Secret Letters Inward

Content

The file consists of secret letters sent to Samuel Hennell, British Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The majority of this correspondence is from either the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , or the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. based at India House in London. These letters frequently contain enclosures (i.e. copies) of communications sent between the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , the Government of India, and the home authorities in Britain; this also includes correspondence with HM Consul-General to Egypt.

The principal correspondents in the file are as follows:

• Patrick Campbell, HM Consul-General to Egypt.
• George Eden, Governor-General of India.
• Thomas Henry Maddock, Officiating Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General, writing in the Secret Department.
• Rear-Admiral Sir Lewis Frederick Maitland, Commander of the East Indies and China Station.
• Lestock Robert Reid, Acting Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. .
• Henry John Temple, Third Viscount Palmerston, Foreign Secretary for the United Kingdom.
• John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , writing in the Secret Department.

The subject matter concerns the conquest of Nedjd [Najd] by Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Khūrshid Pāshā] on behalf of Mahomed Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā], Viceroy of Egypt; and his subsequent efforts to subjugate Bahrein [Bahrain] and the Arab tribes of Oman. It therefore covers British efforts to prevent the further advancement of Egyptian forces towards the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; this includes their reaction to the voluntary submission of Abdoola bin Ahmed [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah], Chief of Bahrein, to Egypt, and their efforts to coordinate the Arab tribes against the Egyptians.

The other main subject covered by this file is the diplomatic rupture between Britain and Persia. The occupation of Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye] by a British force from India, and the removal of the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. from Bushire to that island are therefore covered as a result. The feasibility of an invasion of southern Persia is also discussed within the correspondence.

Topics featured in the correspondence to a lesser extent include the following:

• The reprimand of Lieutenant-Colonel James Shiriff, Commander of the British force at Karrack, for undermining the political position of the Resident.
• The strengthening of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
• The removal of Shaikh Nasir [Shaykh Nāṣir] from the island of Karrack.
• A visit to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland aboard HMS Wellesley .
• A report from Captain Aikins Hamerton and Captain John T Leslie on their mission to obtain mules for the British force at Karrack.
• The provisioning of two steamers for an expedition to navigate the rivers Euphrates and Tigris.

The correspondence in French only amounts to 5 folios (see ff 75-79), and consists of translations of Egyptian correspondence relating to British pressure on Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to abandon his designs on Bahrein.

Please also note that in the file Mahomed Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is also spelt Mehemet Ali, and there is a degree of variation in the spelling of Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is also frequently spelt Pacha.

Extent and format

1 file (158 folios)

Arrangement

The correspondence has been arranged in chronological order from 28 January to 7 December 1839. Most of the letters in the file contain enclosures of a slightly earlier creation date; the creation date of the oldest enclosure being 24 October 1838.

Physical characteristics

Condition: The content of the file is largely in good condition. However, ff 81-88 have a section missing — possibly a result of pest damage — and some of the text has been lost as a result.

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; 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 file also contains an original pagination sequence, which is written in ink.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Letter book

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: 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 and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/1/83

History of this record

Date(s)

28 Jan 1839-7 Dec 1839 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military operationsImperial rivalry

Places

OmanBahreinKarrack (island)Nedjd

People & organisations

Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsViceroy and Governor-General of India in CouncilEast India Company, Court of Directors, Secret CommitteeGovernment of Bombay, Secretary to the Political DepartmentGovernment of India, Foreign and Political DepartmentKing of BahrainHM Ambassador to EgyptWāli of Egypt and SudanRoyal Navy, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies and China StationCommander-in-Chief of Egyptian Forces in Central Arabia

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Secret Letters Inward, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/83, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x000038> [accessed 1 April 2025]

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