Abstract: This volume consists of letters written from the Bushire Residency. The first eighty-two items are attributed to William Bruce; the remaining items, with the exception of a few letters written by Bruce from various locations, are written by James Dow, Assistant Surgeon at the Bushire Residency, who was in charge of the Residency during William Bruce's absence. Most of the letters are written to representatives of the Government of Bombay, with the most common recipients being John Wedderburn (Accountant General, Civil Auditor and Military Accountant), Richard Morgan (Secretary to the Marine Board), Francis Warden (Chief Secretary to the Government) and Mountstuart Elphinstone (President and Governor in Council, Bombay). In addition, a significant number of letters are addressed to army officers, including Major General Sir William Grant Keir and Captain Thomas Perronet Thompson. Many of the letters to Bombay concern the routine sending of bills and receipts relating to expenses (the most common of which being supplies for East India Company ships) incurred by the Residency. Other subjects covered in the volume include: William Bruce joining HMS
Edenon her voyage along the Arab coast in search of Wahhābī boats; news and speculation regarding Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mīrzā's plans to launch an attack against Bahrain; relations between Arab chieftains following the General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf of 1820; details of the Residency complying with requests for funds or supplies for the British troops stationed at Ra's al-Khaymah, and later, at Qeshm; details of a treaty between the Imam of Muscat (Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd) and the Shaikhs of Bahrain, as relayed to Bruce by Rahma bin Jabir; the death of a crew member of the
Elizacountry ship and the subsequent investigation into the treatment received on board that ship; presents sent by His Highness Ebrāhim Khan, Governor of Kermān, to Mountstuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay; the death, on 10 November 1821, of Dr Andrew Jukes, Political Agent in Persia.Physical description: Pagination: There is a pagination sequence, which is written in pencil in the top right corners of the rectos and in the top left corners of the versos. It runs from 1 to 175.Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 2, and ends on the inside of the back cover on number 95. This is the sequence used by this catalogue to reference items within the file.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters sent outwards from the Bushire
Residency, along with correspondence sent by the Resident, Captain William Bruce, while
away from Bushire. It covers the administrative proceedings of the Bushire Residency,
and matters related to the British force stationed at Bassidore [Bāsaʻīdū] on the island
of Qeshm. As well as political affairs in the Persian Gulf current in 1822.Some of the correspondence in the volume also relates to
legal proceedings initiated by ‘Abd al-Raḥīm Khān against the Resident in the Bombay
courts, in relation to the Resident's handling of the estate of the late Muḥammad
Nabī Khān. It also covers the events surrounding the Resident's summons to Shiraz
by Prince Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā, and the unauthorised signing of a treaty ceding Bahrain to
Persia; a set of affairs that would lead to William Bruce's dismissal from the post
of Resident of Bushire in December 1822.Physical description: Condition: The file has suffered from pest damage, though for
the most part the legibility of the text remains unaffected. The main exception being a
series of holes, which run through ff 3-10 and ff 28-47; the largest of these holes are
approximately 2cm in diameter, and these do obscure the text in places, which can result
in some of the content being difficult to read. The paper is also fragile, and should be
handled with care.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front
cover with 1, 2, 2a-2d, 3-83, and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are
written in pencil, are circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto
side of each folio.Pagination: A pagination sequence is also present between ff
3-83; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in
the top outermost corners of each page.
Abstract: The file consists of correspondence addressed to the Resident at Bushire, Captain William Bruce. However, much of the content has been weeded, and is no longer present in the file; this is indicated by gaps in the file's pagination sequence.The remaining content includes some instructions to the Resident, concerning a stop-off he made at Muscat during his return from Bombay to Bushire early in 1822, along with a dispatch from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d'affaires at the Court of Persia, concerning the deterioration of his situation at Tehran as a result of arrears in the Persian Subsidy. It also includes a letter from the Bombay Government removing William Bruce from his position as Resident at Bushire at the end of 1822, for negotiating an unauthorised treaty at Shiraz with the Persian authorities there.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: An incomplete pagination sequence is also present between ff 2-40v; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the top outermost corners of each page.
