and the Sadr Azim has also authorized Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza to confirm Essan Khan in the Government of Herat, provided he will allow it to be garrisoned by Persian troops.

All this would indicate that the Persians are not now so sanguine of capturing the place with the military means at their disposal, notwithstanding the Sadr Azim pretends that Sam Khan is in possession of the citadel.

I have been informed, on the authority of the Prime Minister, that the forts of Laush, Jeven, and Kohak, have been occupied by Persian troops from Ghyne. These forts were dependencies of Candahar at the time of Kohendil Khan's death. The Earl of Clarendon.

(Translation.)

RICH. W. STEVENS.

(Inclosure.)-Extract from a Letter.

Bernabad, 23 Shaban, 1272. (April 29, 1856.) TO-DAY, which is the 23rd of Shaban, was brought prisoner into our camp, the Prince Mahomed Youssuf, the same who had proclaimed himself King of Herat, that is to say, our rival, together with 3 other individuals, one of whom wounded: after having thrown the apple of discord between him and his Vizier, and brought over this latter and other chiefs of the town, they kept him in play until a dispute arose among them, of which they immediately took advantage, arrested him, and sent him as already mentioned: there now remain the arrangements between us and the Vizier about permitting some battalions of our troops to remain inside the town, a thing which they have not yet accepted, but I hope they will soon do so, since the Heratees agree to all the conditions, as subjects of His Persian Majesty, but for the permanent occupation they answer in the following manner. Vizier Essan Khan, chief:-" I myself will go to Tehran to the presence of His Majesty; he will point out a Governor for Herat, and me as Vizier, and then if he thinks proper, on our return, he may send his battalions. During this absence of the Vizier, I agree, moreover, that our friend the Elkhanee will remain with 200 men of his cavalry in temporary possession of the citadel of Herat, which commands all the town." This is what has passed until this day. I may tell you also that if the entrance of the battalions into the town is not permitted, hostilities will recommence.

No. 102.-Consul Stevens to the Earl of Clarendon.—(Rec. July 9.) (Extract.) Tehran, May 31, 1856. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, the translation of a recent report received from Meshed, containing intelligence about affairs at Herat.

* Sam Khan.

Most of the intelligence is already in your Lordship's possession, but I nevertheless send the document, as it explains the belief that the Heratees had surrendered to the Persians. It also confirms my suspicion that in retiring from before Herat, the Persian Commander-in-chief had been duped by Essan Khan.

The Persian Government has received no information of a later date.

The Shah intends proceeding to Dernawend next week; and I am told, that should His Majesty not hear of the fall of Herat by the 15th proximo, it is his intention to extend the excursion to Damghaun, in the hope that His Majesty's appearance on the burders of Khorassan may alarm the Heratees into submission. The Earl of Clarendon.

RICH. W. STEVENS.

(Inclosure.)-Report from Meshed.

(Translation.) 27th Shaban, 1272. (May 1, 1856.) SEVERAL horsemen arrived to-day from Sultan Moorad Meerza's camp. They report that a few days ago Prince Mahomed Rezah (Prince Mahomed Youssuf's brother), together with the son of Essan Khan, and the son of Naib Abbas Khau, and their attendants, waited upon Sultan Moorad Meerza, with whom they remained the night. The sons of Essan Khan and Abbas Khan were made over to the Prince as hostages, and Mahomed Rezah Meerza, after receiving a dress of honour, returned to Herat. Two days afterwards, Mahomed Rezah Meerza again came to the camp: Essan Khan and Abbas Khan communicated secretly with Sultan Moorad Meerza; they requested him to withdraw the Persian army from the immediate neighbourhood, in order that the people might feel reassured, and believe that, having received hostages, he had altogether retired: "We will," they added, "seize Mahomed Youssuf Meerza, and send him to you a prisoner; an officer with 3 regiments may then approach, and will deliver the town and citadel into their hands: we will, moreover, cause the coin to be struck, and the Friday prayer to be read, in the name of the Shah.”

Sultan Moorad Meerza thereupon struck his camp, and withdrew the army to Bernabad, which is 7 fursukhs from Herat. Essan Khan and Abbas Khan collected their forces in the citadel: they picked a quarrel with Hagee Gholaum Khan, who discharged a pistol at the face of Essan Khan, but missed him; Essan Khan then ordered him to be arrested, which was done after he received 2 or 3 wounds. Abbas Khan after this entered the anteroom of Mahomed Youssuf Meerza, seized him, and brought him outside.

The Prince was treated with much indignity, having his beard. and curls plucked, and together with Pir Mahomed Khan, Fooflarance, Hagee Abdul Waheb Khan, Hagee Gholaum Khan, and two

or three others, was on the same night brought to the Persian camp by Abbas Khan. On their arrival, Mahomed Rezah Meerza was seized and placed in charge of a guard. Abbas Khan received a dress of honour, and returned to town. Sultan Moorad Meerza again moved forward with the army, and encamped at Seng-e-Best two fursukhs from Bernabad.

On the 1st Ramazan (May 5th) a person arrived from camp with news, that from Seng-e-Best, Sultan Moorad Meerza sent a message to Essen Khan-" Every promise made should be fulfilled' (alluding to the surrender of Herat). "Come to my camp that 1 may invest you with a robe of honour, and also give you a reward. I will send you back with an officer and 3 regiments, so that you may put them in possession of the town and citadel."

Essan Khan replied: "Shahzadeh Mahomed Youssuf was my enemy, and as he also behaved treacherously towards you, I seized and sent him to you. But for this, I would have disposed of him otherwise or killed him. Remain where you are, and send Sam Khan to inform us what you require of us. I will forward a representation to the Shah of Persia; let the answer arrive, and in the meanwhile I will try to persuade (gain over) the Doorannees, the clergy, and nobles, and then consider what is to be done. To come to you just now, or to deliver over to you the town, is impossible."

