History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

76 HISTORY OF THE PARSTS. [CHAP. 11.

urji, who, being then in London, were deputed to do so by the Bombay committee. It should be added that the exertions of the Parsis in London were powerfully supported by the hearty co-operation of two distinguished and generous-minded English officers, viz. Sir Henry Rawlinson and Mr. E. B. Eastwick, M.P., who had both been at a previous period prominent representatives of the British Embassy at the Court of Teheran.’

The efforts of these distinguished Englishmen were not without some effect upon His Majesty, who was pleased to send the following gracious and gratifying reply to the gentleman who headed

1 We give the letters of Mr. Eastwick and Sir Henry Rawlinson as instances of the great interest they evinced in the welfare of the Zoroastrians of Persia :—

*°88 Hotnanp Roap, 27th June 1873.

“My DEAR Sir—I am going to the Grand Vazir this morning, and will call his particular attention to the address, and also point out how much it is for the interests of Persia that an enterprising people like the Parsis should be encouraged.—Yours faithfully,

(Signed) “EDWARD EASTWICK.

“Dadabhai N aorozji, Esq., 15 Salisbury Street, Strand.”

“7th July 1873, “DEAR Str—I took an opportunity of mentioning to the Shah the very depressed condition of the Zoroastrians in Persia, and explained to him how highly any measures he might initiate for ameliorating their state would be appreciated by their co-religionists in Bombay. His Majesty said the matter should receive his best attention when he returned to Persia ; and I thus hope that some real good will result from the Bombay memorial.—Yours truly, (Signed) “ Ff, RAWLINSON. “To Dadabhai Naorozji, Esq.” .