"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" [و‎‎٧‎٩] (٢٢٦/١٥٩)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA 1646 TO 1846.
127
" You have anticipated our wishes in permitting the Pacha of Bagdad to pur
chase whatever he may require at Bombay.
" The policy of the Pacha of Bagdad will be very short-sighted should the
present peace between Russia and Persia induce him to neglect any measure of pre
caution which may have been suggested to him by his recent sense of danger. It is
evident that that peace was only concluded by Russia on the terms to which she agreed,
in order to have the army of General Paskevitz disposable for operations against the
Turkish Empire. A war will be facilitated by the acquisitions of territory Russia
has already made, and would be still further facilitated were she to succeed in annexing
to her empire the part of the Turkish dominions in which the army of General
Paskevitz is now acting.
" Even were the Councils of Russia to be governed by the moderation she professes,
it would be unreasonable to expect that her Generals commanding on a frontier so
distant from the seat of Government should not seek opportunities of gratifying
their ambition, and the distribution among the Russian troops of a large portion of
the sum lately extorted from the Shah of Persia will certainly not diminish the
disposition on their part to renew the war against a power which can no longer
resist, but which is still supposed to possess great treasures."
278. On the 8tli May 1829 a letter was addressed to this Govern
ment by Mr. Swinton, Chief Secretary to the Government of India,
containing a request from the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General in
Council that—
" instruction might be issued to the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, in conformity
with the views and orders contained in the above despatch,"
from the Hon^ble the Secret Committee, a copy of which was accordingly
forwarded by this Government to the Political Agent for his information.
279. In April 1830 Major Taylor, the Political Agent in Turkish
Arabia, was permitted by Government, at the request of the Pacha, to
pay His Highness a visit at Bagdad. On the 21st August following,
the Pacha addressed a letter to the Governor of Bombay, requesting
that Major Taylor might for the future be permanently located at
Bagdad instead of at Bussorah: this request, however, was negatived in
the following reply dated the 20th January 1831:—
"However much I desire to meet Your Highness' wishes as far as it is possible, I
cannot deem it advisable for the benefit of trade, and from other considerations, that
Major Taylor should remove from Bussorah, but that gentleman will have frequent
opportunities of visiting Your Highness' capital. It is very gratifying to this Govern
ment to learn of the kindness the Political Agent experienced at Bagdad, and the
account of the improvements Your Highness has introduced in your territories, and
still contemplate, has afforded me great satisfaction."
On the 12th May 1831 Major Taylor left Bagdad in consequence of the
plague having made its appearance, and returned to Bussorah. In
January 1832, however, the plague broke out at Bussorah, and in conse
quence of its raging with great virulence, the Political Agent at the
earnest request of the Pacha again removed with his establishment to
Bagdad, at which place that officer has from that period permanently
resided. This arrangement appears to have been adopted consequent on the
authority contained in the following extract from a letter from the
Hon'ble the Secret Committee to the Right Hon'ble the Governor-General
of India in Council, dated the 28th April 1832 :—
" We think it may be more than ever expedient, under the altered state of circumstances
consequent upon the appointment of the present Pacha, that your Political Agent
should fix his residence chieffy at Bagdad, for the greater advantage, not only of obtain-