The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

PERSIA.

Intelligence has been received from Persia
which seems to warrant the opinion that a
Bombay column must shortly be despatched for
service in-that country. The Persian farces at
Teheran had, it was said, marched en route
to the Russian provinces, and when they
had proceeded nine marches they were recalled.
On returning to Teheran, the British and Turkish
agents were directed to quit, and their flags were
lowered. The army in Teheran is kept ready to
march at a moment's notice, and it appears that
some important move is anticipated, although the
precise nature of it has been kept secret. Some
allege that a junction is to be formed at Orgunje
with the Russian force already in that quarter, and
that the whole will march to Candahar and Cabul ;
others state that after being joined by the troops
raised at Sheraz, the occupation of the sea board on
the Meckran Coast would be effected, but the
favourite opinion was that a descent on Bagdad and
Bussorah was contemplated, to anticipate which a
force of 11,000 men had been thrown into the latter
place. Bushire was in a ferment, and it is even
said, that Captain Kemball, our Resident, had been
obliged to leave the town and was living on board
one of the ships in the harbour. The Island of
Karrack is represented as being fortified by the Per-
sian troops, and stores and munitions of war of
all kinds had been conveyed there. The above
intelligence is no doubt exaggerated, and we
may look for authentic information by the K.C.
steamer Auckland now hourly expected. In
the meantime, the honourable company's cor-
vette Falkland is under orders to proceed to the
Persian Gulf on the Ist proximo, and will be imme-
diately followed by the Augusta ; the latter vessel,
it is understood, will convey important despatches
from Government tp the resident in Bushire. The
intelligence that may be brought by the Auckland
will doubtless determine the course the Government
may deem proper to pursue. Persia is, as far as we
are concerned, a contemptible foe; yet much expense
and trouble must be necessarily incurred to bring
the Shah to his senses. It is greatly to be regretted
that the two large steamers on the stocks in our
dockyard are not now ready for sea, as they would
each carry a whole regiment with followers, and a
heavy park of artillery. But the delay is not to be
attributed to the Bombay Government, the home
authorities being to blame in the matter, by having
given the contract for the engines to parties in Lon-
don who have not been hitherto able to fulfil their
engagements, the company, in the meantime, re-
ceiving from the contractors demurrage at the rate
of 101. per diem. At a juncture like the present,
when we know not what an hour may bring forth,
the loss to the state of the services of two such ves-
sels as the Assaye and Punjaub will be, if a war
takes place, most seriously felt, and the hon. com-
pany may find that the amount of demurrage which
they are said to have received, so far from being
a saving, 'will ultimately prove a grievous loss.
Much inconvenience, too, will be experienced in
manning the fleet ; the Falkland proceeds to the
Persian Gulf with but 18 European seamen on
board, and yet she is a sloop of war, and may be
engaged in active warlike operations. The difficulty
in obtaining seamen is owing to the low rate of
wages which the hon. company pay. A seaman
can now in this port obtain in the merchant Ber-
-1 vice four or five pounds per month, while his pay
in the company's marine amounts but to two.