‘Disputes between Sir Harford Jones and Mr Manesty – and insubordinate conduct of the latter.’

Content

The item consists mostly of copies of correspondence, minutes and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, letters from the Governments of Bombay and Bengal.

The primary subjects are:

• The concerns of the governments of Bengal and Bombay about the behaviour of Samuel Manesty, Resident at Bussora [Basra, also occasionally referred to as Bussorah], in particular his apparent disregard of their authority, and his interference in the affairs of the Bagdad [Baghdad] Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.

• An overview of Sir Harford Jones’s time as Resident at Bagdad, focussing on his disputes with Manesty, his relationships with Soliman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Sulayman bin Omar Gurgi; also known as Buyuk Sulayman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ], Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Baghdad, and Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Ali bin Omar Gurgi], Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Baghdad, and the events leading to his departure from Bagdad

• Manesty’s belief that more assertive action should be taken to protect British interests in Bagdad and Bussora, and his plan to travel to Bagdad to meet Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.

• Manesty’s intention to resign his position and return to Britain.

Subjects also covered are:

• The role of the Bussora Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in the transmission of East India Company mail between Europe and India. It includes a ‘Register of Packets received from the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. for transmission to Europe’ (f 147 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. )

• The futures of the Bagdad and Bussora residencies

• The financial affairs of Manesty, and his request for an increase in his allowance

• Manesty’s proposal that a new duty be imposed on goods imported into Bussora on British vessels, and the question of whether private British merchants should be allowed to operate in Bussora

• Concerns about the growing French influence in Iraq and Persia

• The case of John Raymond, a British military adviser posted to Bagdad, who has been accused of deserting.

The primary correspondents are: Government of Bengal From c. 1758-1858, the East India Company's administration in Bengal. From 1773-1833, the most senior of the three subdivisions of India, also known as the Supreme Government of India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. ; Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ; Samuel Manesty, Resident at Bussora; Sir Harford Jones, Resident at Bagdad; John Hine, Acting Resident at Bagdad.

The title page (f 5) of the item contains the following references: ‘Political No. 10, Season 1808/09, Draft 178, Para. 28’; and ‘Examiner’s Office, July 1808’.

Extent and format

1 item (216 folios)

Arrangement

There is no chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at 5, and terminates at 220, 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 The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

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

IOR/F/4/258/5651

History of this record

Date(s)

25 May 1798-31 Jul 1807 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

Bombay Pol 30 Aug 1809, draft 178/1808-09, IOR/E/4/1024 pp 590-638

Places

BussoraBagdad

People & organisations

ResidentGovernment of BombayGovernor of BaghdadResidentGovernment of Bengal

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‘Disputes between Sir Harford Jones and Mr Manesty – and insubordinate conduct of the latter.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/F/4/258/5651, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001688.0x000244> [accessed 27 July 2026]

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