1 1G8 COL. pottinger's mission to sindh. a. D. 1031.
2 the British Government, he might, with every profession
3 of a desire to forward them, contrive by intrigue and
4 secret working to counteract the negociation.
5 On the very day before His Highness arrived at Roo-
6 pur, instructions had been issued to Lieutenant Colonel
7 PoTTiNGER to prepare for a mission to Sindh, with a
8 view to the negociation of a commercial treatry, having
9 for its object, to open the navigation of the Indus to the
10 trade of Europe, and of India. The negociation was to
11 be separate with each of the three independent Meers,
12 but Colonel Potting er was directed to proceed first
13 to Hydurabad, to arrange with Meer M00RA.D Ulee,
14 for a free passage for vessels, and merchandize, through
15 the mouths, and Delta of this great river. The basis of
16 the negociation was to be, to obtain guarantees against
17 the levy of irregular duties, or wanton obstruction of any
18 kind to boats and merchandize, to offer a guarantee against
19 loss of revenue to the Sindh Government from the adop-
20 tion of the scheme, and so to procure, that the river Indus
21 should become again the channel for extensive commerce,
22 and be frequented securely by the craft and vessels of
23 all the adjoining districts, and even of Europe. The
24 object of entering upon this negociation, at the particular
25 juncture, was perhaps in some measure political, having
26 reference to the necessity of being prepared against the
27 possibility of designs on the part of Russia, should she
28 succeed in establishing her influence in Persia. The
29 Governor General, however, was not prepared to make
30 any avowal or display of such motives, and a commercial
31 treaty, stipulating for the free navigation of the river,
32 seemed to him the better form in which to open relations
33 with the Governments and Chiefs who occupied its banks.