'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' [‎71v] (144/226)

112 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
249. Mr. Rich remonstrated against this exaction, but without
success, his remonstrances being- treated with marked indignity by the
Pacha, under whose orders double duties commenced to be exacted on
all British goods passing through the Pachalic. As the Pacha continued
to treat Mr. Rich with disrespect and refused to withdraw the obnoxious
order, he informed His Highness that he had resolved to leave the Pacha
lic and proceed to India. The Pacha, however, declared that Mr. Rich
"should not leave Bagdad;" and on the 25th March 1821 Mr. Rich
received a private intimation that the Pacha intended to send a body
of troops down to 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. during the day and make him a pri
soner. Mr. Rich accordingly lost no time in placing 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. in
the best possible state of defence in his power. The following extract
from Mr. Rich's report, dated the 29th March 1821, contains an account
of his proceedings in the successful defence of 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. , and of his
subsequent negotiations with the Pacha:—
" First, I requested the opinions of the gentlemen living in 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. , viz., Mr.
Boll, my own Assistant, Captain John Elliot,* now of Her Majesty's 21st Dragoons,
Mr. Taylor,* of the Madras Cavalry, and Mr. Hoste,* Assistant Surgeon of Her Majesty's
17th Infantry, to all of whom I am most particularly indebted for their prompt and
spirited conduct; and with their unanimous concurrence and cordial assistance I pro
ceeded without loss of time to put the house in a state of defence. The guard on this
occasion behaved with the usual steadiness and zeal of Bombay sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. , but what really
astonished me was the attachment exhibited by the Turkish attendants; they were
armed in an instant, it was vain that I solicited, that I commanded them to retire,
while it was yet time, and not to risk their lives and families in a quarrel which did
not concern them. They would listen to nothing, they crowded around me, they
embraced me and declared with one voice that they regarded neither their lives nor
families, and they were determined to die on the spot where I should fall, even some
who were but remotely connected with 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. , or had but recently' entered the
service, came forward on this occasion and insisted on shutting themselves up with us.
To the hour of my death the remembrance of the affection shown me on that memor
able day shall not be effaced from my heart. Our band was small but resolute, and
whatever might have been the ultimate result, the Turks would certainly not have
obtained a cheap victory. Captain Elliot took command of the guard, and" caused the
yatch to be drawn up under the windows to prevent her being taken possession of by
the Turks. Mr. Taylor and the other gentlemen charged themselves with different
divisions of the house, we mustered, including the guard, nearly a hundred musquets.
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. was indeed well covered by the narrow streets by which only it is
approachable on the town side, but it might be battered from the opposite side of the
river. However, some time must elapse before an efficient battery could be formed in
that situation, and in the meantime knowing the general attachment of the town to
our cause, I hoped that if we repulsed a few assaults, some diversions might take place
in our favor, a hope which, it will be seen, was not ill-founded.
" w e had scarcely put ourselves in a state of defence, when the hostile demon
strations on the part of the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. began, detachments of troops were marched to the
different gates of the city to prevent our escape, the Kiahya Beg in person took up his
station on the river just outside the southern gate ; a detachment of the Dromedary
Corps was ordered to march still lower down the river ; a gun belonging to the local
artillery was sent on the opposite side, I believe principally with a view to overawe
that quarter of the city which is of a turbulent character, as it was not brought down
opposite 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. ; other detachments occupied different posts surrounding 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. , and at length it was announced to me that a Corps of Beratalis or Regular
Infantry were advancing against the house, and had reached the top of the street
leading to our door. 1 now concluded the attack would take place in a few minutes
and I gave orders that our people should continue strictly on the defensive and avoid
* Gentlemen who were staying at the time at Bagdad.