"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٣‎٠‎٥] (١٧٨٢/١٤٦٠)

1305
characters^ as in time of peace. This was a very different sort of treat
ment from that to which the French in Turkish 'Iraq had been subjected
in 1798, on the occurrence of war between the Directory and the Porte,
watioii ;: Both Residents availed themselves of the Pasha's permission to remain at
. Inj- their posts, and their conduct in doing so was approved by the Governor-
General of India.
latter 2®-
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British official matters in Turkish Iraq, 1802-07.
The difficulty, a hundred years ago, of maintaining discipline and a Embarrass-
proper regard for higher authority among public servants at distant Manesty and
stations like Basrah is exemplified in the extraordinary proceedings of bis vmauthor-
r . . ise " journey
Mr. Manesty in the year 1805. In 1804, as explained in another to Bombay,"
chapter, Mr. Manesty had, without reference to Government, assumed,
the role of a Special Ambassador to the Court of Persia; and on his
return from Persia he had been held accountable by the Governor-General
of India for the whole of the expenses incurred. In 1805 finding himself
unable to meet his liabilities and being in fear of personal violence from
his creditors at Basrah, he negotiated bills on the Government of
Bombay to the amount of Rs. 93,000, "which he earnestly hoped
Government would honour on presentation," and at once left for India to
explain and justify his conduct, making over charge of the Residency at
his departure to Lieutenant E. H. Bellasis of the Bombay Engineers.
Arriving at Bombay, unannounced, on the 10th April 1805, he at once
proceeded to represent his case, with a request that his emoluments as
Resident at Basrah might be increased. The office which he held was,
in his opinion, " one of the most arduous, unpleasant, and uncomfortable
"ones held by any servant whatever of the Honourable Company, and
" that it was unprofitable had, to his misfortune, been indisputably
" proved." He continued :—
If, therefore, I cannot resume it on eligible terms, terms which i am ready res
pectfully to state and explain to Government, and on which only any gentleman can
with prudence accept the situation, 1 shall most willingly resiga it whenever you
please, wisely preferring tranquillity, personal safety, and the most limited income
in a British settlement to an extensive establishment, local rank, state, and authority
subjecting me to unceasing care, laborious duty, serious dangers, and ultimate ruin
in Arabia. If my past services remain unrewarded, if my just and reasonable claims
pitSSfdl are rejected, and if I cannot be Resident at Bussorah under equitable, handsome, and
profitable arrangements, I will, in India, endeavour usefully and honourably to exert
those talents which have pome pretension to consideration, and which ought long ago
jfltfisf' to have given me affluence in my native country*
1805-1806.