1. Report by Captain John Nicholl Robert Campbell of his Mission to the Russian Camp at Abbasabad

Description:

Abstract: Report by Captain John Nicholl Robert Campbell of his mission to the Russian camp at the recently captured fortress of Abbasabad [‘Abbasabad], dated 14 October 1827 to 22 October 1827, during which he communicated the desire of the Persian Government to negotiate a peace agreement in the ongoing war between Persia [Iran] and Russia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828]. Campbell details his conferences with General D’Obreskoff [Aleksandr Mikhailovich Obreskov], who has been appointed by the Emperor of Russia as the ‘Chief Diplomatic Agent’ empowered to negotiate peace with Persia, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces, General Paskevitch [General Ivan Fyodorovich Paskevich-Erivansky, Governor-General of Georgia]. At these meetings the following matters were discussed:That the opportunity for the agreement of a more favourable peace for Persia had been lost following the fall of the fortresses Sirdarabad [Sardari Berd, or Sardar’s Fortress] and AbbasabadThe determination of the Emperor of Russia to ‘avenge’ the invasion of Carabaugh [Karabakh] at the outset of the war, and other perceived slights by Persia to RussiaThe terms Russia will be willing to accept for peace, including territorial cessions north and south of the River Arras [Aras] and reparations for the expenses incurred during the warRussia’s willingness to continue to prosecute the war aggressively should Persia not promptly accede to the terms demanded.The journal also details the arrival of the Governor of Tabreez [Tabriz], Fath Ally Khan [Fatḥ ‘Alī Khān Rashtī] at the camp at Abbasabad, and the negative reaction of the Russians to his arrival. Originally enclosed were copies of correspondence between Captain Campbell and General Paskevitch (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/71/90).This document was originally enclosed, numbered 5, in dispatch No. 73 of the East India Company Envoy to Persia, Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, to the Chief Secretary to the Government of India, George Swinton, of 1 November 1827 (IOR/L/PS/9/71/84).Physical description: 1 item (8 folios)

2. Extract from the Journal of Captain John Nicholl Robert Campbell

Description:

Abstract: Extract from the journal of Captain John Nicholl Robert Campbell, the assistant to the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, during his visit to the camp of the Prince Royal [ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār, Crown Prince of Persia]. The journal details the communications between Campbell and the Prince Royal held on 21 September 1827 concerning Anglo-Persian relations and the ongoing war between Russia and Persia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], including:The Prince Royal’s frustration at the failure of the British Government to acknowledge or respond to his communications on the subject of the war, which he attributes to a lack of interest in PersiaHis belief that Persia is entitled to a subsidy and mediation in the war from the British, as per Anglo-Persian treaty relations, on account of Russia being the aggressor in the warThe desire of both the Prince Royal and the Shāh of Persia [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār] to send envoys to EnglandThe prospect of a timely agreement of peace with Russia so as to avoid greater pecuniary and territorial demands in the event of a prolongation of the warThe disrespectful behaviour of the leader of the Russian forces, General Paskevitch [General Ivan Fyodorovich Paskevich-Erivansky, Governor-General of Georgia]The lack of funds available for the Prince Royal to continue to prosecute the war effectively.This document was originally enclosed, numbered 1 in dispatch No. 67, in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of October 1827 (IOR/L/PS/9/71/67).Physical description: 1 item (17 folios)