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1. 'Enclosures to Secret Letters from India', Vol 56
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume contains manuscript copies of secret letters, despatches, memoranda, translations of letters, intelligence reports and financial statements relating to diplomatic, military and logistical preparations for the British-led invasion of Afghanistan by the so-called Army of the Indus.Packets (individual or groups of documents) are numbered 201-610, and all annotated ‘No: 18 of 11th July’ (the volume is labelled 'Jul to Jul 1839'). Each document records the date received at the Presidency, Fort William, Simla [Shimla], Secret and Separate Department, 8 January-8 March 1839, as well as the date of the original document, the correspondent and a summary of the content. Original documents mostly date from mid-October to 31 December 1838 but the volumes includes some from September relating to the end of the siege of Herat.The principal correspondents are: William Hay Macnaghten, Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor General, Simla, also referred to in this volume Envoy and Minister to the Court of Shah Shooja ool-Moolk [Shah Shuja ul-Mulk]; Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Mackeson, British Agent on a Mission to Bhawalpore [Bahawalpur]; Henry Whitelock Torrens, Officiating Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor General; General Sir Henry Fane, Commander-in-Chief, India; Lord Auckland, Governor General of India; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Burnes, Political Agent and British Envoy at Kelat [Kalat]; A C Gordon, Assistant Surgeon and Political Agent on Duty in Bhawalpore; Colonel E H Simpson, in charge of Shah Shoojah’s Force, Loodhiana [Ludhiana] (and his predecessor Captain J McSherry); Captain H Johnson, Paymaster and Commissariat Officer, Shah Shoojah’s Force; Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton,Commander Bengal Column of the Army of the Indus; Captain C M Wade, Political Agent, Loodhiana, later on a Mission to Bhawalpore.Other correspondents include: Lieutenant Elliott D’Arcy Todd, in charge of the British Mission, Shah Shoojah’s Force; Lieutenant R Leech, Political Assistant; Major-General William Casement, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department, with the Governor-General; various lesser army officers and government officials; British intelligence agents and local informants; local rajahs and emirs.Main matters covered:Composition, governance, funding, arming and equipping of Shah Shoojah’s ForceNews of the ending of the siege of Herat in September 1838 with the retreat of the Shah of Persia [Iran] to Tehran and retrospective appointment of Lieutenant Eldred Pottinger as Political Agent in Herat assigned to help alleviate poverty and starvation in the city and restore the army to orderTreaties, agreements and understandings between the British Government and various local rulers in Punjab and Sinde [Sindh] in advance of the forthcoming British military expedition into Afghanistan. Many agree to offer assistance, support or absence of opposition during the operation, usually in return for British 'protection'. Includes treaties with Nawab Bhawal Khan [Mohammad Bahawal Khan III] of Bhawalpore, and with Meere Roostum Khan [Mir Rustam 'Ali Khan] of Khyrpore State [Khairpur], cession of fort at Bukkur to the British, lingering suspicions about the loyalty of the Hydrabad [Hyderabad] ameers, and need to ensure friendly attitude of the Khan (Chief) of Kelat to enable advance of British into KhorasanIntelligence reports gathered by Alexander Burnes, notably on situation and loyalties in Herat, Khyrpore, Sinde state, Candahar [Kandahar] and Cabool [Kabul]. Includes reports of alleged anti-British intrigues by Cabool ruler Dost Mahomad Khan [Dost Mohammad Khan (Barakzai)] with Hydrabad ameers and Russian diplomat Captain Vitkievitch (sporadically spelled, e.g. Vilkervitch, Vilkieritch) [Jan Prosper Witkiewicz, a Polish man in service of the Russians] and suspected overtures to the Shah of PersiaArrangements for amassing of British forces, known as the Army of the Indus, at Ferozepore [Firozpur or Ferozepur], for the planned advance towards Afghanistan, notably composition, fitting out, requisition of supplies (especially grain, food and fuel) and animals (camels and elephants), chains of command, officers pay and expenses, ammunition supplies, drill instructors, obtaining sufficient funds of cash, encampment locations, preparation of roads, bridging