No. I. TRANSLATION of SOLEIMAN PASHA'S GENERAL FIRMAN. To the chief of the Siads, Zous, and Freeholders, our Aga, the Motusullim of Bussora, for the time being (whose state God increase), be it known unto you that my commands are as follows:-In the city of our great Sultan called Bussora, there is an English Balios, or chief of the merchants, &c., his nation being in peace with our high Porte (whose grandeur God continue everlastingly); therefore, there in his hands the high and respectable capitulations of our lofty Porte, to which all submission must be paid, and it behoves all men to obey the orders therein contained. Therefore, in the manner that it is commanded and ordered in said high capitulations, article by article, whether regarding the customs and all things relative thereto, or whether regarding other matters, or whether the respecting, favouring, assisting, and protecting the said English Balios and his effects agreeable to the said high capitulations, you must, as ordered by our great Sultan, in all things conform and pay obedience thereto, and you must not in any the least respect depart from, or act contrary to, said respected capitulations; and this our Booyooroldi or order I send you for this purpose. When it arrives you be it known unto you that it is by us directed that, conformable to the said high capitulations, which are the commands of our great Sultan, the English Balios you are to aid, assist, and protect, and in all other respects you are to pay obedience thereto, and from the letter of the said high capitulations you must not in any respect depart, and agreeable to this our order or Booyooroldi you are commanded to act. L. Signandi. No. II. LITERAL TRANSLATION of the IMPERIAL FIRMAN constituting ROBERT GARDEN, ESQ., CONSUL in BUSSORA, issued on the 27th day of the month SUFFER in the year of the HEGIRA 1178. In these times the English ambassador residing at our Court, Henry Nevile, Esq., has presented to us a formal memorial to the following effect, that the English Envoys at Aleppo, Alexandria, Tripoli in Syria, the Grecian Islands, Tunis, Tripoli in Barbary, Scio, Smyrna, and Egypt, and all the other considerable town having scales or ports in our dominions, may have the power of appointing Consuls of their own nation; and, in the event of their choosing to change any of them and appoint others in their room, that no person may be permitted to interfere or to prevent such an arrangement. Now, be it known that former agreements have established this. Moreover, it appears that before the present period the East India Company had sent a person to Bussora, by name William Shaw, Esq., to represent them and superintend their affairs, who has not possessed of any Consulary Birat; but upon the expiration of his period of service and his removal, they appointed in his room the bearer of these royal letters, Robert Garden, Esq., who was also furnished with a Commission from the Company. Now, according to the tenor of former engagements as well as in compliance with the wishes of the ambassador, it became proper and necessary to deliver the Birat in question into his hands. We have accordingly consigned to him our royal diploma. According to what we have written, the aforesaid Robert Garden, Esq., is constituted British Consul, under the regulations to be here explained by us as well in regard to his latitude of action, as the conduct to be observed towards him. 1st. He is nominated and appointed Consul in Bussora. 2nd. He shall have full and sole power of taking cognizance of all affairs concerning those of the nation to which he belongs, such as captains of ships, merchants, and also all who may be under the protection of the English flag; all matters relating to the above are to be under his peculiar care. Without his express written order, no English vessel shall be permitted to come to Bussora. The servants of the Consul shall not be subject to the poll tax or any other species of tax or tribute. Their butchers shall not pay any duty, and, in fine, the aforesaid description of persons must be protected from any kind of contribution. In the event of their purchasing male and female slaves, they shall also be exempted from the above-mentioned duties. No person shall interfere in respect to their furniture, their eatables or drinkables, for these have been privileges of old standing; such articles too shall be free from customs. No person shall dare to imprison or put in fetters the Ambassador, the Consul, or their Agents, neither shall they seal up their houses; and should the Consuls where they reside have with them a military detachment, and wish to place them in separate houses, let none molest them for so doing. We repeat that their male and female servants are to be exempted from taxes, as are their butchers from duties, all which exemptions are of old. In the event of the Consul conceiving himself aggrieved, or any person having cause of complaint against him, we, in conformity to former agreements, hereby order that the matter shall be referred to our Court for decision, and that you shall not hear the discussion elsewhere. Should the aforesaid Consul happen to travel, in whatever part he may choose to visit, either by sea or land, he, his suite, servants, cattle, and goods shall be sacred from any harm, and upon his return, should he, from not being provided with a stock of necessaries, wish to make requisite daily purchases on the road, let none refuse to supply him, or dare to engage in disputes with him. In places where danger may be apprehended, they shall be permitted to wear the turban and the sword, to ride on horseback, to carry the bow, spear, and all the appurtenance of war, and whatever Cathies or others should see them so provided, they are not to molest them. But should they exceed the bounds of these agreements, privileges and concessions, you are to check and prevent them, for such salutary restraint and observance of good order is necessary. To all future times these regulations and instructions shall be valid, for we will not suffer the least infringement thereof, nor shall we sanction any excess. Birat or Consular Commission. We, the Right Honourable Henry Grenville, Ambassador to His Majesty the King of Great Britain, at the Ottoman Porte, &c., &c. To all whom these presents may concern greeting. Having judged it very proper and necessary to grant this present for the service of the Honourable English United East India Company, as also for the better security and prosperity of their affairs in trade at Bussora, and also when in the Ottoman dominions, as also to secure and assure a protection to all persons in the respective Residencies of their Agents and Ministers, that from thenceforth there be established a Consul with ample and full power over all belonging to his charge to execute the above-mentioned. Be it therefore known that we, by virtue of authority granted us by royal letters patent under the great Seal of Great Britain, and conformable to an Imperial Birat granted by the emperor's Sublime Porte and the Sultan Mustafa, son of Sultan Ahmed, always victorious: By these presents we declare Nepers a stat de to mpesce or put in fetters the Ambe te their Ayers, wether SA, they seal up their houses; The Closes where they restde bare with them à mittary detac to put them in aparate houses, ir noze mclest them for so i We repeat that their male and female servants are to be exe taxes, as are tier batchers from duties, all which exemptions are of In the event of the Consul conceiving himself aggrieved, or having cause of complaint against him, we, in conformity to former : order that the matter shall be referred to our Court for decision, and Should the aforesaid Cousten to travel, in whatever part he may has where danger may be apprehended, they shall be permitted to sold they exceed the bounds of these agreements, privileges and hall future times these regulations and instructions shall be valid, for last sufer the least infringement thereof, nor shall we sanction any 號 Brator Consular Commission. the Right Honourable Henry Grenville, Ambassador to His Majesty Great Britain, at the Ottoman Porte, &c., &c. then these presents may concern greeting. th er he the no but, pre ies; et to Dody Il be fye; So us onsul ›r by r his that y his seek untry nents. n, but stacles capitushall I noble it is to Be English United East India Company, as also for ery proper and necessary to grant this present for the paperity of their affairs in trade at Bussora, and also mons, as also to secure and assure a protection to Residencies of their Agents and Ministers, that established a Consul with ample and full power warge to execute the above-mentioned. he great Seal of Great Britain, and conformable to we declare › the PASHA CONTENTS of amand in any by usage or the 2 |