Abstract: Hennell writes in reference to Lt Leeds' letter which reports of two slaves being taken on board the Honourable Company's schooner
Constance. Hennell writes that, under the maritime treaties signed with the Arab rulers, there is no authority to interfere with slaves boarding ships, and as such it is not recommended to receive slaves on board British vessels. Hennell also recommends the two slaves mentioned by Leeds be forwarded to Bombay. Also included is a note on the use of interpreters on board British vessels.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Covering letter accompanying an extract of correspondence (not included) from Lt Leeds to Commodore Porter, on the reasons for the failure to intercept vessels returning from East Africa to the Arab coast with slaves this season, and of the two slave boys landed by the Honourable Company's schooner
Constance. Hennell recommends the importance of having an interpreter onboard vessels involved in the suppression of the slave trade between Africa and the Persian Gulf.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Letter relating to Indian subjects involved in the slave trade between East Africa and Muscat. Hamerton states that the involvement of native Indians (Banians) in the slave trade will continue until deportation and strict punishments are imposed.Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Letter enclosing the translation of a report from the British Agent at Sharjah [Mullā Husayn], to which Hennell draws Malet's attention to Hussein's recommendation of native interpreters being used on board British ships employed in the suppression of the slave trade. Hennell's letter finishes by noting the Basra agent's report of slaves from Africa being imported into the Euphrates region, while British ships were engaged in Bahrain to protect against the threat of invasion from Ameer Fysul [Amir Faysal].Physical description: 2 folios
Abstract: Covering letter with two enclosures. The first enclosure (f 34) is a copy of letter no.26 of 1851 from A. Le Messurier, Advocate General at Bombay, to Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, dated 13 October 1851. It concerns British consular protection and the right of the British Government to extend or remove such protection, based on the participation of others in the slave trade. Mention is made in this regard to the Imam of Muscat. The second enclosure (f 35) is a copy of letter no.401 of 1851 from Arthur Malet, Chief Secretary to the Government Bombay, to Major Atkins Hamerton, Her Majesty's Consul and Honourable Company's Agent in the dominions of His Highness the Imam of Muscat, dated 4 November 1851. In the letter, Malet confirms receipt of a letter sent by Hamerton Atkins, concerning natives of India trading slaves in Muscat. Malet also encloses extracts from a letter from the Advocate General in Bombay (not included), stating that there is nothing to prevent the Imam of Muscat imposing penalties on those Indian subjects engaged in the slave trade.Physical description: 3 folios
Abstract: Acknowledging receipt of Hennell's previous letters concerning the slave trade, Malet expresses regret that arrangements had not been made earlier for the Honourable Company's schooner
Constanceto be on the Batinah Coast in time to check the season's slave trade, requesting that future arrangements will prevent recurrences of such a delay.Physical description: 1 folio
Abstract: Covering letter with two enclosures. The first enclosure (f 39) is an extract from a despatch from the Honourable the Secret Committee, dated 23 October 1851. The despatch relates to a convention concluded between the British Minister at Tehran (Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil) and the Ameeri Nizam of Persia in August 1850, authorising Her Majesty's ships and East India Company ships under certain conditions, to search Persian merchant vessels suspected of being engaged in the transport of slaves. The second enclosure (ff 40-41) is a translation of the aforementioned convention.Physical description: 4 folios
Abstract: The volumes consist of letters outwards from the British Residency in the Persian Gulf. Most of these letters were originally penned by Samuel Hennell (Resident), with a few towards the end of the second volume penned by Thomas Edmunds (Assistant Resident). Most of these letters are addressed to John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government of Bombay in the Political and Secret Departments; Lestock Robert Reid, Acting Chief Secretary to the Bombay Government; George Barnes Brucks, Commodore of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf; the Secret Committee of the Court of the Directors of the East India Company, London; and Robert Taylor, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, Bagdad [Baghdad]. The remaining correspondence is directed towards various officers/officials/servants of the British Government and the East India Company. Some letters also have translations of correspondence to and from various rulers in and around the Persian Gulf enclosed.Much of the correspondence concerns the conquest of Nedgd [Najd] by Khorshed Pasha [Khūrshid Pāshā], Commander of Egyptian Forces in Central Arabia, and the establishment of Ameer Khalid [Amīr Khālid] — also known as Khaled ben Saood — as ruler of that province. Much of the correspondence therefore concerns itself with Khorshed Pasha's efforts to extend Egyptian influence throughout the rest of the Arabian Peninsula and therefore extend the power of its ruler Mahomed Ally Pasha [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā]; the British are specifically concerned about Bahrein [Bahrain], Bagdad, Bussora [Basra], Koweit, and the various rulers of Oman submitting to becoming vassals of Egypt. Much of the subject matter therefore relates to the Resident trying to check the advancement of Egyptian power in order to maintain Britain's dominant position, its reputation, and prestige in the Persian Gulf. A specific example being the removal of Sued ben Mootluk, an Agent to Khorshid Pasha operating in Oman; the agent was claiming to have been empowered to rule Oman on Khorshid Pasha's behalf.Another major topic concerns political relations between Britain and Persia. A diplomatic rupture between the two states takes place, and all communications between the Resident and the Government of Fars is therefore suspended. The correspondence covers events in Southern Persia leading up to — and following — the removal of the British Residency from Bushire on 29 March 1839 to Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye]; a diary of events leading up to the removal of the Residency is enclosed. The correspondence also concerns itself with the British force stationed — without the permission of the Persian Government — on the island of Karrack, along with subsequent reports of disturbances surrounding Shiraz and Bushire.Other matters featured in the volumes include a visit to the Persian Gulf by Sir Frederick Maitland, Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies and China, aboard HMS
Wellesley; efforts by the British to prevent the abduction of Africans for sale as slaves in the Persian Gulf; and discussions relating to the deployment of the ships of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Gulf.It also contains material of a routine nature such as the transmission of letters, packets, and parcels; and the issuing of disbursements.The volumes appear to have been subjected to a degree of weeding, as evidenced by the gaps present in the original pagination. As a result, some letters are only present as fragments (i.e. only the opening or ends of some letters remain).Physical description: Condition: The volumes are by and large in good condition, though on a small number of folios the ink has faded; in consequence, the text is therefore difficult to read on these folios. A very small number of folios have also suffered physical damage at the edges, and therefore a small proportion of the text has been lost.Foliation: The foliation sequence runs through two physical volumes. This sequence commences at the first folio of the volume one and terminates at the back cover of volume two; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The volumes contain the following foliation corrections; f. 111, and ff. 111A-F.Pagination: There is an original pagination sequence, which is written in ink, that is also present in the volumes between ff. 1-220; these numbers are located in the top outermost corner of each page. There are a large number of gaps in this sequence, indicating that a degree of weeding has been undertaken at some point in the past.
