'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎338] (357/622)

838
HISTORY OP THE INDIAN NAVY.
Nisbett, wbich returned on the loth of September, after visit
ing Bushire, Bassadore, and Muscat; two days later arrived
the 'Ferooz,' Commander Rennie, which had been ordered
round from Calcutta on the prospect of hostilities, followed, on
the 20th, by the ' Berenice,' Lieutenant Chitty, which had not
been round'from the eastward since she left Bombay forBurmah
in February, 1852. The ' Ajdaha'returned from the Persian
Gulf on the 7th of September, and, on the 19th, the 'Ferooz'
sailed for Busbire with despatches for the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ,
Commander Felix Jones, I.N.,* and conveyed some military
staff officers to make preparations for the Expedition that was
now resolved upon. On their arrival at Bushire, these officers
landed in the town, and 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. , when
Commander Jones directed them to return, as, on account of
the excited state of the population and the presence near the
town of a body of Persian troops, he could not be answerable
for their safety. Commander Renniei - proceeded on shore with
despatches for the Resident, and then sailed for Bassadore,
■where the staff officers were landed, and the ' Ferooz' returned
to Bombay.
The necessity for the hostilities that were now imminent may
be described in a few words. Notwithstanding treaties and
protestations, the Persian Government, with singular faithless
ness, in December, 1855, had announced its intention, in the
Teheran Official Gazette, to despatch a force to Herat, on the
pretext that Dost Mahomed, the Ameer of Afghanistan, a
been instigated by bis "neighbours" to possess himselt ot
Candahar. This threat was carried into execution, and, alter
a gallant resistance of many months, Herat was captured on
the 25th of October, 1856. On the 20th of November, Mr.
Murray struck his flag at Teheran, and, on the 5th of Decem
ber, withdrew to Bagdad ; meanwhile, on the Is caj o
November, the Governor-General issued his Declaration ot
War, in which he stated that, remonstrances having tauea,
" a force has been directed to assemble at Bombay, an wi
embark as soon as the necessary arrangements shall have oeen
completed. The further operations of the force, after_it shall
have reached the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , will be guided by such mstruc-
* Commander Pelix Jones received temporary charge of the
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. , from Colonel Kawlinson on the Istof Apri, ' cc . ess ion to
the 2nd of May was appointed Acting Eesident of ' ■ 31st 0 f July,
Captain Kemhall, which was made substantive from tlie fo , Igtoms of the
and certainly, if intimate knowledge of the languages a ^ cou l d
Persians and other races, was any qualification for the post, no
have been selected from any branch of the public service. { , ^ this
f We remember, being then a midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. on boar _ i^oiness" whenever
judicious, as well as gallant, officer, who had an eyefc ^ opportunity of
any fighting was on the tapis, took advantage ashore and
reconnoitring Bushire, to take careful soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. both m goi g
returning, to be of use in eventualities.