packet, he informed me that he had but one here (the bearer, Ali Aga) at his disposal, and that, as he had some despatches to write himself, he begged that I would defer his (the Tartar's) departure until to-day. With this request, I could not but comply, as I understand that the Tartars of the Porte do not always find their way to Bagdad in safety. As Ali Aga is not to return to this place, I have agreed to pay him 200 piastres, and promised that you would give the usual gratuities.

It may not be superfluous to mention, for the information of all the Honourable Company's servants, that there is here, at present, a French officer of the name of Romieu, who was formerly French Minister at Corfu, and whose destination, after some further stay in this country, is suspected to be the East. The Sieur Romieu has the reputation of being a man of talents, of having a considerable sum of money at his disposal, and of being a great proficient in the science of intrigue. I have the honour to be, &c.,

ALEXANDER STRATTON.

From the Consul-General at Aleppo to Mr. H. Jones. Extract of a Letter, dated Antioch, the 17th July, 1805.

I have to apprise you of the arrival here, a few days ago, from Constantinople, of a Monsieur Romieu, the person who brought the last letter of Bonaparte to the Grand Vizier.

He is accompanied by a secretary or companion, one European servant, and two Tartars. He is styled, in his travelling firman, "a Bach Officer, who proceeds from Constantinople to visit Aleppo." I have strong reason to believe his intention is to penetrate into India, or at least into Persia; he possesses not, however, the advantage of knowing any oriental language. It seems pretty certain his next step will be to Bagdad; but, before his departure, I will again address you on the subject of this suspicious personage, and inform you of the route which he is likely to take, with any other interesting circumstances that may come to my knowledge.

Extract of a Letter, dated Antioch, the 28th July, 1805.

In support, nay, almost confirmation, of the opinion which I took the liberty to express to you in my last, that the next step of Monsieur Romieu would be to your residence, I can now add, that he has changed considerable sums of money at Aleppo into gold coins of the readiest currency at Bagdad, such as Yeldiz, Ahmedies, &c.

You will, of course, have been informed by Mr. Stratton that Monsieur Romieu was French Minister at Corfu; that he has extensive credit upon Paris; that, during his stay at Constantinople, he purchased bills on Aleppo to a considerable amount, at a price much above the market one, for the purpose of procuring paper payable at sight; and that it is almost certain he carries with him jewels of great value, to dispose of as occasion may require.

Allow me also to inform you that I have learned, through a secret but authentic channel, that Monsieur Rousseau and his son have been lately appointed by the French Government, the first to resume his post at Bagdad, and the latter to the new Residency at Bussora, each on an annual salary of twenty-five thousand piastres.

The age and infirmities of Rousseau the elder must render him a feeble rival to you at Bagdad, nor do I think the abilities of the younger are such as may be dreaded by our representative at Bussora.

Mr. Alexander Stratton to Mr. H. Jones.

Pera, July 16, 1805.

Sir-On the 12th instant, I had the honour to receive your letters of the 12th, 17th, and 18th June, with their several most interesting enclosures.

The packets directed to the Honourable the Chairman shall be forwarded by a messenger, whom his Excellency the Right Honourable Charles Arbuthnot, his Majesty's Ambassador

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, intends to despatch to England in the course of a few days.

Mr. Arbuthnot's appearance here having, of course, put a period to my mission, it has not been in my power to take those steps at the Porte which I could have wished, in order to endeavour to remedy the abuses arising from the conduct of the Pacha of Bagdad, that exist in the transmission of the Honourable the East India Company's packets. But the case has been laid before Mr. Arbuthnot, who, I believe, I may safely venture to say, will use his best exertions for the furtherance of an object which involves the essential interests of the East India Company, and consequently those, as you very justly observe, of the British Government. Of this, he has requested me to assure you, and, at the same time, to express a hope, that you will have the goodness to continue to him the favour of that confidential correspondence, from which I have derived so much important information, and for which I beg that you will accept of my most grateful acknowledgments.

I am in possession of no intelligence beyond what you will find in the newspapers which are forwarded by this conveyance, except that the combined Toulon and Cadiz fleets have been seen off the Cape de Verd Islands.

The enclosed packet to your address reached me yesterday, under cover of a letter from William Ramsay, Esq., containing directions to forward the said packet with all possible expedition. It proceeds by the route of Aleppo; that of Mosul, &c., being reported to be unsafe.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

ALEXANDER STRATTON.

Translation of a Letter from Mr. Harford Jones to

Meerza Bozurg.

August 10, 1805.

After compliments -The hope which I have daily entertained of hearing from you has occasioned me to put off, from

time to time, the pleasure of writing to you. My expectation, however, not yet being gratified by the receipt of your letters, I can no longer deny myself the satisfaction of inquiring after your health.

I wish I could accompany these inquiries by a communication on the subject of your letter to me in January last; but Europe is very distant from hence, and it takes many months for letters to arrive there, and for me to receive answers thereto; so that, though no reply has yet been received by me, it is extremely possible one may be on the road, which, the moment it arrives, I will send to you. I can, indeed, repeat my assurances that the great men of the State in England are inclined to pay particular attention to every thing regarding Persia.

You will have heard the Pacha has been absent from Bagdad for some time, on account of the rebellion of Abder Rahman, whom he is said to have defeated. The Pacha is at present at Mosul.

There are some rumours here of a Frenchman being on his way to Persia, with a design of visiting the King. This, however, I can scarcely credit, because what can a Frenchman have to do in Persia? The French have no alliance with Persia-the French have no trade in Persia-the French have no territory that borders on Persia; and, consequently, can have no political interests in Persia. Besides, as you very justly remark in your secret note to me, in January, it is expressly stipulated in the Treaty concluded by Captain Malcolm, "the enemies of the one State are to be considered as the enemies of the other." What business, then, can a Frenchman, while France and England are at war, have in Persia? The thing itself seems improbable; however, it is by some so confidently believed, that I shall consider myself extremely obliged to you not only to tell me immediately if you have heard anything about the matter, but also to communicate how far the sentiments I have expressed above coincide with yours.

Should there be any foundation for these reports, I have no doubt but his Majesty and the Ministry, faithful to the happy alliance formed between the King and the British Government, will conduct themselves in the strictest conformity thereto; and I confidently hope that no intrigues or wiles will ever be able to raise the slightest disagreeable discussions between England and Persia. The King of Persia's faith is not less manifest to the world than his puissance and renown; and your attachment to the English is of long standing.

I beg the favour of you to return the Cossid as soon as possible, in order that I may be gratified with what I long desired -pleasing accounts of your health.

I am, &c.,

HARFORD JONES.

[Enclosures in Mr. Jones's of September 15, 1805.]

Original in cipher.

Mr. H. Jones to the Honourable Charles Grant, Chairman of the Court of Directors of the East India Company.

Bagdad, September 14, 1805. mentioned in the enclosed Upon our joint calculation,

Honourable Sir-The person secret despatch left me to-day. the expense of his journey, including the presents he carries, will not exceed 3000 rupees. I should have thought myself miserably deficient in judgment either to have permitted Romieu to have gone into Persia, and made no effort to learn the purport of his journey, or to have hesitated incurring the expense above mentioned, or even a larger one, in endeavouring to become acquainted with it. The Pacha's Tartar, who accompanied the Frenchman from Mosul to Carcook, arrived here on the 12th, and says, the Frenchman left Carcook for Persia nine days before. The Tartar adds that he was most profuse of his money. A copy, in cipher, of my instructions to the Vackeel shall be sent hereafter.