'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎104] (123/622)

104
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Herat, had resigned to Sir John Keane the command of the
army that was marching on Candahar and Cabul to set Shah
Soojah " on the throne of his ancestors," as Lord Auckland
expressed the ill-judged attempt to discrown Dost Mahomed
the able Ameer of Afghanistan ; and, in February of the
following year, the 'Palinurus' brought, from Knrrachee,
Sir John (now Lord) Keane and suite, together with
Prince Hyder Khan, second son of Dost Mahomed, taken
prisoner at Ghuznee. This distinguished General, and also
Sir Willoughby Cotton, were fortunate in retiring from Afghan
istan " before the wrath to come."
The 'Wellesley' proceeded from Kurrachee to Bombay,
whence she sailed for Bushire, where she arrived on the 23rd of
March. Here the Admiral found the ' Clive,' Captain Haw
kins, the 6 Elphinstone,' bearing the broad pennant of Commo
dore Brucks, and the Hon. Company's schooner 4 Emily.'
The day following his arrival, Sir Frederick Maitland, after
receiving a visit from the Commodore and Captain Hennell, 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. , proceeded 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. , w T here he was
visited by the Governor. During the interview, the state of
the relations between the two countries was debated, when the
Governor expressed his dissatisfaction at the occupation of
Kharrack by a British force, and the Admiral alluded to the fate
of the fort at Kurrachee, which he battered down because his
demands were not complied with. On the following day, Sir
Frederick, accompanied by Commodore Brucks and the captainsof
the ships of war, ret urned the visit of the Governor, and demanded
permission for himself and his officers, to land and communicate
freely with the Resident, and also complained of the stoppage
of boats with private stores for himself. The Governor agreed
to permit this, but peremptorily refused to allow the Admiral
to embark from the landing-place 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. ,
although Commodore Brucks stated that, from a personal know
ledge of thirty years, this " bunder" had always been used.
Under instructions from the Admiral, on the following morn
ing, the 25th of March, all the boats of the squadron, manned
and armed, proceeded to the shore to protect the embarkation of
the Admiral and the other officers. An eye-witness describes
as follows the rencontre which then took place:—
" The Persians had assembled to the number of several hun
dreds, and the Governor, with his body-guard, was determined
to prevent, if possible, the property being shipped before 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. . The first boat which approached the shore was
fired upon, and one Persian had his musket presented at
Captain Maitland; he was just on the eve of firing, when
fortunately the Admiral and two Indian Naval officers in a
moment wrenched it from his hands, and kept possession ot
the piece, which they found loaded with a heavy charge. You