Abstract: An extract of a letter from Captain Thomas Thompson, Commander of the British troops on Kishma [Qeshm], to Henry Willock, HM Chargé d'Affaires in Persia [Iran], sent from Muscat and dated 13 October 1821.The letter reports the transfer of six companies of British troops from Deristan [Dayrestān] camp on Kishma to Muscat in order to assist the Imam against reported acts of ‘piracy’ in the area. It also describes a visit to Muscat by Persian envoys, during which the subject of the British presence on Kishma was discussed.The extract was enclosed in Willock’s letter to Joseph Dart, Secretary to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, dated 8 February 1821 (IOR/L/PS/9/60).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: An extract of a letter from James Dow, Acting Resident in Bushire [Būshehr] to Henry Willock, HM Chargé d'Affaires in Persia [Iran], dated 9 December 1820.The letter reports the loss of British troops under the command of Captain Thomas Thompson during an expedition against ‘piracy’ inland from Lashkara [Āl Āshkhārah] in Muscat.The extract was enclosed in Willock’s letter to Joseph Dart, Secretary to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, dated 8 February 1821 [IOR/L/PS/9/58].Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee: Bombay Secret Letter 25 May 1821. The enclosures are dated 20 December 1820-12 May 1821. (Attached to folio 5 is a note, f 5a, stating that the ‘Enclosure in Bombay Secret Letter of 18th October 1820 is missing’).The initial enclosure (numbered 1) is a letter dated 10 February 1820 from George Swinton, Secretary to the Government at Fort William, to Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, conveying the Governor-General’s pleasure that the threatened rupture of relations between the British Government and the Ameers of Sind [Amirs of Sindh] has been averted and a treaty negotiated, and approbation of Captain Sadler who was sent as an envoy to Hyderabad to restore good relations.The remaining enclosures, with their relevant enclosures, are: despatches from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d’Affaires in Tahran [Tehran] to the Marquis of Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal; despatches from H R Deschamps, Acting Political Agent and Captain Commanding at Kishma [Qeshm, also spelled Kishm and Kishmee in this item], to Francis Warden; and instructions issued by Warden to Dr Andrew Jukes with relevant enclosures. They relate to the complaint by Persia [Iran] about the British occupation of the island of Kishm, and comprise the following groups of papers:(1) Willock’s correspondence with the Persian Prime Minister and with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which Willock disputes the Persian contentions on the following points:Whether the occupation of Kishm is a violation of Article 11 of the Treaty between Persia and Britain (prohibiting British ships of war going to Persian ports without express permission)Whether the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat, had the right to authorize the relocation of the British detachment at Rosul-Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah, also spelled Ras-sol-Khyma in this item] to Kishm and Hengaum [Hengam] and if Muscat is a dependency of Bunder Abassi [Bandar Abbas] and hence of PersiaWhether it is the prerogative of the Prince of Fars to take steps to prevent ‘piracy’ (of the Joasemees [al-Qawāsim]) and ensure security in the Persian Gulph [Gulf] or if a permanent British naval presence was and is more effectiveWhether Captain William Bruce, Political Resident in the Persian Gulph [Gulf], should be removed from his post (and pay reparation for damaged and lost property) for interfering at Bahrein [Bahrain] in efforts to suppress ‘piracy’ which were the business of the Prince of Sheraz [Shiraz] and the Imaum of Muscat; and for being responsible for the ‘unwarranted’ seizing of the arms of 300 men of Lingua [Bandar-e-Lengeh] and fourteen of their boats which were all destroyed following a storm, and for the burning of ships at the port of Charack [Bandar-e Chārak, also spelled Charak in this item], in alleged retaliation for attacks on British subjects.The correspondence also covers Willock’s attempts to: dissuade or delay the sending of Persian representatives to Kishm and Bombay, respectively, to ask the British to leave Kishm and to remonstrate over the occupation to the Government of India; and to exonerate Captain Bruce from responsibility for the events at Lingua and Charack.(2) Letters from the Acting Political Agent and Captain Commanding at Kishma, to the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, reporting that he has placated the vakeel sent with a letter (ff 29-30) by the Hussin Ally, Prince of Shiraz [Husayn 'Ali Mīrzā Farmānfarmā, Prince-Governor of Fārs] and that he has received intelligence that the Prince is amassing a force of 12,000 near Bunderabbas [Bandar Abbas], which could not be repulsed by the small British military establishment on the island (detailed on f 30).