Persian Gulf Affairs

Content

This item consists of a despatch to 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. , 31 July 1839, from John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, Bombay [Mumbai]. The despatch itself (not included) is numbered 1 and is followed by an abstract of contents, numbered 2. The abstract of contents is followed by despatches, numbered 3-24, which are chiefly from John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, Bombay [Mumbai], to the Secretary with the Governor-General of India, (with some responses from the latter), and from Willoughby to Captain Samuel Hennell, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Other despatches comprise minutes of the Governors in Council, Bombay, and single despatches to the Bombay Government from: Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland, Naval Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies; Lieutenant-Colonel Stratford Powell, Adjutant-General of the Army; and (the final despatch) Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Campbell, HM Consul-General in Egypt, based in Alexandria.

The main subjects covered are:

• Observations, approbation and instructions by 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. and Government of India relating to the actions that Hennell and the Assistant Resident, Lieutenant Thomas Edmunds, have recently undertaken in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (as described in IOR/L/PS/5/376, ff 279-409) with regard to halting the perceived encroachments of Egypt in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in particular efforts to effect the expulsion from Shargah [Sharjah] of Syed bin Mootlook [Sa‘d bin Mutlaq al-Muṭayrī], the self-professed agent of Korshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Khūrshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , also spelled Khorshid, Kurshid, and Kourschid Pacha in this item], Commanding the Egyptian Forces in Nedgd [Najd, also known as Nejd], and encouragement of the Chief of Bahrein [Bahrain] to break his treaty agreement with Kurshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
• The removal 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. from Bushire [Bushehr] to the island of Karrack [Kharg, also known as Khark, also spelled Kharrack in this item] following a dispute with Mirza Assad, Governor of Bushire, including: approbation of the actions of Rear-Admiral Maitland, on the Wellesley ; Hennell’s suspension of communications with the Government of Fars; the honouring, by the Shah of Persia [Iran] of Mirza Assad for his recent actions and consequent British suspicions concerning the Shah's professed desire for the restoration of friendly relations with Britain
• The removal of Sheik Nassir [Shaikh Nāṣir Āl Mazkūr II, a former Governor of Bushire] from Bushire, notably concern that Lieutenant-Colonel James Shirreff [also spelled Sheriff in this item], Commanding the Field Force at Kharrack, acted beyond his powers; and the Governor-General’s recommendation that Hennell arrange compensation for Sheik Nassir, maintain his 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. on Karrack in good condition and inform him of the possibility of his return to the island in future
• Intelligence relating to the condition and movements of the Persian Army
• The removal to India of the British military detachment recently serving in Persia under Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Shee, and whether 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. should have first consulted Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Chargé d’Affaires in Persia
• The vesting in Shirreff of powers of courts martial and capital punishment, authorizing the execution of death sentences in certain circumstances, on condition of consultation with the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
• The communication, obtained by HM Consul-General in Alexandria, from Mehemet Ali [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. al-Mas‘ūd bin Āghā, Governor of Egypt] to Kourschid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to suspend military interference in the island of Bahrein, including a copy in [Ottoman] Arabic and translation (into French) of the order (ff 653-655).

Extent and format

1 item (53 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY' Vol 14

1406 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/376

Written in

English, French and Turkish, Ottoman in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Archival item

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/L/PS/5/376, ff 606-659

History of this record

Date(s)

20 Jul 1839-31 Jul 1839 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Death penaltyCourts martialCompensationInternational relationsMilitary intelligencePolitical conflictsDiplomacy

Places

Persian GulfKarrack (island)BushirePersia

People & organisations

Government of Bombay, Chief SecretaryGovernment of IndiaPersian Gulf Political ResidencyGovernment of BombayRoyal Navy, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies and China StationBengal Army, Adjutant GeneralHM Ambassador to EgyptGovernor of BushireCommander-in-Chief of Egyptian Forces in Central ArabiaWāli of Egypt and SudanCommander of the Field Force in the Persian GulfSa‘d bin Muṭlaq al-MuṭayrīNāṣir II Āl Mazkūr

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Persian Gulf Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/376, ff 606-659, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100126288479.0x00000b> [accessed 6 April 2025]

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