Abstract: The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence, minutes and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, letters to and from the Government of Bombay and the Government of Bengal. The item relates to the decision to re-establish a Resident or Agent of the East India Company at Mocha in order to pursue commercial and political objects in the 'Arabian Gulph' – comprised of the Red Sea, Egypt and Abyssinia [Ethiopia]. In particular the item is concerned with:The principal objects of the position, namely: the extension of trade in the Arabian Gulph; the procurement of intelligence on the activities of the French in the area; and the establishing of communication routes with Europe via Egypt and MaltaDiscussions of the likelihood of success of the above objects and the validity of the mission, including consultation with the Superintendent of Marine for the Government of Bombay on the channels of conveyance for packetsThe appointments of Captain Henry Rudland as Resident at Mocha and John Benzoni as his Assistant, including consultation with the Auditor of Civil Accounts regarding their allowancesReports by Rudland, Benzoni and the Custom Master at Bombay on the trading of goods in the Arabian Gulph, particularly in Abyssinia.Correspondents include: Court of Directors of the East India Company; Government of Bombay; Government of Bengal; Dr J Pringle, [Previous] Resident at Mocha; William Taylor Money, Superintendent of Marine, Government of Bombay; Mr Petrucy, Swedish Consul General to Alexandria; William Smith, Acting Commissary of Stores, Bombay; Rudland; Benzoni; Peter Paré Travers, Custom Master, Bombay; John Elphinstone, Auditor of Civil Accounts.The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Political No. 27, Season 1809/10, Draft 186' and 'Examiner's Office November 1809'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 50, and terminates at f 109, 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 volume also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: The title given above is an amended title. The original title, ‘Prohibition of a Trade with Abyssinia and the Governor of Tigrée, on the part of the Company’, which is written in ink, has been partly crossed out, and the title given above has been added in pencil.The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, letters from the Government of Bombay and the Government of Bengal. The item is concerned with the mission of Captain Henry Rudland, Resident at Mocha, to the Gulph [Gulf] of Arabia in order to establish trade links between England and Abyssinia. The item is chiefly concerned with:The utility of establishing a Resident at Mocha for purposes including the re-establishment of communications between India and England via the Red Sea; the ability to watch the proceedings of the French in the Red Sea and report intelligence back to the Indian Government; the facilitation of trade between England and AbyssiniaThe Government of Bombay's pessimism regarding the profitability of establishing trade links with Abyssinia given the cost of maintaining and protecting trade channels, due to the presence of different tribes on the coast, and their criticism of Captain Rudland for making unfounded claims on the profitability of the missionThe debate between the Government of Bombay and the Government of Bengal on the utility of pursuing commercial links with Abyssinia and the utility of allowing Captain Rudland to remain in the Arabian Gulph as ResidentDiscussions between Captain Rudland and Henry Salt, His Majesty's Envoy in the Gulph of Arabia, regarding the benefits of trade links with Abyssinia and the site of Amphilah [Eritrean Coast] as an ideal location for the English to have a footholdCorrespondence between: Captain Rudland; Ras Wellata Sellassi [Wolde Selassie], Governor of the Provinces of Tigre [Tigray] and Endula [Enderta], Antalow [Hint’alo], Abyssinia; and Nathaniel Pearce, an Englishman in the service of Ras Wellata Sellassi; regarding the potential trade links between Abyssinia and England and the exchange of gifts in friendship.Correspondents include: Government of Bombay; Captain Henry Rudland; Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay; Ras Wellata Sellassi; Nathaniel Pearce; Jonathan Duncan, Governor of Bombay; Government of Bengal; George Osborne, Secretary to the Government of Bombay; Henry Salt, His Majesty's Envoy in the Gulph of Arabia.Captain Rudland is alternatively referred to as the Resident at Mocha, the Agent in the Gulph of Arabia and the Agent in the Red Sea. The item includes multiple spellings for Ras Wellata Sellassi.The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Political No. 18, Season 1814/15, Draft 20' and 