'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.' [‎407] (426/454)

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war in Persia must be greatly advantageous to British interests
throughout the East; for when the Asiatics see that we are
capable of despatching so rapidly an expedition to Persia, which
has been attended with such great and signal success that even
on the extremity of the Persian territory we have been able, by
that expedition^ to coerce the Persian Government to evacuate
Herat, and to agree never again to occupy it, that, I sa^, is a
triumph of British arms and diplomacy over Persia.
Those 5,000 men have returned, and for some time have been
again on the shores of India; and therefore, if the British foices
were weakened by the original detachment of those troops, they
are now strengthened, not only by their simple return, but by
the glory they have accomplished, by the character and honour
their arms have acquired, and by their distinguished pei-
formances on the Persian territory.
House of Commons.— August 21, 1857.
Colonel Sikes asked the President of the Board of Control Formally known as the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1784 to supervise the activities of the East India Company.
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to
confer upon the officers of the Persian expedition the customai^y
testimonials of approval of successtul military operations in
brevets, honours, and a medal. Expeditions by sea were always
more trying to the temper, to the physical constitution, and to
the comfort of troops, than were those by land, and they were
more than commonly trying to the 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. , who, if they were
all of good caste, were, during the whole voyage, compelled to
live upon a dry vegetable diet as they could not cook food while
they were on board-ship. It was no doubt to be regretted that
such a thing as caste existed among the Hindus, but then it
was a great fact, and we could not help it; so it was to be
regretted that antagonistic religions existed in the world; but
there they were, and we could not help it. Caste entailed
personal sufferings and sacrifices upon the sepoy 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. while he was
on board-ship, and therefore gave him a greater claim to con
sideration than if his services were rendered by land, ilie
House would admit that the expedition to Persia had been
managed with unexampled success, that the officer who com
manded it had not failed to accomplish any of its objects, but
had conducted it to an end which was creditable to the troops
and to himself. Under these circumstances, and considering
the present state of affairs in India, it was highly desirable that
those honours and rewards, which were so dear to soldiers, shou
be conferred with as little delay as possible. „
Mr. Vernon Smith said that the honourable and gallant gen-