to cause letters to be written to the Ordnance, to the Admiralty,
and other departments, with a view to their hearty furtherance
of the objects.
The Author was allowed to select from the Royal Artillery
and Royal Sappers and Miners certain workmen, particularly
smiths and millwrights, in all twenty-seven, who were afterwards
employed in Mr. Laird’s yard in riveting, and in other
work connected with iron vessels. This measure was scarcely
of less consequence than the selection of officers. The qualifications
of these, with respect to steam machinery, surveying, and
drawing, had particular reference to the wants of the service,
and when the selection was made, their names were submitted
to the King.
When the vessels, with their engines, and the other preparations
at Liverpool were well advanced, the following instructions
were issued for the guidance of the Expedition :—
COPIES OF INSTRUCTIONS TO COLONEL CHESNEY, THE OFFICER COMMANDING
THE EUPHRATES EXPEDITION.
No. 1.
Letter from, the Luke o f Wellington to the President o f the Board o f Control.
g jjj Foreign Office, November 28, 1834.
I TRANSMIT to you herewith a commission which the King has
been graciously pleased to grant under his Royal Sign-manual to Captain
Chesney, R.A., constituting and appointing him, with the rank of
Colonel, on a particular service, to be Commander of the Expedition
about to be undertaken for the establishment of a communication between
the Mediterranean Sea and His Majesty’s possessions in the East Indies,
by means of a steam communication of the river Euphrates, in conformity
with the recommendation of the Committee of the House of
Commons to that effect.
I am at the same time commanded by the King to signify to you His
Majesty’s pleasure that an instruction to the following effect be addressed
to Colonel Chesney :—«
As the object of the House of Commons in appropriating a large sum
of money to be employed by His Majesty for the purposes of this expedition
was the promotion of the commerce and general interests of His
Majesty’s subjects, it will be Colonel Chesney’s first duty to use every
exertion to secure the success of the expedition in the shortest possible
time, and always to bear in mind the necessity of making his arrangements
in such a manner as that their utility may be permanent in the
event of his success. _
Colonel Chesney will further be careftd to maintain the most perfect
discipline and subordination among the persons who compose the expedition.
He will explain to them that His Majesty will view with the
severest displeasure any conduct on their part calculated to defeat the
objects of the expedition, whether arising from disagreement among
themselves, or from an indifference to the habits and prejudices of the
inhabitants of the country in which they are employed.
I t will be the duty of Colonel Chesney, and of every other individual,
to conciliate to the utmost of his power the friendship and goodwill, not
only of the authorities of the Grand Seignior, but of the different communities
and tribes with whom he may have intercourse; to abstain from
all acts calculated to rouse the prejudices of the inhabitants; to take no
part in any disturbances or quarrels which may exist among adverse
tribes; and to avoid all acts of violence, unless in the last extremity, for
the preservation of the lives of His Majesty’s subjects.
In short, Colonel Chesney is always to bear in mind that the character
of the expedition is one of peace; that it is undertaken with the permission
of a friendly power, without whose countenance and co-operation
success cannot reasonably be expected; and that having for its object
peaceftd and beneficial interests, it is only to be conducted by peaceful
means. _
Colonel Chesney will find His Majesty’s Ambassador at the Porte
instructed to afford him all possible assistance in the way of representation
to the Turkish government, on any occasion where the intervention
of that government with its authority is required. Colonel Chesney will
communicate with His Majesty’s Ambassador on all such occasions, and
pay to his suggestions that attention which the position held by him at
the Porte entitles him to expect.
Lastly, Colonel Chesney will report from time to time, for the information
of His Majesty’s Government, the progress and prospects of the
expedition.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) W ellington.
No. 2.
Letter from Lord EUenborough to Colonel Chesney•
India Board, January 24,1835. bIR)
It does not appear necessary to give you any further instructions
for your general guidance in the prosecution of the object of the expedition
under your command, beyond those which you have already
received from the Duke of Wellington.
The minute of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury,