Papers of Brigadier-General John Jacob (East India Company) Mainly Relating to the Anglo-Persian War (1856-1857), and the Aftermath [‎632r] (1268/1782)

Content

The volume comprises correspondence, memoranda and other papers relating to the Anglo-Persian War (1856-57), and events following the Armistice signed in Paris, 4 March 1857, notably intelligence, military, administrative, diplomatic and financial matters. A large proportion of the letters are originals, but the volume also includes copy letters and copy Persian letters.

There is no overall index; however, there are five internal ‘indexes’, or contents lists, which cover the majority of the volume. The titles of groups of papers are transcribed directly from the indexes, in single inverted commas.

The papers are bound as follows:

Folio 9: ‘Intelligence index’ comprising a list of items numbered 1-2

Folios 10-45 (including title page for index item No. 1): ‘Intelligence received from Major H Ballard’, Intelligence Department, 25 February 1856-28 June 1857. Includes ink and watercolour plan of Persian positions near the ‘Haft Moolla Pass’ (folio 15) and Memorandum of Intelligence from Captain Lewis Pelly, Intelligence Department, June 1857 (folios 39-42)

Folios 46-133 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘General Intelligence’. Notably:

Memorandum by Major John Hill, Commanding Engineer, Persian Field Force, to Assistant Quartermaster-General, Persian Field Force, Camp Bushire, 8 January 1857, containing estimate of force required for the expedition against Shuster [Shushtar] on the Karoon [Karun] River (folios 47-51)

Intelligence received and forwarded to Brigadier-General John Jacob, Commander of the Persian Expeditionary Field Force in Bushire, by Captain Felix Jones, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and correspondence between Jones and Jacob, including translated intelligence from local chiefs, Mahomed Hassan Khan [Muhammad Husayn Khan?], British Agent in Shiraz [also spelt Sheeraz in the volume], and Meerza Hassan Ali Khan [Mirza Hasan ‘Ali Khan], British Agent at Shiraz now at Bushire, March-August 1857, and purport of extract from Tehran Gazette , 12 March 1857 (folios 52-73, 95-97, 116-117, 122, 126-133)

Cutting from The Sindian Extra , 20 May 1857, on the ‘horrible massacre [of the English] at Delhi’ (folio 74)

Letters from J Scott in Kurachee [Karachi], to Jacob, 23 May and 7 June 1857, on loyalty of the troops at Moultan [Multan], calm situation in the Punjab and Scott’s general comments on the 'mutiny' in India (folios 75, 114-115)

Intelligence from J Gibb in Kurachee, to Jacob, 22 May-7 June 1857, notably on the 'mutiny' at Merrut [Meerut] and Delhi and reporting on troops and native population in Lahore (folios 76-77, 102-105, 112-113)

Manuscript copy of telegraphic message from Agra for Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, Commander-in-Chief, Persian Expeditionary Force: ‘Lady Outram and her son are quite safe. They were not at Delhi’ [May 1857] (folio 78)

Three intelligence reports, two translated by James McAdam Hyslop, Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , containing news on the state of Persia, February and March 1857, and copy letter from Stratford de Redcliffe, British Ambassador at Constantinople, to Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 30 March 1857. All papers forwarded for the attention of Outram (folios 79-91)

Letters from Commander James Rennie, Senior Naval Officer, Commanding Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Squadron, to Jacob, June-July 1857, mostly forwarding intelligence from Lieutenant James Tronson, Senior Naval Officer at Mahumura [Mohammerah, now Khorramshahr], commanding the Falkland (folios 92-94, 98-99, 119-120, 123-125)

Extract of letter from Lord Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay, to Henry Bartle Frere, Commissioner of Sinde [Sindh], 30 May 1857, forwarding instructions for the recall of Outram and Jacob and a large part of the force at Bushire, to India (folios 100-101)

Letter from Commander D W Macleod in Lahore, to Commissioner in Sind [Sindh], 15 May 1857, reporting, for the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. of the East India Company, on the state of affairs in India following the outbreak of the 'mutiny' (folios 106-109)

