Letter from Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire to Neil Benjamin Edmonstone, Secretary in the Secret, Political and Foreign Department, Fort William, Calcutta

Content

The letter outlines details of a letter the Resident has received from Jaffer Ali Khan [Ja‘afar ‘Alī Khān], which regarded packets mentioned in his dispatch dated 16 July 1807. Excerpts from this letter are included. The topics covered include contradictory intelligence regarding Russian military activity, French plans to march against India via Cabul [Kabul], a Persian victory against the Afghans near Herat and speculation on the capabilities of the Persian army. Three enclosures are included:

1. A translation of an undated note received 27 August 1807 from Jaffer Ali Khan to Meerza Seyd Hassan concerning the gift of a watch to the latter. Also translated is the reply from the back of the original note; Meerza Seyd Hassan accepts the gifts though he does not believe that he is worthy of them.

2. A translation of a letter from Nicholas Hankey Smith dated 28 August 1807 to Abdella Iben Soud of the Wahhabee [Wahabi] tribe. It concerns the desire of the Resident to develop a friendly relationship between Abdella Iben Soud and the British Government. Listed is a series of gifts presented to him by the Resident.

3. A translation of a Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). from Mohumed W... Meerza to Nassar Olla Khan Kharag..., Minister to the Prince Regent at Sheraz [Shiraz]. It announces the defeat of the Afghans near Herat and that the city is now under siege.

Extent and format

4 folios

It is part of

Vol 10 Letters Outward

436 images

Ref: IOR/R/15/1/10

Physical characteristics

Condition: The item has suffered from pest damage which has resulted in a number of holes in the body of the letter that make the text difficult to read in places. The signature of the letter has also been obscured, but it is still possible to identify the author.

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/15/1/10, ff 28-31

History of this record

Date(s)

28 Aug 1807 (CE, Gregorian)

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Cite this record in your research

Letter from Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire to Neil Benjamin Edmonstone, Secretary in the Secret, Political and Foreign Department, Fort William, Calcutta, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/10, ff 28-31, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100075534085.0x0000bd> [accessed 11 June 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100075534085.0x0000bd

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