‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎5] (22/578)

PERSIA.
6
transferred its allegiance to Catherine II. Kesolved to punish the
Georgians for their defection, he marched upon the country in 1795 with
a rapidity which prevented them from receiving support from Russia,
and ordered a general massacre of the inhabitants, sparing the young
and beautiful, who were carried into captivity. Persia was instantly
invaded by a Russian army. It soon gained important successes and was
advancing on Tehran, when its progress was stopped by the death of the
Empress in 1796.
In 1796 the French Republic sent a mission to establish commercial
relations and unite Persia with the Porte against Russia. The mission
failed.
In 1797 Agha Muhammad Khan, one of the most prudent and able
kings who e\er ruled in Persia, was murdered. He was succeeded b}
his nephew, Fateh Ali Khan. During his reign began that closer con
nection between the British Government and Persia which had its origins
m the fear of an Afghan invasion of India, the designs of the French
on the British dominions in the East, and the competition of European
powers for influence at Tehran.
From the success which attended the invasions of India by Nadir
Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali, it was believed that the plains of India
were exposed to the ravaging of any ambitious ruler in Afghanistan. In
1796 Zaman Shah, grandson of Ahmad Shah Abdali, advanced to Lahore
with the professed purpose of restoring the house of Timur from the
domination of the Mahrattas Disturbances in his own dominions re
called him in 1797; but his invasion and rumours of his renewed prepara
tions, coupled with the apprehension of an invasion of India by the
T rench and the deputation of a secret embassy by Napoleon to establish
his influence at Tehran, forced the British Government to take measures
foi the security of their Indian possessions. Captain Malcolm was accord
ingly deputed as Envoy to Persia to negotiate a political and commer
cial alliance. He concluded two treaties in 1801. By the terms of the
Political Treaty (No. Ill) the Shah engaged to lay waste the country
of the Afghans should they invade India, and to prevent the French
fiom settling or residing in Persia; while, in the event of war between
the Afghans or the French and Persia, the English were to assist the
Shah with military stores. By the Commercial Treaty (No. IV) all
privileges of the old factories were restored, several more were granted,
and the duties to be collected from purchasers of staples were reduced to
one per cent.
In 1805, during the war between Persia and Russia wFich originated
in the invasion of Georgia, the Shah, having suffered severe reverses
and being threatened with the vengeance of Russia for the treacherous
murder of the Russian General, threw himself on the support of