No. 4.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received October 2.)

(Extract.)

Ispahan, August 8, 1851. WITH reference to my despatch of the 24th of July, inclosing a translation of a letter I had written to the Ameer Nizam, relative to the large force assembled in Khorassan, I have the honour to transmit a translation of the Ameer's reply.

This communication appearing to me vague and unsatisfactory, I have thought it advisable to declare distinctly to the Persian Minister the sentiments of Her Majesty's Government relative to any attempt by Persia on Herat. I have the honour to inclose for your Lordship's information a copy of a letter I have addressed to that effect to the Ameer Nizam.

In addition to the above reasons for a clear explanation of the views of Her Majesty's Government, I have further been induced to do so by having learned from two sources of undoubted authority that the Ameer Nizam had made a declaration that any attempt to subvert the authority of Syed Mahomed Khan would be followed by the immediate advance of Persian troops to his

assistance.

Inclosure 1 in No. 4.

The Ameer Nizam to Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil.

(Translation.)

July 27, 1851.

I HAVE received your Excellency's letter in which you request that injunctions should be given to Sultan Moorad Meerza. I therefore beg to inform you that his Royal Highness has been dispatched to punish the Toorkomans of Tekkeh, Serekhs, and Tejjen, whose presumption has passed all limit. Beyond this, the force under the Prince has no orders to proceed towards Herat or Affghanistan. Although your Excellency has stated that the Prince is young, and that the army under his command is large, nevertheless the youth of the Prince and the strength of his army are no proofs that he should be able to proceed on an expedition, contrary to his orders, without the commands of this Government. His orders are what I have stated.

With reference to your statement that there will be great rumours in Hindoostan; in the first place, the Prince is now among the Toorkomans, and is remote from all rumours; secondly, it is very evident that unmeaning reports have up to this time terminated.

Inclosure 2 in No. 4.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Ameer Nizam.

August 7, 1851.

I HAVE had the honour to receive your Excellency's letter of the 27th July, relative to the movements of the army under the command of Sultan Moorad Meerza.

That communication is vague and inconclusive, and contains none of the satisfactory assurances demanded by the circumstances. If the Persian Government had desired to inspire the British Government with confidence as to the object of the large force assembled in Khorassan, it would have seized this occasion to give explicit assurances of the falsehood of the prevailing rumours, and of the absence on the part of this Government of any intention to interfere in any way whatever with Herat.

This has not been done; therefore, I have only to repeat to this Government that evil consequences will arise to the relations between England and Persia should any attempt be made on Herat, either by open force or by management and negotiation. Any movement of Persian troops to that city, on any

pretence whatever, whether on the pretext of aiding Syed Mahomed Khan or any other, will interrupt the friendly relations now happily subsisting between Great Britain and Persia.

No. 5.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received October 31.) Camp, Cauzee, September 17, 1851.

(Extract.)

THE affairs of Herat appear to be involved in greater confusion from day to day. Mr. Ronald Thomson has informed me that, a few days ago, a special agent from Syed Mahomed Khan had arrived in the Shah's camp to solicit assistance in maintaining his administration, in return for the aid which Yar Mahomed Khan contributed against the Salar. No definitive answer had been given to this appeal, but it was supposed Syed Mahomed Khan's agent would be dismissed with vague, unsatisfactory professions. On the other hand, Mr. Thomson had heard, from a quarter deserving of credit, that there was an intention to invite me to concur in the despatch of a small force to Herat, with an explicit understanding that it should evacuate that city as soon as the authority of Syed Mahomed Khan should be reinstated. It appears also to be a plan of the Ameer Nizam to cause the coinage of Herat to be issued in the name of the Shah. I am ignorant on what grounds his Excellency attaches importance to this device, unless it be intended as an announcement of Herat being included in the dominions of the Shah.

No. 6.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received November 26.)

(Extract.)

Camp near Tehran, October 1, 1851. THE Agent sent by Syed Mahomed Khan, the Ruler of Herat, to ask assistance from the Persian Government, has quitted the Shah's camp without being able to obtain a definite answer relative to the object of his mission.

I have the honour to annex, for your Lordship's information, a quotation from a letter from Mr. Ronald Thomson regarding this Agent. I have no doubt of Mr. Ronald Thomson's information being obtained from credible sources:

"Syed Mahomed Khan's messenger quitted the camp some days ago, on his return to Herat. A firman from the Shah, and a letter from the Ameer, have been transmitted through this person in answer to Syed Mahomed Khan's application for assistance to enable him to extricate himself from the danger threatened by the advance of Kohendil Khan, and by the discord and disputes which had arisen among the people of Herat. The Shah, it appears, in his firman has confined himself to expressions of friendship and goodwill to Syed Mahomed Khan, giving him vague promises of assistance, without specifying in what manner or to what extent the support of the Persian Government will be afforded to him. He calls upon the chief people of Herat to submit to Syed Mahomed Khan's authority, and urges them to support his authority, threatening to punish those who offer him any opposition. The answer which the Ameer has returned to his application for support is said to convey a refusal at present to comply with his request, but at the same time a prospect of receiving at a future time the assistance which he desires, is held out to him. The Ameer has, I am told, given Syed Mahomed Khan to understand that by issuing coin in the Shah's name, and by preparing a paper to be sealed by the chief people of Herat, declaring themselves subject to Persia, the Persian Ministers may be induced to extend to him the aid which he has solicited. The messenger is also the bearer of a dress of honour, and a sword with jewelled scabbard, which have been conferred on Syed Mahomed Khan by the Shah."

