Mss Eur F126/44, ff 96-97

Letter, dated 12 July 1866 - noon, regarding the exceedingly warm weather being experienced in Bushire; confidential reports that the war in Germany [Austro-Prussian War] has ended and that an armistace between Austria and Prussia has been agreed to with the French emperor as abritrator and that Austria have ceded Venice to France in return for favourable negotiations.

The letter goes on to report on the new Parliament which has been formed by Earl Derby as Prime Minister with Lord Stanley as Foreign Minister, Lord Cranberry as Minister for India and Disraeli as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The letter also reports on matters at Bushire including the two slaves who are believed to have absconded from Busreh [Basra] on a steamer with stolen property, and informing Pelly that the Melik [Malik al-Tujjar] had requested they be detained and landed at Bushire but that Edwards had informed the owner he should have made the request to the British Authorities at Busreh and they could have officially telegraphed to Bushire, and suggesting he do so as their would still be time to get official authorisation before the steamer departs.

A postscript to the letter, also dated 12 July 1866, informs Pelly that a message from the Governor of Bushire's office was received requesting the Persian subject being detained on the Euphrates be released and that Edwards had written on the subject to the Captain of the Euphrates and was satisfied with his reply.

A further postscript, dated 13 July 1866, relates to the runaway slaves and informs Pelly that the Melik is still dissatisfied with the response. As Edwards does not feel he has the authority to go on board the vessel himself he has written another letter to Captain Atkinson, a draft of which is included in the postscript, and notes that this appears to be a question for a law officer and that he has not as yet received any communication from the Consul at Busreh on the matter.