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131
on European models. French engineers and
artificers were busy in casting cannon and
strengthening the defences of Persia. Napoleon's
agents were found visiting Persian ports in the
south, and intriguing and negotiating with the
ambassadors of the Mirs of Sindh, preparations
preliminary to a French invasion of India.
It was in July, 1807, that the two Emperors,
Napoleon of France and Alexander I of Russia,
signed the treaty of Tilsit. After a brief but
bloody war, they embraced each other like
brothers. In a few days the scene had changed.
In an atmosphere of cordiality the two monarchs
decided upon a combined invasion of India.
Lucien Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon, was
destined for Tehran Mission, and no secret was
made of the intention of the two great poten-
tates.
These negotiations and war preparations had
the effect of rousing the British Government to
try to recover their lost ascendency at the Persian
Court and to protect their Indian Empire by
binding the Western Frontier States in a chain
of friendly alliances. Missions were, therefore,
Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.