Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/14/30

Letter is numbered as 26a, but appears as 27 in the index to the volume.

Reports the news brought by the 'Assaye'. Jones had heard from Consul Stevens that Clarendon's Despatch of 11 Jul was taken to the Sedr Azim on 9 Aug and the Sedr said he would reply on 17 Aug. The Persian Army is being increased, five regiments are to be sent to Bushire and five regiments to Mohummerah. This may be bluff, but Stevens thinks the Persians will not give in. Captain Jones has apparently still not received Elphinstone's and Canning's letters, it is possible they were sent on to Baghdad by mistake. They were despatched in a hurry, and the clerk who registers the letters had gone home. Jones shows in his memorandum that Bushire is composed of filthy reed and date leaf huts, and will offer no shelter for Europeans in the hot weather. Part of Jones' memorandum which Elphinstone has not sent is an elaborate price list of goods which can be bought at Bushire. Elphinstone has received a letter from Colonel Jacob asking for Major Greene to be sent to Kelat. Believes it would be better not to separate Greene and Ballard but if information from Kandahar was needed, Lieutenant Ballard who managed to enter Silistria after it was invested by the Russians might elude the vigilance of the Persians. Agrees that officers should not be sent to Herat. Lord Elphinstone has just been reading General Ferrier's 'Caravan Journeys' which contains much useful information. Has asked for a telegraphic message from Canning to be repeated, as Elphinstone thinks there is a misreading in it, he imagines it refers to Stalker's appointment. Elphinstone is still very weak. Somerset comes to Bombay on 18 Sep. The 'Feroze' has arrived.