Khorassan in selecting either of these firmans for transmission to Kohendil Khan. The Prince decided on demanding the summary evacuation of these towns. No answer has yet been received to this communication, but it cannot be long delayed.

Your Lordship will perceive that the influence of Persia has extended beyond Herat.

With regard to the evacuation of Herat, the Sedr Azim said that the Persian Government would adhere to the declarations it had made previously to the occupation of the Herat territory by Persian troops. Peremptory orders, without reserve or discretion, had been sent to the Persian Commander, Abbass Koolee Khan, to retire with his force to the district of Toorbet Hydereeah. This place is 150 miles distant from Ghorian.

Orders would be sent immediately, his Excellency said, to Sam Khan to reduce his escort to 100 men, and to send the remainder to Persia. His personal attendants would amount to nearly the same number.

If Ferrah and Sebzar were evacuated by the Candahar troops, or whenever that object were attained, Sam Khan with the whole of his escort would be immediately recalled to Persia, and another Agent sent to Herat unattended by armed followers.

The Persian Minister said that should the Candahar troops not be withdrawn from those two towns, it was the intention of the Persian Government, acting on the same principle which had dictated the dispatch of troops to the aid of Herat, to send a force to Ferrah and Scbzar, to be withdrawn after the expulsion of the Candahar troops. The Persian force would not proceed to the above places by way of Herat; they would march by a different route.

The Persian Minister, in the course of conversation, having said that in the event of a renewal of an attack by Kohendil Khan on Herat, or by Dost Mahomed Khan, or any of his family, it was the determination of this Government to act in the same manner as on the present occasion, I declined to enter into the discussion of a prospective and uncertain event.

I need scarcely remind your Lordship of the insincerity which characterizes the Sedr Azim in common with the generality of his countrymen, and that his promises relative to the retirement of the Persian force, the present diminution and final withdrawal of the military escort, are to be looked upon as mere professions until actually carried into execution. My efforts will, of course, be directed in furtherance of this object.

During my interview to-day, the Sedr Azim said that the object with which the Herat Agent had come to this Court was, to demand pecuniary aid and the issue of a firman promising that Herat should be retained by Syed Mahomed and his descendants for ever. It was intended, he said, to bestow on this chief 10,000 tomans, which the Agent had promised should be melted and recoined in the Shah's name.

To prevent any misunderstanding as to the nature of the conversation which I had held with the Sedr Azim to-day, I addressed to his Excellency a letter, of which I have the honour to inclose a translation, recapitulating the chief points of discussion.

Inclosure in No. 21.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Sedr Azim.

(Translation.)

August 22, 1852.

TO prevent any mistake in my report to my own Government, I think it advisable to recapitulate the conversation I held with your Excellency to-day, relative to the affairs of Herat, and the evacuation of that territory.

I understood your Excellency to say that although orders had been formerly sent to Abbass Koolee Khan, Meer Penjeh (General), to withdrawn the Persian force under his orders within the Persian territory, these orders, from certain circumstances, had not been executed, but that yesterday the most positive orders had been issued, without any reserve, to that Commander to retire immediately with his troops from the vicinity of Ghorian to the district of Toorbet Hydereeah.

With regard to the complete evacuation of Herat by Persian troops, your

Excellency declared that orders had been sent to Sam Khan to reduce without delay his military escort to 100 men, exclusive of his personal attendants, and dispatch the remainder of his horsemen to Persia.

Further, that in two or three months, more or less, or as soon as Ferrah and Sebzar (or Sebzewar) were evacuated by the troops of Candahar, the entire of the military escort attached to Sam Klian should be withdrawn, and the Herat territory be completely evacuated by Persian troops. You also said that another agent would be sent with fifteen or twenty attendants, and without any military escort, to reside at Herat on the part of this Government.

No. 22.

The Earl of Malmesbury to Sheffee Khan.

Foreign Office, October 27, 1852.

