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ne se fera pas l'instrument de

leur inimitié, et considérera la

chose sous le point de vue de la justice.

No. 83.-Consul Stevens to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. May 16.) MY LORD,

Tehran, March 21, 1856.

I HAVE the honour to inclose for your Lordship's information, copy of a letter which I yesterday addressed to the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, acquainting him with my inability to accept the presents of sweetmeats which were sent to me by the King and Prime Minister on the occasion of the Persian New Year.

Setting aside what I considered the impropriety, under existing circumstances, of receiving the attention, I felt that had I acted differently, it would have been supporting the belief which the Persian Government is anxious to inculcate in the capital, that its quarrel is entirely of a personal nature with Mr. Murray, quite unconnected with Her Majesty's Government.

The Earl of Clarendon.

I have, &c.

RICH. W. STEVENS.

(Inclosure.)-Consul Stevens to the Persian Minister for Foreign

Affairs.

Tehran, March 20, 1856. Ax employé of the Persian Government has just brought to me some trays of sweetmeats on the part of His Majesty the Shah, and another person a similar present from his Highness the Prime

Minister.

In the actual state of relations between our respective Governments, it would be unbecoming in me to accept of any mark of favour from the Persian Government. I regret, therefore, that it should have placed me under the disagreeable necessity of returning the sweetmeats, and, consequently, doing what has proved most painful to my feelings. I have, &c.

RICH. W. STEVENS.

No. 84.-Consul Stevens to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. May 16.) (Extract.) Tehran, March 31, 1856. I HAVE the honour to inclose for your Lordship's information, the substance of intelligence just received from Meshed, the latter part of which confirms the report mentioned in my former despatch, of the departure from Toorbet-e-Jam of the Persian army, under Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza. The Persian Government has received news to a later date, announcing the arrival, under the walls

of Herat, of the advanced guard, consisting of 4,650 men, under Pasha Khan Serteep, and that Sultan Moorad Meerza, with 5,200 men, had reached the neighbourhood of Ghorian.

A further sum of 20,000 tomauns has just been dispatched to the Prince from the capital, with orders to occupy Herat at any cost or hazard. The Government calculates on the inhabitants being starved into submission, provisions being both dear and scarce. If the Prince succeeds in obtaining supplies for his own troops, while he cuts off the Heratees from communication with the surrounding villages, it is not unlikely the place will fall into his hands without any, or at all events without much, fighting.

In a letter from the Prime Minister to Sultan Moorad Meerza, carried by the messenger who was bearer of the money above-mentioned, the following passage occurred:

"You engaged, with 10,000 troops and 10,000 tomauns, to occupy Herat. I have sent you 80,000 tomauns, and you have 15,000 troops, and what have you yet done? We will now admit of no further excuses: Herat must be taken." The Earl of Clarendon.

RICH. W. STEVENS.

(Inclosure.)-Substance of News from Meshed.

A PERSON arrived to-day from the Persian camp at Toorbet-e-Jam, reports the arrival there of the Mufti of Herat, as Envoy from the Ruler of that place, to Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza, to whom he brought some horses and shawls. The precise object of the mission is unknown; but thus much has transpired; the Mufti requested the Prince either to retire from Jam, or at least not to advance beyond it, while he, the Mufti, proceeded to Tehran to take the King's pleasure on the subject.

Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza has demanded that the Heratees should receive 3 Persian regiments into the citadel; that the coin be struck in the name of the King of Persia, and that the Friday prayer be read in the mosques for His Majesty. In return, the Prince offered to secure to the Chief of Herat (Mahomed Youssuf Meerza) an annual pension of 60,000 tomauns from the Persian Government, to secure the regular succession to the throne to the heirs of that Chief, and to defend Herat from enemies who might threaten it.

The Chief replied, that he himself was the devoted servant of the Shah, but he had no power to compel the people of Herat to accept the demands of Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza. That they possessed followers, both horsemen and foot; that all parties, including the clergy, are determined rather to lose their lives than allow the Kajjars to hold Herat.

It is impossible to admit a single soldier, they (the inhabitants)

say: "We are all servants of the Shah, and Herat belongs to him; but we cannot allow Persian soldiers to come and reside amongst us: we will sooner first destroy our wives and children, and then ourselves after that let happen what may."

Two of the town gates have been walled up, and guards are placed round the town walls at night.

A person from camp reports that Sultan Moorad Meerza is instructed, if the Heratees do not submit, to proceed thither, and entrench his army under the walls. Each entrenchment to hold 2,000 infantry and 1,000 horse; if sorties are made, they are to be repelled; if not, the troops are to remain quietly in their entrench

ments.

The Prince's army consists of 9 regiments of infantry, 2,000 horse, and some artillery; 4 guns, and a mortar from Tehran, have reached Meshed, and will be sent to the Prince if he requires them.

Sam Kan is quartered in a garden outside of Herat, and occasionally enters the town to confer with the Chief and with Essan Khan.

March 14, 1856.-To-day a man arrived from camp; orders have been issued by Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza, prohibiting people from carrying grain and provisions into Herat, and the Ruler of Herat is compelling the villagers, within a circuit of 40 miles, to remove into the town with all their stocks; he is evidently preparing for resistance.

