Abstract: Copy of a firman from the Shah of Persia [Iran], Fath Ally Shah [Fath-Ali Shah Qajar], to HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Extraordinary to Persia, Sir Harford Jones. The firman concerns an incident in which the Governor of Bagdad [Baghdad], Suliman Pacha [Sulayman Pasha] entreated the protection and support of the Persian Governor of Kermunshah [Kermanshah] and Lurestan [Lorestan], Mohammed Ally Meerza [Muhammad Ali Mirza Qajar], in opposing the Ottoman Sultan (see IOR/L/PS/9/68/84). The firman informs Jones that responsibility for the Persian frontier with the Ottoman Empire at Bagdad has been placed in the hands of the Prince Royal [Crown Prince] of Persia, Abbas Meerza [Abbas Mirza].The letter was enclosed in Jones’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 3 November 1810, which was received on 11 March 1810.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 9 of 1847, dated 25 January 1847. The enclosure is dated 14 November 1846.The item comprises copies of despatches forwarded, for the information of the Government of Bombay and the Governor-General of India, by Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], to Viscount Palmerston, HM Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with relevant enclosures.The papers cover the following matters:The assumption by Hajee Meerza Aghasee, [Ḥājī Mīrzā Āqāsī], Prime Minister to the Shah of Persia, of the office and duties of Minister of Foreign Affairs and concentration ‘in his own person the entire functions of Government’ (f 103)A scheme proposed by the Assof-ood Dawleh [Āṣaf al-Dawlah] of Herat and the Governor of Khorassan to replace the current ruler of Herat (Yah Mahomed Khan [Yār Muḥammad Khān ‘Alī Kūzāy]) with Shah Passend Khan [Shāh Pasand Khān], Sheil’s strong rejection of the proposal, the refusal of Hajee Meerza Aghassee to support it since it would aggrandize the Government of Khorassan [Khorasan], the apparent concern of Yar Mahomed’s followers, and the purported wish of Yar Mahomed to have a British Agent at Herat as a defence against the Assof-ood Dawleh’s ‘plots’ and the Persian GovernmentSheil’s scepticism with regard to the claims made by Cazee Mahomed Hassan [Qāḍī Muḥammad Ḥasan], based on the enquiries he made (on Sheil’s behalf) during a trip to Khiva, about the fate of a certain ‘Hajee Ahmed Ahmed Arab’ (f 109) said to be the missing Englishman Mr Wyburd [Lieutenant William Henry Wybard] and also about another English man and woman reportedly held captive in Khiva, and Sheil’s opinion that the Cazee’s true motive was employment by the British GovernmentThe report by Cazee Mahomed Hassan, recently returned from Khiva, that the Khan of Khiva is concerned about Russian progress towards his territory, advancing, he believes, from their fort at Minkishlak [Mangyshlak], near the Caspian Sea, and Sheil’s consideration that despite his doubts about the Cazee’s general truthfulness, the report may well be trueThe refusal of Hajee Meerza Aghassee to accede to the demands of Prince Dolgorouki [Prince Dimitri Ivanovich Dolgorukov], Russian Minister in Tehran, for Persia to allow Russian ships of war into the Persian harbours in the Caspian Sea, especially Asterabad [Gorgon], and Sheil’s opinion that a peremptory refusal will elicit a very strong response from Russia. Included is a copy of Hajee Meerza Aghassee’s letter to Dolgorouki stating that the requests are contrary to Persia’s treaty with Russia (f 114-116)Reports of the Persian Government’s plans to send a large force to the disordered province of Khorassan, and Sheil’s opinion that the reasons are: to overthrow the Asaf-ood-Dowlah [Āṣaf al-Dawlah] whose power and reputation have ‘reached a height displeasing to the Shah and insupportable to his rival the Prime Minister’ (f 117); to quash Jafer Koolee Khan of Boojnoord [Jaʿfar Qulī Khān of Bojnord], a powerful ‘chief’ obedient to the Governor of Khorassan instead of the Shah, and a possible ally of Russia; and events rendering north eastern Persia vulnerable to Tekeh [Teke] and Goklan Toorkomans [people of Turkmenistan]Sheil’s communications to Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, British Commissioner at Erzeroom [Erzurum], and Hajee Meerza Aghassee, regarding finalization of the draft Treaty between Turkey [Ottoman Empire] and Persia, including: the Aghassee’s complaints that the Turkish guard ship in the Shat-al-Arab [Shatt al-Arab River] is preventing (Persian) merchant vessels from entering the port of Mohemmera [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] and diverting them to Bussorah [Basra] where they have to pay custom dues; and Sheil’s suspicion that his copy of the draft Treaty was purposely delayed by the Russian courier from Erzeroom.Physical description: 1 item (27 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 133 of 1846, dated 14 November 1846. The enclosure is dated 14 September 1846.The enclosure consists of a copy of a despatch, with enclosures, from Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], to Viscount Palmerston, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, relating to affairs in Persia. The despatch is copied to the Governor and President in Council, Bombay, and the Governor-General of India, for information.The papers