§ Sir Stratford Canningwished to put a question to the right hon. Gentleman, the president of the Board of Control, and he was much mistaken if the right hon. Gentleman would not willingly embrace the opportunity of affording information to the public on a point of considerable importance, particularly to the commercial interests of the country. It had been known to commercial men for some days, that an expedition composed of several armed vessels, and having on board a body of 500 or 600 men, commanded by Colonel Sherriff, had sailed from Bombay to the Persian Gulf. The only conceivable object of such an expedition must have reference to Bushire, the most important port belonging to Persia on the Persian Gulf, or to the island of Karak, in the neighbourhood of that place. As both belonged to Persia, it was obvious that an expedition sent with the view of taking possession of any of those places must involve us in hostilities with that power. It was therefore very important to those who were connected with the trade of the country to know if the expedition was directed to objects of a kind likely to be attended with that consequence.
§ Sir J. Hobhousehad to state, that it was undoubtedly true that a small expedition had by this time at least sailed from Bombay for the head of the Persian Gulf, consisting of a frigate, a brig, two steamers, and a Government transport, having on board about 500 sepoys, commanded by the gallant officer named by the right hon. Gentleman. The right hon. Gentleman had stated what would be the result, supposing certain orders to have been given. He could only inform the right hon. Gentleman that the expedition had been sent to that quarter in consequence of a despatch received from the Governor-general of India by the Governor of Bombay, in which was stated the reason why the Governor-general thought it advisable to send such an expedition. The right hon. Gentleman knew that the East India Company had a resident at Bushire; he knew also that they had a resident at Bagdad he knew 575 also that an important experiment had lately been tried in order to ascertain whether the navigation of the Euphrates was practicable. The right hon. Gentleman was perhaps also aware that our commercial relations with that part of the world had become much more extensive than formerly. It was in consequence of the political state of Central Asia that the Governor-general had thought it requisite for the protection of British interests to send that expedition to the port indicated by the right hon. Gentleman. He believed the right hon. Gentleman would think him right in declining to say anything further than that the expedition had sailed on the 2d or 5th of June, in consequence of instructions from the Government at home and the Governor-general of India.
§ Sir Stratford Canningwas satisfied with the manner in which the right hon. Gentleman had answered his question, but he had one doubt remaining, which it was desirable to have removed. He did not think it was clear from the answer of the right hon. Gentleman whether the expedition was sent merely for general purposes, or with a specific object. Of course, if it ha no specific object, any apprehension wh h might be entertained of an immediate change in the character of our relations with Persia would vanish. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman would consider himself at liberty to satisfy his doubts on this point.
§ Sir J. Hobhousefeared that his duty would not permit him to give any other answer than that he had already given. He had admitted the facts mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman, and he trusted when the proper time arrived that Parliament and the public would think the Governor-general of India perfectly justified in the course he had taken.
§ Subject dropped.