Abstract: The file contains letters sent outwards from the British Residency in the Persian Gulf by Samuel Hennell (the Resident), and Thomas Mackenzie (Acting Assistant in Charge of the Residency). The main recipient being John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Political Department of the Bombay Government. Other significant recipients are Edward M Wood, Secretary to the Military and Steam Departments of the Bombay Government; John McNeil, HM Minister Plenipotentiary and Minister Extraordinary to the Court of Persia; and the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London.The correspondence includes material of a routine administrative nature; such as the movement of company ships, the transportation of mail, personnel matters, and so on. The trials of Noor Mahomed Beg [Nūr Muḥammad Beg] in conveying packets between Bushire and Tehran are outlined in more detail; a list of expenses he incurred in the process is also included. Additional topics covered include the suitability of various locations — Anjar, Bundar Maculla, Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye], and Muscat — for establishing a coal depot; the viability of relocating the base of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf from Bassidore [Bāsaʻīdū] to Anjar; the temporary occupation of Karrack by British forces; and the testing of the navigability of the Euphrates river through the ascent of an iron steamer.Included in the file are reports on the Resident's annual tour of the Arabian Coast. The main object being the renewal of the Maritime Truce, and its extension from a period of eight to twelve months. The Resident is also involved in trying to get the Arab Chiefs to formally recognise the restrictive line in the Persian Gulf; a neutral zone within which no hostility at sea will be tolerated.The efforts of the Resident to suppress the trade in slaves in the Persian Gulf is also featured; this being prompted by a complaint alleging that traders of the Joasmee [Āl Qāsimī] tribe had abducted women from the coast of Barbarah [Berbera] for the purpose of selling them as slaves. It also covers the Resident's efforts to prevent hostilities at sea between Aboothabee [Abu Dhabi] and Debaye [Dubai], as a result of Shaikh Khuleefa bin Shakboot's [Khalīfah bin Shakhbūṭ] attack on the Sea Tower of the Fort of Debaye.In a similar vein, the file includes correspondence related to the Resident's efforts to mediate a settlement between the Chief of Bahrain, and his revolted dependants — Esa ben Tareef [‘Isá bin Ṭarīf], and Ibn Salamah [Ibn Salāmah] — residing at Aboothabee. It also discusses the complete abandonment of Wukrah [al Wakrah] by the Boo Eymeen [Bu Ajman] tribe, and their relocation to Aboothabee, and a request from the Beni boo Ally [Banī Bū ‘Alī] for a reconciliation with the Beni boo Hoossun [Banī Bū Ḥusayn].The file also covers the advances of Ameer Khaled [Amīr Khālid] — with the support of the Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā of Egypt — against Ameer Fysul [Amīr Fayṣul], the Wahabi Chief, in Nedgd [Najd], and the resulting threat this poses to the Chief of Bahrain, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad Āl Khalīfah.The correspondence also concerns itself with the perceived hostility, and obstructive attitude of the Prince of Shiraz against the British at Bushire. The replacement of Shaikh Nasir [Shaykh Nāṣir] as Governor of Bushire by Mirza Abbas [Mīrzā ‘Abbās], and his subsequent replacement with Mirza Assadoollah [Mīrzā Assad ‘Allāh] following a dispute with the merchants of that place.Included is list of equipment received from India on the requisition of Sir Henry Bethune showing their subsequent distribution, along with another list estimating the cost of building a coal depot with a capacity for 1000 tons of coal.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the cover and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: An original incomplete pagination sequence is also present in the file between ff 2-91. These numbers are located in the top outermost corner of each page. Please note that there are significant gaps present in this sequence.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 23 June 1873, forwarding copies of papers regarding the arrangements made for the accommodation and supervision of rescued enslaved people when landed from HM cruisers at Aden and Bombay [Mumbai].Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 361, and terminates at f 362a, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 361a, and f 362a.
Abstract: This item consists of a copy of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 17 January 1873, supplying information required by the Lords of the Treasury, with regard to expenses incurred on account of ‘liberated’ enslaved people, and expressing the opinion that the amount in question should be regarded as an imperial charge. The despatch replies to despatch No. 64 of 18 July 1872.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 113, and terminates at f 115a, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 113a and f 115a.
Abstract: This item consists of a copy of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 17 January 1873, supplying information required by the Lords of the Treasury, with regard to expenses incurred on account of ‘liberated’ enslaved people, and expressing the opinion that the amount in question should be regarded as an imperial charge. The despatch replies to despatch No. 64 of 18 July 1872.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 122, and terminates at f 124a, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 122a and f 124a.