Letter from Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire to Neil Benjamin Edmonstone, Secretary in the Secret, Political and Foreign Department, Fort William, Calcutta
IOR/R/15/1/10, ff 13-17
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The record is made up of 5 folios. It was created in 16 Jul 1807. 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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- Content
The letter details intelligence delivered by Jaffer Ali Khan [Ja‘afar ‘Alī Khān] concerning the details of an alliance negotiated between France and Persia, and of the efforts of the French to convince the Persians that the British are attempting to incite the Russians against them.
The Resident also details the measures he has taken in sending Jaffer Ali Khan to try and intercept a French package bound for the Isle of France [Mauritius]; he hopes to either intercept the package or obtain a copy of its contents. Also explained within the letter is the reasons as to why Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā, the Prince of Sherauz [Shiraz] has not heard from him and intelligence concerning Russian victories against the Turks.
Four enclosures are included:
1. A translation of a letter from the Prince of Sherauz, to Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire, regarding a firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). delivered by Jaffur Alee Khan (Jaffer Ali Khan) which the Resident is expected to forward to the Governor General in Fort William, Calcutta and then return the reply to the Prince.
2. A translation of the Resident's reply to the Prince of Sherauz acknowledging receipt of the firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). and that its instructions have been carried out.
3. A translation of letter to Nassur Olla Khan, Prime Minister to the Prince of Sherauz from Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire, in order to show the esteem and high regard in which he holds him.
4. A translation of a letter to the Prince Regent of Sherauz from Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire. Much of the text is missing but it seems to convey the esteem and high regard in which he is held by the Resident.
- Extent and format
- 5 folios
- It is part of
- 436 imagesRef: IOR/R/15/1/10
- Physical characteristics
Condition: The item has suffered from extensive pest damage, which has affected multiple folios. As a result some sections of text in the body of the letter has been obscured, and is difficult to read.
- Written in
- English in Latin script
- Type
- Letter
Archive information for this record
- 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 13-17
- Date(s)
- 16 Jul 1807 (CE, Gregorian)
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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 13-17, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100075534085.0x0000d9> [accessed 7 June 2026]
- Link to this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/10, ff 13-17
- Title
- Letter from Nicholas Hankey Smith, Resident at Bushire to Neil Benjamin Edmonstone, Secretary in the Secret, Political and Foreign Department, Fort William, Calcutta
- Pages
- 13v:17r
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence