"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" [ظ‎‎٤‎٨] (٢٢٦/٩٨)

66 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
"We will admit of no larger sum than Rupees 300 being expended in one year in
repairs to the factory.
" We allow the Resident to purchase three horses on the Hou'ble Company's
account, the cost of which must not exceed Rupees 200 each.
" No presents are to be given to any one, but in cases of the most absolute neces
sity.
" The factory guard of sepoys now at Bussorah are to be returned to India by the
Eagle, on which account we have in the above Statement added two J anisaries to the
number before allowed."
152. Mr. Latouche replied to the above letter on the 14th Decem
ber 1778, and expressed his acknowledgment for the confidence reposed
on him by Government in appointing him Kesident at Bussorah.
153. In the same letter* Mr. Latouche made the following represen
tation to Government:—
" The private trade of this place, since the capture of it by the Persians, has been at
such a low ebb that the 1 per cent. Consulage which is allowed to the Agent, or Resi
dent, on the European imports, and which used in some measure to compensate for the
deficiency in their appointments from the Hon'ble Company, is now a mere trifle. Last
year it amounted to little more than Rupees 200; in this it will hardly be as much. What
little trade is stirring consists in cofi'ee and other 4 gruff' from Bushire and Muscat,
and in a few piece-goods from Surat. The country merchants find a method of import
ing these goods at a very moderate duty, whilst the Resident is liable to the payment of
8 per cent, here, besides the 6 per cent, paid to the Hon'ble Company at iSurat, on
such goods as he may bring from thence; the country merchants therefore can afford
greatly to undersell him, and he has little prospect, whilst the present Government
continues, of obtaining a profit on such trade in any shape adequate to the risk and
great uncertainty of the markets. Would Your Honor, &c., however, extend your
indulgence still further to him by exempting his own trade from the payment of the
Company's 3 per cent, customs here, which it is at present liable to, it would be no
real loss to them, whilst it would in some measure remove the disadvantage that he
at present labours under.
" The Resident most humbly hopes that this representation of his situation may
not be considered by you as proceeding either from discontent or ingratitude. He is
highly sensible of the honor you have done him by your late appointment. He is
convinced that at the same time you intended him advantage by it, and he would
rather trust to his fortune for the one than be deterred by still greater difficulties
from accepting the other."
154. In the diary of this Government for the 25th May 1779
allusion is made to a letter having been received from the Residentf
at Bussorah, dated the 25th of the preceding month, " reporting the
circumstances of the late revolution in that city, by which it has again
reverted to the hands of the Turks " and that the Resident entertained
the pleasing hope that by this change " the Hon'ble Company would
again possess every advantage which they formerly had in the gulf."
The following is an extract from this letter :—
"Our last respects were dated the 29th December (1778). We are sorry to inform
Your Honor in Council that your original packet per Eagle, despatched the 31st October,
was not received at Aleppo the 19th January, though the duplicate which followed it
19 days after was received at, and forwarded from, Aleppo the 8th and 9th January.
We are advised from Bagdad that the messengers who carried it had been obliged to
* No reply or Resolution of Government on this letter can be traced,
f The letter was signed by the Kesident and by Mr. Abraham, his co-adjutor.