A special Agent from Herat is on the point of arriving at Tehran. His name is Meerza Boozoorg, and is the same person who was erroneously supposed to have been killed by Yar Mahomed Khan.

It appears also that the rumoured death of Kohendil Khan is destitute of foundation.

No. 7.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received December 3.)

(Extract.)

Tehran, October 4, 1851.

THE "Tehran Gazette," of a recent date, having contained an announcement that 2,000 Infantry, and 6,000 Cavalry, were about to march to Khorassan, I called on the Ameer Nizam to repeat to him the warning I had already given that the augmentation of troops in that province without apparent necessity would excite suspicion, and, perhaps, lead to precautionary measures on the part of the Governor-General of India.

The Ameer Nizam replied that any fears of the proceedings of the Persian Government with reference to Herat would be purely gratuitous; for in the first place, the above body of Cavalry had been changed from its original destination, and directed to proceed to Asterabad, where the exigencies of the service were unfortunately very great; and in the next place, that if two battalions were proceeding to Khorassan, three battalions were now on the route from that province, returning to the capital; and finally, that the troops in Khorassan would not exceed the ordinary garrison of five battalions and 1,600 Cavalry, exclusive of the native provincial force, a number which was absolutely necessary for the maintenance of internal tranquillity and for repelling the increasing aggressions of the Toorkomans.

I believe these statements to be entitled to credit, because they have been confirmed to me from another quarter.

The Ameer farther affirmed that the Prince Governor of Khorassan had positive orders not to interfere with Herat under any circumstances, by a military demonstration, without express orders from Tehran. Her Majesty's Government, he said, might entertain a conviction of the Persian Government not having the slightest intention of sending troops to Herat, and that none would be sent. The only contingency under which Persia would desire to dispatch a force to that city would be the approach of either Dost Mahomed Khan or Kohendil Khan to subvert the authority of Syed Mahomed Khan, and that even in that event troops would not be dispatched without first consulting me.

I asked the Ameer Nizam if I was at liberty to consider this as an official announcement for the information of Her Majesty's Government. The Persian Minister replied that the well-known timidity of his character alone deterred him from making these declarations officially, but that, nevertheless, your Lordship might be satisfied that this Government would pursue the course

he had indicated.

The Persian Government, he said, had its hands too full in various quarters to allow it to think of embroiling itself with Great Britain, or to render it eager for the acquisition of Herat when it saw with what difficulty the present dominions of the Shah were retained.

This moderation may be temporary, but I believe it to be sincere at the present moment.

The Ameer Nizam continuing his observations relative to Herat, said it was his intention to give every support, short of sending troops, to the Government of Syed Mahomed Khan, by nominating an Agent to his Court, by sending dresses of honour and presents, by offering exhortations to the Chiefs and people, and sometimes threats, and by preserving an intimate intercourse from Meshed with Herat. The annexation of that province to Candahar or Cabul he considered to be detrimental to the welfare of Persia, by placing a strong instead of a weak Power on the frontier; and he said he conceived the same argument would be applicable to the British dominions with reference to Cabul or Candahar.

The Ameer Nizam said that a Kajjar of some rank, named Ibraheem Khan, had been deputed to take a dress of honour to Syed Mahomed Khan.

No. 8:

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.—(Received January 2, 1852.)

(Extract.)

Tehran, November 9, 1851.

I HAVE the honour to report to your Lordship that Meerza Boozoorg Khan, the Agent of Syed Mahomed Khan, has returned to Herat accompanied by a Persian Agent of higher rank than usual, who is the bearer of presents of considerable value to Syed Mahomed Khan.

It appears he has undertaken to obtain from Syed Mahomed Khan an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of Persia over Herat, by striking coin, and by reading the "khootbeh," or Friday prayer, in the Shah's name.

In the "Tehran Gazette," Syed Mahomed Khan is styled the "Governor of Herat," and his presents to the Shah are termed "offerings," as if they were the gifts of one of the Shah's own subjects.

An Agent has also arrived from Candahar. The object of his mission appears to be to obtain the consent of the Persian Government to his undertaking an expedition against Herat. Kohendil Khan has supported his proposal, as I am informed from a credible source, by an insinuation that opposition from the Persian Ministers would compel him to form an intimate connection with the British Government. I have as yet been unable to learn the reply of the Persian Government, but I have no doubt it will be a refusal.

