IOR/L/PS/9/76/26

Two letters from William Digges Latouche, Resident at Bussora [Basra], to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors for Affairs of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies (East India Company).

The first letter, dated 30 March 1783, covers subjects including:

• The movement of ships and transit of mail from London to India via Bussora
• Disruption to the mail route caused by ships from Grain [Kuwait] at the mouth of the River [Shatt al-Arab]
• The suspension of talks between the Basha [Büyük Sulaymān Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad] and the Ghesaal Arabs [Khazā‘il tribe], which threatens communication between Bagdat [Baghdad] and Bussora.

The second letter, dated 23 April 1783, covers:

• Latouche’s meetings with M Cotinal, a French messenger travelling to India, and attempts to delay his journey
• The movement of ships and British travellers and the transit of mail via Bussora
• The arrival in Bussora of a consignment of woollens
• The restitution of goods taken by Grain, and the Shaik [Shaikh] of Grain’s request for a loan.

Another copy of the same letter can be found in IOR/L/PS/9/76/28.