Letter from H Ebden to Colonel Sir R Shakespear, 31 May 1857, on the spread of the 'mutiny' (folios 110-111)

Manuscript copy of telegraphic message from 'The Resident' (at Bushire) to Jacob, stating that the agent at Shiraz is permitted to proceed and resume his post, 28 June 1857 (folio 118)

Letter from [W?] Gardiner, Commanding the Clifton , notifying Jacob of the transport ship’s arrival at Kurachee, 2 July 1857 (folio 121) Folios 134-135: ‘Index Miscellaneous’ comprising a list of items numbered 1-18, as follows:

Folios 136-138 (including title page for index item No. 1): ‘Correspondence touching the progress of the war in Persia, etc.’ Letter from Thomas A Collier, Bushire, to Jacob, 24 December 1856

Folios 139-141 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘Trial experiment of the “Jacob Rifle”’, Letter from Charles Hay to Jacob, 14 November 1856

Folios 142-203 (including title page for index item No. 3): ‘Applications for appointments under Brigadier-General John Jacob [to the Persian Field Force], recommendatory letters for, etc.’ Authors based in various locations, notably Bombay, Kurachee and London, December 1856-February 1857 (in this order): Henry Munro; J Outram; Lieutenant G S Morris; Lieutenant C M Ducat; Major Edward Green; G Nicholetts; Lieutenant W A Battine, Bengal Army; Captain [G?] E Ashburner; Captain James Young, 4th Regiment Bengal North India; E King; J Thatcher; H Young; Hugh Elliott, [T H Rantely?]; W G Mainwaring; R H Irvine; Captain Stuart Beatson, First Regiment [Light?] Cavalry; Lieutenant W R Alexander; George Montgomery; Lieutenant Quintin Battye, 56th Regiment Bengal Infantry; J W [Reviler?]; W W Davidson; [G Durrill?]; [C?] Stewart; W F Johnson; J Rennie; Hastings Fraser, 4th Cavalry; C Constable; Ensign John G Watts; Colonel P Melvill

Folios 204-209 (including title page for index item No. 4): ‘Correspondence of congratulation’, from J Scott to Jacob, 14 January 1857; P H Le Geyt to Outram, 4 January 1857; and J Stirling to Jacob, 30 April 1857 (thanks for commendation of his regiment)

Folios 210-244 (including title page for index item No. 5): ‘Correspondence relative to supply of provisions, tonnage and capacity of shipping, transports, munitions of war, etc.’ Correspondents mainly Rennie, Durrill, [Reviler?], W T Johnson and Captain Lewis Pelly, Political Secretary and Persian Interpreter, 25 January to 24 July 1857

Folios 245-247 (including title page for index item No. 6): ‘Regarding the appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob with the rank of Brigadier-General Persian Expeditionary Field Force’, 12 January 1857. Copy letter and General Orders, forwarded by R E H Birch, Secretary to the Governor of India, Military Department

Folios 248-256 (including title page for index item No. 7): ‘Correspondence regarding the state of the troops in Persia and other Bazar and Police arrangements’ [in Bushire]. Between Lord Elphinstone, Jacob, Jones and Pelly, 1 April-1 August 1857. Includes Persian letter from Sultan Mahomed Najjaff Meerza [Sultan Muhammad Najaf Mirza Hindi], Jahanabad [Jehanabad], to Jacob (folio 255) with Jacob’s reply

Papers described in the index as numbers 8-17 are not bound in this volume

Folios 257-259: Title pages only to index items No. 16 ‘Relative to the employment of individuals in the Quartermaster and Adjutant Generals Department’, and No. 17 ‘Regarding Prisoners’

Folios 259-297 (including title page for index item No. 18): ‘Miscellaneous Correspondence’. Between Jacob, Henry Scott, Walker, Macdonald, Colonel J S Ramsay and Pelly, 1 December 1856-26 December 1857. Includes news from Pelly on Mohammura [Mohammerah, i.e. Khorramshahr], Sir James Outram and views on the Peace Treaty (folios 284-297), and extracts from the Bombay Government Gazette , 15 and 29 January and 30 June 1857 (folios 268-271)

