Abstract: This item consists of different extracts of the Bombay Public Consultations, regarding an act of piracy and murder that was reportedly committed by the native crew of the country ship
Alert. The
Alertwas bound for Bengal port laden with dispatches principally belonging to the East India Company. The letters report that part of her native crew seized the ship, murdered the European Captain and officers, and sailed the ship to the port of Mockulla [Mukalla] on the coast of Arabia.The item contains a description of the act of piracy on the
Alertship and its aftermath, including the following: measures taken by the Company to secure the return of the ship; negotiations with the Hakim regarding the restitution of the
Alertand her cargo; reports from the Customs Master at Bombay; the involvement of the
Princess Augustacruiser; the appointment of a commissioner, Samuel Sparks, to start negotiations with Hakim on the restitution of the
Alertand its cargo; a memorandum on the
Alert'scargo.Notable correspondents include the following: James Augustus Grant, Secretary to the Government of Bombay; Jonathan Duncan, Governor of Bombay; Forbes & Co; Virja Nanjis Searkrun; the East India Company's Broker in Mocha; Sir John Malcolm; Samuel Sparks, Commissioner; the Phoenix Assurance Company; John Pringle, Resident at Mocha.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 94, and terminates at f 125, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: This file contains correspondence between British officials regarding freight charges, ports of call and other administrative matters related to shipping routes in - and through - the Persian Gulf.Specific matters discussed include a request by Kalat State for the British India Steam Navigation Company to arrange for their ships to call at Jiuni [Jiwani] port, a proposal to open a post office in Sharjah, and whether shipping routes should go via Henjam, Bahrain and Lingah.In addition to correspondence, the file contains a document entitled 'Report on Steamship Lines Calling at Basra' that was written by the Department of Overseas Trade in December 1934 (folios 52-56).The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 79; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Part 1 of the volume comprises correspondence relating to, as well as draft copies of (ff 325-327, ff 338-341, ff 384-386) an indenture for the renewal of the concession agreed between the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company (ETSNC) and the British Government, for the conveyance of mail between Busreh [Basra] and Baghdad. The part’s principal correspondents are: the Secretary of the ETSNC (Frank Bottomley); the Legal Adviser and Solicitor to the Secretary of State for India (Sir Horatio Hale Shephard); the Assistant Under-Secretary of State to the India Office (Sir Horace George Walpole).The discussion between Government officials focuses on clauses relating to the maintenance of regular weekly communication between Basra and Baghdad by the ETSNC (clause 5), and the resultant penalties (or exemptions from penalties) incurred by delays or cancellations to the mail service (clauses 11 to 13).Physical description: 1 item (72 folios)