'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression'

Content

This file contains printed copies of correspondence between British officials regarding Britain's attempts to prohibit slave traffic on the East Coast of Africa, relations between Britain and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and Zanzibar's relations with Muscat. The correspondence dates from September 1866-July 1869.

The file contains translated copies of correspondence between the Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Saeed and the Viceroy of India, John Laird Mair Lawrence as well as translated correspondence between an Envoy of the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord Stanley [Edward Henry Stanley].

On folio 42r, the file contains a translation of a letter from Queen Victoria to the Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Saeed. The letter confirms the friendly relations between the two and informs the Sultan that a sword has been specially commissioned for him as a gift.

The file also contains translated correspondence between the Sultan of Johanna [Anjouan Island, now part of the Comoros Islands] and Henry Adrian Churchill, Britain's Agent in Zanzibar.

Extent and format

1 volume (34 folios)

Arrangement

The file is arranged in rough chronological order, with the earliest correspondence at the beginning of the file and the latest at the end of the file.

Physical characteristics

Condition: the file is contained within a bound volume that contains a number of other files.

Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at f 31, and terminates at f 66, as it is part of a larger physical volume; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 5-134; these numbers are written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

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/L/PS/18/B83

History of this record

Date(s)

29 Oct 1869 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Slave trade

People & organisations

Viceroy and Governor-General of India in CouncilSecretary of State for Foreign AffairsSultan of ZanzibarVictoria

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Cite this record in your research

'Papers Respecting the Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa and the System Pursued for its Suppression', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B83, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000102> [accessed 22 March 2025]

Link to this record

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