'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' [‎61v] (124/226)

92 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
to his ruin, by involving him in public and private debts, which he might never subse
quently have had it in his power to discharge."
Mr. Manesty then stated that being entirely unable to meet the
demands upon him, he
" became alarmed for the security of the British factory An East India Company trading post. , and the lives of the
British gentlemen residing in it, and aware that his own immediate local resources
were inadequate to the settlement of immediate local pecuniary claims on him, he
figured to himself the possibility of the officers of the Turkish Government, and the
general inhabitants of the place, proceeding to acts of violence against him, and against
those under his protection, unless he could obtain a large sum of money ' for bills,' and
that in order to extricate himself from his embarrassing position by being enabled to
meet his private liabilities he had negotiated bills on the Bombay Government to the
extent of ninety-three thousand rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , which he earnestly hoped Government would
honor on presentation, and trust to his hereafter re-paying whatever portion of this
amount, on a final settlement of his accounts, it might appear he was a debtor to the
Hon'ble Company."
Mr. Manesty concluded by observing that the office of Resident at
Bussorah was
" one of the most arduous, unpleasant, and uncomfortable ones held by any servant
whatever of the Hon'ble Company, and that it was unprofitable had, to his mis
fortune, been indisputably proved. If, therefore," continued Mr. Manesty, " I cannot
resume it on eligible terms, terms which I am ready respectfully to state and
explain to Government, and on which only any gentleman can with prudence accept
the situation. I shall most willingly resign it whenever you please, wisely prefer
ring tranquillity, personal safety, and the most limited income in a British settlement
to an extensive establishment, local rank, state, and authority, subjecting me to unceas
ing care, laborious duty, serious dangers, and ultimate ruin in Arabia. If my past
services remain unrewarded, if my just and reasonable claims are rejected, and if I
cannot be Resident at Bussorah, under equitable, handsome, and profitable arrangements,
I will in India endeavour usefully and honorably to exert those talents which have
some pretension to consideration, and which ought long ago to have given me affluence
in my native country. Unhappy as I have latterly been, I still possess that activity and
energy of character which has enabled me never to absent myself from my public
duty one single hour under any circumstance whatever from the year 1799 to the
present day with a remaining portion of personal health and vigor, promising the
capability of future effectual application to business, and I trust 1 may yet live to
serve the public, my family, and myself."
203. In reply, Mr. Manesty was informed on the 13th April 1805
that Government altogether disapproved of his having, in order to meet
his own private pecuniary liabilities, drawn bills upon Government, and
that it was expected that he would make arrangements for meeting each
of these bills as they became due; he was at the same time informed
that no increase could be made to his income as Resident at Bussorah. Mr.
Manesty having, in reply, pleaded inability to meet these bills to their full
amount. Government on the 19th April consented to accept, and honor
when due, such portion of them as he might find himself absolutely
unable to provide for, on condition of his lodging with Government
efficient security for the repayment into the Hon'ble Company's Treasury
of such portion of this amount as on an adjustment of his accounts he
might be unable to establish to the satisfaction of Government he had
a right to receive credit for.
204. On the 15th April 1805 Government directed Mr. John Law,
then in Bombay, who a few days before had been appointed Assistant to
the Resident at Bussorah, forthwith to proceed to that place and to receive
charge of 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. on his arrival from Lieut. Bellasis. Mr. Law