"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" [و‎‎٨‎٢] (٢٢٦/١٦٥)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA —1646 TO 1846.
133
that the two steamers Euphrates and Tigris are now descending the great river, sur
veying carefully as the}' drop down, under every possible advantage, both vessels being
completely manned, anncd, and equipped, with their boilers, engines, and machinery
quite as safe, and even more perfect in their working details than when sent out of the
maker's hands at Liverpool."
293. On the 18th June 1836 Colonel Chesney addressed the fol
lowing- letter from on board the steamer Euphrates to Sir John Cam
Hobhousej President of the Board of Control:—
" I have the honor to inform you that this vessel reached the junction of the rivers
Euphrates and Tigris during the afternoon of this day, so memorable for ever in the
annals of England. We are now about 43 miles from Bussorah, and have completed
the survey and descent of the splendid river Euphrates, which ends here; onwards is
the Shat El Arab, which is rather a branch of the sea than a river in the ordinary
acceptation of the word. The officers and men are all in good health, and the best
possible spirits having arrived here without any serious difficulty or annoyance."
294. On the 21st May 1836 the Tigris steamer was upset in the Eu
phrates River during a heavy squall and foundered. By this melancholy
accident Lieutenant Cockburn, of the Royal Artillery, Lieutenant Lynch,
of the 26th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry, 12 Europeans, consisting
of sailors, engineers, &c., and six natives were drowned. Several ineffec
tual attempts have been made to raise this vessel. In October last an
Arab, who, at the request of Major Rawlinson, the present Political Agent
in Turkish Arabia, examined the wreck of this vessel, stated that he was
of opinion that at next fall of the river her hull would be left high and
dry. Major Rawlinson accordingly, on the 5th November last, referred
for the instructions of the Right Ilon^ble the Governor-General of India
whether, in the event of this expectation being realized, he should break
up this vessel and forward her machinery to India if on inspection it
should be found to be in a tolerable state of preservation. This Govern
ment has not been informed of the decision of His Lordship on this
subject.
295. On the 23rd January 1837 the Euphrates expedition was by
order of His late Majesty^s Government broken up, and the Euphrates
steamer was made over to the East India Company, on the understanding
that such an amount should be paid for her as a Committee of survey
miffht deem her to be worth.
296. On the 18th April 1837 the Hon^ble the Secret Committee
forwarded, for the information and guidance of this Government, copy
of a letter that authority had on the same day addressed to the Right
Hon^ble the Governor-General of India in Council, intimating that
they had appointed Lieutenant (now Commander) 11. B. Lynch, of
the Indian Navy, then in England, to the command of the Euphrates
steamer and of any other steamers which might subsequently be em
ployed on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Secret Committee at
the same time forwarded copy of the following letter which they had on
the same day addressed to Lieutenant Lynch, directing him to proceed to
Bagdad for the above purpose, and containing instructions for his guid
ance after his arrival* at that place :—
" You will proceed with all convenient speed to Bagdad. On reaching that city you will
report your arrival immediately to Colonel Taylor, the Hon'ble East India Company's
* Lieutenant Lynch arrived at Bagdad on the 18th July 1837, and assumed charge of
the Euphrates steamer.