No. 30.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Received December 19.)

(Extract.)

Tehran, October 31, 1852.

I HAVE the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, a translation of the firman alluded to in my despatch of the 22nd instant, conferring the government" of Herat on Syed Mahomed Khan. The language and style of this document are the same as those employed in appointing a Governor to any of the provinces of Persia.

A person, named Abbass Koolee Khan, has been nominated Resident Agent at Herat. In the firman conferring this appointment, he is directed to assist Syed Mahomed Khan in the government and management of Herat.

Inclosure in No. 30.

Firman of the Shah appointing Syed Mahomed Khan Governor of Herat
and its Dependencies.

(Translation.)

AS it has been decreed by the Lord of Heaven and Earth, the bestower of crowns and Royal signets, whose commands must be obeyed, that rank is to be given to every person of superior attainments, and that it is incumbent on just Monarchs and wise Sovereigns (who are the keepers of the flock of mankind and the instructors of the human race, his prophet having declared, "You are all keepers of flocks, and accountable for your conduct,") to honour and adorn with the official garment of high rank and dignity every person possessed of justice and moderation, and free from tyranny and oppression, particularly if it has been ascertained that that person has high qualifications as a military and civil ruler, and more especially when, in addition to those qualifications, he is of ancient family and of a distinguished tribe, so that both from his innate qualities, and from the favour conferred on him (by the Shah), he may be an instrument for rendering more populous the cities, and increasing the popularity of the Sovereign among his subjects.

Therefore We, the Sovereign of Islam, deeming it our duty to confer a special mark of our favour on Seyd Mahomed Khan, who is one of our servants, and whose father also was one of our servants, and who, by good services, demonstrated his good qualities, have in the present year of the "mouse honoured him with an increase of rank, and constituted him Governor, Ruler, and Keeper of the Marches,* with full control over Herat, with its dependencies, so that he may exert himself fully, and use every effort in reconciling the people to one another, in winning over to us the hearts of the people, in giving solidity to affairs, in increasing agriculture and population, in rendering the roads safe, in increasing trade, and in improving the condition of the people on the marches. Let him always represent to us his devotion, the good services he renders, his knowledge of affairs, his good conduct towards and care of the peasantry; and be it known to him, that he will receive marks of our favour for whatever services he may render.

We (also) ordain that the chief servants, the great officers of the troops, the nobles, the principal people, and all the inhabitants of that place (Herat), and its dependencies, shall know him as absolute Governor, and that they shall not oppose or behave insolently to him.

Translated by

These are the usual terms employed in firmans appointing a subject of the Shah to the

government of anv of the provinces of Persia Proper.

No. 31.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Earl of Malmesbury.—(Received January 5, 1853.)

My Lord,

Tehran, November 14, 1852.

IN my despatch of the 28th of July, I transmitted to your Lordship translations of articles which had appeared in the "Tehran Gazette," boasting of the annexation of Herat to the dominions of the Shah. The Persian Ministers became early sensible of the mistake they had committed by these official announcements, and they have sought to counteract this imprudence.

I have the honour to inclose a translation of a recent notification in the same journal, declaring that the articles or announcements which appear in it are not to be considered official or veracious, and that the Persian Government by no means undertakes the responsibility of their authenticity. I know, from undoubted authority, that the Sedr Azim has declared his object in making this intimation, was to deprive the British Government of any valid motive for cavilling at the expressions of triumph in the previous gazettes alluded to. I shall remark to his Excellency, that this announcement can have no retrospective effect, and that to counteract the former article a specific declaration is required. Í also beg leave to inclose a translation of the firman nominating Abbass Koolee Khan, referred to in my despatch of the 31st of October, to a permanent residence in Herat. Your Lordship will remark that no designation is given to his appointment, but that the functions he is destined to fill are those of Vizier, or Political Secretary, and not by any means those of a Diplomatic Agent.

This person and the Agent from Herat have commenced their journey to that city. I have, &c.

Extract from the "Tehran Gazette" of November 11, 1852.

(Translation.)

THE newspapers, written by the newspaper writers, and published in every country on the face of the earth, are solely to give information and intelligence, and universally are supposed to contain both truth and falsehood. Not one of the articles they contain have ever been or are considered as certain or official. The newspapers, too, printed in the capital, Tehran, are in the same category, and from first to last are announcements and advertisements. Not one of the articles they contain have been given as certain or official, nor will they be so. They cannot be taken as vouchers, and the Ministers of the Persian Government are in no manner responsible for the truth or falsehood contained in these gazettes.

Translated by

Firman issued to Abbass Koolee Khan, appointing him Vizier to Syed Mahomed Khan in Herat.

