'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎62r] (123/540)

which we must leave to the Agent, discretion, being persuaded, their
best endeavour 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 reason
able 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 fo r fixing
of our Hobble Masters* privileges, we apprehend that our insisting on the
grant of one thousand Tomands 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 Mirzah 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 com
pensated 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 extra
ordinary 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, &®*., a latitude to alter this point of our demand,
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; & we hope
his 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 not only
neglect it but influence every body to carry their goods to Bussorah, and if
our gentlemen succeed in this point and the Persians shew any distrust by our
continuing a Resident at Bussorah. It is agreed to permit them to recall
M * French to convince the Persians of our sincere intentions to increase the
trade of their ports.
The remarks made by the gentlemen on Captain Robert's proceeding to
Bussorah immediately after what had been done there without consulting
them, makes it necessary for us now to consider how far the Agent, should
be empowered to act in the like emergencies. If the affairs of Persia should
be again settled on any tolerable basis, we think we ought to endeavour effec
tually to prevent our being embroiled in troubles of the like nature again
which as long as this war lasts between the Turks and Persians we may con
tinually be liable to, and therefore it is agreed that during the contests between
the two Empires we give the Agent, & C A, a discretional liberty to hinder all
ships trading under the Hon'ble Company's protection from proceeding to
Bussorah if they shall find it necessary so to do for the preservation and security
of our Hon'ble Masters' effects and privileges in Persia, or to prevent any
detriment happening to their affairs, but they must be cautious of making use of
this liberty without an apparent necessity, and if done with any sinister views
they must expect a severe punishment to be inflicted on the transgressor.