Abstract: Copies of translated correspondence between the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, and Meerza Abdull Wahab, the Moatumud oo Dowleh [Mīrzā ‘Abd al-Wahhāb Nishāṭ Iṣfahānī, Mu‘tamid al-Dawlah]. The correspondence comprises two letters from Macdonald Kinneir to the Moatumud oo Dowleh, and one letter from the Moatumud oo Dowleh to Macdonald Kinneir. It concerns the payment of reparations by Persia to Russia as part of the peace agreement to end the war between the two states [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828]. In one letter, Macdonald Kinneir stresses the importance of paying the first instalment of the reparations on time. In his other letter, he argues against the reported intention of the Persian Ministers of paying the reparations only after the Russian evacuation of the province of Azerbijan [Azerbaijan], as this would be in contravention of the terms agreed between Abbas Meerza [ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār, Crown Prince of Persia] and General Paskevitch [General Ivan Fyodorovich Paskevich-Erivansky, Governor-General of Georgia].This document was originally enclosed, numbered 3 in 79, in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 10 January 1828 (IOR/L/PS/9/71/154).Physical description: 1 item (3 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 13 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, at Camp Sultanieh [Solţānīyeh], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, of 27 June 1826. The letter concerns the ongoing frontier dispute between Russia and Persia in the Caucasus, which has the possibility of leading to war. The letter details Persian proceedings concerning the dispute, including:The representations of the religious leader Aga Sied Mahomed [Agha Sayyid Muhammad Mujahid Isfahani, Ayat Allah] to the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] in favour of war in response to the reported mistreatment of Muslims in Russian territory in the CaucasusThe arrival of the Russian envoy charged with negotiating the frontier with the Persians, Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] at TabrizThe alarm of the Prince Royal of Persia [Crown Prince of Persia, 'Abbās Mīrzā Qājār] at the possibility of war with RussiaThe willingness of the Shah to settle the dispute peaceablyWillock’s representations to the Shah recommending a peaceful resolutionThe views of Persian ministers concerning the dispute, including the Prime Minister of Persia, Allah Ear Khan Auseff ed Dowleh [Allah Yar Khan Qajar Davallu, Asif al-Dawlah], and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mirza Abul Hussun Khan [Mirza Abu'l-Hasan Khan Shirazi].The letter also originally enclosed extracts from Willock’s diary detailing the views of the Shah, the Prince Royal and the principle Persian ministers at the Court towards the dispute, which also contains a note of the communications between the Surgeon to HM Mission to Persia, Dr John McNeill, and the Prince Royal and the Shah (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/97).This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 28 June 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/95).Physical description: 1 item (10 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 14 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, at Camp Sultanieh [Solţānīyeh], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, of 15 July 1826. The letter details Persian proceedings at the camp of the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] at Sultanieh concerning the ongoing frontier dispute between Russia and Persia in the Caucasus, which has the possibility of leading to war, including:The influence of the Prime Minister of Persia, Allah Ear Khan [Allah Yar Khan Qajar Davallu, Asif al-Dawlah], and the Prince Royal of Persia, Abbas Mirza [Crown Prince of Persia, 'Abbās Mīrzā Qājār], over the ShahThe Crown Prince’s expressions in favour of war with RussiaThe failed negotiations between the Prince Royal and the Russian envoy Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] at TabrizThe enthusiastic reception of the religious leader Aga Sied Mahomed [Agha Sayyid Muhammad Mujahid Isfahani, Ayat Allah], who is in favour of war, at the campPrince Minchikoff’s arrival at Sultanieh and his audience with the ShahThe movement of Persian troops to the frontier with Russia.The letter also originally enclosed extracts from Willock’s journal between 3-12 July 1826 (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/101), the translations of correspondence between Russian and Persian officials (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/102), and a note from Minchikoff to the Vizier to the Prince Royal, the Kaem Mukam [Mirza Abu'l-Qasim Farahani, Qa'im Maqam] (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/103).This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 23 July 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/99).Physical description: 1 item (12 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 15 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, at Camp Sultanieh [Solţānīyeh], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, of 18 July 1826. The letter reports the unsuccessful termination of the negotiations between the Russian envoy to Persia, Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov], and the Persian Government, concerning the frontier dispute between Russia and Persia in the Caucasus. Willock reports the circumstances of the termination of the negotiations, and the intention of the Shah of Persia to occupy the disputed territory (land on the shores of the lake of Gokcha [Lake Sevan]) by force. Willock details what he believes to be the Persian plans for hostilities and gives his views on the possible course of events, indicating that he believes that the outbreak of war between Russia and Persia is inevitable.This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 23 July 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/99).Physical description: 1 item (6 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 16 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, at Camp Sooltaneeah [Solţānīyeh], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, of 23 July 1826. The letter reports a recommencement of negotiations between the Russian envoy to Persia, Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov], and the Persian Government, and the rejection by the Shah [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] of Prince Minchikoff’s proposal for the temporary evacuation of the disputed territory (land on the shores of the lake of Gokcheh [Lake Sevan]) by Russia. Willock also reports an 'insurrection' in Talish [Talysh], in which a Russian force has been ‘cut up’, and the appeal made by the inhabitants of Talish for aid from Persian troops, which he believes has influenced the Shah’s decision.The letter originally enclosed extracts from Willock’s journal, reporting his communications with Prince Minchikoff (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/106), and translations of a note from Prince Minchikoff to the Prime Minister of Persia [Allah Yar Khan Qajar Davallu, Asif al-Dawlah] (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/107), and from the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Meerza Abul Hassan Khan [Mirza Abu'l-Hasan Khan Shirazi] to the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Karl Robert Nesselrode (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/108).This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 23 July 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/99).Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Copy of Dispatch No. 17 from HM Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia, Edward Cromwell Disbrowe, in St Petersburgh [St Petersburg], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Earl of Dudley, of 16 October 1827 [Old Style]/ 28 October 1827 [New Style]. Disbrowe reports the audiences held between the former HM Chargé d'Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, and the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count [Karl Robert] Nesselrode, and the Emperor of Russia, in St Petersburgh. He also discusses the offer made by the British Government to provide mediation in the war between Russia and Persia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], and a plan for Willock to transmit reasonable proposals for peace from the Emperor to the Persian Government in Tehran.This document was originally enclosed, numbered 1, in Willock’s letter to the Secretary to the East India Company, Joseph Dart, of 10 March 1828 (IOR/L/PS/9/71/195).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 18 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, in camp at Ardebil [Ardabil], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, of 18 August 1826. The letter concerns the opening stages of the war between Russia and Persia, which has broken out due to the disputed frontier. The letter reports the departure of the Russian envoy to Persia, Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov], from Persia following the unfavourable conclusion of negotiations, and details the Persian successes following the opening of hostilities, including:The Persian occupation of Talish [Talysh] following an uprising by the local populationMilitary developments in Carabagh [Karabakh], Sheerivan [Shirvan] and Daghestan [Dagestan]The driving away of Russian troops from disputed territory at the lake of Gokcha [Lake Sevan]The Governor-General of Georgia, General Yermoloff [General Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov], having remained with his troops at Tiflis [Tbilisi]The nomination of an officer by the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] to travel to Constantinople [Istanbul] to encourage the Ottoman Empire to declare war on Russia.The letter also originally enclosed copies of correspondence between Prince Minchikoff and Willock concerning a gift of a crystal couch for the Shah (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/112-113).This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 20 August 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/109).Physical description: 1 item (6 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 19 from the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, at the Royal Camp at Aher [Ahar], to the Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government of India, George Swinton, of 29 September 1826. The dispatch originally enclosed copies of letters to the President of the Board of Control and the Chairman of the Court of Directors of the East India Company (not included in this item). The letter reports the defeat of a Persian army under the command of Mahomed Meerza [Muḥammad Mīrzā], the son of the Prince Royal [Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār], at Shamkhar [Shamkir] by a Russian force led by General Madatoff [General Valerian Madatov]. Macdonald Kinneir gives an account of the battle, and reports the subsequent capture of Gunja [Ganja] by Madatoff. The letter indicates that the Prince Royal has moved to relieve Mahomed Meerza, and also details other military developments in the war between Russia and Persia in the Caucasus [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], including a report on the composition of the whole of the Persian army in the field. A post scriptum details the arrival of a messenger at the Royal Camp who reports the ‘entire defeat’ of the Prince Royal’s army at Gunja.This document was originally enclosed, numbered 1, in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 13 October 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/151).Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 22 from the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, at the Royal Camp near Ahar, to the Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government of India, George Swinton, of 5 October 1826. In the letter, Macdonald Kinneir details his audience with the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār], in which the Shah reports the defeat of the Persian army [led by the Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār] by Russia in the Caucasus, and requests that Macdonald Kinneir make representations to the Governor-General of India, Lord Amherst, for supplies of weapons and other military stores with which to fight Russia. Macdonald Kinneir also details his reply to the Shah, in which he indicates that recent fighting in India and Britain’s friendly relations with Russia would make it difficult to meet his request. He also details the advice he gave to the Shah for the defence of Persia, including recommendations to muster troops from across Persia, improve defences on the frontier with Russia, and to conduct an irregular campaign against Russian forces.This document was originally enclosed, numbered 2, in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 13 October 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/151).Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 23 from the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, at the Royal Camp near Ahar, to the Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government of India, George Swinton, of 6 October 1826. In the letter Macdonald Kinneir gives an account of the defeat of the Persian army led by Abbas Meerza [Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār] and the Prime Minister of Persia, the Asuf oo Dowleh, Allah Yar Khan [Āṣaf al-Dawlah, Allāh Yār Khān Qājār Davallū], in battle by a Russian force led by General Madadoff [General Valerian Madatov] on 26 September 1826 [Battle of Ganja], and the subsequent Persian retreat. Macdonald Kinneir reflects on the performance of the Persian leadership and officers, the state of the Persian troops, and the losses sustained by both sides, and reports General Madadoff’s advance subsequent to the battle, including his occupation of Sheesha [Shusha].This document was originally enclosed, numbered 3, in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 13 October 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/151).Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 24 from the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, in Tabreez [Tabriz], to the Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government of India, George Swinton, of 12 October 1826. The letter details proceedings at Tabreez following the defeat of the Persian army, led by the Prince Royal, Abbas Meerza [Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār], by Russia in the Caucasus [Battle of Ganja, 26 September 1826]. Macdonald Kinneir reports that Abbas Meerza intends to regather his troops and return to the field, and has made a request for military stores to be supplied by the Government of India (see IOR/L/PS/9/70/153). He also details the efforts made to muster troops from across Persia to continue the war with Russia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], and reports military developments in Sherevan [Shirvan] and Erivan [Iravan or Yerevan].This document was originally enclosed, numbered 4, in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 13 October 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/151).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: Copy of dispatch No. 30 from the East India Company Envoy to Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, in Tehran, to the Chief Secretary to the Supreme Government of India, George Swinton, of 28 December 1826. The letter originally enclosed the translation of a letter from Daoud Khan to Abbas Meerza [Crown Prince of Persia, 'Abbās Mīrzā Qājār], a copy of which was acquired by Macdonald Kinneir’s secret informant at Tabreez [Tabriz] (not included in this item). The letter also details proceedings in Persia relating to the war between Russia and Persia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], including:Abbas Meerza’s communications to the Shah detailing the weakness of the Russian position in Georgia and arguing against the opening of negotiations for peace, and Macdonald Kinneir’s views concerning the veracity of Abbas Meerza’s communicationsPrivate reports of the opening of negotiations for peace between Abbas Meerza and General Madadoff [General Valerian Madatov]The possibility of Abbas Meerza making communications with powers in Europe, including instructions for Daoud Khan to communicate with the French and Austrian ambassadors at Constantinople [Istanbul]The ‘disturbed state of mind’ of the Shah.This document was originally enclosed in Macdonald Kinneir’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 17 January 1827 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/175).Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)