1. Persian Gulf Affairs

Description:

Abstract: This part of the volume consists of Enclosures to a Despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 29 of 1841, dated 26 April 1841. The enclosures are dated 6 February to 26 April 1841, and are mainly letters, relating to the Persian Gulf.The enclosures mostly consist of correspondence between the Secretary to the Government of Bombay (John Pollard Willoughby) and the Resident in the Persian Gulf (Captain Samuel Hennell) at Karrack [Kharg Island].This part also includes: correspondence between the Government of Bombay and the Superintendent of the Indian Navy; and letters to the Secretary to the Government of India, the Envoy and Minister at Cabool [Kabul], the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, and the Assistant to the Resident in the Persian Gulf.In addition, this part includes: reports from the News Writer at Shiraz (No. 18), a ‘Bushire merchant’ (No. 36), the Agent at Shargah [Sharjah] (Nos. 39 and 44), and the Native Agent at Muskat [Muscat] (Nos. 57-58).Matters discussed in the enclosures include:Repairs and alterations to the Fort at Karrack recommended by the Resident in the Persian Gulf (Nos. 3-5)Whether any alterations in the coinage of Persia [Iran] had been made subsequent to the introduction of the New Mahomed Shah Rupee and Toman, and whether any further appreciation of these coins had taken place (Nos 15-17)The visit of Syed Humood ben Azan [Ḥamūd bin Azan Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Chief of Sohar [Ṣuḥār], to Bombay (Nos. 19-22)The arrival at Karrack of Frederick Brenner, a Carmelite Friar, with the intention of officiating as a Catholic Clergyman to members of the Catholic Church residing on the Island (Nos. 26-28)Letters from Dr James Pringle Riach, attached to HM Mission at the Court of Persia, concerning his intention to travel to Ghorian [Ghōriyān] with an order from the Shah for the evacuation of the Fortress at Ghorian by the Persian troops, and for its immediate restoration to the Government of Herat (Nos. 30-32 and 50-51)The Resident in the Persian Gulf’s actions in relation to the Asseloo [Bandar-e ‘Asalūyeh] boats which had been cruising about for the ostensible purpose of seizing Congoon [Kāngān] boats (Nos. 40-41)The actions of Commodore George Barnes Brucks, Indian Navy, Commanding the Persian Gulf Naval Squadron, in the ‘settlement of claims’ existing against the Shaikhs of Biddah [Al Bidda] and Debaye [Dubai] (Nos. 46-48 and 56)The arrival of the Assistant to the Resident in the Persian Gulf at Paris en route to re-join his station in the Persian Gulf, and his request for permission to proceed to the Presidency after 1 June 1841 (Nos. 52-55)Copies of despatches from HBM Chargé d’Affaires at Persia (Justin Sheil) to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, enclosing translations of correspondence with the Prime Minister to the Shah, letters from the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Persian Prince Reza Koolee Mirza, and firmans[orders] by the Shah (No. 65)The detention of the East India Company’s brig of war Tigrisin the Persian Gulf by the Resident in the Persian Gulf (Nos. 7-8), the despatch of the Company’s sloop of war Elphinstonefor service in the Persian Gulf (No. 8), the despatch by the Resident of the Company’s schooner Emilyto Bombay (Nos. 33-35), and its despatch from Bombay to the Persian Gulf (Nos. 66-67).Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-67, on folios 422-434. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.

2. Persian Gulf Affairs

Description:

Abstract: This part of the volume consists of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 58 of 1841, dated 17 July 1841. The enclosures are dated 3 April to 9 July 1841, and concern affairs in the Persian Gulf and Persia [Iran].Most of the correspondence consists of copies of letters from the Resident in the Persian Gulf at Karrack [Kharg], Samuel Hennell, to the Secretary to the Government of Bombay, John Pollard Willoughby, with copies of enclosed correspondence. There are also copies of letters from Willoughby to Sir William Hay Macnaghten, Envoy and Minister at the Court of Shah Shooja Ool Moolk [Shuja Shah Abdali Durrani], and Thomas Herbert Maddock, Secretary to the Government of India, and from Colonel Justin Sheil to Willoughby.The enclosures relate to matters including:News from Persia, including the arrival of the Prince of Shiraz at Brozgoon [Borazjan], about forty miles from Bushire [Būshehr]The state of affairs at Bahrein [Bahrain], communicated in a letter from the Native Agent at BahreinNews reported in letters from the News Writer at Shiraz, including the expulsion of the British forces from Herat and the offer of Kerman Shah to place himself under the protection of the Shah of Persia, and news reported by the Agent at Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh]The view of the Resident in the Persian Gulf on the unsuitability of Grane or Koweit [Kuwait] as a location for a military stationNews in letters from James Pringle Riach, including the fortress of Ghorian [Ghurian] being evacuated by the Persian troops and given up to the Herat GovernmentThe survey of the Karoon [Karun] riverThe question of whether the European troops should be removed from Karrack during the ‘unhealthy’ part of the yearThe Resident in the Gulf’s tour of the Arabian Coast for the purpose of making arrangements for the renewal of the maritime truce for the ensuing year.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-35, on folios 460-467. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.