THE communications respecting the proceedings of the Persian Government in regard to Herat which the Undersigned, &c., has, at different times, had with Sheffee Khan, &c., will have satisfied Sheffce Khan that Her Majesty's Government has viewed with great disapprobation the operations undertaken by the Persian Government against that State, and they only refrained from marking their disapprobation by any overt act in reliance on the assurances repeatedly and solemnly given by the Persian Government, both to Her Majesty's Minister at Tehran, and through its own Chargé d'Affaires in London, that no permanent change in the state of possession in Herat was contemplated by it as the result of its armed interference in that State.

More lately, when Herat had been actually occupied by the Persian army, Sheffee Khan, of his own accord, called on the Undersigned at the Foreign Office, for the purpose of assuring him that its occupation was only a temporary act, and that the city of Herat would soon be evacuated.

The intelligence which Her Majesty's Government have now received from Persia, proves that, in the face of these solemn assurances, the Persian Government has formally announced the annexation of Herat to Persia as an integral portion of the Persian dominions.

Her Majesty's Minister at the Court of Persia will be instructed to make known to the Persian Government the feelings of deep displeasure with which Her Majesty's Government have received the intelligence of this proceeding on the part of the Persian Government. But it is the duty of the Undersigned to lose no time in acquainting Sheffee Khan that, in consequence of what has occurred, Her Majesty's Government feel that they can no longer place faith in any assurances which may be given to them, either directly by the Persian Government through Her Majesty's Minister at Tehran, or by Sheffee Khan, on the part of his Government; and the Undersigned is, therefore, compelled to announce to Sheffee Khan, that he can no longer hold political intercourse either with Sheffee Khan, or with any other Representative of the Persian Government in London.

The Undersigned regrets to be under the necessity of making this communication to Sheffee Khan; and he trusts that the Persian Government, by retracing its steps, and by henceforward adopting a more straightforward course, and one more in conformity with what it owes to Her Majesty's Government, will enable him hereafter to resume his political relations with a Representative of the Shah of Persia.

The Undersigned, &c.

(Signed)

No. 23.

MALMESBURY.

The Earl of Malmesbury to Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil.

Sir, Foreign Office, October 27, 1852. THE course which has been pursued by the Persian Government in regard to the affairs of Herat is such as to inspire Her Majesty's Government with well-grounded distrust in any professions which the Shah or his Ministers have

made, or may hereafter make, in regard to that province. The promises and assurances hitherto given by that Government in reference to the disinterestedness of the measures taken by Persia have ended in a formal and official declaration that Herat is henceforward to be an appendage to the Persian monarchy, and that the forces of Persia will be directed against any Affghan Power which may seek to interfere with her newly-acquired possession.

Practically, therefore, it matters not whether a Persian garrison be retained or not in the fortress or city of Herat: the whole province is claimed as a Persian possession; and it now remains for the British Government to decide whether they will allow this flagrant disregard of assurances so repeatedly given to them by Persia to pass unnoticed, or whether they will openly evince their deep displeasure, and take measures to resist any further encroachments of Persia on other independent States of Affghanistan.

I have already, in my despatch of the 27th of August, recapitulated the various assurances made by the Persian Government, either directly to yourself, or through the Persian Chargé d'Affaires in London, to Her Majesty's Government, in regard to the late operations in the territory of Herat; and it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government, in the face of such strong declarations so deliberately falsified, to give credit to the fresh promises, reported in your despatch of the 22nd of August, of the speedy withdrawal of the Persian troops from the territory of Herat.

The withdrawal of those troops might certainly be a merely literal fulfilment of a portion of the engagements entered into by the Persian Government, but it would fall very far short of a fulfilment of the spirit in which those engagements were understood to have been made, and a trust in which induced Her Majesty's Government to assume a passive attitude while the Persian operations were in progress. So long as the avowed object of those operations was the mere quieting of the intestine troubles by which a neighbouring State was agitated, Her Majesty's Government, although far from admitting the propriety of the measures by which that end was proposed to be accomplished, were content to acquiesce in the course contemplated by the Shah, and, relying on the oftenrepeated assertions of the Shah's Government that the extension of Persian territory was not contemplated, Her Majesty's Government merely intimated that the Shah was entering upon a course of action of which they could not approve.