Abstract: A collection of letters outward by John MacLeod, Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, between 12 December 1822 and 1 September 1823. The majority of letters are sent to British officials at Basrah, Tehran and Tabriz, including Captain Robert Taylor and Major Henry Willock, and to British naval and military officers operating in the Persian Gulf, including Captain Frederick Faithfull and his successor, Captain Hardy. These letters cover a number of topics, including MacLeod's 1823 trip to the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf; procedures for enforcing the General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf of 1820 following the withdrawal from Qishm; relations between Britain, Persia, the sheikhs of the Arabian littoral of the Gulf, Raḥmah bin Jābir al-Jalāhimah and the Imam of Muscat; construction works undertaken by the Arab shaikhs; and procedures for pilotage at the port of Bushire.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover with pencil numbers enclosed in circle in the front top right corner of each folio. An original pagination sequence 1-43 starts on folio 2 and consists of larger pencil numbers on top right of recto and top left of verso of each folio.Condition: There is some insect damage to the bottom right hand corner of the volume causing some of the text to be missing on the bottom right hand corner of the recto and the bottom left hand corner of the verso of the folios 1-7.
Abstract: A collection of letters sent outwards from the Residency in Bushire between 1778 and 1787. The majority of the letters are sent to East India Company officials at Bussora [Basra] and Bombay. Letters are also sent to numerous ship captains and a limited number are sent to local rulers. The letters cover a wide range of topics including trade, financial and administrative matters, political developments in Persia (especially following the death of Carim Cahn [Karim Khan] in 1779), hostilities with the French in India and regional conflicts involving the Chaub [the Banu Ka'b tribal confederacy] and other local powers.Physical description: A bound letter book.Pagination: The file has three sets of pagination: one at the top of the page and two on the bottom. The set on the bottom left-hand corner of each page is consistent throughout the file; this is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the file.A small number of items in this file are damaged and have some text missing.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters sent outwards from the office of the Resident in the Persian Gulf. The subject matter focuses on British relations with various powers in and around the Persian Gulf during 1823; more specifically, on enforcing the provisions of the General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf (1820), and talk of an intended Persian invasion of Bahrain. It also outlines the outcome of a tour of the Arabian coast by John Macleod in January 1823.Other matters covered include the state of the Residency house at Bushire, and an investigation into William Bruce's involvement in the case of Muḥammad Nabī Khān, along with some limited reporting on the possibility of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān being removed from the position of Governor of Bushire by Prince Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences on the first page of text and continues through to the 3rd folio from the back of the volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: A pagination sequence also runs through the volume between ff 2-191; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the top outermost corners of each page.
Abstract: The volume consists of letters sent out by Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, the Resident in the Persian Gulf, and James Pringle Riach, the officer placed in charge of the Bushire Residency during his absences; the Resident is required to make a number of trips to the Arabian Coast during the period covered by this volume.The subject matter covered includes political activity in Persia principally relating to Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān, the Shaikh of Bushire, and Ḥusayn ‘Alī Mirzā, the Prince at Shiraz; this includes some discussion concerning a possible Persian expedition to retake Bahrain, and the insecure position of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān at Bushire. The impact and consequences of an earthquake, which occurred at Shiraz are also reported.A great deal of correspondence is related to the Resident's role in enforcing the General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf 1820, which aims to curb piracy in the Gulf. There is therefore a great deal of material relating to mediating a dispute between the dependants of Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd, the Imam of Muscat (principally Shaikh Ṭaḥnūn bin Shakhbūṭ Āl Nahyān), and Sulṭān bin Saqr. There is also some material concerning the arrangement of transportation for the Resident's trips to the Arabian coast.Captain William Owen's efforts to suppress the slave trade in East Africa are covered to a degree by the correspondence; the Captain's authorised declaration of a British Protectorate over Mombasa is reported, along with his threats against other dependencies of the Government of Oman (for example, Zanzibar). There is also a limited amount of material concerning the Imam of Muscat's threats to blockade the port of Basra.Physical description: Condition: The front cover of the volume is detached from the binding, which is itself in poor condition, and many sections are loose. Much of the body of the volume is in good condition, but care must be taken as some of the folios are very fragile.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The volume contains the following amendments to the foliation; 1, and 1A; 20, and 20A; 90, and 90A.Pagination: The volume contains an original pagination sequence written in ink between ff 2-140; these numbers are located in the top centre of each page.
