The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-07 00:00:00

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[PRICB 4D. STAMPED 51).]

THE PERSIAN EXPEDITION.

(FROM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE TIMES.
BIISHIRE, JUNE 28.

Sir James Ontram and Staff reached Bushire on
the 12th from Bagdad, and on the 14th Sheikh
Mohsin Khan, Sirbang, deputed to visit him by the
Serkesseekahy Bashi, waited on our General at the
Residency. The day following the Envoy was re-
ceived with due honours at the camp, where he was
introduced by Sir James to Brigadier-Gen. Jaeob,
who succeeds him in command of the Persian
expeditionary force. The greatest cordiality ex-
isted between all partie4, and subsequently a re-
turn visit to the Persian camp at Borazgaun was
despatched by General Jacob, consisting of Lieut.-
Colonel Trevelyan, of the Bombay Artillery, and
two or three other officers. All was quiet at Mo-
hornerah ; no Persian forces bad returned to that
place, which 'was still held by the Chaah Chief on
behalf of the Shah. The Hon. Company's sloop
Falkland was anchored abreast the Northern fort,
but the Clive had moved lower down the river for a
change of air. The crew of the latter vessel had
suffered severely from fever, while that of the
former were comparatively healthy. This is attri-
butabte rather to the wretched accommodation for
the seamen on board the Clire than to any other
apparent cause. The men of the Falkland were in
the habit of landing every day, and seemed to be
on the best terms with the Arabs.
Sir James was ordered to India immediately,
owing to the disturbed state of the Bengal Presi-
dency, and was further directed to despatch as
many troops as possible to Bombay ; General
Jacob was also directed to proceed to India without
delay ; but Sir James argued justly, that while
our force remained on the Persian soil a com-
mander of General Jacob's renown and ability was
absolutely requisite for the full efficiency and
morale of the continued occupation. The Poonah
Horse, however, were spared, and despatched to
Bombay yesterday. The force now left at Busbire
is as follows
Cavalry ... 1,200
European ... ... 202
artillery Native ... 76
Infantry... 3,730
.3r..pperm ••• ... 214

5,431,
with 12 field-battery guns. The troops, with the
exception of the artillery abovenamed are all
natives.
It is currently reported that great sickness pre-
vails among the Persian troops at Borazgaun, and
that the Commander-in-Chlef is anxious • to
break up his camp there. Several Regiments
are urgently required to enforce the payment of
Government tribute in the direction of Beibahan,
where the people are said to have refused and re-
sisted. all demands made upon them by the Shah.
Rumour has it that the Persians are playing us
false as regards Herat, and that the commander of
that pima will refuse to evacuate it, even if
ordered to do so by the Shah. At present there
seems no foundation whatever for the report, and
so far the Persians have acted in good faith in ful-
filling the treaty. There is no knowing, however,
how the mutinies in Bengal may affect the Court
of Theran, and to what extent extraneous in-
fluences may be plied to prevent the desired con-
summation. A serious question then arises—viz.,
how far it is desirable to maintain so large a force
at Bushire when its services may be imperatively
required in India Should Persia officially refuse
to evacuate Herat, it would be undeub,edly less
desirable to remove the force than before the an-
nouncement of such a breach of the treaty. But
by remaining at Bushire that force, without strong
reinforcements (not likely now to be available for a
long time), could do nothing but hold its present
position. Yet that position, as far as I see, could
bo maintained without the force, which, if need be,
might be despatched for service in India at once.
Carrack could be retained by a regiment and one
or two cruisers, aided by a war steamer or two, and
the latter might effectually blockade Bushire and
prevent the occupation of the town by a Persian
army. Mohammerah, in like manner, might be
given up, and the cruisers there be removed for
service at Karrack. Un'ess I vastly mistake the
signs of the tim-s, a pretty quarrel is brewing be-
tween the Turks and'Persians anent.the boundary
question ; at all events it is not likely that the
former will allow the Persians to re-erect the
fortresses upon the Shatt-001-Arab which have been
demolished by us. Their erect;oa under any
circumstances was in violation of the treaty
between the two countries, and their existence
might have cut off at any moment the Turkish
trade on the river from the Gulf to Bassorah.
Moreover, by all accounts the Persian army in
Arabistan is said to be so utterly disorganised, and
the State finances at so low an ebb, as to render it
morally certain th at the Persians cannot re-establish
themselves in force there for some time to come.
What I would counsel, therefore, under present
circumstances, should Herat not be surrendered,
is this—romove our forces from Bushire to India ;
garrison Karrack, blockade Bushire and the neigh-
bouring forts, and keep the Persians from occupping
the formicr place, should they attempt it, by occa-
si9nal shot and shell from the blockading squadron.
This course, while it will render available for India
the British force now in Persia, will be a sufficient
threat and punishment to the Shah until we are
able to take more effectual measures for the chas-
tisement of such a breach of the treaty. Of course,
our hope is that Persia will see it to be herinterest
to render unnecessary any such hostile procee lings
on our part, in which case we hope to hear thatthe
announcement of the evacuation of Herat will be
male to Mr. Murray on his arrival at Teheran,
looked for about the Ist of August. In 15 days the
news of the same could be transmitted to Bushire,
so that on the 15th of August the whole British
force may evacuate Persia.

KURRACHEE, SCINDE, JULY 13.

---
The Berenice arrived here on the 2d inst., vitt)
the Persian t-ttte prisoners, the ex-Governor of
BushirP, the Deriah Beg, and their suites, who
proceed this evening to Jushire in the steamer
Lady Canning.
Everything is quiet in Scinde and in the Punjab,
and no fears are at present entertained of any out-
break in those quarters.