notably cover the following matters:Arrangements at Erzeroom [Erzurum] for finalising the Treaty between the governments of Persia and the Ottoman Empire, notably the insertion of a tenth article authorising the appointment of ministers of both governments to implement the Treaty terms after ratificationCompensation to be paid by the Ottoman Porte [Government] in reparation for the recent attack on Meerza Tekkee Khan [Mīrzā Taqī Khān Farāhānī], the Persian Minister at Erzeroom, and his servantsThe proposed arrangement between the Political Resident at Bushire [Bushehr] and the Governor of Fars to engage a British vessel of war against any ‘chiefs’ of the Persian shores of the Gulf coast who commit ‘aggressions’ against British subjects or commerceSheil’s enquiries to the Khuleefa of Merve [Khalifah of Merv] relating to the fate of Mr Wyburd [William Henry Wybard]The mortality caused by the cholera outbreak in TehranIntelligence received by Sheil of: the arrival in Tehran of a dissident of Herat who wishes to persuade the Asef-ood-Dowleh [Āṣaf al-Dawlah], with the acquiescence of the Persian Government, to attack Herat; and the confederacy of opposition forming in Meshed [Mashhad] against Yar Mahomed Khan [Yār Muḥammad Khān], Ruler of HeratThe Persian Government’s complaints regarding another violation of its territory by members of the Bilbass [Belbās or Bilbas] tribe of Turkish Koords [Kurds] in the south-west extremity of Azerbijan [Azerbaijan]The remonstrations of the Persian Government against the Turkish [Ottoman] vessel of war anchored near Mohemmera [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] to ‘molest Persian commerce by forcing vessels bound to that port to proceed to Bussorah [Basra]’ (f 103)The improbability of the Persian Government’s orders for the removal from Kermanshah of Abdoollah Beg, Chief of the Sheref Bainees [‘Abdullāh Beg, leader of the Sharaf Baynī] being enacted due to the inaccessibility of that territory.Physical description: 1 item (21 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 24 of 1847, dated 12 March 1847. The enclosure is dated 14 January 1847.The item comprises copies of despatches forwarded, for the information of the Governor-General of India, by Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], to Viscount Palmerston, HM Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with relevant enclosures.The papers cover a number of matters, notably including:1) Sheil’s advice to Major Samuel Hennell, Political Resident in Bushire [Bushehr], not to admit the claim of an Indian-Persian merchant to be considered a British subject, since his motive is likely to be the evasion of legal customs duties and because acquiescence would cause conflict with the Persian [Iranian] authorities.2) An arrangement concluded by Hennell with the Governor of Fars for the employment of British ships of war for the redress of grievances committed against British subjects in the Persian ports of the Persian Gulf, and the extension of similar protection to Persian subjects.3) Following instructions from Palmerston, Sheil’s attempt to offer the Ameer of Bokhara [Amir of Bukhara] a ransom of 15,000 tomans for the surrender of Colonel Stoddart, Captain Connolly and Lieutenant W H Wyburd [William Henry Wybard] at either Meshed [Mashhad] or Merve [Merv], including a copy of Sheil’s letter to the Ameer (ff 488-489) to be delivered via the ‘Khaleefa or Chief Priest’ at Merve and which is written to appear derived from the friends of the three men, not on behalf of the British Government4) An attempt made by Prince Dolgorukie [Prince Dimitri Ivanovich Dolgorukov], Russian Minister in Tehran, to induce the Persian Government to issue a firman admitting Russian men of war vessels to the ‘back water of Enzellee [Bandar-e Anzali]’ (on the Caspian Sea), including copies of a letter from Dolgoroukie and the reply of Hajee Meerza Aghassee [Ḥājī Mīrzā Āqāsī, Prime Minister to the Shāh of Persia] which Sheil obtained from a ‘private source’ (ff 490-491).5) Sheil’s report of three incidents involving the use of torture – which had officially been abolished by a firman – and the protests made by both Sheil and Dolgoroukie and the actions taken in each case. The incidents relate to: a ‘barbarous act’ committed by Thamasp Meerza [Ṭahmāsp/Ṭahmāsb Mīrzā], a son of the late Shah and governor of a small district near Tabreez [Tabriz] named Binab, leading to his recall to Tehran; the apparent torture to death of a ‘Mahomedan’ [Muslim] servant of ‘a French adventurer named M. Ferrier’ suspected of robbing the latter’s house; and Sheil’s pecuniary punishment of two Mission staff for the methods they used to elicit confessions from persons suspected of robbing their houses.6) Intelligence from Meshed that Mahomed Akber Khan [Muḥammad Akbar Khān], son of Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy, Amīr of Afghanistan], has laid siege to Candahar [Kandahar] and applied for aid from Yar Mahomed Khan [Yār Muḥammad Khān, ruler of Herat] (apparently because of the refusal of Kohendil Khan [Kuhandil Khān Muḥammadzā’ī, of Candahar] to join him in an attack on the English garrison at Shikarpore [Shikarpur]), and that their agents have arrived in Tehran apparently to seek Persian support against a supposed British