'Lieut.-General Sir James Outram's Persian campaign in 1857; comprising general orders and despatches relating to the military operations in Persia, from the landing at Bushire to the treaty of peace; also, selections from his correspondence as commander-in-chief and plenipotentiary during the war in Persia.' [‎308] (327/454)

308
proposed exactions, which must have reached you soon
after your letter, now under reply, was written.
I am not sorry to observe that the demand regarding
Bunder Abbas was not pressed, which I deprecated
enforcing until we were at least better acquainted with
the case. Perhaps it is as well that it should be aban
doned, as Kussia and Armenia might have taken just
umbrage at our enforcing such a condition.
The several cases of alleged insults, reparation for
which had been demanded, are passed over in silence,
which I had recommended should be settled by the
code to be embodied in the commercial treaty. I
observe in the newspapers that a commercial treaty
is being drawn up in London, and I trust my sug
gestions on that head may reach in time to be of
some use.
*******
You have gained more with regard to the debts
due to British subjects, by Persians, than I had stipu
lated for in my draft. I hope there will be less trouble
in future in this kindred grievance, saddled upon us
by useless proteges. I must own, however, that I would
have preferred that the subject of protection, and our
views thereon, as now embodied in the treaty, had been
committed for negotiation to our ambassador at Teh
ran, who might have been instructed to induce other
resident ministers to follow the same course. How
ever, the declaration in its present form may be useful
to us.
You will see that I approved of the proposal in the
draft treaty drawn up at home, for the retention of
Karrack, and I confess I feel some regret that that
point was not secured. In any future war with Persia,
a small garrison there, with a few ships of war, migh 1