'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' [‎27r] (55/226)

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.
23
from the Turks would quickly, were there the least appearance of repose here, oblige
them to come and purchase their commodities as formerly. The Bussorah troubles are
reduced on our last books to a balance of two hundred and twelve thousand one hundred
and sixty-seven Shahees Factory An East India Company trading post. , and by what has been collected of the additional duty
we may hope that head will, on the close of our present books, be cleared."
53. On the 3rd June 1740 the same parties addressed a further
letter to the Bombay Government, from whieh the following 1 is an
extract:—
" Your Honors in our last were apprized of the preceding year's customs collected, and
how much Bussorah duties exceeded those of the settlement, the occasion of which we
would flatter ourselves was at an end, now a conclusion is had to the troubles with us
by a peace with the Muscat Arabs. By a practice fallen into by almost every one of the
private ships chusing a different port in the Gulph, whereby great inconveniencies are
likely to accrue, as well with regard to the general concerns as to Your Honors in the
point of collecting your revenues, unless you were to erect a settlement at each port
and obtain new rogoms, those we had being chiefly limited to Gombroon: however, the
incandid reflections which have been thrown on Your Honor's servants for exerting
themselves on some of these occasions make us very careful of appearing forward in
matters where the least shadow of private interest or partiality may be charged to the
conduct of a public transaction."
54. On the 1st August 1741 Mr. Dorrill, the Resident at Bussorah,
addressed the following letter to the Bombay Government:—
" The Murtha Grab Shallow vessel with a projecting bow. , being on return to Bombay, gives me an opportunity to
acknowledge the receipt of Your Honor's, &c., commands of the 18th April, which came
to hand the 11th ultimo with the packet for His Majesty's Consul at Aleppo, and to be
enclosed. It went forward the 22nd ultimo by an express ; the want of a messenger
was the reason of its not going sooner, for at the time it arrived we hourly expected the
Arabs to enter this place in an hostile manner, and it would not have been safe to
have trusted it with anybody but one of the desert Arabs.
" When the last advices came from Aleppo, France had not entered into the war;
their fleet that went to the West Indies was returned to Brest. They lost a great
many men by sickness, and their ships were in a bad condition. The Bourbon and
two more sunk through age, and the Admiral, the Marquis D'Antrene, died of grief.
The King of Prussia has seized on the Duchy of Selesia; he has had a battle with the
Germans and defeated them. The King of Great Britain was going into Germany with
30,000 men, to be paid by the Crown, viz., 12,000 English, 8,000 Hessians, 6,000
Danes, and 4,000 Hanoverians, to keep quietness till the election of an Emperor.
Both Houses of Parliament have declared their resolution to stand by His Majesty
in defence of the rights of the Queen of Hungary, and France, it is thought, will
expose the pretensions of the Duke of Bavaria.
" I believe a war between the Turks and Persians is very near. Shaw Nadir is
said to be at Tabreeze. It is wrote, both from Aleppo and Constantinople, that
Bussorah is taken from Achmet Bashaw An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and given to Hossein Bashaw An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who is the
same that owes the money to Mr. Frenche's estate. The Arabs are so powerful that I do
not think he will be able to come and take possession of his bashorly; and should a
war with Persia begin shortly, it is probable the Persians will take the advantage of
these disputes to seize on this* place, for they are levying a great many forces and
building bridges of boats at Aveza, and themselves say their designs are against
Bussorah.
" I have now two messengers at Aleppo. Should they bring any news of impor
tance, and a conveyance offers for Bombay without touching at Gombroon, I believe
Your Honor, &c., will not be displeased at advices."
" I have the honor to be, with great respect,
" Hon'ble Sir and Sirs,
" Your most faithful and obedient servant,
" (Sd.) Thomas Doeeill."
Bussoeah,
The Isi August 1741.
* Bussorah.