'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎169r] (337/540)

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heir upon proper Terms and when we take the Persia Affairs into consideration
we shall give such instructions to the Agent and Council at Bussorah as may
be judged suitable on the occasion.
Tho' the Agent and Council has been pleased to represent Bussorah as the to^rt
only Proper Market in the Gulph for woolens (which we hope has not pro- ^Basrahor ^
ceeded from self-interested motives) yet we have reason to believe from what
we experienced at Bushire before the trouble between the Caun and Shaiks of
that Place that a much larger quantity of Woolens may be sold and to greate r
advantage in Persia and consequently that if the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. was removed to
Bushire and Bussorah made a Eesidency as formerly it would be more for our
Hon'ble Masters interest but in order to be enabled to give our Hon'ble Masters
the best information in our Power on this subject, it is agreed to appoint a
committee of Messrs. Wrench Jervis and Martyn to collect and point out to u s
the advantages and Disadvantages of each as well from their own Knowledg-
as from any information they may be able to obtain from Individuals report
ing the same to us as soon as possible.
CLXXXVL
B ombay C astle, 5 th N ovember 1769.
Public Department, Diary No. 54 of 1769,
Wednesday 8.— Imported the Admiral Watson from Bussorah with a letter Bnssorah, Letter
from the Agent and Council and one from Mr. Eobert Garden. The former
bore date the 25 th September, acquainting us that they dispatched to us this Karim Khan
ship that by the last intelligence they had from Bushire Caremj Caun had expeditTon D against
ordered bis fleet to be got ready to proceed down the Gulph to act offensively ^ a n s ^ for Maskat
against the Muscatters as the Imaum had refused his consent to some demands Coffee Fleet,
made on him by the Caun but that, however, the tranquility of the Gulph
might be interrupted by this rupture they should not interfere not only because
our orders were positive against commencing hostilities against the Caun but
that it would impede their plan of drawing the Trade of Persia to Bussorah
and that however, they might wish the safe arrival of the Muscat Coffee Fleet
both on account of the Benefit which the Hon'ble Company received from the
Government Customs on the Coffee and the desire they had of obliging the
Bussorah merchants together with the friendship which subsisted betwixt us
and the Muscatters. Yet they did not think these considerations of sufficient
weight to hazard a rupture with the Caun they should not therefore order a
Convoy to bring up the above Fleet more especially as they apprehended the
Imaums own vessels would be sufficient to protect it even if the Caun's Fleet
were joined by that of the Chaub as it was imagined it would be that in case
the Coffee Fleet could not procure a Convoy from the Imaum it was probable
they would then wait at Muscat until the arrival there of the Drake or any
other of our cruizers from the hope of a Convoy from them, they therefore
stated the following question-Whether our cruizers were to give Convoy and
protection to the Ships and Vessels of any Power whatever if at variano-e with
the Caun unless such Ships and Vessels were furnished with English Passes and
Colours and how far the furnishing such ships and vessels with such passes