lady. His demands were treated with disdain, and
Mr. Murray felt bound to maintain the dignity of the government he
represented by striking his flag on the 20th of November, 1855. The
Persian prime-minister put a report into circulation that both Mr.
Murray and his predecessor had intrigues with the khan's wife, and
therefore employed him in the embassy. The Persian premier at last
made the allegation to Mr. Murray himself, in a despatch. On the 5th of
December, after having endured many insults, he left Teheran.

In July, 1856, Lord Clarendon caused the ultimatum of his government to
be delivered to the Persian _charge d'affaires_ at Constantinople. It
was to the following effect:--The sadr azim (prime-minister) to write
in the shah's name a letter to Mr. Murray, expressing his regret at
having uttered and given currency to the offensive imputation upon the
honour of her majesty's minister, requesting to withdraw his own letter
of the 19th of November, and the two letters of the minister for
foreign affairs of the 26th of November. A copy of this apology to be
communicated officially to each of the foreign missions at Teheran,
and the substance of it to be made public in that capital. The original
letter to be conveyed to Mr. Murray, at Bagdad, by the hands of some
high Persian officer, and to be accompanied by an invitation to Mr.
Murray, in the shah's name, to return with the mission to Teheran, on
his majesty's assurance that he shall be received with all the honours
and consideration due to the representative of the British government.
Mr. Murray, on approaching the capital, to be received by persons of
high rank deputed to escort him to his residence. Immediately on his
arrival, the sadr azim to go in state to the British mission and renew
friendly relations with Mr. Murray. At noon on the following day, the
British flag to be hoisted under a salute of 21 guns, and the sadr azim
to visit the mission immediately afterwards, which visit Mr. Murray will
return. Should Herat be occupied by the shah's troops, his majesty to
engage to withdraw them without delay. The British mission to defer
to his majesty's wish, if renewed, respecting Meerza Hashem, by not
insisting on his appointment at Shiraz; the Meerza's wife, however, to
be restored to him.

The ultimatum failed to secure redress. A series of fresh outrages was
offered at the embassy upon such servants of the British government as
remained there. Orders were se