ABSTRACT
At Suez a French fleet was to be collected which might sail to inflict the long-meditated mortal blow on Britain in India. Great Britain had little to offer except promises of assistance in case of attack; but French insinuations frequently caused the Turks to wonder whether a French alliance would not be preferable to English domination. At the time of the formidable Gardane mission to Persia, the French Ambassador at the Porte, Sebastiani, as has been mentioned, succeeded in effecting a temporary breach between Turkey and Britain, the former being induced to enter the "Continental System". Sir Harford had accomplished the principal objects of his mission, including the formation of a preliminary treaty between Great Britain and Persia, Malcolm was despatched to Teheran at the head of a new mission to raise the fallen crest of the Government of India.
