Letter from Major General William Grant Keir, to Captain William Bruce, Resident at Bushire

Content

Keir reports that, in the wake of the submission of the Sheikh of Ra's al-Khaymah, he has signed a preliminary General Treaty with some of the rulers of the Arab coast, as well as Preliminary Treaties with the individual rulers, to accommodate specific matters. Keir also writes of negotiations between the Imam of Muscat, Sa‘id bin Sulṭān, and the Prince of Persia's designs on Bahrain. Keir writes that the Imam of Muscat has enquired of him on what the British Government's response would be to him attacking Bahrain.

There are a number of enclosures with the letter:

1. Translation of the General Treaty with the Arabs of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 6-9). Article 1 of the treaty states that there shall be a cessation of plunder and piracy both at sea and on land on the part of the Arab tribes. A list of the treaty's signatories and dates of signing follow the articles of the treaty. Note that some of these dates are later than the covering correspondence;

2. Translation of the Preliminary Treaty with Sheikh Shokbout ben Dhyob [Shakbut bin Dhiyab] of Abou Dhabyee [Abu Dhabi] (f 9-9v);

3. Translation of the Preliminary Treaty with Sultan ben Sugger (folios 9v-10);

4. Translation of the Preliminary Treaty with the Sheikh of Dubey [Dubai] (folios 10-10v);

5. Translation of the Preliminary Treaty with Hassem ben Ali (folios 10v-11);

6. Translation of a Feermann [ Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). ] from his Royal Highness the Prince of Sheraz to General Sir William Keir, received at Ras ul Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah] 9 January 1820 (folios 11-12);

7. Letter from Major General William Grant Keir, to Captain William Bruce, Officer in Charge 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. at Bushire (folio 12)

Extent and format

9 folios

It is part of

‘Vol 21 Letters inward’

128 images

Ref: IOR/R/15/1/21

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/15/1/21, ff 4-12

History of this record

Date(s)

16 Jan 1820 (CE, Gregorian)

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Letter from Major General William Grant Keir, to Captain William Bruce, Resident at Bushire, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/21, ff 4-12, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024100364.0x00005d> [accessed 21 November 2024]

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