(Translation.)

ABBASS KOOLEE KHAN, &c., special Peesh Khidmet to our Royal person, being honoured by our Royal favour, let him know that as from the day he entered in youth and received an appointment in the service of this Government, he has always shown himself peculiarly adapted for employment, has always executed what was entrusted to him with fidelity, has demonstrated his capacity in conducting to a conclusion the affairs entrusted to him in such a

manner as to excite the admiration of the wisest of our servants, and whenever any difficult affairs have been confided to his guidance by the Ministers of our Government, has even more fully displayed to us his good conduct, has never shown any remissness in his duties, and having executed them in the most complete manner, has acquired an increase of rank, and gained by his great fidelity the esteem of the King of Kings; in truth, being considered by us one of our wise and devoted servants, and having complete confidence in his good conduct;

Therefore, having this confidence in him, we have at the present time dismissed him from our presence, and appointed him to proceed to Herat, there to supervise the affairs of Syed Mahomed Khan, Zuheer-ood-Dowleh, the Comptroller of Herat, and to give him every aid and assistance, so that the latter may have the most absolute authority in the government of that place; and if any defect in his affairs should arise, he shall act in conformity with what the former considers advisable, and thus the affairs of the ryots, the servants of Government, the troops, the various districts, and the tribes, be put in order. No one is to act contrary to his commands, and the affairs of Herat are to be put in a better state than they were under the late Zuheer-ood-Dowleh (Yar Mahomed Khan).

He (Abbass Koolee Khan) must not for a moment lose sight of the affairs of Syed Mahomed Khan, and he must arrange them, and according to what has been written in full to the Ministers of our Government by Syed Mahomed Khan, that person will not overstep whatever Abbass Koolee Khan considers expedient.

By this firman Abbass Koolee Khan is appointed to reside in the city of Herat, and to exert himself to the utmost in giving solidity to the affairs of Syed Mahomed Khan, Zuheer-ood-Dowleh.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Received January 5, 1853.) Tehran, November 21, 1852.

(Extract.)

HAVING heard from a quarter on which I could rely, that Sam Khan, the late Persian Agent in Herat, had marched to that city with a body of troops, I addressed a note to the Sedr Azim, asking for an explanation of this movement. In his reply, his Excellency says that the above officer had acted not only without orders from the Persian Ministers, but entirely in opposition to their wishes, and that an express messenger had been dispatched to recall Sam Khan without delay.

The Sedr stated verbally, that the force accompanying Sam Khan consisted only of his own tribe, amounting to about 800 or 1,000 horse. His Excellency: added, that this occurrence could only be attributed to the intrigues of the Prince Governor of Khorassan, who, apprehending his recall from that Province, had designedly prepared this new difficulty in order to make himself necessary to the Persian Minister, and prolong the duration of his Government.

If the affirmation of the Sedr Azim were deserving of the slightest credit, there would appear to be some truth in his declaration, that Sam Khan had made this movement without orders from Tehran. The Shah publicly proclaimed his indignation at his conduct, bestowing at the same time unqualified censure on his uncle, the Prince Governor of Khorassan, for having thus led the Persian Government into a fresh dilemma.

I have the honour to inclose, for your Lordship's information, a translation of the notes which have passed between the Sedr Azim and me on this occasion.

Inclosure 1 in No. 32.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Sedr Azim.

November 19, 1852.

I HAVE heard from a credible source that Sam Khan has marched to Herat with a body of troops. As this movement is at variance with the former and recent declarations of the Persian Government, I request your Excellency will afford me an explanation of this expedition, for the information of Her Majesty's Government.

Inclosure 2 in No. 32.

The Sedr Azim to Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil.

(Translation.)

November 20, 1852.

I HAVE had the honour to receive the letter which your Excellency addressed to me on the 19th instant, regarding the movement of Sam Khan, Elkhanee, to Herat.

The fact is, that the Persian Ministers also look upon such a proceeding, should it be true, as very strange and extraordinary, and they are at a loss to conceive how such a step could have been taken without their permission, and in opposition to their instructions. His Majesty the Shah feels highly displeased at it too, and has, therefore, solely to prove his friendship for the British Government and to gratify it, dispatched Meer Abu Fatteh Khan, one of his Tofengdars (special body-guard), with all haste to Meshed. He bears most peremptory orders to the Prince Governor to send Sam Khan to the capital, without a moment's delay; and, moreover, he is instructed, in case of the Herat Khans not having been released before his arrival in Meshed, to set them at liberty at once, and let them be sent to Tehran. It is quite clear that the Ministers of this Government will never depart from any engagement they may have entered into.

