"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" [ظ‎‎٣‎٤] (٢٢٦/٧٠)

38 PKECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
have strone reason to believe him remiss and negligent in this essential part of his
dutv and therefore if our suspicions are well grounded, and he is really culpable, we
direct vou to remove him from Bussorah, and we also in such case revoke our orders to
his favour respecting the Residence of Scindy, and whoever in future is appointed to
Bussorah. will keep a watchful eye over his conduct and if he ever fails m a punctual
correspondence with us, or yourselves, or is ever found to delay advices to and from
India, call him immediately to Bombay, for early advices may prove otthe greatest con
sequence to our affairs, in time of war especially."
It does not appear what orders were issued by Government on receipt
of the above despatch ; but in a letter addressed to Government by the
Agent in Council at Gombroon, dated the 9th April 1761, it was observed :
« In obedience to your commands, the Agent (Mr. Douglas) now proceeds to Bussorah,
and on his return we shall fully answer every point of your orders.
95. The last letter which can be traced in the records from Messrs.
Shaw and Garden from Bussorah is dated the 4th May 1761,about which
time Mr. DouMas (the Agent at Gombroon) must have arrived at Bus
sorah. On the 30th July 1761 a letter was addressed to the Bombay Gov
ernment by Mr. Douglas and a Mr. James Stuart (who had accompanied
Mr Douglas to Bussorah) as being jointly in charge of the Hon'ble
Company's affairs at Bussorah in supersession to Mr. Shaw and Mr.
Garden 'who had been removed. In this letter it was stated that Mr.
Douglas and Mr. Stuart were examining the accounts of Messrs. Shaw
and ^Garden that by their own admission they were indebted to the
Hon'ble Company the sum of Tomans 12,317-79-0 (about Rupees
61,585), and that they had no present effects to meet this debt. In this
letter it was observed:—
« As there is so large a deficiency of cash, we have acquainted Mr. Garden that we
cannot admit of his acting, or being any ways conceraed in the management ot the
Hon'ble Company's affairs, until your Honor in Council s pleasure is known on that
head."
This letter also contained the following intelligence
" Sheik Solvman, a subject of the Bashaw of Baghdad, having of late been guilty of
many enormities, the Bashaw ordered the Mussaleem of the place to assemble the
forces of the Arab Shaiks. as well as what troops he had, and go against said bhaik
Solvman, in consequence of which the Mussaleen, after having received a reinforce
ment from Baghdad, set out last month on the expedition, but ere he proceeded, he
nressed us in a verv strenuous manner to let the Swallow give countenance to the
Bashaw's affairs by joining fourteen of his armed trankeys, and endeavour tohlock
un Durach River, in which were some armed boats of Shaik bolyman s; this we
consented to as we were given to understand it would certainly ingratiate us in the
Bashaw's esteem, and would be a certain means, should we have any favours hereafter
to ask of o-ettino- them obtained. Upon the whole we were in hopes it might prove of
service to our Hon'ble masters' affairs, which induced us to comply, and she is now
off Durach River."
96. Mr. Douglas left Bussorah on the 17th October 1761, leaving
Mr. James Stuart in charge of that Residency, and returned to Gom
broon for the purpose of resuming his duties as Agent at that place.
97. On the 3rd February 1762, Mr. Shaw addressed the following
letter te Government in explanation of his past proceedings at Bussorah
which had occasioned his removal from the situation of Resident
" From the Agency (Gombroon) Your Honor, &c., have been doubtless informed, that
fhp unhappy Situation of my affairs would not permit me to follow my inclination of
returning by the Swallow to the Presidency, and from Mr. Garden's and my address