Abstract: Enclosure nos. 2-41 to a despatch from the Secret Department, Government of Bombay [Mumbai], dated 30 November 1844. The enclosures are dated 27 August-27 November 1844.The enclosures consist of copies of correspondence relating to affairs in Aden and East Africa, including:Reports that an army led by the Imam of Sana [Sana’a] is marching in the direction of Aden, with the apparent intention of attacking Lahidge [Lahej], and has reached as far as Ereem [Yarim], but has been halted by news of the usurpation of Sana by the Imam’s uncleReports that the Sultan of Ourlghee [Aulaqi] also intends to attack Lahidge, but requires permission from the Sultan of Fouthelee [Fadhli] to march through his territoryA request from M Houssain Fudthel [Sultan Muḥsin bin Faḍl al-‘Abdalī], Sultan of Lahedge, for shot and powder to aid in his defenceThe high rate of illness among the troops at Aden, a request for the worst cases to be invalided out, and the need for reinforcementsReports of a massacre and mass enslavement committed by the King of Shoa [Shewa]Payment of a grant to the Assistant Political Agent, Aden, to cover his expenses from his tour of the coast of East AfricaThe need of extensive repairs to, or replacement of, the building currently housing the Political Agent’s office and the Agency Treasury.The primary correspondents are: the Political Agent, Aden; Lieutenant-Colonel William Croker, commanding the troops at Aden; the Sultan of Lahedge; the Superintendent of the Indian Navy; the Quartermaster-General, Bombay; and the Government of India.Physical description: 1 item (85 folios)
Abstract: Enclosures no. 2-10 to a despatch from the Secret Department, Bombay [Mumbai] Castle, dated 2 March 1848. The enclosures are dated 18 January-1 March 1848. The enclosures consist of copies of correspondence relating to affairs in Aden and reports received there of events elsewhere, including:Reported hostilities between the Imam of Sana [Sana’a] and Hussain ibn Ali Hyder, Sheriffe [Sharif] of Mocha, and a request from the Imam for a British ship to be sent to protect Hodeida [Al Hudaydah]A report of the death of Sallah Selassie, King of Shoa [Sahle Selassie, Negus of Shewa], and bloodshed in Shoa over the successionA reported dispute between the Egyptian Governor of Mussowah [Massawa] and the French ConsulA visit to Berbera by the Assistant Political Agent at Aden, with the hopes of improving relations with and between the Aial Ahmed and Aial Unus [Reer Ahmed Nur and Reer Yunis Nur, sub-clans of the Habr Awwal]The arrival in Aden of Henry Hardinge, Viscount Hardinge, on his return trip to the UK after having served as Governor-General of India.The primary correspondent is the Political Agent, Aden.Physical description: 1 item (16 folios)
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 51 of 1841, dated 18 June 1841. The enclosures are dated 14 May to 18 June 1841, and mainly consist of correspondence, regarding the mission to the King of Shoa [Shewa] under Captain William Cornwallis Harris.The main correspondents are as follows: the Secretary to the Government of Bombay, John Pollard Willoughby; Captain Harris; and the Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines.The correspondence discusses matters including: arrangements for the mission, including the views of the Government of India on the selection of Captain Harris as head of the mission, and of the selection of other members of the mission, and the expenses of the mission; the pay and allowances of Captain Harris and the other officers of the mission; the intended departure from Aden to Tadjoura of the mission; the Governor of Bombay’s disapproval at Haines attaching Lieutenant Barker of the Indian Navy, and Dr Impey, to the mission without his sanction; the arrival at Aden of Captain Harris; news of the arrival of the mission at Tadjoura [Tadjourah], and the reception it met with; and the Political Agent at Aden being authorised to draw bills on the General Treasury at Bombay for the supply of his Treasury during the monsoon.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-7, on folio 40. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 115 of 1842, dated 15 October 1842. The enclosures are dated 4 July to 14 October 1842, and relate to the mission to Shoa [Shewa].The enclosures consist of: dispatches from Captain William Cornwallis Harris, on a special mission at the Court of Shoa, to John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government of Bombay; and a letter from Willoughby to Thomas Herbert Maddock, Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General.The enclosures contain the following: reports by Harris on the proceedings of the mission under his charge; a report by Harris on the state of slavery and the 'slave trade' [trade in enslaved people] within and beyond Abyssinia [the Ethiopian Empire], which includes a sketch map entitled ‘Sketch delineative of the ROUTES OF SLAVE-CARAVANS through Abyssinia to the shores of ARABIA.’ (folio 517); distribution lists of presents; and correspondence regarding the expedience of the continuance of the mission for a longer period.