'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎126v] (252/540)

m
IT
your returning them as mucli sooner as possible, but as by this means you may
not be able alway to send returns by the cruizers we are now to renew the
Soltitude form only given you of freighting on any good country ships which
may offer to the amount of Rs. 50,000 which we are of opinion will be more for
our Hon'ble Master's interest than detaining their vessels at a heavy expense
and in a fruitless expectation of sending money by tbem.
With respect to W. Price's proposal for having a Latty at your settlement
in the same manner as they have at Surat, we in order to prevent as much as
possible any deceit or imposition readily agree to your appointing a Latty
Master by whose note all imports and exports must pass as practised both here
and at Garat, but we cannot admit of the proprietors of goods being obliged to
lodge their goods in any particular place, nor can we agree to building a Latty
as Mjl Price proposes on account of the heavy expense to which it might
subject our Hon'ble Masters and the objections succeeding Mussaleems might
make to it, for although it may as MX Price represents be agreeable to the
present one it may prove otherwise to them, should you however at any time
have cause to suspect frauds in the established duties of the port, you are to
take the most eligible means for prenting them for which purpose it will be
proper to give the Latty Master a proper number of persons under him as
assistant.
Guard vessels for Mjl Jervis not having received any answer from Sadoo Caun as to the
proposal made him M-i-Price we cannot now come to any resolution in res
pect thereto, but even was it esteemed eligible to keep three guard vessels in
the Gulf as Mjl Price mentions we could only agree to it; on the Oaun's con
senting to defray the whole expense which would thereby be incurred, as it
appears by a calculate thereof, it would amount to Es. 35,000, krans exclusive of
the wear and tear of the vessels, and without allowing for the difference in
the price of provisions here and in the Gulf, which would bring it consider
ably beyond the sum Mjl Price mentions.
In respect to the grant obtained from Sadoo Caun we by no means
approve of your conveying into execution the sixth article, whereby all mer
chants are expressly prohibited from purchasing goods but within the con
sent and knowledge of the Chief for the time being as we postively direct
that the trade be subject to no restrictions of this sort but that it be open
to everyone.
The first article desired by the Caun is in some measure unnecessary for
, it should be found advantageous, merchants who may trade thither will
undoubtedly bring away goods, but if otherwise they will certainly expect to be
paid in specie for any goods they may carry there for sale.
As to that article were he would limit us to sell to the principal mer
chants of credit, it is natural to imagine we should give them the preference
but at the same time we do not mean to be under any restrictions but to have
a liberty to sell to whom we may think proper.
We are, etc,,
CHARLES CROMMELIN,
and others.
Bombay Castle;
84ih January 1764.