TEHERAN. 
199 
therefore, but with deep regret the power of doing that justice to the 
merits of the British Envoy which the simple narrative, without one com¬ 
ment, would have afforded. I must content myself with adding, that Sir 
Harford Jones succeeded in his great object; and concluded a treaty 
with Persia (where the French influence had already baffled and driven 
away one English agent) by which the French, in their turns, were ex¬ 
pelled, and our influence was restored; at a time when, instead of co¬ 
operation, he experienced only counteraction from the British Govern¬ 
ment of India, and encountered all the rivalry of the active and able 
emissaries of France. 
On another motive I regret the omission of these notes. They would 
have characterized, I believe with fidelity, the habits and modes of 
thinking of a Persian statesman, and added an amusing document to 
the annals of diplomacy. The conferences of the Plenipotentiaries 
were carried on at times with the warmest contentions, at other 
times interrupted by the loudest laughter on the most indifferent 
subject. One night the parties had sat so long, and had talked so 
much without producing conviction on either side, that the Plenipo¬ 
tentiaries by a sort of un-official compact, fell asleep. The Prime 
Minister and the Ameen-ecl-Dordah snored aloud in one place, and the 
Envoy and I stretched ourselves along in another. Though on the 
very first night of the discussions, the parties had separated with a full 
conviction that every tiling was settled; and though the Prime 
Minister himself, laying his hand on the Envoy's shoulder, had said 
to him, “ You have already completed what the King of England 
“ himself in person could not have doneyet the very next confer¬ 
ence, they came forwards with pretensions alike new and extravagant. 
At the close of that meeting however, the Chief Secretary was ap¬ 
pointed to bring the Treaty written fair to the Envoy on the following 
morning. Instead of this, the Prime Minister sent a large citron, and 
inquired after the Envoy's health. On another occasion, the Persian 
Plenipotentiaries swore that every thing should be as the Envoy 