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-8, on folios 389-391. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of Enclosures to a Despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 30 of 1841, dated 27 April 1841. The enclosures are dated 25 February to 28 April 1841, and relate to a British Mission to the King of Shoa [Shewa].The enclosures mostly consist of copies of letters sent and received by the Government of Bombay. The most frequent correspondent is Captain William Cornwallis Harris, Head of the British Mission to Shoa. The enclosures also include: letters to the Superintendent of the Indian Navy, the General Pay Master, the Military Board, and the Secretary to the Government of India; letters from the Political Agent at Aden; and memoranda by the Political Secretary to the Government of Bombay.The enclosures include correspondence regarding: Lieutenant Sydney Lloyd Horton offering his services to accompany the Mission, the acceptance of the offer of his services by the Government of Bombay, and his pay and allowances on the Mission; the proposal of Johannes Rudolf Roth and Johann Martin Bernatz, two German Professors, to accompany the Mission (Roth as a naturalist, and Bernatz as a draftsman and artist), and their claim for compensation from the Government of India for the cost of the articles and instruments they brought out with them for the Mission; the transport of packages belonging to the Mission on board the ship
Auckland, to be landed at Aden; the accommodation of Captain Harris and others proceeding with him on special duty to Aden on board the
Auckland.The enclosures also include: lists of presents for the King of Shoa, and a copy of a bill for these presents; and copies of two sketch maps of Shoa from the missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-47, on folios 641-649. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso of each enclosure.
Abstract: This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 92 of 1840, dated 31 October 1840. The enclosures are numbered 3-42 and are dated 1 September to 27 October 1840. They mostly consist of correspondence relating to Aden affairs.The enclosures concern matters including:The Political Agent at Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, reporting the arrival at Aden of the Honourable Company’s sloop of war
Elphinstone, brig
Euphrates, and steamer
Victoriacarrying the mail, and forwarding the reports of the Commanders of the
Elphinstoneand the
Euphratesto the Government of BombayThe proposed appointment by Haines of Mr Hatchatoor as Agent at TadjouraThe amount of reward to be paid to the Commander, Captain Warden, and crew of the barque
Arielfor assistance provided at Aden over several days in November and December 1839, and the Political Agent at Aden paying Warden 200 German Crowns on account of the two brass guns which he suppliedThe approbation of the Government of India of the ‘gallantry’ with which the attack on Aden by ‘a large body of Arabs’ on 5 July 1840 was repulsedHaines reporting that he has ordered the
Elphinstoneto return to Aden for subsequent despatch to the Persian Gulf, and the Government of Bombay referring him to previous instructions for the detention of the
Elphinstoneat Mocha during the ‘present settled state of affairs’, for the protection of British interests in that areaThe crediting of money raised from the sale of goods recovered from the barque
Duria Dowlut, which was wrecked at Aden in 1837, to the Government of MadrasThe political state of affairs in the neighbourhood of AdenMeasures taken by the Political Agent at Aden to counteract attempts to establish French influence on the eastern coast of AfricaOvertures from the King of Shoa [Shewa] to establish friendly relations with the British Government, and the question of whether or not it would be advisable to send a British mission to ShoaHaines’s opinion on the strength and description of the force required to proceed into the interior from AdenThe Government of Bombay informing the Government of India that it is impossible at present for it equip a force of the strength and description considered necessary by the British authorities at Aden, for an attack on Lahedge [Lahej].The correspondence is mainly between Haines and the Government of Bombay, and between the Government of Bombay and the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India.Other correspondents include: Captain Sanders, Commander of the Honourable Company’s sloop of war
Cliveand Senior Naval Officer at Aden; Lieutenant Richard Ethersey, Commander of the
Elphinstone; Lieutenant W Barker, Commander of the
Euphrates; the King of Shoa; and Reverend F L Karff.The enclosures also include copies of commercial treaties entered into, in September 1840, between the East India Company and the following: the Governor of Zeyla [Zeila], Syed Mahomed bar [Sayyid Muḥammad Barr]; and the Governor of Mocha, Sherriff Hussein bin ali bin Hydar al Hassenee [Sharīf Ḥusayn bin 'Alī bin Ḥaydar].Physical description: 1 item (106 folios)