Folio 298: Map of a section of Abyssinia [Ethiopia] (no indication why this map has been bound in this volume apart from separating two indexes)

Folios 299-300: ‘Index of Compilation’ comprising a list of items numbered 1-13

Folios 301-359 (including title page for index item No. 1): ‘Correspondence regarding employment of General Jacob in Persia. Observations on the state of the troops and the coast of Persia, of the appointment of General Sir J Outram, political views on the nature of Britain’s relations with Persia and Russia’. Documents dated 18 November 1856-25 January 1857, chiefly Outram’s letters to Robert Vernon Smith MP, Sir George Clerk, Colonel Sykes, J H Edmonstone, Secretary to the Governor of India, Foreign Department, Lord Dalhousie and Jacob; Malcolm Green’s letters to Jacob; and copy of a telegraphic message from the Governor-General to Outram regarding Jacob

Folios 360-410 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘Correspondence regarding the appointment of different officers, the distribution of the Brigades, etc., their several requirements in the event of their occupying named localities towards the furtherance of schemes determined on’. Documents dated 28 December 1856-28 December 1858, chiefly correspondence between Outram and Jacob, letters from Malcolm Green and from Lord Elphinstone, to Jacob, and a 'Plan of Operations' (in Persia) by Outram (folios 365-367)

Folios 411-451 (including title page for index item No. 3): ‘Regarding the probable demands for munitions of war. Provisions and other necessaries, etc., required by the Troops in Persia’. Documents dated 18 March-12 May 1857, chiefly letters to Jacob from Outram, A M Boileau, Brevet Major Commanding ‘B’ Company of Madras Sappers and Miners, Rennie and Jones

Folios 452-503 (including title page for index item No. 4): ‘Correspondence regarding the Expedition against Mohamreh [Mohammerah, i.e. Khorramshahr] and its capture, and of arrangements for raising and organising “Arab Levies” and other proposed arrangements regarding the dispersal of the troops subsequent to the above action’. Documents dated 13 March-9 May 1857, chiefly letters to Jacob from Outram (written from Mohammerah) and Colonel Edward Lugard, Chief of Staff

Folio 504-509 (including title page for index item No. 5): ‘Information of movements of the Expeditionary detachment to Ahwaz [Ahvaz] and other correspondence following the fall of Mohamreh and the action at Ahwaz’. Letters from Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Ismailiyah [Ismailia], to Outram, and from Outram to the Earl of Clarendon, 30 March-5 April 1857 Folio 510 (title page for index item No. 6): ‘Reflections on the policy of the action at Mohamreh which was originally intended to facilitate the progress of the British forces into the interior of Persia’ (no papers present)

(Title page and papers for index item No. 7 not present)

Folios 511-518 (including title page for index item No. 8): ‘Regarding proposed modifications and other important arrangements for the permanent defence of the frontiers of Sind’. Two documents, both addressed to ‘My Lord’, authors not identified

Folios 519-525 (including title page for index item No. 9): ‘General correspondence from Lord Elphinstone’. Letters to Outram, notably mentioning coals for English steam ships, cholera between Madras and Bangalore, and rifle ammunition, 3 and 4 April 1857

Folios 526-531 (including title page for index item No. 10): ‘Refutation of assertions regarding the “panic” supposed to have occurred subsequent to the action at Burazgoon [Borazjan]’. Letter from Outram to Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Somerset, Commander-in-Chief, Bombay Army, 11 April 1857, including extracts from intelligence reports dated 18 and 25 February 1857 regarding enemy casualties

Also after index item No. 10 (not covered by the index):

Folios 532-535: copy of letter of congratulation on Persian victories from Vernon Smith to Outram, with forwarding letter by Hyslop, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bagdad [Baghdad], April 1857

Folios 536-538 (including title page for index item No. 11): ‘Correspondence of congratulation, offer of presents, to the Native Troops by the Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. of Oude from Bagdad’. Summary translation of undated letter from the Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Ikbal-ood-Dowlek to Captain Kemball, congratulating the British Indian troops in action at Bushire and Borazgoon