When this reply reached Sultan Moorad Meerza, Pir Mahomed Khan, Hagee Abdul Waheb Khan, and Hagee Gholaum Khan, were released from confinement, and dresses of honour given to them. Mahomed Youssuf Meerza, and his brother, Mahomed Rezah Meerza, are lodged in a separate tent, and their meals are regularly sent to them.

On the 2nd Ramazan (May 6th) I heard that Sam Khan and Pasha Khan, with 3 battalions and 3 guns, advanced to within 8 miles of Herat. Other persons deny this, and pretend that Sam Khan declined to go, as invited by Essan Khan, fearing Essan Khan may retain him as security for the safety of his son, who is a hostage with Prince Sultan Moorad Meerza.

Persons arrived from Candahar report, that some time before his seizure Mahomed Youssuf Meerza had sent one Mollah Ismael Djedeed (i. e., a converted Mahomedan) on a mission to the British authorities on the Indian frontier; but Dost Mahomed Khan caused him to be murdered on the road.

No. 103.-Consul Stevens to the Earl of Clarendon.-(Rec. July 9.) (Extract.) Tehran, May 31, 1856. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that Ferokh Khan, a native of Cashan, and holding the office of Keeper of the Shah's

Pocket-Money, is to leave Tehran early next month as Ambassador

to Paris.

The Earl of Clarendon.

RICH. W. STEVENS.

No. 104.-Lord Stratford de Redcliffe to the Earl of Clarendon. (Received July 9.)

(Extract.)

Constantinople, June 23, 1856. WHILST I was engaged in carrying out the instructions relating to Persia, and in trying to overcome the difficulties occasioned by Mr. Smythe's indisposition, I received your Lordship's instruction authorizing me to desist from urging the establishment of Meerza Hashem Khan at Shiraz, if the Shah would consent to withdraw his troops from Herat. Soon after I learnt, by advices of later date from Mr. Stevens, that the surrender of Herat to the Persian army had been prematurely reported; but also that the Shah's forces were still in the neighbourhood of that city. It seems, moreover, according to the latest intelligence, that reinforcements were ordered to move on Tehran, with the ulterior intention, it may be presumed, of giving more effect to the plan of attack.

Under these circumstances I thought it desirable to communicate afresh with the Persian Chargé d'Affaires and his Armenian colleague, before I placed in their hands a copy of your Lordship's instructions. Mr. Alison having, in consequence, seen them by my direction, I collected from his report of the interview that, although they had no power to accept definitively any terms of agreement, they were able to form a pretty accurate judgment of such as would not be accepted at Tehran. In general, it was evident that, in their opinion, a modification of your Lordship's demands respecting Meerza Hashem would go far to obtain the satisfaction required from their Government; that the evacuation of Herat by the Shah's forces might be conceded without much hesitation; and that the removal of those two obstacles would smooth the way to an immediate, and even to a cordial, reconciliation.

These impressions have been since confirmed. The two negotiators met me again in conference on the 20th instant, and we parted on an understanding that I would send them a kind of ultimatum, which should comprise the demands of Her Majesty's Government. The Earl of Clarendon. STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE.

(Inclosure.)-Memorandum.

THE Sadr Azim to write in the Shah's name a letter to Mr. Murray, expressing his regret at having uttered and given currency to the offensive imputations upon the honour of Her Majesty's Minister, requesting to withdraw his own letter of the 19th November, and the two letters of the Minister for Foreign

Affairs of the 26th November, one of which contains a rescript from the Shah respecting the imputation upon Mr. Murray, and declaring in the same letter that no such further rescript from the Shah as that inclosed herewith in copy was communicated, directly or indirectly, to any of the foreign Missions at Tehran.

A copy of this letter to be communicated officially by the Sadr Azim to each of the foreign Missions at Tehran, and the substance of it to be made public in that capital.

The original letter to be conveyed to Mr. Murray at Bagdad by the hands of some high Persian officer, and to be accompanied by an invitation to Mr. Murray, in the Shah's name, to return with the Mission to Tehran, on His Majesty's assurance that he shall be received with all the honours and consideration due to the Representative of the British Government, another person of suitable rank being sent to conduct him, as Mehmandar, on his journey through Persia.

Mr. Murray, on approaching the capital, to be received by persons of high rank, deputed to escort him to his residence in the

town.

Immediately on his arrival there, the Sadr Azim to go in state to the British Mission, and renew friendly relations with Mr. Murray, leaving the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to accompany him to the Royal Palace, the Sadr Azim receiving Mr. Murray, and conducting him to the presence of the Shah.

At noon on the following day the British flag to be hoisted under a salute of 21 guns, and the Sadr Azim to visit the Mission immediately afterwards, which visit Mr. Murray will return, at latest, on the following day before noon.

Satisfaction being thus given, and friendly relations restored, the settlement of the questions of Herat, of Meerza Hashem and of his wife, remain to be stated.

Should Herat be occupied by the Shah's troops, His Majesty to engage to withdraw them without delay. Should that city be in any way menaced, though not occupied, by the Shah's troops, His Majesty to engage not to allow them to occupy it on any account. In either case, the engagement being solemnly given, the British Mission to defer to His Majesty's wish, if renewed, respecting Meerza Hashem, by not insisting on his appointment at Shiraz, the Meerza's wife, however, to be restored to him, and himself to enjoy the security, emoluments, and position offered by the Persian Government in a former stage of the question.

The whole of the correspondence respecting Meerza Hashem may then be mutually withdrawn and cancelled, it being to be understood that no objections will be made by the Persian Govern ment to the appointment, as heretofore, of a British correspondent