'Book 142 1844' letters inward [12v] (26/128)
The record is made up of 1 file (62 folios). It was created in 18 Oct 1843-27 Jun 1844. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
[ 31 ]
It could not but be felt, that while the late occurrences at Gwalior were an offence to the British Go*
vernment, they at the same time created new insecurity to its subjects residing on the frontier.
The want of cordial co-operation on the part of the officers of the Gwalior State in the maintenance of
order upon the frontier, had long been a subject of just remonstrance, and various orders had been issued
by the late Maharaja in accordance with the representations of tl)e British Resident. These orders had but
too often remained without due execution; but, in consideration of the long illness of His Highness, and of the
consequent weakness ot his administration, the British Government had not pressed for satisfaction with
all the rigor which the importance of the subject would have warranted. It knew the good disposition of
the late Maharajah, and was willing to attribute his failure to effect what was right, to the want of Power
l ather than of Will.
But the recent occurrances at Gwalior, and the changed spirit in which the administration has been con
ducted, no longer permit the continuance of this forbearance. The British Government must now peremp
torily insist upon the adoption of permanent measures for the establishment of "order upon the frontier, and
for the future security ofjts subjects.
The British Government has so long deferred intervention in the distracted affairs of the Gwalior State,
in the sincere hope that the Chiefs themselves would establish, in supercession of the disgraceful rule to
which they have recently submitted, an administration willing and able to satisfy its reasonable demands
and to maintain the accustomed friendly relations between the two States.
The British Government can neither permit the existence of an unfriendlv Government within the ter
ritories of Scindiah, nor that those territories should be without a Government capable of coercino- it, own
subjects, and of maintaining every where the relations of good neighbourhood with the subjects of the Bri
tish Government and its Allies.
The deplorable events which have last occurred, at Gwalior, the hostile conflicts in the Camp before the
palace of the Maharaja, and the practical suspension of all Government in His Highness' territories now
impose upon the British Government the duty of intervention, not solely for the security of British' inte
rests, but for the execution, according to its true spirit and intentions, of the solemn engagement of a Treaty.
By the Treaty of Boorhanpoor contracted with the Maharaja Dowlut Rao Scindiah, the British Go
vernment engaged to maintain a force to be at all times ready on the requisition of the Maharaja, to protect
the person of the Maharaja, his heirs and successors, to overawe and chastise rebels or exciters of disturbance
in His Highness territories, and to reduce to obedience all offenders against his Highness' authority.
to rrcl e h r Govern merit s st '"f" 0 " "v'® 'T™', Mal ' ara J a ^nder it impossible for him to address
; i M • " in eut such formal lequisitions for aid as circumstances would iustifv him in demand
sistenl'titrihe Cd f.dh' 1 ''"' - ,lie l' r ; | ,visio " s | oftl 'e Treaty of Boorhanpoor; hut it would he incon-
sis lent with the oocJ faith and injurious to the good name ot the British Government were it to nermif
Ihis inability to demand aid, which only gives the Maharaja new claims upon its protection to deprile His
Highness of that friendly support in its utmost need which it was the intention of MaSia DoIlTB o
Scmdhia to secure for ever by that Treaty, to himself, his heirs, and successors ,,0wlut Kao
The Governor General will therefore direct the immediate advance offerees amply sufficient to efferf
all the just purposes of the British Government—to obtain guarantees for the future security of its own
subjects on the common frontier of the two States, to protect the person of the Maharaja, to quell distur
bances within His Highness territories, and to chastise all who shall remain in disobedience.
By order of the Right Hon'ble the Governor General of India,
F. CURRIE,
Secy, to the Govt, of India,
with the Governor General.
Camp Hinr/onah, the ttth December, 1843.
The British army has entered the Territory of Scindiah, not as an Enemy, but as a Friend to the
Maharajah, bound by reaty to protect His Highness' person, and to maintain his Sovereign authority
against all who are disobedient and disturbers of the Peace.
The Governor General has no object but that of seeing re-established in the Territories of Scindiah a
strong Government, willing and able to preserve the accustomed relations of Friendship with the British
Government and its Allies, a Government which may at all times do justice to the army as well as to the
people, but command both for the good of all.
r The Governor General cautions the evil advisers of the Maha Ranee, that they will themselves be held
responsible for any resistance which may be offered to the measures deemed to be necessary for the esta
blishment of the Maharajah's just authority, and for the security of his person and rights. •
Hy order of the Right Hon'ble the Governor General of India,
F. CURRIE,
Secy, to the Govt, of htdia,
with the Governor General.
About this item
- Content
The file contains letters received by Captain Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at Bushire, from J P Willoughby, Secretary 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. , between January and June 1844. The letters contain information, guidance and instructions from the Governor in Council of Bombay to the Resident.