Folios 539-558 (including title page for index item No. 12): 'Correspondence regarding the Sirkisheekchee [Sarkisheekchee] Bashee, etc’, (Mirza Mahomed Khan, Persian Commander-in-Chief and Plenipotentiary). Chiefly letters from Outram to Jacob, 12 April-15 June 1857 Folios 559-597 (including title page for index item No. 13): ‘Relative to the state of affairs in India and the measures which it would be advisable to adopt for the maintenance of British influence in the Bombay Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , etc.’ Chiefly letters from Lugard, Outram and Vernon Smith to Jacob; Lugard to Outram; and Outram to the Governor-General of India, the Earl of Clarendon and Vernon Smith, 28 June-15 July 1857

Folios 598-689 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘Relating to the Deputation of Ahmed Beg from Persian Camp and further correspondence regarding Meerza Agha’ (Persian Secretary to Charles A Murray, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. to His Majesty the King of Persia, at Bagdad). Chiefly original and copy letters, including Persian letters from Meerza Agha [Mirza Agha] (folios 602, 614, 626), relating to his dismissal by Jacob who accuses the former of unprecedented ‘insolence’ contained in a letter to Captain Felix Jones regarding the Deputation of Ahmed Beg. Correspondence is largely between Jacob, Outram, Jones, Murray and Meerza Agha. Murray, who strongly defends Meerza Agha, an employee of the British for over eighteen years, believes there is a campaign to smear his secretary’s character. Murray also dismisses Mahomed Hassan Khan, the Agent at Shiraz, who accuses Meerza Agha of threatening him. Covering dates c 25 April-31 August 1857

Folios 690-691: ‘Index Sirkasheekchee Bashee’, comprising a list of items numbered 1-11

Folios 692-733 (including title page for index item No. 1): 'Regarding the Treaty Armistice etc., Convention proposed to be entered into – line demarcation proposed and explained etc.' Documents dated c 22 April-7 May 1857, chiefly correspondence between Outram, Meerza Mahomed Khan, Sarkisheekchee Bashee, Persian Commander-in-Chief and Plenipotentiary [Mirza Muhammad Khan Davallu, Kishikchi Bashi], and Jacob, regarding news of the armistice reached between Britain and Persia in Paris, 4 March 1857, and terms of the truce concluded between Outram and Meerza Mahomed Khan (to extend to 4 June 1857). Includes original, copy, Persian (folios 695-697, 717-723 and 729-731) and translated letters from all correspondents

Folio 734: Note stating items ‘No. 2 and 3 transferred to Separate Compilations. No. 2 Regarding Meerza Agha [see folios 598-689]. No. 3 Regarding the Persian spy or Engineer officer [see IOR/H/550]’

Folios 735-736 (including title page for index item No. 4): ‘Regarding the procuring of corn provisions, etc.’ Letter from Jones to Jacob, 13 May 1857

Folios 737-741 (including title page for index item No. 5): ‘Correspondence regarding Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Mahomed Ali Khan’. Letter from Jones to Jacob, copy letters in Persian from Jones and from Shuja ul Mulk [also spelt Shooja ool Moolk], April 1857

Folios 742-743 (title page for index item No. 6): ‘Correspondence from and with the Khan of Khelat [Kalat]’. Letter from Jones to Jacob, 5 June 1857

(Index item No. 7 is filed out of order, on folios 775-814)

Folios 743-746 (including title page for index item No. 8): ‘Regarding the return of Mohamed Hussan Khan [Shiraz Agent] to Shiraz’. Letter from Jones to giving instructions to the former, 29 June 1857

Folios 747-748 (including title page for index item No. 9): ‘Regarding permission to persons of British camp to purchase horses from Persian camp at Borazjoon [Borazjan]’. Request from Jacob to the representative commanding the Persian forces, 8 July 1857

Folios 749-752 (including title page for index item No. 10): ‘Request for restoration of certain baggage animals captured in the action at Borazjoon.’ Correspondence between Jones, Jacob and Mihr Ali Khan, Shooja ool Moolk, 5-9 July 1857

