'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' [‎35v] (72/226)

40 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
intelligence of this event, Mr. Douglas, on the 11th August 1762, sent
Mr. Dymoke Lyster, one of the Council of the Factory An East India Company trading post. of Gombroon,
to Bussorah, with instructions to conduct the manag-ement of the Com
pany's affairs at that place, until a successor to Mr. Stuart had been
appointed by the Bombay Government. On receiving- this intelligence,
Government appointed Mr. William Andrew Price, then in Bombay,
" Provisional Agent of Persia/' and directed him to proceed forthwith
to Bussorah. Orders were at the same time issued for the removal of
the Gombroon Factory An East India Company trading post. to Bussorah. The following are extracts from
the letter addressed by the Bombay Government on this occasion to
Mr. Price, dated the 22nd January 1768, containing instructions for his
guidance. These extracts also contain detailed information in regard to
the reasons which had induced Government to direct the removal of
Messrs. Shaw and Garden from the management of the Company's
affairs at Bussorah :—
" The conduct of Mr. William Shaw, late Resident at Bussorah, having rendered
it necessary to order an enquiry into the situation of our Hon'ble masters' affairs there
to be set on foot, a Committee of the Board was appointed for this purpose under date the
13th February 1761, and in consequence of their report laid before us on the 27th of the
same month, we deemed Mr. Shaw so highly culpable in the detention of the Drake
and Swallow contrary to our express orders, that we resolved to remove him immediately
from the management of affairs there, and appointed Mr. James Stuart to be his
successor therein; but as our Hon'ble masters had severely censured Mr. Shaw's
conduct in respect to the transmitting overland advices, and ordered an enquiry
to be made into the cause of their miscarriage, which, as well as the necessity
of his journey to Bagdad, could only be properly done upon the spot, we ordered
Mr. Alexander Douglas to proceed to Bussorah to make the necessary enquiry into
these points, and to acquaint us with the result. Messrs. Douglas and Stuart accord-
ingly proceeded to, and arrived at, Bussorah on the 14th May 1761, and acquainted us,
under date the 13th July following, that the balance due on their arrival from Messrs.
Shaw and Garden to our Hon'ble masters was Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 15,078-25-50, in part of which
those gentlemen had to that time made good the sum of Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 2,760-46-40, and
were then indebted Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 12,317-79-10, and which by advices since received, we
find has been reduced to Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 11,807-2-10, and which by letters and accounts
hitherto come to hand appears to be the balance due from Messrs. Shaw and Garden
at this time. Affairs being thus circumstanced at Bussorah, and Mr. William Shaw
having represented that the only means of enabling him and Mr. Garden to discharge
this very large debt to the Hon'ble Company was to afford him proper countenance and
support in adjusting his outstanding concerns there, we have determined that you
shall proceed to Bussorah to endeavour to recover the said debt, and to afford Mr.
William Shaw all the countenance and assistance in adjusting his concerns which the
influence of the British flag may be able to afford him; also to take charge of our
Hon'ble masters' afl'airs at Bussorah, until your presence may be no longer necessary
for adjusting Mr. Shaw's concerns, or until further orders from us. You are accord
ingly invested with the President's commission for these purposes, and Mr. Benjamin
Jervis (who now proceeds), and Mr. Dymoke Lyster already there, are as factors to
assist you in the management of affairs, agreeably to the rules of the service, and for
your better carrying our intentions into execution.
" Mr. Douglas having on his arrival at Bussorah suspended Mr. Robert Garden
from acting in the Hon'ble Company's affairs there on account of the large balance of
cash due to our Hon'ble masters, which we have since confirmed, he must continue in
the same situation until his and Mr. Shaw's affairs are finally adjusted, but he must
be present at all examinations, wherein he may be in the least concerned, and be
permitted to urge whatever he may deem necessary in his own defence.
" Our Hon'ble masters having been pleased, in their commands of the 16th April
last, to recommend to our consideration the removing of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. from (lombroon to
Bussorah, we have determined thereon, and agreeable to their commands now give
Mr. Douglas the option of being Agent, but as Mr. Shaw has through the whole of his
correspondence taxed that gentleman in such a manner, as if just, renders him by no