'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' [‎79r] (159/226)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. 1646 TO 1846.
127
" You have anticipated our wishes in permitting the Pacha of Bagdad to pur
chase whatever he may require at Bombay.
" The policy of the Pacha of Bagdad will be very short-sighted should the
present peace between Russia and Persia induce him to neglect any measure of pre
caution which may have been suggested to him by his recent sense of danger. It is
evident that that peace was only concluded by Russia on the terms to which she agreed,
in order to have the army of General Paskevitz disposable for operations against the
Turkish Empire. A war will be facilitated by the acquisitions of territory Russia
has already made, and would be still further facilitated were she to succeed in annexing
to her empire the part of the Turkish dominions in which the army of General
Paskevitz is now acting.
" Even were the Councils of Russia to be governed by the moderation she professes,
it would be unreasonable to expect that her Generals commanding on a frontier so
distant from the seat of Government should not seek opportunities of gratifying
their ambition, and the distribution among the Russian troops of a large portion of
the sum lately extorted from the Shah of Persia will certainly not diminish the
disposition on their part to renew the war against a power which can no longer
resist, but which is still supposed to possess great treasures."
278. On the 8tli May 1829 a letter was addressed to this Govern
ment by Mr. Swinton, Chief Secretary to the Government of India,
containing a request from the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General in
Council that—
" instruction might be issued to 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. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , in conformity
with the views and orders contained in the above despatch,"
from the Hon^ble the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. , a copy of which was accordingly
forwarded by this Government to 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. for his information.
279. In April 1830 Major Taylor, 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. in Turkish
Arabia, was permitted by Government, at the request of the Pacha, to
pay His Highness a visit at Bagdad. On the 21st August following,
the Pacha addressed a letter to the Governor of Bombay, requesting
that Major Taylor might for the future be permanently located at
Bagdad instead of at Bussorah: this request, however, was negatived in
the following reply dated the 20th January 1831:—
"However much I desire to meet Your Highness' wishes as far as it is possible, I
cannot deem it advisable for the benefit of trade, and from other considerations, that
Major Taylor should remove from Bussorah, but that gentleman will have frequent
opportunities of visiting Your Highness' capital. It is very gratifying to this Govern
ment to learn of the kindness 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. experienced at Bagdad, and the
account of the improvements Your Highness has introduced in your territories, and
still contemplate, has afforded me great satisfaction."
On the 12th May 1831 Major Taylor left Bagdad in consequence of the
plague having made its appearance, and returned to Bussorah. In
January 1832, however, the plague broke out at Bussorah, and in conse
quence of its raging with great virulence, 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. at the
earnest request of the Pacha again removed with his establishment to
Bagdad, at which place that officer has from that period permanently
resided. This arrangement appears to have been adopted consequent on the
authority contained in the following extract from a letter from the
Hon'ble the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. to the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General
of India in Council, dated the 28th April 1832 :—
" We think it may be more than ever expedient, under the altered state of circumstances
consequent upon the appointment of the present Pacha, that your 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.
should fix his residence chieffy at Bagdad, for the greater advantage, not only of obtain-