Herat and Persia Affairs

Title:

Herat and Persia Affairs

Date:

1838/1838

Description:

Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of India Secret Department to the East India Company Secret Committee, Number 9 of 1838, dated 1 May 1838. The enclosures are dated 14 February-1 May 1838.The papers chiefly comprise despatches of: William Hay Macnaghten, Secretary to the Governor-General of India; Captain Claude Martine Wade, Political Agent in Loodhiana [Ludhiana]; Captain Alexander Burnes, on a Mission to Cabool [Kabul]; and Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger in Herat.The despatches concern the siege of Herat by Persia [Iran], notably covering and including the following:Letters for Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India, from Shah Kamran [Shāhzādah Kāmrān Durrānī], Ruler of Herat, and his Vizier [minister] Yar Mahomed Khan [Yār Muḥammad Khān], urgently soliciting the intervention of the British Government in their present dispute with Persia (ff 376-377)A detailed report by Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger in Herat relating his proceedings and those of Colonel Charles Stoddart, British Agent with the Persian Camp, acting as messengers between the Ruler of Herat and the Persian Prime Minister Hajee Meerza Akasee [Ḥājī Mīrzā Āqāsī] and the Shah of Persia, up to late February 1838, and noting that they have conveyed to the Shah’s camp outside Herat that the British Government is the ‘well-wisher’ of the Persians and Afghans but its policy is to prevent ‘foreign enemies’ from aggression on Afghan territory (ff 379-390)Macnaghten’s instructions to John McNeill, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia, regarding arrangements for conveying rapid intelligence to India during the ‘present highly critical emergency’, including the despatch of the ship Hugh Lindsayto the Persian Gulf for his use and that of the Persian ResidentMacnaghten’s encouragement of McNeill to visit the Shah’s camp outside Herat with duplicates of the Governor-General’s replies to the Ruler and Vizier of Herat (which have also been sent via Burnes) and to mediate peace (ff 391-392)Copies of the Governor-General’s replies to Shah Kamran and Yar Mahomed, expressing friendship and sympathy, urging ‘undaunted courage’ on the ‘brave and intrepid people’ and informing them of McNeill’s advance to the Shah’s camp (ff 394-396).Physical description: 1 item (37 folios)

Language:

English

Type:

Archival item

Type (Narrower):

Other Texts

Type (Broader):

Text

Subject:

Mediation
Siege of Herat (1837-1838)
Diplomacy

Geographic region:

Afghanistan

Rights:

المُلكية العامة

Identifier:

81055/vdc_100145096900.0x000009_ar
81055/vdc_100145096900.0x000009_en
IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 369-405
IOR/L/PS/5/130, ff 369-405

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