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'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎82r] (165/226)

The record is made up of 1 volume (111 folios). It was created in 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .

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WITH 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. —1646 TO 1846.
133
that the two steamers Euphrates and Tigris are now descending the great river, sur
veying carefully as the}' drop down, under every possible advantage, both vessels being
completely manned, anncd, and equipped, with their boilers, engines, and machinery
quite as safe, and even more perfect in their working details than when sent out of the
maker's hands at Liverpool."
293. On the 18th June 1836 Colonel Chesney addressed the fol
lowing- letter from on board the steamer Euphrates to Sir John Cam
Hobhousej President of the Board of Control Formally known as the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, it was established by an Act of Parliament in 1784 to supervise the activities of the East India Company. :—
" I have the honor to inform you that this vessel reached the junction of the rivers
Euphrates and Tigris during the afternoon of this day, so memorable for ever in the
annals of England. We are now about 43 miles from Bussorah, and have completed
the survey and descent of the splendid river Euphrates, which ends here; onwards is
the Shat El Arab, which is rather a branch of the sea than a river in the ordinary
acceptation of the word. The officers and men are all in good health, and the best
possible spirits having arrived here without any serious difficulty or annoyance."
294. On the 21st May 1836 the Tigris steamer was upset in the Eu
phrates River during a heavy squall and foundered. By this melancholy
accident Lieutenant Cockburn, of the Royal Artillery, Lieutenant Lynch,
of the 26th Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry, 12 Europeans, consisting
of sailors, engineers, &c., and six natives were drowned. Several ineffec
tual attempts have been made to raise this vessel. In October last an
Arab, who, at the request of Major Rawlinson, the present 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. , examined the wreck of this vessel, stated that he was
of opinion that at next fall of the river her hull would be left high and
dry. Major Rawlinson accordingly, on the 5th November last, referred
for the instructions of the Right Ilon^ble the Governor-General of India
whether, in the event of this expectation being realized, he should break
up this vessel and forward her machinery to India if on inspection it
should be found to be in a tolerable state of preservation. This Govern
ment has not been informed of the decision of His Lordship on this
subject.
295. On the 23rd January 1837 the Euphrates expedition was by
order of His late Majesty^s Government broken up, and the Euphrates
steamer was made over to the East India Company, on the understanding
that such an amount should be paid for her as a Committee of survey
miffht deem her to be worth.
296. On the 18th April 1837 the Hon^ble 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.
forwarded, for the information and guidance of this Government, copy
of a letter that authority had on the same day addressed to the Right
Hon^ble the Governor-General of India in Council, intimating that
they had appointed Lieutenant (now Commander) 11. B. Lynch, of
the Indian Navy, then in England, to the command of the Euphrates
steamer and of any other steamers which might subsequently be em
ployed on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. 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. at
the same time forwarded copy of the following letter which they had on
the same day addressed to Lieutenant Lynch, directing him to proceed to
Bagdad for the above purpose, and containing instructions for his guid
ance after his arrival* at that place :—
" You will proceed with all convenient speed to Bagdad. On reaching that city you will
report your arrival immediately to Colonel Taylor, the Hon'ble East India Company's
* Lieutenant Lynch arrived at Bagdad on the 18th July 1837, and assumed charge of
the Euphrates steamer.

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Content

The volume is Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with 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. , as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information (Calcutta: Foreign Department Press, 1874).

The volume includes a five paragraph introduction stating that the record had been compiled following a request 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. from the Government of India (folio 15). The information is a mixture of précis and direct quotation, with comments. The sources are correspondence; minutes; extracts from proceedings; treaties; lists; the diary of the Bombay Government; the diaries of Surat and Gombroon [Bandar Abbas]; reports; committee reports; dispatches to the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. ; statements from the Military Auditor-General; and firmans.

The record includes selected information on appointments; personnel; treaties; trade; relations with the Ottoman authorities; diplomatic contacts; political developments; climate and health; administration; and naval and martime affairs.

Five appendices at the rear of the volume (folios 85-109) give transcripts of treaties between England/the United Kingdom and the Government of the Ottoman Empire (the Sublime Porte), signed 1661-1809; and a 'Memorandum on the present condition of the Pachalic [Pachalik] of Bagdad and the means it possesses of renovation and improvement' dated 12 November 1834.

Extent and format
1 volume (111 folios)
Arrangement

There is an index on ff 2-15. The index gives the following information in parallel columns: year; miscellaneous information regarding 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. (ff 2-11); appointments etc. 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. commencing with the year 1728 (ff 12-14); Euphrates expedition and flotilla (f 15); paragraph of summary; and page. Entries in the index refer to the numbered paragraphs that compose the main body of the text (headed 'Summary').

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1 on the first folio bearing text and terminates at 109, on the last folio bearing text. The numbers are written in pencil and enclosed in a circle and appear in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. page of each folio. There is also an original printed pagination, numbered i-xxviii (index); [1]-137 (main body of text); [i]-xlix (appendices).

Condition: the volume is disbound and has lost its front cover.

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English in Latin script
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'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎82r] (165/226), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C30, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023252871.0x0000a6> [accessed 7 April 2025]

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