Abstract: The file consists of a few letters sent to Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, by William Newnham, Chief Secretary to the Bombay Government. The subject is the status of the diplomatic relationship between the British Government and Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd, the Imam of Muscat; the British are willing to co-operate with the Imam in operations to suppress piracy, but are unwilling to get involved in wars between Muscat and other regional powers, such as the Wahhabi. The correspondence in the file, and its various enclosures, is intended to guide and inform the Resident's future conduct and decision making with regard to the Imam of Muscat.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the final sheet; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: The remains of a pagination sequence are also present between ff 2-32; these numbers are written in ink and are located in the top outermost corners of each page.
Abstract: The volume consists of correspondence primarily between Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to the Bombay Government, and Captain Thomas Perronet Thompson. Other correspondents included in the volume are Major-General Lionel Smith; Mountstuart Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay; James Henderson, Secretary to the Bombay Government; Captain Deschamps; and Andrew Jukes. Translations of correspondence with Sa‘īd bin Sultān Āl Sa‘īd, the Imam of Muscat are also included.The subject matter of the material is centred around the abandonment of Raʼs al-Khaymah, the establishment of a garrison on the Island of Qeshm, the suppression of piracy in the Gulf, a failed British joint expedition with the Imam of Muscat against the Banī Bū ‘Alī tribe in Oman, and the removal of Captain Thompson from his post for the aforementioned failure; the subsequent, more successful, follow-up expedition against the Banī Bū ‘Alī tribe is also covered.Physical description: Foliation: The main foliation sequence starts with the first page of text and runs through to the last folio. It is written in pencil and can be found in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. This sequence has been used to construct the references at item level, and for internal referencing.Pagination: A pagination system is also present, which runs folios 22-275, though there are gaps in the sequence; these numbers are also written in pencil and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
Abstract: The file contains a copy of a telegram sent to the Foreign Office by HM Ambassador to the United States, regarding a message sent by the Sultan of Muscat to the Head of the Muscat Mission in Bagdad [Baghdad] instructing him to approach the United States Legation for travelling expenses to return to Muscat.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 3; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains policy papers discussing whether the British Government should pay out compensation for dhows lost by the Persian Gulf States as a result of enemy action. The file also discusses whether compensation should be paid to coolies killed as a result of the sinking of the Norwegian vessel SS
Dahpuin Muscat harbour by a Japanese submarine on 28 June 1943; the British Government had given the Sultan of Muscat assurances that his state would be protected from external aggression.A single post-war incident has been included in the file: the looting of the Alexandria Steam Navigation Company ship
Star of Mexin February 1947. The ship was stranded near Ra‘s al Khabba: see folios 21-22 for a detailed report on the incident by Andrew Charles Stuart, Political Agent and Consul at Muscat. The majority of the papers are concerned with establishing whether the Muscat Government is liable for paying out compensation.The file does not contain any papers for the years 1945-1946.The main correspondents are the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant Colonel William Rupert Hay) and officials of the India Office – Commonwealth Relations Office from August 1947. The file also contains input from the Foreign Office, the Government of India, and the Treasury.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 70; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence regarding a tour of the Arabian coast by Loy W Henderson, United States Minister to Iraq, and his interactions with the Political Agents at Bahrain, Kuwait and Muscat, and with Said bin Taimur, Sultan of Muscat and Oman. As well as Mr Henderson, the primary correspondents are: Government of India; India Office; Foreign Office; British Legation, Baghdad; Political Agency, Muscat.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 19; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.