'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎25v] (52/226)

20 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
basis, we think we ought to endeavour effectually 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 continually be liable to, and therefore it is agreed that, during
the contests between the two empires, we give the Agent, &c., 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."
47. Mr. French, Resident at Bussorah, whose name has been fre
quently alluded to in a former part of this Summary, died on the 7th
November 1737 ; and, in consequence of this casualty, Mr. Nathaniel
Whitwell (one of the Council of the Gombroon Factory An East India Company trading post. ), as appears
from the following- extract from the Bombay Diary for the 27th
January 1738, as a temporary measure assumed charge of the Bussorah
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. :—
" Mr. Martin French died at Bussorah the 7th November, and they sent Mr. Nathaniel
Whitwell to take charge of affairs there till our further orders, and enclose copy of
the instructions they gave him for that purpose. There had been a general sickness at
Bussorah, by which all the English gentlemen were carried off, except one Mr. Sterling,
Purser of the Ponltney, who pruiently sealed up the warehouses and Mr. French's room
(though one William Kenoe, a servant of the latter's, would have opposed it) till some
body should arrive to take charge of the house. Mr. Dorrill being gone to Bagdad,
their Surgeon, Mr. Oliphant, having been there five years, and being greatly reduced by
sickness, desires we will send another to relieve him. Their gunner desires leave to
come away; and their armourer being dead, they desire we will send a Bombay smith
in his room."
Mr. Whitwell appears from the following extract from the Bombay
Diary for the 27th February 1739 to have been subsequently confirmed
by Government in the appointment of Resident at Bussorah, but no
order to this effect can be traced on the records :—
" The Persia advices of the 3rd instant, extracted under the 24th, are read, together with
the several letters and papers enclosed and referred to, further consideration whereof is
put off till occasion offers of answering them; and the letter of Sir Everard Faulkner,
the British Minister at the Porte,* to Mr. Whitwell, our Resident at Bussorah, con
cerning Mr. French's affairs, is ordered to be entered after this consultation for the
notice of our hon'ble masters."
48. From the following extract from the Bombay Diary for the
20th September 1739 it appears that in July in that year Mr, Whit
well made over the Bussorah 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. to Mr. Thomas Dorrill on his
proceeding to Gombroon in consequence of the death of Mr. Dacres, one
of the factors at that station :—
" The letter from Mr. Nathaniel Whitwell at Bussorah, received atSuratby the Robert
galley, bears date the 16th July last, and confesses receipt of our commands of the
21st April last, and says that, in compliance with our intimation concerning his pre
vious settlement of the deceased Mr. French's affairs, he should not have left Bus
sorah before they were finished were it not for the news of Mr. John Dacres' death,
which obliged him to repair to Gombroon as soon as possible; but as he should stay till
the latter end of the month before his departure, he would do the best to leave them
with Mr. Dorrill in such a condition as he should be at no loss to transact them. That
he had taken all practicable methods for recovery of the debts due to that estate, and
particularly those outstanding amongst the desert Arabs, for which he had, in August
(1738), sent Mr. Dorrill to Bagdad to solicit Ahmet Bashaw An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's assistance, to whom a
present gained admittance and his countenance for some time ; but after the recovery
* Constantinople.