The result has proved that the assurances so frequently given by the Persian Government have been utterly disregarded, and that the territory of Herat, upon the maintenance of which in a state of independence Her Majesty's Government have strongly insisted, is henceforth to be considered an integral portion of the Persian monarchy, and possibly to form an advanced post for further encroachment on Affghanistan.

Her Majesty's Government cannot submit in silence to such acts on the part of the Government of Persia; and although they will not, without a further attempt to bring the Persian Government to a just view of its duties and engagements, adopt the extreme measure of breaking off all diplomatic intercourse with that Government, and of withdrawing Her Majesty's Mission from Tehran, they nevertheless feel it incumbent upon them to evince their displeasure in a manner not to be mistaken.

With this view, I have acquainted Sheffee Khan that Her Majesty's Government can hold no further intercourse with him as the Representative and instrument of a Government which, by its double-dealing, has afforded them such just cause of displeasure; and you will state to the Persian Government in distinct terms, that unless the Persian troops are wholly withdrawn from the territory of Herat, and unless the government of that country is placed in Affghan hands, and relieved from interference on the part of Persia in its internal concerns, no Representative of the Persian Government, whether it be Sheffee Khan or any other person, will be admitted to hold political intercourse with Her Majesty's Government.

Furthermore, it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government that, in your own intercourse with the Persian Government, you should evince the utmost coldness and reserve. You will continue to assert, in their full extent, the rights and privileges secured to British subjects by Treaty; but you will not, by the offer of your advice or by the exertion of your good offices, assist the Persian Government in any difficulties in which it may become involved.

Her Majesty's Government will not, in the first instance, withdraw from all

further interference in the question of boundaries, which has been so long under discussion between Persia and Turkey, because they are unwilling to expose Persia to the disastrous consequences which might result from their doing so. But the Persian Government will do well, after this formal warning, no longer to rely on the assistance of Her Majesty's Government to extricate it from any dangers and embarrassments such as those in which it is so constantly entangled; for until it shall have set itself right in regard to its recent conduct, it will appeal in vain to the former friendship of Great Britain for succour in its hour of need.

Her Majesty's Government trust that the evidence which the Persian Government will receive, from this communication, of the serious light in which its late proceedings are viewed, will cause it immediately to renounce any projects which it may have entertained of further encroachments on the Affghan territory. The Persian Government must be aware, from what took place some years back, that the British Government can easily cause its displeasure to be felt by Persia in a manner which may sensibly affect the material interests of that country. It is far from the wish of Her Majesty's Government to enter upon a course which would be as painful to their own feelings as it would be prejudicial to Persia. But Her Majesty's Government must distinctly declare that they will not allow any systematic attempt on the part of Persia to effect a change in the state of possession in the countries lying between the Persian frontier and the British territories in India.

You will cause an accurate translation to be made of this instruction, and forward it to the Persian Minister, together with a copy of it in the original language.

No. 24.

I am, &c.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Received October 28.)

(Extract.)

Camp near Tehran, August 31, 1852.

WITH reference to my despatch of the 22nd of August, I have the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, a translation of a letter from the Sedr Azim, relative to the evacuation of Herat, in answer to my note of which a copy was inclosed in the above despatch, and a translation of further correspondence which has passed between that Minister and me on the same subject.

The following is the present state of my discussions with the Persian Ministers regarding these affairs. The force under Abbass Koolee Khan is to be withdrawn to a distance of about 40 fursukhs, or 160 miles, from the city of Herat; this distance, if the agreement be really executed, appears to me sufficient.

The escort of Sam Khan, the Persian Agent in Herat, is not to exceed 100 men, and his personal attendants, who, in reality, are equally fighting men, are to be reduced to 30 or 40 persons, the whole of whom are to be withdrawn as soon as Ferrah and Sebzar are evacuated by the Candahar troops.

