the English mission who remained at Tabreez met with every kindness and attention from General Yermoloff and his staff. Captain Kotzebue observes, in his account of the journey, that at the palace of Augan they saw a large painting, representing a victory gained by the Persians, and that a British officer was conspicuous in the foreground. He expresses his inability to imagine what event it was intended to commemorate. In large Persian characters was written, Capture of Sultanboot, January 1812. The British officer was Captain Lindesay, of the artillery; the circumstances of the affair have been already narrated.

Ever since the return of Mirza Abul Hussein Khan's embassy to St. Petersburg in 1815, Mirza Bazurg, the Persian prime minister, had declared that not only had Persia nothing to expect from the generosity or forbearance of Russia, but that further encroachments in that quarter were to be dreaded. Mirza Bazurg, according to the Russians, had the reputation of being both artful and avaricious; and the dislike existing between him and General Yermoloff was not unnatural, neither was it concealed. After some highly inflated and ridiculous compliments had been exchanged, Mirza Bazurg observed, "I perceive your Excellency is

GOOD SENSE AND PLAIN DEALING OF THE PERSIANS 105

a proficient in the art of court compliments, and in this the Persians cannot be exceeded by any people in the world. But as this is a mere waste of time, let us mutually agree to dispense with them, as we do in our relations with the English, and proceed to real business; we shall show respect to each other much more by dealing openly than by uttering compliments, which take time, and which no person in his senses believes."

General Yermoloff then inquired what was the cause of the great activity displayed in the repair of the fortifications, and the establishment of the Jaud, a religious corps then in progress of organisation in Abbas Mirza's government; the Persian minister at once replied, "To repel any further aggression attempted by your government, or any other State." * At the same time he declared their desire, if possible, to avoid war, and to look only for justice and self-defence.

In the meanwhile our own relations with Persia had undergone an entire change. The treaty concluded by Sir Gore Ouseley, and sent to England by his brother Sir William Ouseley, was never

* It was supposed Russia was endeavouring to embroil Turkey with Persia.

confirmed; it was acted upon for some time, but in 1814 was returned unratified by the British government; and Mr. afterwards Sir Henry Ellis, in conjunction with Mr. Morris, who had been left as minister plenipotentiary after the departure of Sir Gore Ouseley, was directed to get the article rescinded, which promised the continuance of a subsidy till some restitution was made to Persia; he was also to have the officers withdrawn who had been left to discipline the Persian troops. It was clear both these clauses, however necessary they might have been at the time the treaty was made, when we were at war with Russia, had become very inconvenient under our altered circumstances, as they might cause our being in a state of war with Russia on one point, whilst we were allies on the other.

CHAP V.

CHANGE OF RELATIONS WITH PERSIA. GENERAL YERMOLOFF COMMANDS ON THE LINE OF THE CAUCASUS.—VEXATIOUS SYSTEM PURSUED BY THE RUSSIANS. -ACCOUNT OF THE CAUCASIAN TRIBES. -SONS OF THE CHIEFS RECEIVED IN THE MILITARY SCHOOLS. ACHMET BEY.-CAMPAIGN IN THE CAUCASUS. THE CHETCHENS. THE LESGHIS-EXCELLENCE OF THEIR ARMS. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF CIRCASSIANS AND LESGHIS. GENERAL WILLIAMINOFF. BOMBASTIC PROCLAMATION.

-

ILL SUCCESS.

PLACES GUARDS ON THE PERSIAN TERRITORY. -KING OF PERSIA ANXIOUS TO AVOID WAR. RELIGIOUS FANATICISM OF THE PERSIANS. ARRIVAL OF PRINCE MENSCHIKOff.

TILITIES BETWEEN RUSSIA AND PERSIA.
BAUG.

PRINCE MENSCHIKOFF DETAINED AT ERIVAN

HOS

RISING IN KARA SET MASSACRE OF ARMEGENERAL DIEBITSCH TO SUPERSEDE GENERAL YER

AT LIBERTY. - GANJA ABANDONED.

NIANS.

MOLOFF.

SIEGE

GENERAL PASKIEWITCH.

RAISED.

- ERIVAN INVESTED. UNHEALTHINESS. SURRENDER OF ABBAS ABAD. SUCCESS OF ABBAS MIRZA.- SIRDAR ABAD.

CAUSE OF HIS TREACHERY. THE KING'S ACCOUNT OF THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THEM. DESCRIPTION OF TABREEZ. NEGOTIATIONS.

FOR WAR WITH TURKEY. PROCRASTINATION OF THE TURKS. POSITION OF BOTH PARTIES.

AFTER the retreat of the French from Moscow, the alliance of Russia became certainly far more

important to England than that of Persia could possibly be at the same time something was due to Persia; for it must not be forgotten that the court of Teheran had consented to the dismissal of the French ambassador at the time when Napoleon was at the acme of his power. The subsidies granted to Persia could not fail to exercise their full influence upon an avaricious sovereign like Futteh Ali Shah; but the successful issue of these delicate negotiations was principally owing to the admirable skill and tact displayed by Sir Harford Jones, who was fortunately aware of the article in the Treaty of Tilsit, by which Russia was at liberty to prosecute her conquests in Asia as far as she pleased. The treaty concluded by Sir Gore Ouseley, after being acted upon for two years, was left unratified, and a new one was concluded by Mr. Ellis and Mr. Morris, in virtue of which England continued bound to assist Persia in the event of aggression on the part of Russia or any other European nation; but these terms hardly satisfied Persia, as when the court of Teheran, at the suggestion of England, concluded a peace with Russia, it was under the expectation of a restoration of territory; an expectation which had