(3) Detailed background and instructions (ff 34-43) to Dr Jukes issued by the Government of Bombay for his mission to the Persian Gulph in which he is to allay the claims and suspicions of Persia and conduct himself as the situation, however it develops, may warrant. In particular Jukes is instructed: to investigate the claims of the Imaum of Muscat and Persia to the island of Kishma; verify whether the Prince of Shiraz has amassed a force near Bunder Abbas; direct the detachment to withdraw to Muscat if hostilities look inevitable; how to act with regard to Captain Bruce; to be the Political Agent at Kishme on the recall of Captain Thompson. The instructions are accompanied by copies of letters of authority, introduction and information (ff 44-65), including: letters from the Government of Bombay addressed to Willock, the King [Shah] of Persia, the Prince of Sheeraz [Shiraz] and the Imaum of Muscat; detailed report by Major-General Lionel Smith, dated 23 April 1821, on the advantages of Kishme and how to best use it to check ‘piracy’ and in general how to police the Gulph (ff 48-57); and letters to the Officer Commanding the Troops and Acting Political Agent, and the Officer Commanding HC [Honourable Company] Cruisers at Kishm.The last enclosure ends with a list of the four enclosures comprising Bombay Secret Letter 25 May 1821.Physical description: The despatch comprises enclosures numbered 1-4. The enclosure number is written for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
Abstract: Copy of a letter from Major-General Sir William Grant Keir, aboard HMS
Liverpool, at anchor off the Island of Kenn [Kish], to HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, of 10 February 1820. The letter concerns Keir’s communications with the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat and the Prince of Sheeraz [Shiraz], originally enclosing:The translation of a letter from the Imaum of Muscat to Keir, dated 10 Rabī‘ II 1235 [27 January 1820] (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/258)The substance of a letter from Keir, to the Imaum of Muscat, of 10 February 1820 (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/259)The translation of a firmaum [firman, order] from the Prince of Sheeraz to Keir, dated 9 Rabī‘ I 1235 [26 December 1819] (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/260).The letter discusses these communications, and the situation in the Persian Gulf, including:The extension of the General Treaty [General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf] to Bharein [Bahrain]The reciprocal agreement for the opening up of ports for trade between the Imaum of Muscat and the Joasemees [al-Qawasim]British efforts to discourage attacks on Bharein by the Imaum of Muscat and the Prince of SheerazThe suspension of Keir’s plans for operations against ports on the Persian coastThe conditions on Kenn.The letter was enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 18 March 1820 (see IOR/L/PS/9/68/256), which was received on 13 July 1820.Physical description: 1 item (6 folios)
Abstract: Copy of Dispatch No. 8 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, in Tehran, to the Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William, the Marquess of Hastings, of 19 April 1819. The letter concerns the communications of the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat to the Persian court, particularly his solicitations to the Shah to attempt to capture Bahrein [Bahrain]. The letter details the Imam’s report to the Shah that Bahrein has been occupied by the soldiers of Ibrahim Pacha [Ibrāhīm Pāshā] of Egypt, and the subsequent intention of the Shah to send an envoy to the ruler of Egypt, Mahomed Ali Pacha [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā], to remonstrate against the occupation.The letter was enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 25 May 1819 (see IOR/L/PS/9/68/198), which was received on 28 August 1819.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Captain John Malcolm, newly appointed Envoy of the Supreme Government of India to Persia [Iran], to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, sent from Bombay [Mumbai] and dated 17 December 1799. The letter reports Malcolm’s intention to travel to Muskat [Muscat] and meet with the Imaume [Imam] [Sultān bin Ahmad Al Bū Sa’id], who is suspected of pro-French sympathies, and thence to Bushire [Būshehr], and proposes installing an East India Company representative in Muskat.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Brigadier-General John Malcolm, newly appointed Envoy of the Supreme Government of India to Persia [Iran], to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, sent from Bombay [Mumbai] and dated 17 December 1799. The letter reports Malcolm’s plans to travel to Muskat [Muscat] and meet with the Imaum [Imam] [Sultān bin Ahmad Al Bū Sa’id], who is suspected of pro-French sympathies, and thence to Bushire [Būshehr], and proposes installing an East India Company representative in Muskat.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Captain John Malcolm, Envoy of the Supreme Government of India to Persia [Iran], to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, sent from Bushire [Būshehr] and dated 3 February 1800. The letter reports Malcolm’s arrival in Bushire and meeting with the Imaume [Imam] of Muscat [Sultān bin Ahmad Al Bū Sa’id], who was induced to sign an agreement with Malcolm and allow an East India Company representative to be installed in Muscat, and recommends strengthening ties with Muscat due to its maritime strength. It also reports Malcolm’s onward plans from Bushire and the Shaw [Shah] of Persia’s movements towards Khorassan [Khorāsān].Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d'Affaires in Persia [Iran], to Joseph Dart, Secretary to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, sent from Tehran and dated 8 February 1821.The letter forwards an extract of a dispatch from Captain Thomas Thompson, Commander of the British troops on Kishma [Qeshm] (IOR/L/PS/9/69/61).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)