'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' [‎71r] (143/226)

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.
Ill
merchants at Bussorah, nor to any other individuals who were not subjects
of the British Government, or expressly provided for as belonging- to the
Hon'ble East India Company's Factory An East India Company trading post. . This officer was, however,
directed in all cases to use his good offices with either party to prevent
those who had a claim on British protection from suffering injustice, and
in the event of these disputes approaching to a crisis threatening the
security of the Hon'ble Company's Factory An East India Company trading post. , or exposing it to insult, he
was authorized to adopt measures for withdrawing with the public
property either to Bushire or to the island of Kishm. These instruc
tions were entirely approved by the Government of India in a letter
from Mr. Secretary Livinton, dated the 25th November 1820.
246. In a further letter, dated the 21st November 1820, Captain
1 ay lor reported that he had received an intimation from the Political
Agent in 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. that he had reason to believe that a violent
attempt would shortly be made at Bagdad to invade British rights and
seize the property of individuals under its protection. In his communi
cation to Captain Taylor, Mr. Rich directed him, in the probable event of
his shortly receiving a letter from a Mr. Scooboda, a European merchant,
who was residing at Bagdad under British protection, containing informa
tionthat his property had been seized at the Custom House," imme
diately to strike the British flag and to cause all communication to cease
between the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. establishment and the Bussorah Government and
its subjects. Captain Taylor was at the same time directed by Mr. Rich
to intimate to the Mussaleem During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. in writing that he was acting in con
formity with instructions received from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish
Arabia, and that the intercourse would not be re-established until he
received advices from Mr. Rich of complete satisfaction having been
obtained for recent outrages. Mr. Rich directed that the cessation of
communication with the Bussorah Government should extend in the
strictest sense to all ships under British colours, whether belonging to
the English or natives, and that no goods should be permitted to be
landed from such vessels, nor any intercourse whatever take place with
Turkish subjects.
247. Captain Taylor having shortly afterwards received a com
munication from Mr. Scooboda to the effect anticipated by Mr. Rich, he
carried the above orders into effect, and withdrew with his establishment
to Mohammarah, a small town in a secure situation on the left or Chaab
bank of the Euphrates.
248. In a letter to the address of Government dated the 28th
November 1820, Mr. Rich stated that for a long time past the Pacha
had evinced the most unfriendly conduct towards him, but that at the
date of his letter
"matters had arrived at such a state that it had become impossible for him to clear a
single bale ot goods, or recover the smallest outstanding claim for any British subject
without a violent quarrel, and that at last His Highness had countenanced a public
declaration by his Ministers that no European rights were recognized at Bagdad.
The Pacha followed this declaration by the seizure of Mr. Scooboda's
property, with an intimation that henceforth he had resolved to compel
the payment of double duties upon all European goods entering the
Pachalic.