'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' [‎76v] (154/226)

122 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
266. In September 1824 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. at Bussorah was
made subordinate to the Eesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in all points con
nected with the affairs of the maritime Arabs and the inhabitants in
the Gulf. The following letter was addressed by this Government to
Captain Taylor on the 24th September 1824 informing him of this
arrangement:—
" At the time of the abolition of the Eesidency at Bagdad it was the intention of the
Governor in Council that the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Bussorah should ultimately be placed
in subordination 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. at Bushire, and although such an arrangement
does not at the present moment appear to be required as far as concerns the internal
affairs of the Pachalic of Bagdad, yet from the connection of the ports of Turkish
Arabia with the general system of watch and control exercised by the Resident, it is
necessary that 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. should attend to all instructions from that officer on
points connected with the affairs of the maritime Arabs or of the inhabitants of the
Persian Coast. On these last subjects you will therefore be pleased to correspond with
the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and to conform to any instructions which you may
receive from him. Your transactions with the Pacha of Bagdad and his Deputy at
Bussorah and your interposition for the protection of the British trade at the latter port
will remain on its present footing, but no measure of a general nature affecting our
interests throughout the Gulf (such, for example, as the suspension of our trade with
the Pachalic) is to be adopted without the previous sanction of the Resident. You will
be pleased to furnish the Resident in the Gulf with copies of all your despatches, and
you are authorized to make such an addition to your Office establishment as may be
necessary for this purpose."
267. In a Minute dated the 11th June 1827 the Hon^ble Mr.
Elphinstone, then Governor of Bombay, recorded his opinion, which was
concurred in by the other Members of the Board, of the propriety of
abolishing the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an 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. . The following is
an extract from this Minute :—
" The Bussorah 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. might, I think, be easily spared, but I would not abolish
it at present, because Sir J ohn Malcolm * is so much fitter to decide on the necessity of
the situation; we may take it as a prospective reduction."
268. With reference to this opinion, Sir John Malcolm, who had
intermediately succeeded Mr. Elphinstone in the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ,
in a Minute dated the 12th March 1828 observed as follows:—
" Though I still keep in view the prospect of reducing the expense of our Agencies in
Persia and Turkey by another arrangement for their duties, I do not think at the
present moment ,when Russia may be said to be at war with the Porte, and when the
Imperial forces occupy Aderbijan, that we can recall Major Taylor from Bussorah
without creating impressions very unfavorable to our interests in that part of Asia."
269. In a letter to the address of this Government, dated the 28th
July 1830, the Hon^ble the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , noticing this postpone
ment, observed that, as it had been solely grounded on the w^r between
Russia and the Porte, they should be happy to learn that the present
position of affairs was considered such as to permit of the original inten
tion for the abolition of the Bussorah 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. being carried into
effect.
270. The Committee which was appointed in 1830 by the Right
Hon'ble the Governor-General of India in Council to enquire into the
then state of the finances of British India observed in the 43rd para,
of their Report, that in the course of their investigation into the rise
• Then Governor elect of Bombay.