Though the Persian Government perseveres in its intention to cause a force to enter the territory of Herat to effect the expulsion of the Candahar troops, should Kohendil Khan reject the invitation for its evacuation made to him, it has agreed that its troops shall not approach nearer the city of Herat than twelve or sixteen miles.

The Persian Government, too, persists in its intention to accept the offer of the coinage of Herat.

With regard to the Herat Khans in confinement at Meshed, the Persian Government would enter into no arrangement for their liberation. The Sedr Azim proposed to set them free if I would guarantee that they should not enter any part of the Affghan dominions. This of course was out of my power, and the project contained, moreover, an admission of the principle which to me seems objectionable, that is, the right of Persia to exercise an act of sovereignty of this nature.

From the Inclosure No. 1, your Lordship will perceive that this Government reserves to itself a right to send troops to Herat in the event of external aggres

sion or internal disorder. My proposal for the renunciation of the latter pretension was disregarded; so that should contention arise among the Affghans of Herat, Persia assumes a right to interfere, and thereby always maintain a supremacy in that city.

The resolution of this Government to exercise as effectual a control over the affairs of Herat as if it held that city in its occupation, is, to my judgment, evident. Intervention in the internal affairs of that Principality will enable it to execute its purpose, and the turbulent character of the Affghans is likely to afford abundant opportunity for interference.

Her Majesty's Government ought, in my opinion, I venture to observe, to count on the likelihood of constant and most vexatious embarrassment in reference to Herat, unless it adopts the resolution of notifying to this Government that any military movement into the territories of that Principality will be viewed as an aggressive act towards England, and treated accordingly. announcement of this nature would, I take the liberty of remarking, be particularly applicable to interference with internal commotion, or attempts to change the individuals presiding over the Government.

An

I shall continue my efforts to deter the Persian Ministers from reoccupying the Herat territory under the plea of ensuring the evacuation of Ferrah; but until I receive your Lordship's instructions, my language shall be that of advice and dissuasion, not menace.

P.S.-The Sedr Azim has sent me a letter, stating that he had directed the Prince Governor of Khorassan to adopt one of three courses with reference to the Herat Khans, the nature of which would be detailed to me by Meerza Hoossein Koolee, the Persian Secretary of this Legation. The Prince had a discretion to allow these Chiefs to depart from Meshed without any conditions; or to set them free, taking from them a solemn promise not to return to Herat ; or to release them on the same conditions, their families to be left as hostages at Herat. As the Persian M nister declined to record these arrangements in writing, I consider his declaration to be of no value.

(Translation.)

Inclosure 1 in No. 24.

The Sedr Azim to Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil.

August 23, 1852.

YOUR Excellency's letter, dated the 22nd of August, has reached me, regarding the affairs of Herat, and the conversation which passed between you and me, with a recapitulation of what passed in order that there might be no misunderstanding.

With relation to Abbass Koolee Khan, Meer Penjeh (Brigadier), and the troops under his command, and their recall, the arrangement is the same as that which your Excellency heard from me. Positive orders have been issued to him by the Persian Ministers to march with his force from the place where he is encamped to Heft Chemen, in Toorbet Hydereeah.

Your Excellency's statement relative to the issue of positive orders to Sam Khan (Persian Agent in Herat) to dismiss 100 of his horsemen, and to remain there himself with the remaining 100 horse of his escort, besides his personal attendants, is correct. We shall act exactly in that manner. His attendants, however, are about 100 persons.

66

Your statement that after the evacuation of Ferrah by the Candahar troopss the above remaining horsemen and attendants [the word employed signitie, collection of people"] will wholly evacuate Herat, is correct. But you appear to have forgotten one point among my remarks, that is, that if the Candahar troops should evacuate Ferrah, an Agent would then be dispatched to Herat, such as Meerza Ahmed Khan (one of the recent Agents) with twenty or thirty attendants. Sam Khan would then return with his people and attendants, otherwise (that is, if Ferrah were not evacuated) troops will be dispatched by the Government,* whom Sam Khan will join, and expel the Candaharees from

The expression "Persian" Government or "this" Government is designedly avoided, lest it should imply that Herat was different or separate from Persia.