"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٥‎٩] (١٧٨٢/٢٠٢)

69
favour of the Company was made by the Agent in Persia and, after being
tr slated into English, was forwarded to the Company at home ; and
efforts were made to obtain from the Shah a fresh Farman confirming
those of earlier date. In 1675 it was decided that, pending further
measures, the Company's merchant ships sent to the Gulf should be armed,
"to give the appearance of force and commerce •" and, in 1676, effect
was given to this resolution by the despatch of two armed vessels to the
Gulf, freighted with broadcloth and tin, but also intended to protect trade
and to recover what was due on account of customs at Bandar 'Abbas.
To the Shah it was apparently explained, on this occasion, that the English
moiety of the customs at Bandar 'Abbas was claimed on account of
past services at Hormuz and that separate payment must be made by him
of half the charges of the vessels now sent to establish security at sea, and
it seems to have been added that the refusal of either demand would be
treated as a declaration of hostilities ; but the outcome of these proceedings
is not recorded. Meanwhile it had been represented by the Surat
Presidency to their masters in England that, if war were declared, it should
be in the name of the King and not of the Company • they pointed out
that nothing beyond a naval blockade could be attempted; and they
expressed a fear that a rupture between England and Persia might be
utilised by the Portuguese or the Dutch to obtain a monopoly of trade at
Bandar 'Abbas. With reference to a discussion which had now been
carried on for several years without any conclusion being reached, the
Presidency declared their own preference for peaceable negotiations over
hostilities, in seeking an arrangement with Persia. In 1677 the Company's
CoUrt, probably on this advice, relinquished the idea of forcible action; but
trade continued to languish ; and in 1680 the question of abandoning the
Bandar 'Abbas Factory was considered. In 1681 hopes of improvement were
raised by the success of Mr. Pettit, the Agent of the Company in Persia,
in obtaining some satisfaction in regard to the Bandar 'Abbas customs,
but in 1682 they were shown to be illusive. The debts due to the
Company in Persia now amounted to £1,000,000.
It was at length decided in 1682 to adopt a more spirited policy, anda
letter of retnonstrance was written by the Company's Court in England
to the Shah, the effect of which, it was intended^ should be seconded b/ - a
naval demonstration off the Persian Coast; but execution of this last
measure was apparently deferred by events in other quarters. In ]683
the Company fitted out the " Charles the Second, " a powerful ship of 60
or 70 guns; and her commander. Sir Thomas Grantham, was authorised
to procure, by two successive seizures of Persian shipping, payment in
Persia,
1674-82.
Abortive
expedition
of Sir T.
Grantham
to Bandar
Abbas,
1683-84.