‘Proceedings regarding the proposed arrangement of substituting for the Resident in the Persian Gulf an Assistant under the Envoy at Tehraun – Channel of his correspondence – Reduction in the Residency Establishment and appointment of Major Morison to the Office of Resident.’

Content

The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence, minutes and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, letters from the governments of Bombay [Mumbai], Fort St George [Madras, i.e. Chennai], and the East India Company Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. .

The item relates to proposals by the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. to change the position of ‘Resident at Bushire’ ([Būshehr], also called the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ) to ‘Assistant to the Envoy at Tehran’. The 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. and the Resident, David Anderson Blane, provide their detailed opinions on this proposal and the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. respond. The main points of discussion are: the experience and diplomatic skills required by the Resident to effectively manage relations with nearby rulers and suppress acts of ‘piracy’; potential reductions in the Residency’s expenses; and an earlier plan to move the 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. from Bushire to the nearby island of Kharrack [Jazīreh-ye Khārk]. Copies of earlier (1828) minutes by the Governor of Bombay regarding the purpose of the Resident at Bushire and the 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. 's expenses are included.

The item also refers to proposals by the Government of India to separate the governments of Bengal ([Calcutta], also called Fort William) and Agrah [Agra] and to transfer political authority from the subordinate governments of Bombay and Fort St George to the Government of India. A lengthy minute (ff 120-135) by the Governor of Bombay detailing his opposition to the latter proposal is included, along with multiple tables (ff 140-174) setting out the different relationships that the 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. holds with ‘local chieftains’ in the areas surrounding Bombay, notably Guzerat [Gujarat] and Kattywar [Kathiawar]. Some of these tables date back to 1820. The direct reporting of the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. and the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the Government of India, as opposed to the 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. , is also discussed.

To a lesser extent, the item also relates to the appointment of Major James Morison to the position of Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , an event complicated by the disclosure that Morison has been granted permission to return to Europe due to poor health.

Multiple spellings of numerous place names are present in the item. The majority of the item’s contents date from 1834-35.

Principal correspondents include: the governments of India, Fort St George, and Bombay; the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. ; and Blane.

The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Coll[ection] No. 15’, ‘P.C. [Previous Communication] 1721, Draft 266, 1836’, ‘Collection N. 1 [crossed out] of N. 33’, ‘Bombay Political Department’.

Extent and format

1 item (159 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the item. The item also contains a table of contents (f 51), noting ‘Page’, ‘Date’, ‘From’, ‘To’ and ‘Date of Consultation’.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 50, and terminates at f 208, 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 item 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/4/1539/61165

History of this record

Date(s)

16 Feb 1820-25 Nov 1835 (CE, Gregorian)

Related material

Related primary sources

Bombay Pol 8 Jun 1836, draft 266/1836, IOR/E/4/1060 pp 344-48. See also IOR/F/4/1516/59859

Subjects

Communication processColonial administrationAdministrative reformEmploymentPolitical affairs

Places

Persian GulfKattywarBombayGuzerat Province

People & organisations

Government of IndiaPolitical ResidentAgra PresidencyCourt of DirectorsPolitical AgentGovernment of MadrasGovernment of Bombay

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‘Proceedings regarding the proposed arrangement of substituting for the Resident in the Persian Gulf an Assistant under the Envoy at Tehraun – Channel of his correspondence – Reduction in the Residency Establishment and appointment of Major Morison to the Office of Resident.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/F/4/1539/61165, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001840.0x00038e> [accessed 30 June 2026]

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