of the Indus including bridge of boats or rafts plan, and progress of the armyReports from Dr A C Gordon, on Duty at Bhawalpore, on immense difficulties and struggles in obtaining supplies for the Army of the Indus and non-cooperation of supposed allies Maharajah Ranjeet Singh of Bhawalpore [Ranjit Singh, Maharajah of the Sikh Empire] and Bhawal Khan, Nawab of BhawalporeConcerns expressed by Fane to Auckland regarding the Army of the Indus, particularly: the force’s commanding personnel; lines of communication; insufficiency of supplies for the duration of the campaign and nature of the terrain; the Commissariat’s inefficiency; truthfulness of positive reports Auckland has received; delays to the march from Ferozepore increasing potential difficulties getting through the Bolan Pass due to excessively hot weather; desertions from Shah Shoojah’s force; dire consequences if the army is forced to retreat. (Fane declined the opportunity to become Commander of the Army of the Indus, instead continuing as Commander-in-Chief of all forces in India).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 795; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
2. Affairs in Sind, Bhawulpoor, Mekran, and Rajpootana
- Description:
- Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 23 of 1853, dated 29 March 1853. The enclosures are numbered 3-17 and are dated 28 December 1852 to 28 March 1853.The enclosures consist of correspondence, and minutes by the Governor of Bombay concurred in by Board. They concern matters including:Affairs at Bhawulpoor [Bahawalpur, also spelled Bhawulpore in this item], and troops from Upper Sind [Sindh] being held in readiness for service in BhawulpoorAn irregularity in the application of the Commander in Sind for the possible requisition of troops from Upper SindPersian [Iranian] troops occupying Kussurkund [Qasr-e Qand] in Mekran [Makran], and being expected to arrive at Gwadir [Gwadar]The march of the Rajpootana [Rajputana] Field Force from Nusseerabad [Nasirabad] to aid in the capture of the Fort of Narawlee [Narauli? Also spelled Narolee and Narowly in this item], and the surrender of the fort on 12 March 1853An attack by the Murrees [Marri, also spelled Marrees in this item] in the town of Poolajee [Phuleji or Foliji] in the Khelat [Kalat] territoryThe disposal of the money from the sale of certain confiscated gold belonging to Meer Ali Morad [Mīr ʿAlī Murād Khān Tālpūr], and the Commissioner in Sind’s suggestion that it could be spent on building school rooms in Upper Sind.The principle correspondents are as follows: the Commissioner in Sind, Henry Bartle Edward Frere; the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Arthur Malet; the Quarter Master General of the Army, Bombay, Lieutenant-Colonel J Holland; the Adjutant General of the Army, Bombay, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hancock; and the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India, Charles Allen.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-17, on folios 475-476. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
3. Affairs in Bhawulpoor
- Description:
- Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 19 of 1853, dated 14 March 1853. The enclosures are numbered 3-10 and are dated 25 November 1852 to 9 March 1853.Most of the enclosures consist of correspondence regarding ‘disturbances’ in the Bhawulpoor territory [Bahawalpur], in relation to the disputed succession of Saadut (also spelled Sadick Khan in this item) [Ṣādiq III] as Nawab Amir and his deposition by Hajee Khan alias Mahomed Futteh Khan [Muḥammad Fath' Khān], and the possibility of troops being required to be sent into Bhawulpoor territory from Upper Sind [Sindh].The main correspondents are as follows: the Commissioner in Sind (Henry Bartle Edward Frere); the Quarter Master General of the Army; and the Government of Bombay.This item also includes: a letter from HM Envoy at Tehran, Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, forwarding an extract from a recent number of the official Gazettepublished in Tehran, announcing that an arrangement had been concluded between the Prince Governor of Khorassan [Khorasan] and Alee Khan Seestanee ['Ali Khān Sistanī] for the protection of roads; and a minute by the Governor of Bombay concurred in by the Board, directing that copies of Sheil’s letter be sent to the Commissioner in Sind, the Government of India, and the Secret Committee.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-10, on folios 435-436. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.