Letter No. 12 of 1855 from Commander James Felix Jones, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf, at Bushire to Henry Lacon Anderson, Secretary to the Government, Secret Department, Bombay

Content

The letter is reporting that the British Envoy to Persia, Charles Augustus Murray, has broken off diplomatic relations with the Persian Government, and left Tehran for Monsul [Al-Mawṣil]. It notes that Consul R W Stevens has been made responsible for communications with the Government of Persia, and the protection of British subjects.

It further explains that the Acting Resident intends to maintain the position of the British 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. at Bushire; if instructed, or forced to withdraw, it notes that he intends to relocate to Grain, or Koweit [Kuwait].

It is also reported that it is believed that Persian reinforcements are on route to Bushire from Shiraz, in order to repel an attack from that quarter. It therefore reports on the current strength of the defences and garrisons at both Bushire and Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye].

The item has two enclosures:

1. Letter from Charles Augustus Murray to the Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , dated 6 December 1855.

The letter is instructing the Resident to make arrangements to have all disposable vessels of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Squadron stationed at Bushire for the purpose of warding off any potential aggression towards those under British protection.

2. Translation of a letter from Prince Tahmesp Meerza, the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Fars Province to Meerza Raja King , News Writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. and Agent for Foreign Affairs at Bushire.

The enclosure conveys instructions ordering that good relations are to be maintained with the British Resident at Bushire; it explains that the incident with the British Envoy at Tehran is of a personal nature, and not related to matters of state.

Extent and format

8 folios

It is part of

Vol 180: Secret letters Inward and Outward

478 images

Ref: IOR/R/15/1/132

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Letter

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/15/1/132, ff 224-231

History of this record

Date(s)

20 Dec 1855 (CE, Gregorian)

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Letter No. 12 of 1855 from Commander James Felix Jones, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf, at Bushire to Henry Lacon Anderson, Secretary to the Government, Secret Department, Bombay, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/132, ff 224-231, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024051548.0x00004a> [accessed 13 March 2025]

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