Folios 413-415: John Blankett. Requesting the usual quantity of stationery. Folios...

Folios 413-415: John Blankett. Requesting the usual quantity of stationery.

Folios 415-418: enclosure with folios 413-415. A detailed plan suggested by [Archibald?] Blair, written by John Blankett, dated 2nd July 1798, to the Admiralty. The plan is suggested to gain intelligence and keep communication between Europe and India for a person entrusted with the mission, plus another capable person such as a marine officer, and an Arab interpreter. It suggests that they go by sloop or cutter first to Gibraltar for intelligence and then to the Mediterranean via a route avoiding the French. Detail of the route is given mentioning Alexandria, Rosetta, Damietta in Egypt or making for the coast of Siria [Syria] near Gaza and crossing to the Red Sea for a boat to [Judda/Juddh?], or Mocha and Aden. He believes that the NE of the Red Sea can be reached in 5 days and Mocha, near Aden, in 15-20 days. Intelligence would therefore be able to be given to Bombay and a packet of intelligence could reach Aden in 2 months. Also, by establishing native agents in Gaza, Eilah and [Judda/Juddh?] plus a European resident at Mocha, communications could be maintained between Europe and India. Madagascar and Nepal are also mentioned.