourable turn, and produce some good effect—perhaps a motion from the Persians
themselves to compromise this unlucky business, and if it should so happen that it
would naturally draw after it a treaty for fixing the Hon'ble Company's privileges
on a better footing than they have been for some time past, to obtain which all solici
tations hitherto have proved ineffectual; but this we apprehend will occasion some
charge, and whether we shall in this case ascertain a quantum, or leave it to the Agent's,
&c., prudent management, strenuously pressing them to reduce it as low as possible,
is here to be considered. We are sensible the Hon'ble Company will little care to be
at any considerable expense for obtaining a confirmation of their grants while the
empire is in so unsettled a state; and on the other hand, their affairs being brought
into confusion by such unforeseen incidents, it cannot be expected they will at this
juncture be in any manner retrieved without some expense, which we must leave to the
Agent's, &c., discretion, being persuaded their best endeavours will be used to reduce
the same as low as possible.
" But as the unlucky affair at Bussorah (of which the private traders only reaped
the advantage) first gave rise to these troubles, we think it but reasonable that the
expense occasioned thereby should be repaid by the trade of that port, and therefore
it is agreed that the additional duty be continued till our hon'ble masters shall be
reimbursed the whole charge they have already and shall hereafter be put to on this
occasion.
" Should our gentlemen succeed so far as to commence a treaty for fixing of our
hon'ble masters' privileges, we apprehend that our insisting on the grant of
1,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. per annum out of the customs may greatly retard, if not put an
entire stop to, this good work, as we cannot suppose the Persians will consent to pay
us such a sum when we are well assured the whole net customs of the place have not
furnished the Royal Treasury with that sum for several years past; and we find that
when Mirza Togghy was down at Gombroon, he very frankly told the gentlemen that
the enjoyment of this emolument for upwards of one hundred years past has very
amply compensated for any services we may now offer to put in the scale on this
account, and the reason of this argument is more strongly enforced against us when
the Persians plead their inability to assent to this proportion from the extraordinary
calamities their country has so long suffered, and which entirely deprived them of the
very advantages on which this grant is founded. We must therefore give the Agent,
&c., a latitude to alter this point of our demands ; and if they can prevail with the
Persians to grant a reasonable moiety of the customs to be paid us directly on any
freight goods brought to that port on English shipping, we think it will be obtaining
a more beneficial article for our hon'ble masters than persisting so tenaciously on our
old grant; and we hope this offer will be readily entertained by the Persians, as it will
convince them, more than any other arguments can, that our interest and theirs are
inseparable, and that, if freight offers for that port, we can never be supposed to refuse
it, which at present they entertain an extreme jealousy of, and think we do not only
neglect it, but influence every body to carry their goods to Bussorah ; and if our gentle
men succeed in this point, and the Persians show any distrust by our continuing a
Resident at Bussorah, it is agreed to permit them to recall Mr. French to convince
the Persians of our sincere intentions to increase the trade of their ports.
"The remarks made by the gentlemen on Captain Roberts' proceeding to Bussorah,
immediately after what had been done there, without consulting them, makes it neces
sary for us now to consider how far the-Agent, &c., should be empowered to act in the
like emergencies. If the affairs of Persia should be again settled on any tolerable