'Examiner's Office November 1812'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 42, and terminates at f 70, 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 printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: Diary, consultations, and accounts of the East India Company merchants in Persia [Iran], specifically factories at Gambroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās, Laristan, Iran], written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council) and Henry Savage (succeeding Agent and Council) respectively, countersigned by various officials, St George Pack (Steward), Walter Ray, Thomas Dorrill (Warehouse Keeper), Danvers Graves, John Hope (Steward and Secretary), Cowan Henry Draper, and Francis Wood (Steward). Comprised of multiple dispatches spanning the period 1 August 1746-31 July 1752, with a supplementary account on the affairs at the Persian court:Folios 4r-78r. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council) and Henry Savage (succeeding Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack, Thomas Dorrill (Warehouse Keeper), Danvers Graves, John Hope (Steward and Secretary), covering period 1 August 1746-31 July 1747. Received 3 August 1749, by ship
Orford. Title page lostFolios 79r-99r. Dispatch copying the supplementary account entitled ‘Journal of the most material Occurrences During Nadir Shaw’s Residence at Carmenia [Kerman],’ written and signed by Danvers Graves, covering period 26 February 1747-23 March 1747Folios 101r-170v. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed Henry Savage (Agent and Council), countersigned by Danvers Graves, John Hope (Steward and Secretary), covering period 3 August 1747-31 July 1748. Received 3 August 1749, by ship
Orford. Title page lostFolios 171r-250v. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed Henry Savage (Agent and Council), countersigned by John Hope (Steward and Secretary), and Cowan Henry Draper, covering period 1 August 1748-31 July 1749. Original dispatch received 13 September 1749, by ship
Drake Ketch. Present copy received 13 June 1750, by ship
Durrington. Title page, ‘Gambroon Diary and Consultations’ (f 171r)Folios 251r-335v. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed Henry Savage (Agent and Council), countersigned by Danvers Graves, Cowan H Draper, and Francis Wood (Steward), covering period 1 August 1750-31 July 1751. Received 15 August 1752, by ship
Eastcourt. Title page lostFolios 336r-392v. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed Henry Savage and Danvers Graves (Agent and Council), countersigned by Francis Wood (Steward), St. George Pack, and Walter Ray, covering period 1 August 1751-31 July 1752. Received 18 June 1753, by ship
Stretham. Title page lost.Accounts cover the movements and changes between EIC officials at Gambroon; movements and changes between EIC officials at Shiraz, Carmenia or Carmania [Kerman], Busheir [Bushire], Bagdat [Baghdad], and Bombay [Mumbai]; relations with and news from EIC ports, presidencies, council and directors (India); English, French, Dutch, Arab and Indian shipping; salaries, financial compensation, banking through financiers (especially Bania communities); copies and translations of letters, treaties, and official documents; monthly and annual accounts; officers’ debts and estates of the deceased; assessments of market trading conditions; trade, valuations, and details on commodities (copper, sulphur, lumber) and processed or manufactured products (English, French, Dutch, Russian, Indian, and Chinese), especially gunpowder, wool, plain and fine textiles, as well as livestock, horses, food and drink (such as rice, China sugar, Java sugar, sugar candy, coffee, and alcohol); dearth of food; physical and mental ill-health; swarming insects; weather and sea conditions; observations on festivities and ceremonies (‘Id and Nowruz); gifts; and the import of enslaved people from Africa.Substantial portions of accounts contain reports on ongoing conflict between Persian authorities and troops at Julfar [Ra's al-Khaymah, UAE], local Arabs, and the Imaum of Muscatt [Imam of Muscat]; reports from Persia of military and political developments leading to the murder of Nadir Shaw [Nadir Shah Afshar] treated in a supplementary account (‘Journal of the most material Occurrences During Nadir Shaw’s Residence at Carmenia’), the competition for power between his successors, as well as the rise of Careem Caun [Karim Khan Zand]; reports of developments in Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Timurid (Mogul [Mughal]) India, with particular reference to increasing tensions between the EIC and the Nabob of Bengall [Nawab of Bengal].Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 395; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: Diaries, consultations, and accounts of the East India Company merchants in Persia [Iran], specifically factories at Gambroon [Bandar-e ʿAbbās, Laristan, Iran], written and signed by John Geekie (Agent and Council) and Nathaniel Whitwell (succeeding Agent and Council) respectively, countersigned by various officials, St George Pack (Steward), Walter Ray, John Peirson (Secretary), Henry Savage, John Sewell, William Blandy (Examining Secretary), Hugh Bidwell, John Sherman, and Thomas Grendon. Comprised of multiple dispatches spanning the period 1 August 1737-31 August 1746, with two lacunae covering accounts between August 1738-July 1739 and September 1744-July 1745:Folios 3r-49r. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by John Geekie (Agent and Council), countersigned by Nathaniel Whitwell, St George Pack, and Walter Ray, covering period 1 August 1737-31 July 1738. Received 29 June 1739, by ship
Onslow. Title page lostFolios 50r-103r. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack and John Peirson, covering period 4 August 1739-31 July 1740. Received 2 August 1742, by ship
Fort St George. Title page lostFolios 104r-165r. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council), later replaced temporarily by John Geekie (former Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack, John Peirson, Henry Savage, and William Blandy, covering period 3 August 1740-31 July 1741. Received 5 August 1743, by ship
Porto Bello, also mentioning
Sallamander Bombketch[bomb ketch]. Title page, ‘Gambroon Diary’ (f 104r)Folios 166r-222r. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack, John Peirson, and John Sewell, covering period 5 August 1741-29 July 1742. Received 13 September 1744, by ship
Salisbury. Title page, ‘Gambroon Diary & Consultations’ (f 165r)Folios 223r-255r. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack and John Peirson, covering period 2 August 1742-27 July 1743. Received 30 December 1745, by ship
King William. Title page, ‘Gambroon Diary, & Consultations’ (f 223r)Folios 256r-307v. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack, John Sherman, and Thomas Grendon, covering period 3 August 1743-31 July 1744. Original dispatch received at Bombay [Mumbai], 9 November 1744, by ship
Nancy Grab. Present copy received 30 December 1745, by ship
King William. Title page, ‘Gambroon Diary & Consultations Book’ (f 256r, see fragment on f 265a)Folios 308r-342v. Dispatch copying the Gambroon diary, consultations, and accounts, written and signed by Nathaniel Whitwell (Agent and Council), countersigned by St George Pack and John Hope, covering period 10 August 1745-31 July 1746. Received 22 August 1748, by ship
Portfield. Title page lost.Accounts cover the movements and changes between EIC officials at Gambroon; movements and changes between EIC officials at Schiraz [Shiraz], Carmenia or Carmania [Kerman], Bagdat [Baghdad], and Lhor [Lahore]; relations and news from EIC ports, presidencies, council and directors (India); English, French, Dutch, Arab and Indian shipping; salaries, financial compensation, banking through financiers (especially Bania communities); copies and translations of letters, treaties, and official documents; monthly and annual accounts; officers’ debts and estates of the deceased; assessments of market trading conditions; trade, valuations, and details on commodities (copper, sulphur, lumber) and processed or manufactured products (English, French, Dutch, Russian, Indian, and Chinese), especially gunpowder, wool, plain and fine textiles, as well as livestock, horses, food and drink (such as rice, China sugar, Java sugar, sugar candy, coffee, and alcohol); dearth of food; illness; swarming insects; weather and sea conditions; observations on festivities and ceremonies (‘Id and Nowruz); gifts; the import of enslaved persons from Africa.Substantial portions of accounts contain reports on the emerging conflict between Persian authorities and troops at Julfar [Ra's al-Khaymah, Asia, UAE], local Arabs, and the new Imaum of Muscatt [Imam of Muscat]; reports from Persia of the extermination of the last Safavid rulers and the military consolidation of Nadir Shaw [Nadir Shah Afshar], his relations with the Ottomans, the invasion of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Timurid (Mogul [Mughal]) India, returning with looted wealth, impacts on the economy of Persia; Nadir Shah’s intention to establish a diplomatic alliance with England, aborted due to inadequate use of titles in English King’s letter. Several lacunae interrupt these accounts.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 346; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.