No. 9.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received January 2, 1852.) Tehran, November 22, 1851.

(Extract.)

I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that the Sedr Azim renewed to me yesterday the assurances relative to Herat given by the late Prime Minister, as reported in my despatch of the 4th of October.

It is reported from Meshed that though no tumults had occurred in Herat, that city is in a state of the utmost confusion from the intrigues of the numerous aspirants to authority; Syed Mahomed Khan's capacity offering no hope of the permanence of his rule. Each Chief acts as if he were independent.

No. 10.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received March 7, 1852.) Tehran, December 29, 1851.

(Extract.)

THE Russian Minister informed me yesterday that he had taken an opportunity, two days previously, of offering advice to the Persian Ministers not to interfere in the affairs of Herat. He admitted to the Sedr Azim the claim of Yar Mahomed Khan's son to the support of the Persian Government, but observed that feelings of generosity must yield to the more powerful consideration of the welfare of this country, whether with reference to its internal or to its foreign relations. Prince Dolgorouki added, that in uttering these opinions he spoke the sentiments of his Government.

I told the Russian Minister that I was certain Her Majesty's Government would fully appreciate such friendly counsel to the Persian Ministers, which was evidently founded on a consideration for the interests of Persia.

The Prime Minister has confirmed the substance of Prince Dolgorouki's language to me.

The Persian Government has nevertheless betrayed lately a strong desire to exercise an armed intervention in the affairs of that Principality under the pretence of establishing order. I have had more than one conversation on this subject with the Persian Prime Minister, but the absence of the Court on a hunting excursion having interrupted our communications, I must reserve for another despatch the result of our discussions.

No. 11.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received March 7.)

(Extract.)

Tehran, January 20, 1852.

I HAVE the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, a translation of a letter from Meshed, containing further intelligence relative to Herat. Kohendil Khan had dispatched a force from Candahar, under the command of one of his nephews, which had already reached Ferrah, about 160 miles from Herat. This information has been confirmed by a messenger to the Persian Ministers direct from the latter city. The Prince Governor of Khorassan had in consequence summoned troops from all parts of the Province under his authority, and had publicly announced his intention of marching to Herat.

Believing it would make a greater impression to address the Prime Minister in writing, I communicated with him in that form, and your Lordship will perceive, from the inclosed translation of the correspondence which passed between us, that the Persian Government proposes to send a body of troops to Herat, should the force from Candahar approach that city.

To-day I had a conversation with the Sedr Azim on this question. It consisted on my part of a renewal of the admonition that if Persia acted contrary to the views and wishes of Great Britain, Her Majesty's Government would follow out their own policy, whatever it might be, without regard to Persia. The Sedr Azim repeated his former demand that England should undertake to preserve Herat from the Chiefs of Cabul and Candahar, and that then Persia would not interfere; otherwise, that Great Britain should agree to the dispatch of a moderate Persian force, with an engagement that it should return in a specific time. I asked him why he did not put the latter proposal in writing to enable the British Government to judge of its worth, for so long as it was only verbal it was of no value. He said he would take into consideration the expediency of doing so.

The Sedr Azim stated that, to a certainty, Sultan Moorad Meerza, the Governor of Khorassan, had not yet marched to Herat or crossed the frontier, nor would he do so without further orders. The Prince's public announcement of his intention to do so was, the Persian Minister said, merely to produce an impression by creating confidence in Herat, and alarm in the Candahar force. I, however, do not place much reliance in the Sedr Azim's declaration.

It is generally fallacious to attempt to calculate on the conduct of Persians. Still if I were to hazard a judgment in the present instance, the inference I should arrive at from the language of the Sedr Azim would be, that if the Candahar army does not approach Herat, a movement of a Persian force will not be made to that city. Should the troops from Candahar advance to Herat, it seems highly likely that a Persian force will be sent to oppose them, yet even this does not seem to me perfectly certain.

The Persian Minister mentioned, in the course of conversation, that Syed Mahomed Khan had made the most earnest application for aid. He declared himself to be the Shah's subject, and he called on him to afford the support he was bound to give to a person who had taken sanctuary with him.

(Translation.)

Inclosure 1 in No. 11.

Substance of a Letter from Meshed.

December 25, 1851.

A MESSENGER has arrived from the Chief of the Hezarchs (Kerreem dad Khan), announcing that 300 horsemen would be dispatched for the service of the Shah, also that presents were coming from the Hezarehs, Tymoonees, and other tribes.

Seven hundred families of the Hezarehs are coming to establish themselves in Toorbet Sheikh Jam (in Persia); some have already arrived.

Kerreem dad Khan has sent 100 horse, and 300 foot, of the Hezarehs to the assistance of Syed Mahomed Khan in Herat.