'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎336] (355/622)

CHAPTER VII.
The Persian War. 1856—1857.
The Casus jBelU—T^e Declaration of War—Departure of the Expedition for the
Persian Gulf—The Landing in Hallilah Bay—The Bombardment and Sur
render of Bushire—Suicide of General Stalker and Commodore Ethersey—
The Bombardment and Capture of Mohamra—The Expedition to Ahwaz—
Conclusion of the Persian War, and Government General Orders thereon—
The Distribution of Honours.
SO long ago as the latter part of 1853, and immediately after
the conclusion of the Burmese War, matters in Persia,
owing partly to the intrigues of Russia, appeared so threatening
that, on the 26th of December, 1853, the 6 Auckland/Com-
mander Macdonald, was despatched to the Persian (jult.
Bushire, also, was iu such a ferment that the ' Clive, flag-ship
of the Indian Naval squadron, remained off the port to protect
British interests, and the reports from the Resident, Captain
Arnold Kemball, were of so alarming a character, that t e
Marine Department received orders to report upon the number
of ships available in the event of an emergency. On the
arrival of the ' Auckland' at Bombay, on the 11th of February,
1854. from visiting Bushire, Bassadore, and Muscat, the a vices
were'considered so far from reassuring, that the Government
despatched to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , on the 16th of F ebruary, the
' Akbar,' Commander Balfour, and schooner Constance, Lieu
tenant Stradling. These fears were, however, temporal fly
allayed by the receipt of a despatch from Mr.
Charge dAffaires at Teheran, dated the 25th of
in which he announced that the Shah had declared
strict neutrality would be observed by Persia ^ the wa
between Russia' and Turkey. The following were the move
ments of the ships of the Indian Navy, m connection
Persian affairs, during the years 1854 and 18o&. ,
On the 26th of March, 1854, the ' Tigris,' L'f«tD^ f
who died soon after his return, arrived frooi the Peisian b
with despatches from Bushire; five days later '^ Bu .
Commander Barker, sailed, and, after visitmg _ ^ ^bour
shire, Bassadore, and Muscat, cast a ^ cllor l " Commander
on the 26th of May. Meantime, the 'Akbar, Commanae