"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" [ظ‎‎٣‎١] (٢٢٦/٦٤)

32 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
had received a gratifying- proof of the respect and attachment enter
tained by Solyman* Bashaw for the British nation, who had deputed
one of the principal officers of his household to the Resident, with presents,
accompanied by assurances of his esteem. The following is an extract
from Mr. Shaw's report on this subject:—
" About twenty days past I was surprised with a very singular instance ^ of Solyman
Bashaw's respect and regard for the English, he having despatched hither a very
principal officer of his household purposely to salute me in his name, who arrived after
a passage of thirty-five days, and hy him sent me a fine Turkish sabre, with a very
noble horse, richly caparisoned with gilt furniture, with very extraordinary letters cu
compliments from the Bashaw, his Kia (or First Minister), and Cuzenedar, or Master ot
the Household and Shawbunder, &c., expressing the particular satisfaction they received
from the regular decent conduct of our nation at all times in the Bashaw s Govern
ment and therein expressed their readiness, not only to confirm all former grants and
favours, but even to add to them, if need were, as they found at all times made so
proper a use thereof as to render us daily deserving of additional instances ot their
particular affection and esteem. Accordingly on the other officer s arrival, I was sent
for by the Mussalleem to the Seray or Divan, and there before a numerous assembly
publicly complimented by the Mussalleem and Bashaw's officers in their master s
name in which they took occasion to set forth his attachment to the nation in
general, and particular esteem (as they were pleased to term it) for me, which was
accompanied with an invitation to Court in the Bashaws name, that thereby
desiring a personal acquaintance to confirm our friendship, and that he might
daily have occasion (as they were pleased to express themselves) of showing this
peculiar regard and esteem, to answer which, as it deserved, I failed not to muster all
the little rhetoric I was master of, and after several mutual assurances of friendship and
regard I took my leave when the Bashaw's horse was presented to me to mount, and
next day the officer who brought him came to visit me in form when I was necessi
tated to present him with a fur coat, being informed that such was the custom
observed among the Turkish courtiers (for there never having been a former instance
of the kind to anv European here I could not find any precedent to go by) It will
likewise I am informed, be further needful to present him with something handsome
on his departure, all which I hope I have your liberty of charging to the Hon ble
Company's account, as it is the custom at all other places on such public occasions.
82. In a letter to the Bombay Government, dated the 8th August
1755, the Agent in Council at Gombroon reported
" that one Monsieur Padree had arrived at Bussorah to remain there in quality of
French .Resident. '
83. On the 10th October 1755 the following instructions were
communicated by Government to the Agent for all affairs of the British
Nation, &c., in Council, at Gombroom
" You must direct Mr. Shaw (the Resident at Bussorah) to be very watchful of
Monsieur Padree's transactions at Bussorah, and that he omit no opportunity of
acauaintine the Hon'ble Court of Directors and you of anything concerning him
worthy notice, imagining he is sent at this critical juncture principally to forward
intelligence to Europe."
84. In a letter dated the 16th March 1756 the Resident, Mr. Shaw,
gave an account of an insult that he had received a short time before
from a boatman on the Bussorah river, who had threatened to strike him,
and stated that on his applying to the Mussaleem for redress, he had
declined doing so, and had endeavoured to incite the whole population at
Bussorah against him. Mr. Shaw further stated that a disturbance had in
consequence taken place, and that he had had a nanow escape of his lifej
* Pasha at Bagdad.