330 A HISTORY OF PERSIA. ment lately serving in Persia must be paid ; and, lastly, the signature of a commercial treaty between Great Britain and Persia must accompany the reestablish- ment of diplomatic relations between the two States. These demands were made in London on the llth of July, 1839 ; but it was long before the Persian Govern- ment could be persuaded to comply with them all. Little by little that government yielded to the demands of Lord Palmerston, and it pertinaciously contested almost every point in question. But at length the desire to see Persian soil free from English occupation, and to own once more the island of Karrack, overcame the reluctance of the Shah and his Minister to do what was required of them. The point to which they were most loth to consent was that Ghorian should be evacu- ated ; but at length the order was given that it should be delivered over to the officers of Prince Kamran, or, as he called himself, Shah Kamran. A further pretext for delay in this matter was furnished by the retirement at this time of the British mission under Major D'Arcy Todd from the court of Herat. But again the order was issued at Tehran to the governor of Khorassan to make over the fortress of Ghorian, and this command was carried into execution on the 31st of March, 1841.* This event was very contrary to the views and interests of Yar Mahomed Khan, who was now in opposition to the British Government ; since it afforded to his adherents and to the wild tribes whose horsemen were his chief hope, an unequivocal proof that England and Persia had
- The evacuation of Ghorian was witnessed by the late Doctor Kiach,
the estimable physician to the British Mission in Persia, who was deputed for this service by Sir John McNeill.