From reports which have reached the Persian Ministers, it appears that Kohendil Khan (the Ruler of Candahar) and Dost Mahomed Khan (of Cabul) having become reconciled to each other, have marched against Ferrah and Sebzar, and are again throwing the affairs of Herat, Khorassan, and the frontiers, into confusion. Your Excellency has repeatedly been informed, before now, that in the event of the Candaharees not evacuating Ferrah and Sebzar, or of fresh disorders arising in the affairs of Herat, troops would be dispatched by this Government to these places, but without going to Herat, to compel the Candaharees to retire, and to adjust matters in that quarter; and having done so, they would be withdrawn. If, therefore, Kohendil Khan has again commenced to throw the affairs of Herat into confusion, thus rendering disturbed and disordered the affairs of Khorassan, and will not desist from doing so, the Persian Ministers are under the necessity of acting in the way they mentioned, for the purpose of quelling such disturbance, and to drive away the Candaharees from Ferrah and Sebzar. When they have succeeded in doing this, without going to Herat, they will withdraw their troops.

Translated by

(Signed)

RONALD F. THOMSON.

Inclosure 3 in No. 32.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Sedr Azim.

November 21, 1852.

YOUR Excellency's letter of the 20th November has reached me. I shall report to my Government the statement of the Persian Cabinet relative to the movement of Sam Khan to Herat without the orders of the Persian Ministers, and the dispatch of Meer Abu Fatteh Khan to recall that officer.

G

With regard to the Herat Khans in Meshed, your Excellency's declaration that they are directed to be set at liberty is at variance with your statement that they are to be brought to Tehran. If they are at freedom, why are they to be conveyed here? and if they are to be brought to Tehran, how can they be said to be free?

No. 33.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Received January 31, 1853.) Tehran, December 2, 1852.

(Extract.)

YESTERDAY the Sedr Azim read to me a letter from the Prince Governor of Khorassan, reporting that according to his Excellency's instructions he had recalled Sam Khan with the troops accompanying him, amounting apparently to about 1,200 men, from Herat, and that the above Chief had arrived within a short distance of Meshed.

No. 34.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sheil to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Received March 2.)

(Extract.)

Tehran, January 5, 1853.

IN delivering to the Persian Prime Minister a copy and translation of your Lordship's despatch of the 27th of October, I addressed to him, at the same time, a letter, of which I have the honour to inclose a copy; also a copy of a letter I subsequently wrote to his Excellency.

I have had several interviews recently with the Sedr Azim in connection with the despatch above referred to. In words his Excellency was sufficiently yielding. Far from its being the desire of the Persian Government, he said, to enter into collision with Great Britain, the idea of even coldness between the two Cabinets was highly afflicting to the Shah, who was sensible that his weakness would not allow him to dispense with the friendship of the Sovereign of England.

In discussing the mode in which the confidence of Her Majesty's Government was to be regained after so many breaches of faith, I suggested that Persia should agree not to send troops to Herat, excepting with the concurrence of Her Majesty's Government. This the Sedr Azim declined absolutely, saying it was the firm intention of Persia to oppose any aggression on that State, from Candahar or Cabul, or any other foreign Power, meaning Great Britain. Finding him urgent on this point, I suggested that he should conform to the above arrangement, reserving the right of Persia to lend assistance in the event of the occurrence of either of the contingencies alluded to; in which case the Persian troops were not to enter the city, and were to retire to Persia the moment the enemy should withdraw, and that the Persian camp should be accompanied by a member of this Misson to maintain the observance of the engagements of the Persian Government. The latter clause he rejected altogether. His Excellency pretended to fear the presence of an English officer, lest the Persian army should be led into embarrassment or danger through means of his secret communications and intrigues with the Chiefs of Candahar and Cabul.

This transparent fiction revealed, it seemed to me, the insincerity of any assurances the Persian Government might offer at the present juncture,

Pursuing his usual habits of duplicity, the Sedr Azim proposed that I should undertake the delivery of a letter from the Shah to Syed Mahomed Khan, by dispatching it to Herat under the charge of a courier of this Mission. He, however, afterwards revoked his own proposal, denying he had ever made it, and would not assent to this, the only secure way of the genuine letter reaching its destination.

In the various instances of a disregard of engagements of which the Persian Ministers have been convicted in connection with Herat, the Prince Governor of Khorassan has been made to bear the chief burden, by imputations of disobedience of orders. Thus, the non-liberation of the Herat Khans, the recent march of Sam Khan towards Herat, and even the entrance of the Persian troops within