'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎151v] (302/344)

282
Part VII—Chap. LXV.
with his personal bacrgage, and any attempt to stop him would be considered
as an insult to the Admiral personally, as nothing of the sort had been done to
any one before, also as he had the means of resisting any agsrression or
attempt to impede his embarkation ; be should go off on Monday, and request
ed the Governor distinctly to state if he would prevent it; this he declined
answering more than once; and the Admiral got up to leave declining under
these circumstances the proffered hand of the Governor; the Governor however
laid hold of him and got him to sit down again ; the question was again repeated
twice, and again an answer declined, when the Admiral got up, and with his
party quitted the place.
651. On Monday morning the boats of Her Majesty's Ship Wellesley and
those of the Indian Naval Squadron came off 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. to secure His
Excellency's embarkation from insult. It must be mentioned that immediately
after the return of the Admiral 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. , a party of Suborze came down
and went into the Sea Tower near 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 a sentinel was placed
at the landing place: it was ascertained that they had orders to prevent the
boats landing.
552. On Monday morning the Gigs of the Wellesley and Captain
Maitland and the Flag Lieutenant came in, far in advance of the other boats;
in these two boats neither the men or officers displayed any arms, on the con
trary they were carefully concealed. Sir Frederick the Admiral, the Resident
and several officers of the Royal and Indian Navies were standing on the cliff
over the landing place unarmed. A crowd of people were also lounging about.
On Captain Maitland's boat touching the beach, a Suborze of the Governor
cocked his musket and told them to keep off, or he would fire; this not being
heeded he brought his musket down to the arm, and would have shot Captain
Maitland had not the Admiral seized the musket and thrown the muzzle up,
at the same time Captain Hennell and the other officers seizing the man and
after much resistance disarming him. At this moment the mob around
attacked the party with sticks and stones, but the gig's crews displaying their
arms and landing they dispersed towards the huts. Captain Maitland and
several officers were struck ; fortunately the Admiral escaped this additional
insult.
553. The other boats now began to near the shore, when a fire was opened
upon them from a breast work, which had been thrown up during the night,
and was quickly returned, but without much injury owing to the shelter of
the breast work; the Admiral immediately on the fire opening from the boats
ordered to cease, and a messenger was sent to the Governor to say bis
people must cease firing or he would be responsible for the consequences;
shortly after the firing from the breast work ceased and the embarkation
took place. It appears that the destruction of Bushire or at least the lives
of many of the inhabitants, was only prevented by the lenity and for
bearance of Rear-Admiral Sir F. Maitland, for the insult was without
cause given, and the firing on the boats premeditated, the orders the sentinel
had, his attempting to fire on Captain Maitland, as well as the throwing
up a breast work, and filling it with armed men were sufficient proof on
this point.
554. It having in consequence of these uncalled for insults and aggression
been determined to remove 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. to Karrak, the Resident remained
on shore until evening, giving aid in furtherance of this object; when every
thing being entrain and the place quiet, he went on board Wellesley leaving
Commander Hawkins to superintend this duty; on Wednesday morning
27th Clive telegraphed that a party of artillery under Captain Leslie with
two guns had arrived, and that one hundred Europeans under Captain Strong
had left Karagh the day before ; as the latter had not arrived and some boats
had been seen from the Wellesley to leeward of the port. Captain Hennell
offered his services to the Admiral to go down to Hallilah in Her Majesty's
Brig dlgerine to pick them up, as it was of much consequence they should be
prevented landing and marching on Bushire, a circumstance likely to occur
from their being unacquainted with the actual state of affairs, and which
might have caused serious inconvenience; in the evening we anchored in?
Hallilah Bay, transhipped the men and returned to Bushire at 11 a.m . on the
28th.