"ملخّص يحتوي على معلومات بشأن الاتصال الأول لشركة الهند الشرقية مع الجزيرة العربية التركية، طالما أمكن تتبع ذلك من سجلات حكومة بومباي، بالإضافة إلى أسماء العديد من المقيمين البريطانيين والوكلاء السياسيين الذين عُينوا في بغداد والبصرة في الفترة بين ١٦٤٦ و ١٨٤٦ ميلادي، وبمرافقة معلومات أخرى" [و‎‎٢‎٣] (٢٢٦/٤٧)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA —1646 TO 1846.
15
him very kindly, giving him many assurances of his friendship and good inclinations
to encourage the British trade to that port. As house-rent is very dear there, he
offers it to our consideration whether a part of it should not he borne by the private
goods that shall hereafter be lodged in the factory. The further advices that they
have certain news of the Turks coming to an agreement with the Ophgoons, and that
Achmat Bashaw was expected to arrive at Bagdad in a few days. That Consul
Purnell writes he has received advices from Constantinople of the death of His
Majesty King George* at Osnabrug in his way to Hannover, and that the siege of
Gibraltar was raised by the Spaniards. He encloses the account consulage from the 7th
June to the 4th November, amounting to mamootys 29,041 and 16 goz ; the Hon'ble
Company's account current and list of the outstanding debts at Bussorah, also manifest
of freight laden on the Britannia for Surat and Bombay, amounting to 66,575 shahees
and live goz ; and if a vessel comes thither in the month of October, and is per
mitted to remain there till the middle of December, he says he does not in the least
doubt meeting with good freights annually; the boats from Bagdad, and the caravan
from Aleppo, generally arriving about that time. Concerning the outstanding debts, he
observes that, for want of notes being taken from several of the debtors, they pretended
they had paid them, and some of them are ready to swear to it, which gives him a
great deal of trouble: however, he promises no endeavours shall be wanting on his part
to recover them, and has got security for the payment of " Swede Shroph's" debt in live
months' time, which is the best composition he was able to make. This short letter
of the 18th advises that a cossat was arrived from Aleppo with a confirmation of
His Majesty's death. That the preliminaries to a Treaty were signed by the Emperor
and the Allies, one of the articles whereof is that the Ostenders shall not trade to the
East Indies for the space of seven years ; and it is not doubted but at the designed Con
gress at Aix la Chappell the same will be for ever laid aside. That a cessation of arms
is agreed upon between Spain and Great Britain, and it is not questioned, but the war
is at an end."
38. In the Diary for the 16th April 1728 the following entry
occurs;—
" Returned the Dolphin, &c. G-ullivatts from the northward, by whom we received
a short letter from the Chief and factors at Surat, dated the 13th instant, enclosing two
packets from Bussorah and Gombroon, forwarded by the William, who arrived at Surat
Barr the 12th. Mr. French, in his advices under the 2nd March, says that the season
of the year being now so far advanced, he cannot recommend the sending any cloth or
long ells from Gombroon thither before the month of September, when he believes he
shall be able to dispose of a small parcel of each at a tolerable price, but would not
have above sixty bales of cloth an i three hundred pieces of long ells sent up at a time.
That iron is at present in no demand, occasioned by the troubles of Avive and Sonstere,
which are the places that take off that commodity. That the Government continues
very favorable, and the Bashaw, in very strong terms, has again renewed his assur
ances of protection and encouragement to the trade of our nation, but he much fears
he shall not be able to preserve the present good disposition if any further demand is
made on account of former extortions. He encloses the account consulage collected at
Bussorah from the 31st July to the 1st January, amounting to mamoodies 26,904 and
19 goz, with the Hon'ble Company's account current, the balance whereof being
mamoodies 11,862 and four goz, he will wait the Chief and Council's orders how to
dispose of. On close of his letter he advises that Mahomed Bashaw was appointed
Bashaw of that place, whose Khya or second was just then arrived to take possession
of the Government for him."
39. The Diary of the 30th October 1728 contains the following-
entry : —
" They (the Chief in Council at Gombroon) enclose copy of the last Bussorah general
(letter) to Gombroon, and of Mr. Stanyan's letter to the British traders at Bussorah,
enclosing the Sultan's order to that Bashaw for complying w;ith the terms stipulated
with that Government on Mr. Houssage's first arrival, which Mr. French accordingly
delivered to the Bashaw; but it referring to the capitulations which neither of them
had, he said he could not comply with regard to the customs until he heard further
from Court, whereupon Mr. French addressed the Ambassador by an express, acquaint
ing him therewith.
* The Ist.