'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎148r] (295/344)

^art VII—Chap. LXIV.
275
CHAPTER L\IV.
MAHOMED SHAH'S AMBITIOUS PROJECTS. HE BESIEGES
HERAT. THE BRITISH OCCUPY KARRAK.
OFFERS OF SHEIKH XASIR, 1837 1838.
531. On the death of Fath-Ali Shah in 1834, the country was thrown
Matkbam'. History of Penia. iut o confusion by civil wars. Ultimately
ytzteons Eitiory of Persia. JUahomed Shcih (1835) succeeded in
(isoo-i8o0.) defeating his rivals mainly through the
able and skilful handling of the troops by Sir Henry Bethune. On the accession
of Mahomed Shah, the British Government having determined to retransfer
the superintendence of the .Persian mission from the Government of India to
the Crown deputed Sir Henry Ellis as His Majesty's Envoy to Teheran to
congratulate the new Shah. Sir Henry was received by the Shah in November
1835. He returned to England in August 1836, and was succeedtd by Mr.
McNeill, who had been for many years in Persia as Doctor to the Mission.
532. Mahomed Shah was an ambitious prince and entered into a scheme
of conquest in the direction of H^rat, in which he was encouraged by Count
Simonich, the Russian Minister at Teheran, bat to which the British Govern-
xuent was opposed. In November 1837. the Persian Army led by the Shah in
person invaded the territory of Herat. Gharian was captured on 15th Novem
ber and on 22nd the siege of Herat commenced. Kamran Shah the ruler of
Herat, an old drunken debauchee, left the management of his State in the
hands of his Minister Yar Mahomed, and the latter's influence over the
defenders, seconded by the energy and skill of Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger (a
nephew of Sir Henry Pottinger, Kesident in Sind), enabled the town to offer
a stout and gallant defence against the Persian attacks.
533. On 6th April 1838, Mr. McNeill arrived in the camp and formally
protested against the Shah's proceedings. He declared that the invasion of
Herat was a violation of the treaty and therefore Great Britain was at liberty
to take measures to compel the withdrawal of the Persian Army. All British
officers serving in Persia had already been ordered to leave the country.
534. Meanwhile the siege on Herat was pressed with increased activity
under the personal superintendence of Count Simonich, and Russian influence
had become paramount in the Persian Court. One of McNeill's messengers
had been stopped and insulted by the Persians. Outrages had been committed
against 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. and our officers at Bushire and all demands for repara
tion were treated by the Persian Government with contempt. In these circum
stances Mr. McNeill was driven to the necessity of leaving the Persian camp
at Herat which he did on 7th June 183S. He was the next day on his way to
Meshed and Teheran.
535. While Mr. McNeill was still in the Persian camp, the Government
of India conceived the project of sending
Volume 78—962 of 1838-1839. • an expedition to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , as
appears from the following letter dated 1st May 1838 from the Secretary to
the Government of India to the British Envoy :—
1 am directed by th^ Rig^t, Hon'ble the Governor-General of India to acknowledge the
receipt of Your Excellency's" letter dated the 7th ultimo, with the copies of despatches to the
address of Her MMjesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which accompanied
it, and for which His Lordship desires me to tender to you his best thanks.
2. His Lordship gathers from these documents that the state of our relations with Persia
is at the present moment exceedingly critical, and that Your Excellency may not improbably
be compelled to assume a very high tone in your communication with the Shah. It has
occurred to the Governor-General that it mifiht prove of very essential aid to vour negotiations
were as many cruizers as can be spared for the service, together with a regiment of Native
Infantry despatched to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to hold themselves in readiness for any service on
which Your Excellency might s^em it expedient under the orders of Her Majesty s Govern
ment, or the general authority which you may possess from it to employ them with a view to
the maintenance of our interests in Persia. A recommendation to this effect will accordingly
be made immediately to the Right Hon ; ble the Governor in Council of Bombay, who will
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