reply to some question by an honourable member of the House of Commons, "that he had recommended her Majesty should not receive him in that capacity;" so he returned again, to strengthen the unfriendly feeling towards England. This was in the spring of 1839.*

But now comes the political consideration, "Is the friendship of Persia worth the purchase, or her enmity worth the averting?" How shall I pretend to answer these questions, who have never breathed in a political atmosphere? Persia has been long in a state of "decadence;" other and neighbour states thrive, and she withers; she has virtually lost her independence; the blight of oppression alienates her people from loyalty to the throne, patriotism, and all the other good feelings by which states thrive and kings govern.

• Hoosein Khan, on his return to Persia, was well received by the Shah. His success in inducing an embasy from the French court, had, in some measure, compensated for his not succeeding at the court of St. James's. But recent accounts from Persia state that he has been disgraced, and publicly bastinadoed, for some alleged disrespect to the Shah; nor has he been restored to the royal favor by receiving a kalaat, which sometimes follows the bastinadoe. This is another instance, in addition to those I have already adduced, of the precariousness of the royal favor in Persia.

This is the "worm i'the bud," which will soon wipe her out of the map of nations.

Russia is looked to as the natural protectress of this falling empire; such is the feeling amongst the Persians themselves. Men of rank, fed by Russian bribes, attack her vitals, betray her interests, and thus accelerate her downfall. They make no secret of being in the Russian pay; her merchants engross the commerce, and exercise a tyranny in the bazaars which the native merchants cannot exercise.* Greek establishments are formed under Russian protection. Thus Russia in every way insinuates herself, which it might have been imagined to be British policy as far as possible

to counteract.

Of the British residents only three remain; of the British commerce I am not aware that there are any remains. Where our name formerly was exalted, it is now degraded; where our influence was predominant, now it is null; and it is rapidly coming to pass the ominous prediction of Hadji Meerza Aghasee, "do not press me any more, or we shall certainly connect ourselves more closely and intimately with another European government."

• See Page 233.

The gangrene of both political and national animosity of Persia and the Persians" towards "England and the English" has now grown to such a pass, that I query if the diplomatic skill of even Sir John M'Neill himself could heal it. We are held by them in contempt; nay, our military prowess is derided, in consequence of some paltry rencontres lately with the Persians at Bushire, in which they were successful!

This may perhaps give some uneasiness in Downing Street; I have no means of knowing, not having even a portico acquaintance there; but I trust that the vigilance of a British parliament will not allow our relations with Persia to remain longer in this nondescript state of abeyance, still having a mission hovering about somewhere on the frontiers,-daring nothing, winning nothing. Surely this is unworthy the dignity of this great nation.

From recent accounts, Persia is in a most disorganised state, both south and north, and seemingly drawing fast towards dissolution. Rival chiefs are starting up, defying legal authorities, and levying contributions as systematic plunder. But in our recent political transactions in that

country, unless the under currents of diplomacy from the Foreign-office to her minister turn up something very different from what floats on the surface, or that Persia has been guilty of some political immorality, of which we know nothing, it does appear that this country, which for the last forty years we have been subsidising, wooing, and winning, has been estranged from us by a frivolous and vexatious complaint, unworthy the diplomatic intercourse of any nation. Well may they "laugh at our beards," having taken our money and profited by our military discipline. The moment their costly friendship was secured to us we fling it away. The minister was rewarded, and Persia is lost to us!

NOTE.Whilst I am writing this I perceive that the Earl of Rippon has given notice in the House of Lords of an early parlia mentary enquiry on the subject of Persia. I trust that it will lead to the re-establishing our friendly relations with that country. and that we shall be permitted once more to smoke the pipe of friendship with the "Adjemis."

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CHAPTER XII.

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND PERSIA.

THE cultivation of commerce between England and Persia appears to be an object well deserving the attention, as affording employment for that British capital and industry which require almost new worlds to spring up for their absorption. It did seem astonishing that the immense field which Persia offers for commercial enterprise had been so long unexplored by British merchants, or explored only to a very limited extent, and in small ventures, which made their precarious way from India, but never in sufficient quantities to answer the demand, or with sufficient regularity to give ground for any just estimate on the subject.