March 15, 1856.-News arrived that the Prince has broken ground, and proceeded to Herat. A regiment of infantry has left Meshed to-day to reinforce the army.

Letters have been received from Sirdar Ali Khan, of Seistan, stating that Dost Mahomed Khan is at Candahar, with, apparently, no intention of moving in any direction whatsoever.

No. 85.-Consul Stevens to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. May 16.) (Extract.) Tehran, April 2, 1856. A PERSON has just informed me that the Persian Government has received letters from Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza, announcing his having regularly besieged the town of Herat.

From another equally good source, I learn that previous to the approach of the Persian army, the Heratees sent a force to Ghorian and entirely destroyed the place after removing the inhabitants. The Earl of Clarendon.

RICH. W. STEVENS.

SIR,

No. 86.-The Earl of Clarendon to Consul Stevens. Foreign Office, May 16, 1856. In reply to your despatch of the 21st of March, I have to inform you that Her Majesty's Government approve of the letter which you addressed on the 20th of that month to the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, declining to accept the presents of sweetmeats which were sent to you by the Shah of Persia and his Prime Minister, on the Persian New Year's Day.

R. W. Stevens, Esq.

I am, &c.

CLARENDON

No. 87.-Lord Stratford de Redcliffe to the Earl of Clarendon, (Received May 23.)

(Extract.)

Constantinople, May 12, 1856 I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith a translation of the Sadr

Azim's letter presented to me by Malcum Khan.

The Earl of Clarendon.

STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE

(Inclosure.) The Sadr Azim to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe. After Compliments, 20 Redjeb, 1272. (March 27, 1856.)

A LETTER was written to that Excellency, the abode of grandeur, under date (left vacant in the original), and various matters were included in the folds thereof. Although that Excellency has not as yet occupied himself with writing an answer, still, the high in dignity, the approacher to the Royal presence, Meerza Ahmed Khan, the Pilgrim, Agent of the Most High State (Persia), resident at Constantinople, has written a detailed report of the various kindly feelings of that Excellency, and has thereby confirmed the good opinion of the Ministers of this kingdom, which has been formed concerning that Excellency without their personally knowing him.

Now, then, under the consideration that it is not unlikely that the matters which have occurred at the seat of the Caliphate (Tehran) with the Legation of the English Government, have not reached the knowledge of the mind of that Excellency in full detail, and as they really took place; and that, by reason of the spreading of false reports and of words mingled with uncertainty by interested persons, the truth of the matter may have remained behind the veil of concealment; therefore, the high in dignity, the fellow-traveller of grandeur and sagacity, Meerza Malcum Khan, a Major on the Staff, the Special Interpreter of the Most High State, who, by his own eye-sight and witnessing, is aware of the details of this matter from the commencement to the conclusion, is sent to Constantinople, so that, concurrently with the high in dignity, the Agent of this Kingdom, he may now relate the actual occurrences to that Excellency, the abode of grandeur.

From the perfect uprightness of character and purity of intentions of that Excellency, which are admitted by every one, complete confidence is felt that, after the arrival of the aforementioned high in dignity, and the obtention in respect of him, from that Excellency, of the reception which is hoped and expected by (me) your friend, the secret thoughts of the minds of the Ministers of the kingdom, which are entirely (composed) of friendship towards the kingdom of England, will be known to that Excellency, and will be a means of doing away with the said false rumours from people's mouths and tongues; and also, that that Excellency, having acquired a thorough conviction of the permanency of friendship between the 2 kingdoms, will exert himself with the intent that he may make the foundations of the same stronger and firmer even than before, and that he will not refuse or withhold his various kindnesses (in endeavouring) to do away with this unpleasantness in a manner conformable to the dignity of the two kingdoms.

He (the Prime Minister) further requests that Excellency to esteem as truth-speaking the high in dignity, Meerza Malcum Khan, in that which he may say respecting the secret thoughts of the minds of the Ministers of the kingdom, and to attach consideration to his words.

H.E. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe.

SADR AZIM.

No. 88.-Mr. Murray to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. May 23.) (Extract.) Camp at Ooroomiah, April 2, 1856. A Few days ago, the Sadr Azim sent me, through the Mehmandar, a formal apology on the part of the Shah and the Government, for the impolite behaviour of the Kaimakam to me at Tabreez (reported to your Lordship in despatch of 6th March), and assuring me that it was entirely unauthorized and reprobated by the Government. The Earl of Clarendon. CH. A. MURRAY.

No. 89.-Mr. Murray to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. May 23.) (Extract.) Ooroomiah, April 7, 1856. AFTER I had found it necessary to haul down the Mission flag, I remained 16 days in Tehran, in order to give the Persian Government full time for reflection and repentance, and I warned them repeatedly during that period, that if I once withdrew the Mission from Tehran, the reparation to be demanded would rest with Her Majesty's Government. To that warning I have adhered, and still adhere, so that it becomes obviously nccessary that Her Majesty's Government should signify its views and intentions clearly to the Persian Court and to myself.

I believe, my Lord, that when in 1838 Sir John McNeill demanded of the Persian Court satisfaction for the seizure and

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