dence and ability, in his place, and withdrew the Agalee guard. Immediately after these changes had taken place, I had occasion to see the Pacha; and, in the course of conversation thereon, his Highness assured me that he would make a still further inquiry into the business, and, if it appeared any more was necessary to be done, orders should be issued for that purpose. I have before observed that this business, according to my judgment, ought not to bring on any unpleasant discussions; but, recollecting how much things of this sort are in general exaggerated by common report, it has appeared to me very necessary that you should know as soon as possible the satisfactory measures which have been already adopted by this Government, and the satisfactory assurances above-mentioned, which the Pacha made to me himself; for which purpose I despatch an express messenger. I have also to inform you that Abdullah Pacha, the ex-Pacha of Damascus, has thrown himself on the Pacha's protection, and is at present in his camp. The manner in which his Highness has treated him would make one almost think that the munificence and generosity of the old Caliphs of Bagdad, so much vaunted in history, is copied by Ally Pacha; for, amongst other things which he sent Abdullah Pacha, he sent him fourteen horses, with the most superb furniture; 2000 pieces of gold for his private purse; 14,000 piastres for his public expenses; ten complete suits of clothes for a Pacha; ten Georgian slaves; and two most superb tents; appointing at the same time 100 of his own Itch Agasi to attend and wait on him. The Pacha's camp is very large, and he has with him Arabs from all parts, who form a camp by themselves, to such an extent, that, when I passed through it, in my way to the Pacha's camp, I was near two hours in the middle of camels and Arabs. Pray accept my best wishes for your health and happiness, and believe me, &c., HARFORD JONES. No. 2. Translation ad sensum of a Letter from Mohammed Sayd Beg to the Resident. After compliments My dear friend-I have to inform you the Pacha has commanded three of the persons concerned in the late plots at Bagdad to be punished at Bombay; and it is in conformity to his Highness's directions that I express to you his wishes they should proceed thither in one of the Honourable Company's vessels, and that they be not permitted to remain at any place short of Bombay, but, when landed there, to be afterwards at liberty to go where they please. The reason of this request is, because certain persons, who have been formerly banished to India, landed at different ports short of it, and remained there. The Pacha doubts not but you will comply with his wishes in this respect, and the Kaimacam is directed to give you an account in detail why these persons are punished by banishMOHAMMED SAYD. ment. No. 3. To Samuel Manesty, Esq., Resident at Bussora. Bagdad, November 14, 1803. Sir-I am deprived of the honour of your letters since those dated in the month of September. His Highness the Pacha joined his camp on the 21st of last month, and within these few days a conspiracy of a very extensive nature against his government has been discovered. It seems to have been proposed that an insurrection in the city and in camp should take place at the same time; and, by report, persons of considerable consequence are implicated in this dark business. Early this morning, I received a letter from Mohammed Sayd Beg, the confidential Minister, expressing the Pacha's wishes in respect to certain of the conspirators, whom he proposes to banish. I do myself the honour of enclosing, for your information, a copy of the letter above-mentioned; and I take the liberty of recommending to you to order that the conspirators1 now sent to Bussora be conveyed to Bombay, according to the Pacha's wishes, in some of the Honourable Company's vessels proceeding there. Notwithstanding the unfortunate situation in which these persons stand, I feel myself bound to express a hope (although, from your uniform humanity, it is almost unnecessary to do so) you will direct that, as long as they shall be on board a British vessel, they be treated with decent attention. May I beg the favour of you to lay a copy of this letter and its enclosures before our honourable superiors at the Presidency, assuring you, I have the honour to be, with perfect respect, Sir, your very humble servant, À M. Jones à Bagdad. HARFORD JONES. Buyukdéré, sur le Canal de la Mer Noire, le 13me Octobre, 1803. Monsieur-En réponse à la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur d'écrire en date du 1er Juillet, je