Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/14/46

Writes that the mail of 27 Oct brings no orders about Mohumra. Vernon Smith writes that he has heard nothing more from the Foreign Office. The Secret Committee have refused to give an opinion on the desirability of taking Mohumra, and the Chairman writes as if the whole conduct of the expedition were in Elphinstone's hands. The Chairman writes of the desirability of giving the General commanding full political powers, and says that Sir James Outram would be glad to take the command. If Outram does he will have to be given the local rank of Lieutenant General, as Stalker is the senior officer. Elphinstone thinks that Outram is the best man, but that it would hardly be fair to supersede Stalker in the way suggested by the Chairman. Mr Lumsden has given an unfavourable opinion of Stalker. Outram will leave England on 20 Dec. Elphinstone has had two letters from Wodehouse giving accounts of conversations with Prince Gortschakoff, the Russians have not increased their fleet in the Caspian, and the Prince hopes that Persia will listen to the friendly counsels of Russia, and withdraw from Herat.

Enclosed: 1. Rough Sketch Map of Bushire and its vicinity.

2. A General Chart of the part of the Karoon River about Ahwaz, including the Bund and the River Karun and Dizfut Aubi Gargar Canal, compiled from the Trigonometrical Survey by Lieutenant Selby, Royal Navy, 1845.