Folios 753-755 (including title page for index item No. 11): ‘Regarding the escape of certain persons who attempted to murder a woman on purpose to rob her.’ Letter from Jones to Meerza Mohammed Khan, Sirkisheekchee Bashee Literally ‘Head of the Guards’. , with his reply, 10 and 17 July 1857

(Folios 756-774 do not appear to be covered by the index)

Folios 756-774: Correspondence and papers relating to general matters in Bushire. Documents dated 23 June-22 August 1857, including intelligence from Mahomed Hassan Khan, Shiraz Agent, his letters to Jones, August 1857, and notice of termination of his employment and the temporary appointment of Hajee Mahomed Khuleel [Ḥāji Muḥammad Khalīl]; correspondence of Jones and Jacob with Mihr Ali Khan, Shooja ool Moolk; Meerza Mahomed Alee Khan [Mirza Muhammed Ali Khan], Nawabi Hindee [Hindi]; and Sheikh Noshin Khan, Sirhauz of the First Order [Shaikh Nushin Khan, Sarbaz (soldier) of the First Order], Persian Force, notably regarding garrisoning of Bushire by different Persian regiment and permission for conclusion of commercial transactions with the locals by soldiers of previous Persian regiment. Persian letter from Alee Khan to Jacob (folio 766)

Folios 775-814 (including title page for index item No. 7): ‘Regarding the deputation of Haji Sheikh Noshin Khan, Sirhauz of the First Order, from Persian Camp and of Brigadier Trevelyan, Commandant of the Artillery, from British Camp, and other proceedings touching the mission to the Persian Camp’, to re-establish friendly relations following the transfer of supreme power at Bushire from Outram to Jacob. Correspondence, dated 15 June-10 July 1857, chiefly between Jacob, Jones and Meerza Mahomed Khan, including Persian letters (folios 777-779, 793, 805-806 and 810) and translations

Folio 815: ‘Index’ comprising a list of items numbered 1-3. No. 2 and 3 are filed before No. 1. They are all preceded by the correspondence on folios 816-832

Folios 816-832: Mainly formal correspondence, dated 20 July-28 August 1857, regarding dispersal of treasury no longer needed at Bushire, including shipment of ten lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. on the steamer Chusan from Bushire to Kurachee (for Bombay), a portion to Sinde [Sindh] and one lac One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees to the Baghdad treasury. Correspondence is between Jacob; H L Anderson, Secretary to the Government, Bombay; E E Elliot, Accountant General; B E Frere, Commissioner in Scinde [Sindh]; Captain Annesley, Paymaster, Persian Field Force, Bushire; Jones; and Pelly

Folios 833-841 (including title page for index item No. 2): ‘Miscellaneous demi official correspondence’. Letters from Jones to Jacob on various matters in Bushire, including ill-treatment of animals that went to the Persia Camp and attempted robbery of a “Bagdad lady of easy virtue”, 9-13 July 1857

Folios 842-849 (including title page for index item No. 3): ‘Miscellaneous correspondence regarding the Pioneer and Feroze .’ Concerning delay in delivery of Kurachee mails on the Pioneer and allocation of Feroze to go to Bombay, 11 July-2 August

Folios 850-886 (including title page for index item No. 1): ‘Audits on abstracts by the Paymaster Persian Field Force.’ Correspondence relating to recouping salary allowances erroneously paid to Jacob during the Persian Campaign, chiefly correspondence between Jacob; Annesley; Major H J Barr, late Field Paymaster, Persian Expeditionary Force; the Military Department in Bombay; and Colonel Melvill, Secretary to the Government, c June 1857-April 1858

Extent and format

1 volume (887 folios)

Arrangement

The volume contains five groups of papers, each preceded by an index that was probably compiled at the time the papers were bound together. One set of papers has been bound out of order (with the papers corresponding to the third index, instead of the fourth index to which they actually belong).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 889; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: The original pagination sequence dating from the 1920s is also present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. This sequence correlates to the description found in Samuel Charles Hill's Catalogue of the Home Miscellaneous Series of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records (London: HMSO, for the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , 1927).

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English in Latin script

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