vous prie d'accepter mes remercimens sincères pour l'intérêt avec lequel vous avez bien voulu vous employer en faveur de la veuve Babie pour mettre à convert les biens délaissés de son défunt mari. Je vous prie aujourd'hui, Monsieur, de continuer aussi vos bons offices et vos soins au sujet impérial, Etc Babie, qui, muni du ferman nécessaire, s'est acheminé vers Bagdad pour y cueillir l'héritage de son défunt frère. Il m'est revenu par ouï-dire que le Pasha de Bagdad s'est permis de molester sous différens prétextes notre Barataire Abdullah Jusuf, et de le maltraiter sans raison légitime: n'ayant point d'informations exactes à ce sujet, je ne saurois mieux faire que de recommander de mon mieux ce Barataire Impérial à 1 Mohtad Aga, Governor to Saleh Beg, infant son of the late Pacha; and Kheleed Aga, Chief Eunuch to the mother of Saleh Beg, Suid Kutheree. votre protection et à vos soins pour le mettre à l'abri des avanies de ce Pasha. La complaisance avec laquelle vous vous êtes employé, Monsieur, jusqu'ici pour les nationaux et protégés de sa Majesté Impériale et Royale m'engage à vous démander si vous voudriez bien accepter le Vice Consulat Impérial et Royal à Bagdad, et si, pour cet effet, il suffit d'un concert de vous à moi, ou s'il faut que je m'adresse aussi à l'Ambassadeur de sa Majesté Britannique, ou à l'agent de la Compagnie des Indes résidant ici. J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c., A Monsieur le Baron Sturmer, &c. STURMER. Bagdad, le 20me Novembre, 1803. Monsieur J'ai l'honneur d'accuser la réception de votre lettre du 13me Octobre, et je suis bien aise que les petits soins et services que de tems en tems j'ai rendus aux Nationaux et Protégés de S. M. I. R. en cette ville, vous ont été agréables. Pour ce qui concerne l'affaire de votre Barataire Abdullah Jusouf, je m'imagine que naturellement il ne manquera pas de vous donner les informations nécessaires: en toutes occasions, je serai prêt autant qu'il sera en mon pouvoir d'exécuter vos souhaits, mais la franchise exige que je vous dise sans équivoque que l'affaire du dit Barataire est une affaire dans laquelle je ne puis pas m'ingérer sans les ordres exprès de son Excellence, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre à la Porte Ottomanne. Pour ce qui concerne l'offre que vous m'avez fait du ViceConsulat de S. M. I. R. à Bagdad, il me semble que je ne suis pas en liberté d'accepter un pareil poste, sans la permission expresse du Roi et de mes Superieurs immédiats Messieurs les très Honorables les Directeurs de la Compagnie des Indes, et outre cela il faut que j'ajoute, qu'ayant l'honneur de remplir l'office de Résident et Consul Britannique à cette cour, le poste de Vice-Consul d'une autre puissance, tant respectable qu'elle puisse être, ne me convient pas. Au reste, Monsieur, j'ai l'honneur de répéter que je m'empresserai toujours de manifester la parfaite considération avec quelle j'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur, &c., HARFORD JONES. Translation ad sensum of a Letter from Meerza Bozurg to the Resident, received December 6, 1803. After compliments— The arrival of Ismail Cossid afforded me particular pleasure, as it relieved me from the anxiety I was under in respect to your health, and informed me that the State seal for the Pacha met your approbation; for I beg of you to believe that, in every business which you may have here, I shall never be found wanting to do all in my power. I must also offer you my sincere congratulations on your receiving from Constantinople the Order of the Crescent, the account of which you may be assured gave me the greatest satisfaction. May your credit and honour be daily increased! The account you have been kind enough to give me of the expulsion of the Wahabies from Mecca was a matter of great satisfaction to everybody here. The information also which you have been good enough to send me respecting Teflis agrees perfectly with all the intelligence from those parts which we have here. However, you mention that one of the sons of the late Prince is in Azarbaijan, and one in Daghistan; but both of them, one named Iskander Meerza, and the other Tannouras Murza, have lately arrived at Tehran, and have not failed to make to the King the amplest representations on the present state of Georgia. In consequence thereof, his Majesty has it in contemplation to repel the invasion of the Russians, and to put Georgia on its former footing in respect to Persia; so that, God willing, after the regal feast of Nourouz, whatever resolutions his Majesty has formed on this subject will be apparent and public. |