"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" [ظ‎‎٥‎٦] (٢٢٦/١١٤)

82 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
and soliciting the assistance of the Sultan against the British. Mr.
Manesty was at the same time informed of the death of Tippoo Sahib
and the conquest of his dominions by the British : at the time Mr.
Manesty received this intelligence, Tippoo Sahib's Ambassadors had
arrived at Bussorah, and were on the point of proceeding to Constantino
ple via Bagdad. Mr. Manesty accordingly informed the Ambassadors
that, in consequence of the change of affairs since their departure from
Seringapatam, it would be useless for them to proceed on their embassy,
and he therefore advised them to return to India. This, however, they
refused to do, observing that—
" if Tippoo Sultan had positively been killed in battle, and Seringapatam taken by
the English still the children of their master might be alive, and that one of them
might have succeeded to his throne and power, and been enabled by ability and good
fortune to resist or overthrow the armies of the English,"
and that as faithful servants of their late master, they felt it to be their
duty to proceed on to Constantinople and represent to the Ottoman Porte
the miseries and misfortunes to which the Mahomedans in India were
subjected. On Mr. Manesty applying to the Mussaleem (of Bussorah)
to prevent the Ambassadors from proceeding to Constantinople, he in
formed him that he had received orders from the Pacha of Bagdad
to allow the embassy to proceed on and to furnish them with
the requisite means of prosecuting their journey to Bagdad. The
Mussaleem stated that he dared not disobey this order, but that
he had no objection to Mr. Manesty again endeavouring to dissuade
the Ambassadors from further prosecuting their mission, and to in
duce them to return to India. Mr. Manesty therefore at another
interview with the Ambassadors pointed out to them the real situation of
the dominions of their late master, their consequent position as British
subjects, the eligibility of their acknowledging the authority of the
British Government, and the necessity of their yielding obedience to it,
at the same time explained to them the probable consequences to them
selves of an obstinate resistance, and the state of misery to which in
a foreign country they might be exposed subsequent to their arrival at
Constantinople, where the Sultan could not possibly, on account of his
political situation and connection with Great Britain, show them any
favor or countenance; finally Mr. Manesty informed the Ambassadors
that it was his positive determination not to allow them to proceed to
Constantinople, but to send them to Bombay in the Hon'ble Company's
ship Antelope, then on the point of departure for Bombay. Mr. Manesty
however intimated to them that he rather wished such an arrangement to
result from their own inclination than from compulsion, and assured
them that in the event of their consenting to his wishes with cheerful
ness, they might depend on the liberality of the Right Hon'ble the Gov
ernor-General of India and on his (Mr. Manesty's) recommending them
to the favor and patronage of His Lordship. After some delay the
Ambassadors informed Mr. Manesty that they were willing to acknow
ledge themselves British subjects, and that they therefore had resolved to
abandon their intention of prpceeding to Constantinople, and were will
ing to return to India by the first opportunity.
189. Previous however to the departure (on the 28th November
1799) of the Ambassador from Bussorah for Bombay, the Mussaleem