CHAPTER VIII.

PERSIA-CABUL-LAHORE.

"The integrity and independence of Persia is necessary to the security of India and of Europe, and any attempt to subvert the one is a blow struck at the other-an unequivocal act of hostility to England."Sir John Macneill.

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THE Commercial connection of Russia with Persia is of very ancient origin. The earliest authentic accounts which we possess of it date from about the 13th or 14th centuries, and we have reason to believe that the Commerce carried on at that time from Persia through Russia, was of great magnitude and value. But one of the most prominent parts of the scheme of aggrandisement laid down by Peter was, not alone to procure a monopoly of the Commerce of Persia to his Empire, but to effect its conquest, and add it to his dominions.* The extraordinary ability which he displayed in the means adopted for carrying his plan into execution by turning the internal commotions of the East to account, and at the same time to mislead the Courts of Europe as to his enterprise, furnishes probably the most remarkable portion of that Monarch's career.

For some years preceding 1722, the Kingdom of Persia had been a prey to the evils of internal commotion, wretched misgovernment, and external attack. Its relations with the Tributary Provinces of Candahar were of the most complicated description, and from one end of the Kingdom to the other, revolt and insurrection were raging. It was at this moment that Peter concentrated his whole forces on the Persian frontier, and marched to the attack! On the pretext of demanding reparation for the plunder of some of his

"Pénétré de cette vérité que le Commerce de l'Inde assure par sa richesse l'empire du monde, il recommande la guerre éternelle avec la Perse pour pénétrer dans le Golfe Persique au centre de ce Commerce tant désiré."—8th Art. of Instructions of Peter to his Successors.

Caravans on their passage from India, by the Tribes of the Usbecks, he invaded Persia; and alleged to the Courts of Europe that he was proceeding to the assistance of the Persian King against his revolted subjects! The entry of the Muscovite army was preceded by a proclamation which Peter caused to be distributed among the Persians, stating that "his Imperial Majesty is arrived on the Persian frontiers with his Land and Sea forces, not with any intention to reduce some provinces of that kingdom to his obedience, but only to maintain the lawful possession of them on his throne," &c. &c. The result, however, of this friendly campaign was, that Peter plundered the "lawful possessor' of some of the most important parts of his kingdom, i. e. the Cities of Derbend and Baku, with all the countries bordering on the Caspian Sea; as also the Provinces of Ghilan, Mazanderan, and Asterabad. The History of Persia since that time to the present has consisted almost exclusively of resistance to the assaults and encroachments of Russia, whose exertions for the prostration of that Kingdom have been applied with undeviating and unceasing determination. The last war declared by Russia against Persia was in 1826, on a dispute about the line of frontier, and was commenced as usual by the Emperor disclaiming all idea of ambition and aggrandisement. It was ended by the Treaty of Turcomanchai, in February, 1828, where the absence of "ambition or aggrandisement" was shewn by Russia compelling the cession from Persia of the rich and most important Provinces of Erivan and Nukhchivan, the Fortresses of Erivan and Abbasabad, and the Russian frontiers being stretched beyond the Araxes! Russia has seized a position in Persia which at once enables her to threaten and act with facility on Turkey, is now only valuable to her as a point whence she can make future aggressions, and by which she commands the route used for the passage of British Commerce Eastward.*

The designs of Russia on India have led the British Government to connect itself by diplomatic relations with Persia.† • Sir John Macneill, Progress of Russia in the East.

↑ The relations of England with Persia were perhaps originally as

which, from its intermediate position, has the power of rendering an assault on India impossible, so long as it has strength sufficient to resist Russia. The enmity subsisting between Persia and Russia renders the former the ally and the friend of any nation which is hostile to Russia, and therefore the advances of Great Britain were received by Persia with enthusiasm as the guarantee of her independence against the aggression of her foe, while the alliance of England gave her a strength which at once constituted her the able and the willing barrier of the British dominions beyond the Indus. England entered into alliances offensive and defensive with Persia-furnished her with troops-disciplined her armies— granted her subsidies, and has kept up in that country a more efficient diplomatic establishment than in any other part of the world. A British military force has been long kept in Persia, at the disposal of the Shah for the purpose of adding to the strength of his Kingdom; the ablest Diplomatists have been selected to represent Great Britain at his Court-the Independence of Persia, and the ascendancy of British influence there, has been considered a vital question for England.

On the other hand, the designs of Russia on India, are an idle dream as long as Persia is maintained in its strength, or as long as British influence is paramount there; for their success a footing for Russia in Persia is indispensable, which is impossible except by the expulsion of Great Britain—the destruction of the independence of Persia, and the ascendancy of Russian influence there is a paramount consideration in the policy of Russia. For the attainment of this end, exertions the most gigantic, and means of corruption unlimited, on the

much induced by the designs of France and of the Affghans on India as by those of Russia, and the alliance of Persia has been eminently advantageous to England in reference to each in their turn. The fact is, that Persia allies herself to any Nation which she finds to be hostile to Russia, for she knows that it is idle to fear the assault of any other European Nation on her Independence. It is long since England has ceased to fear anything from France in the East, and it is against Russia alone that her diplomatic system in Persia has been maintained.

part of the Russian Cabinet have for nearly a century and a half been employed, but they had failed-the influence of Great Britain could not be shaken; as long as England refrained from co-operating with her foe, the efforts of Russia were powerless. On the accession of Lord Palmerston to power, in 1830, this was the state of the relations between England, Persia, and Russia.

NOW EVERY OBJECT OF ENGLAND IN PERSIA IS OVERTHROWN-EVERY EFFORT OF RUSSIA HAS TRIUMPHED! Some of the ablest Ministers ever England sent to the East have seen the interests of their country in Persia annihilated— have seen themselves foiled in every instance by Russiahave denounced them to their chief, and requested instructions:-Lord Palmerston sent them instructions to co-operate with Russia! From 1836 to 1838, Mr. Macneill, the British Ambassador in Persia, watched and witnessed the progress of Russia in hostility to England, and found himself powerless to threaten or oppose, from the contradictory, vague, and unintelligible nature of his instructions. He strove with all the energy of an able and an honest man, to lay the danger before his chief, and to obtain authority to speak in the name of his country and protect her interestsLord Palmerston first deprived him of the power of using the name of England in his communications to the Persian Court, kept him without instructions until an insult was experienced by one of his messengers-when his Lordship instantly instructed him, in prompt and decided language, to break with the Court of Persia, and return to England! The British Envoy was kept in Persia to witness the triumph of Russia in overthrowing British influence, and establishing her own influence in its stead-to see the hand of Persia raised up by Russia in hostility to England, without a word of remonstrance or opposition by Lord Palmerston, and the moment a trivial incident occurs, he is ordered to leave the whole field open to Russia alone, and thus shews to the people of the East, as to the nations of Europe, that the might of England has been struck prostrate by Russia.

It might be thought that the overthrow of England in