invasion of Afghanistan.7) Following instructions from Palmerston, Sheil’s approach to the Government of Herat to ascertain its views on a closer relationship with England, including: a copy of a non-committal letter from Yar Mahomed Khan to Sheil (ff 500-501); a copy of Sheil’s letter to Yar Mahomed offering to send a member of the British Mission to Herat (ff 501-502); and Sheil’s report that the agent of Yar Mahomed claims the latter would not be averse to having an Englishman there, but that the anti-English feeling in Afghanistan currently makes this impossible.8) Sheil’s correspondence with Hajee Meerza Aghassee (ff 494-498) relating to his unsuccessful attempts to persuade the Persian ministers to agree to the suppression of the trade in enslaved persons in the Persian ports of the Persian Gulf, including the Shah’s refusal to commit to ‘a breach of the precepts of the Koran’ (f 494), and Aghassee’s claim that he himself supports abolition.9) Reports that five battalions (3000 men) have arrived in Tehran to form part of the force for the intended expedition to Khorassan [Khorasan], including: the planned objectives of the expedition in Asterabad [Gorgan], Boojnoord [Bojnord] and Kelat [Kalat]; and uncertainty regarding its command and the attendance of the Shah.10) A letter to Sheil from Meerza Kazim [Mīrzā Kāẓim], Agent of Hajee Meerza Aghassee at Meshed, regarding his investigations in Khorassan, Orgenjee [Urgench?], Bokhara, Herat, and Candahar, into the fate of the Englishman Mr Wyburd, ‘who gave himself the appellation and was known under the name of Hajee Ahmed’. Meerza Kazim encloses a letter from a merchant friend of his in Bokhara relating that ‘Hajee Ahmed’ arrived in Bokhara posing as an ‘Ottoman Turk’, stayed at the Court of the Ameer of Bokhara until the latter gave him to Naib Abdoos Semed Khan [Nā’ib ‘Abd al-Ṣamad Khān], and that at that man’s house he later hanged himself.Physical description: 1 item (23 folios)
Abstract: A bulletin written by Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], undated.The bulletin concerns reports that the King of Persia [Iran] [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār, Shāh of Persia] has executed his Minister Haujee Ibrahim Khan [Ḥājī Ibrāhīm Khān Zand Kalāntar Shīrāzī, Prime Minister of Persia] and several others following a suspected plot, and has also dispatched troops towards Khorassan [Khorasan] and Azerbaijaun [Azerbaijan].Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Captain John Malcolm, Envoy of the Governor-General of Bengal to Persia [Iran], to Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], sent from a camp five miles from Aboosheher [Bushehr] and dated 18 April 1800.The letter forwards three extracts of the latest intelligence Malcolm has received from the interior of Persia:1. An extract of a letter from a merchant in Herat dated 1 Shawal [Shawwal] 1214/24 February 1800. The letter reports that Rahmat Ullah Khan [Raḥmatallah Khān Sādūzāī], the leading Minister at the Court of Zemaun Shah [Zamān Shāh Durrānī, Ruler of Afghanistan], has ordered the execution of a number of Affghaun [Afghan] notables after the discovery of a conspiracy to bring the exiled brothers of Zemaun Shah to power.2. An anonymous letter from Yezd [Yazd] dated 1 Zekad [Dhū al-Qa’dah] 1214/22 March 1800. The letter reports that the King [Shāh] of Persia [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār] is planning to march towards Khorassan [Khorasan] in co-ordination with Prince Mahmood [Mahmūd Durrānī], the exiled brother of Zemaun Shah. It also reports that a number of Affghan [Afghan] notables made contact with Mahmood’s forces and were subsequently exposed and executed by Zemaun Shah.3. An extract of a letter from Moulla Askar, Moonshee [Mullah ‘Askar, Munshi or Secretary] to Shaikh Nasser of Aboosheher [Naṣr Khān Āl Madhkūr, Shaikh of Bushehr] dated 12 Zekad [Dhū al-Qa’dah] 1214/April 1800. The letter describes the King’s imminent march towards Khorassan.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdat [Baghdad], to Samuel Manesty, Resident in Bussora [Basra], sent from Bagdat and dated 14 November 1803.The letter concerns an attempted plot against the Bacha [‘Alī Pāshā al-Kahyah, Governor of Baghdad] in Bagdat. Jones reports that the Bacha has ordered the conspirators to be sent to Bussora and thence to India on East India Company ships.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: Copy of a letter from HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Persia [Iran], Sir Harford Jones, to the Resident for the Honourable East India Company at Bagdad [Baghdad], Claudius James Rich, of 3 November 1810. The letter concerns an incident in which solicitations were made at Bagdad to the Persian Governor of Kermanshah, by an unnamed party, for assistance in opposing the rule of the Ottoman Emperor. Jones admonishes Rich for not keeping him informed of the situation, and directs him to communicate an enclosed copy of a firman (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/85) to the Government of Bagdad concerning the matter.The letter was enclosed in Jones’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 3 November 1810, which was received on 17 March 1810.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)