The letters often contain or enclose separately, copies of pertinent correspondence, mainly between other British officials in Bombay and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , a few of which are dated 1843 or earlier. Among the enclosures are English translations of several Arabic letters written by Syed Soweynee (Governor of Muscat), Sheikh Suif bin Nubhan (Governor of Bunder Abbass), Khaja Rubil bin Uslan (British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , Muscat), Sir George Arthur (Governor in Council of Bombay) and Captain Atkins Hamerton (British 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. , Muscat).
The letters and their enclosures discuss events in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in the first half of 1844 and the implications for British foreign policy, relations and interests. The correspondence discusses the suppression of the maritime slave trade, the actions of the Governor of Muscat and his relations with the new Emir of Nejd, relations between the Persian Government and the ex-Chief of Bahrain, the British merchant shipwrecks Mary Mullaby and Sir James Cockburn , the vacant post of British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at Muscat and other topics as follows:-
- Ongoing investigations into the suspicious circumstances surrounding the wrecked British merchant brig Mary Mallaby , which ran aground at Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas] in July 1843 and the claim made by Captain C Fisher about the plunder of two boxes of treasure, together with an English translation of a letter from the Governor of Bunder Abbass to the British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , Muscat, and a witness statement by James Cromar, master of the British ship Columbia , made in the presence of Mr Le Geyt, the Senior Magistrate of Police, Bombay, December 1843 to March 1844 (folios 2-5, 21-31, 34-35);
- Request from the Governor of Muscat to the Governor in Council of Bombay, for advice on how to act in the face of the call to arms to the people of Oman, by Fysul bin Toorkey [Faisal ibn Turki], the new Emir of Nejd, together with the response from the Governor in Council of Bombay, November 1843 to January 1844 (folios 7-9);
- Recognition by the Governor in Council of Bombay of the aid and hospitality extended to Captain John Davies and the crew of the shipwrecked British barque Sir James Cockburn by the Governor of Muscat, including the offer of a sea passage in the British vessel Mary Mallaby , which the Governor of Muscat had purchased from Bunder Abbass and repaired, November 1843 to March 1844 (folios 3-4, 32-33, 40);
- Enquiries into the measures taken by the Governor of Muscat to enforce the prohibition against the slave trade at Muscat in accordance with treaty, and British requests for the liberation of three Indian slave girls and a Somali slave boy, March to June 1844 (folios 39-42, 52-58);
- Concerns about the doubtful wording of the anti-slavery clause (Article III) of the Treaty concluded in 1839 by Captain Samuel Hennell, British Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. with the Arab Chiefs of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , together with a letter from the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. of the East India Company in London 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. , expressing their opinion, October 1843 to June 1844 (folios 10-11, 59);
- Request from 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. to the Government of India, for advice on the policy to pursue in the event that the Persian authorities at Shiraz are granted permission by their Government, to assist ex-Chief Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamed, to reassert his authority in Bahrain, February to April 1844 (folios 37-38);
- Notice of the death of Khaja Rubil bin Uslan (British Government Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , Muscat) on 13 May 1844, from the Governor of Muscat; letter from Mahomed Husson (also known as Moossa Khan) to the British Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , requesting appointment to the Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. vacancy at Muscat and enclosing supporting documents from 1804 and 1830, outlining the distinguished services rendered to the British Government by his ancestors (folios 43-51);
- Government of India circular and notices published in both The Calcutta Government Gazette and The Bombay Government Gazette on the 15 and 26 June 1844 respectively, announcing the appointment of William Wilberforce Bird as the new Governor General of India (folios 60-62);
- 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. notices published in The Bombay Government Gazette on the 6, 17, and 23 January 1844, about British Army victories in Gwalior State, following the death of the Maharajah of Gwalior and the outbreak of conflict (folios 6, 12-20).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (62 folios)
- Arrangement
The letters are arranged chronologically. Many letters incorporate copied extracts from earlier letters or enclose them separately.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: numbered 2-3, 4, 4A, 5-62, from the front to the back of the file. The numbering is written in pencil on the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. , in the top right corner and encircled. The front of the file cover is numbered 1 and the back of the file cover is numbered 63 on the inside.
Pagination: numbered in ink, in the top right or left hand corner respectively, as follows: 3-9, 11, 14-16, 20-22, 24-36, 46, 47, 55, 59-76, 123-126, 138, 166, 167, 176-178, 202-208, 224-235, 242-244, 254-262, 274, 275, 283-286. The number 283 has been written twice, on two successive pages. Blank pages and pages containing brief details only, such as name and address, are usually unnumbered.
Physical condition: the paper edges of four of the five issues of The Bombay Government Gazette , 1844 are extensively stained, brittle and torn (folios 6, 12-18 and 20).
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/R/15/1/102
- Title
- 'Book 142 1844' letters inward
- Pages
- 12r:13v
- Author
- Bombay Government Gazette
- Usage terms
- Public Domain