'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎165v] (330/344)

310
Part VIII— Chap. LXXIII.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
RESIDENTS AT BUS111RE, 1823 31.
603. We bave seen above (Chapter XXXIV, paragraph 291) how Mr.
William Bruce was removed from Bushire and Captain McLeod was appointed
in his place. In making this appointment the following minute was recorded
by the Governor Mountstnart Elphinstone dated 31st October 1822, in which
all the members of the Board concurred :—
Poona, 31st October 1822.
M inute by the G overnor.
It being- absolutely necessary in consequence of Captain Bruce'g removal to appoint a
successor without delay, I be^ to recommend Lieutenant McLeod and I have the honor to
enclose a draft ol instructions which I would recommend should be issued to him.
The known abilities, temper and judgment of Lieutenant McLeod form his best recom
mendation. Ihey hive again been strongly brought forward by the Commissioner in a report
not yet transmitted to the Board.
I should have preferred sending a civil servant but I know no one capable of so arduous
an omc,! and quahried for it by standing and knowledge of Asia who would accept the
appointment and none even of the junior part of the service who would consent to renounce
the advantageous prospects held out by the general line of promotion for the purpose of
devoting himself permanently to the duties of the Gulph.
On the other hand, it is of great importance that the officer entrusted with this duty should
continue to exercise it long enough to complete his experience and establish his character
among those with whom he is to negotiate.
The importance of the station is evinced by the serious inconvenience brought on us by
the mistake ot its present occupant, and it will be increased by the removal of the station at
Kisnm which leaves us nothing but the ability of our Resident to depend on for preventing the
necessity of new and repeated expeditions.
I know no person so well qualified to accomplish this difficult task as Lieutenant McLeod
ami l tnererore attach the greatest consequence to his appointment.
With respect to Lieutenant McLeod's salary, although Captain Bruce has alreadv
represented m a private letter its inadequacy, I think it better to act on the plan alreadv
suggested of giving the Resident an additional allowance whilst moving in the Gulph. which
it w V ' be ® ne , oura |[ ed to do by visiting the several ports of the Chiefs who are parties to
f ier i S fen g ^ P erinanen % at ^1,500; he should therefore be
permitted to draw ft500 per mensem when absent from Bushire on duty in lieu of all
^n^ngencies excepting travelling expenses by land or such a remuneration to the Commander
o e Cruizer on which he may embark, as the Superintendent of Marine may recommend.
In considerahon of the removal of our troops from Kishm and the necjssitv that will
MGljeod ' s directing his whole atte ition to the conciliation of the Arab
tubes, think that the two Agencies 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. and in Persia should remain distinct
C0Dfcmaittg " the ASent at " ith -
601). Lieutenant Macleod died of fever at Bushire in September 1823.
volume 37 -132 on823, pp. 526 and 532. A n 0 ^ cer much ability and promise,
his death was considered by Government
a severe loss to the service.
Colonel E, J, Stannus was appointed to succeed him in November 1823 on
the following salary and allowances;— h n
Pay
Table allowances .* .* [ ^oo
L^tahHshment and house-rent including boat's crew . , .600
Contingencies ... ...... 150
2,850
ie Circumstances under which Colonel Stannus left Bushire and was
n fj 6 f f , ? Captain TFilson in 1827 have been recounted in Section LIII
w T Captain Wilson, Doctor was appointed Kesident
but m November 1831 the Bombay Goyernment appointed Mr. D. A Blane