'Russia in Asia - Growing influence of Europe on Asia'

Content

The file contains journal articles, correspondence, papers and memorandum relating to russian involvement in Asia 1850s-1860s and Pelly's mission to Herat and Afghanistan in 1760.

The material relating to Russian involvement and influences in Asia primarily consists of journal articles, in french, from the journal Revue des deux mondes looking at Russian expansion into both the Caucasus and the Far East, along with a newspaper article and handwritten observations made by Lewis Pelly. There is also an article in french from the same journal regarding French interests in Asia.

The material in the file relating to Lewis Pelly's mission to Herat and Afghanistan in 1860 includes correspondence with Sultan Ahmed Khan, Governor of Herat; and correspondence and records of conversations with Earl Canning, Viceroy and Governor General of India regarding his mission; matters relating to pay and reimbursement of expenses and observations on matters in Herat, the recent Persian War, and possible threats to India's north-western frontier.

Also included in the file is a record of a conversation with Earl Canning regarding Pelly's career and the offer of the position of acting consul at Zanzibar, May 1861.

File contains a title card, in Lewis Pelly's handwriting.

Extent and format

1 file, 10 items (67 folios)

It is grouped into

'POLITIQUE DE LA FRANCE EN ASIE'

24 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 2-13

'LA RUSSIE DANS LA CAUCASE: L'EXODE DES CIRCASSIENS ET LA COLONISATION RUSSE'

28 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 14-27

Telegram from the Private Secretary to the Governor General, Camp Umurpatra to Captain Lewis Pelly, Calcutta

2 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, f 27a

Letter from Captain Lewis Pelly to the Private Secretary to the Governor General of India

4 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 28-29

Record of an conversation between the Viceroy (Earl Canning) and Lewis Pelly

4 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 30-31

Letter from Lewis Pelly to His Highness Sirdar Sultan Ahmed Khan, Governor of Herat

4 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 32-33

'Letter to Government about Mission to Herat with accompaniments being letter to Lord Canning and Memo of Conversation'

24 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 34-45

Two pages from the Friend of India newspaper

4 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 46-47

'LA POLITIQUE RUSSE DANS LES MERS D'ORIENT'

26 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 48-60

'The influence of Europe in Asia'

12 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/21, ff 61-66

Arrangement

The contents of the file have been arranged chronologically, with the exception of the article at folios 14-27 which had originally been dated as 1860 but was actually printed in 1866. Enclosures to items have been placed directly after the item they are enclosed with.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The file has been foliated using a pencil number enclosed in a circle located in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. There has been some renumbering of the file and former foliation numbers have been crossed through.

The file contains three printed journal articles and each of these has their own original printed pagination sequences.

Foliation anomaly: 27a

Written in

English and French in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Mss Eur F126/21

History of this record

Date(s)

1858-1866 (CE, Gregorian)

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

'Russia in Asia - Growing influence of Europe on Asia', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/21, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a0> [accessed 20 June 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a0

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x0003a0/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content