'Book 142 1844' letters inward [15r] (31/128)
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.
( 35 )
not feel it necessary to enter much into detail, either as to the enemy's position, or the disposition I made for at-
■ tacking 1 it . I sha 1 here merely observe, that it was peculiarly well chosen, and most obstinately defended ; indeed
LT' 8 S aS T that 1 never T ,tneS8e ' f i n s better served, nor a body of infantry apparently more devoted to
the piotection of their regimental guns, held by the Mahratta corps as objects of worship
1 previously communicated to your Lordship, that my intention was to have turned the enemy's left flank bv
s " «=a re vs
,sistiii^ J 1 ' ''^r^Iajesty's^Otinre^ment ^"foo^ander ^Major^to^ford^'l'^rec^m^nt^of 8 "'renad^rs 0 '""t
Hl ' ra ' lt0 ". a " d tl « 16th regiment of grenadiers imde, fientenant 'rn^McLa^C B
„f l ,hl"MH- l ' y k ° 0 r? V y0Ur L ° ri i shi P' thal ' proposed to have atucked the centre wiih Brigadier Stacy's brigade
Jmtsjs, s fetwaflai sasasaass swsxwbk "■
"."sri 1 ."?" ,i " »•' i-irissii's
On the left of this force I placed the 4th brigade of cavalry under Brigadier Scott C R nf H#.r vtd^o# » n k i
Cobne'l C I ? nslstlrl ? 0, ' tle4tllJ « h ' cavalr y (lancers) under Major Mactier, and the 10th light'cavalry under Lieut'
Lt of ^eoemy'. pSn 8 trOOPa 0f h0rSe artillery; Withthi8 f0t « 1 Purposed threatening the r,ghi
Your Lordship is aware of the extreme difficulty of the country, intersected bv deen : li .
which were only made practicable by the unremitting labor of Major Smith with the sappers •' LndThS f
pass the Koharee river m three columns at considerable distances, on the mornin-of the 29th bi^ h tl r 0
cious movements of their respective leaders, the whole were in their appointed positions bv 8 oVlJl b y th ejudi-
mile in front of Maharajpoor. P1 P 03, tions by 8 o clock a. m . about a
I toun d the Mahrattas had occupied this every strong position, durin» the previous ni<r)it 1™^.,
mfantry with their guns, which they entrenched 5 ; each corps ha'ving four Sed ^rirfr" 15 0f
This obliged me to alter, m some measure, my disposition opened on our advances.
Major General Littler's column being exactly in front of Maharainoor 1 nnWH :> >„ .J j-
fc"eM 1 b V a«e 1 rl ,triSade t00k " ^ reVerSe ' b0 "' Sapp0rted by ^i 0 ' Ge " eral ^"i^umTind tt wj
.oiurr^te , x 11 fcJiinii iiLt .a'.U'tem jlijiUJlnlii v u n
and devotion. And here I must do justice to the gallantry of their opponents, who received the shock withoutflm
ching; their guns doing severe execution as we advanced, but nothing could withstand the rush of British soldiers
Her Majesty's 39th foot, with their accustomed dash, ably supported by the 56th regiment native infantry drove
the enemy from their guns into the village, bayonetting the Gunners at their posts. Here a most santJuinarv
conflict ensued, the Maratta troops; after discharging their matchlocks, fought sword in hand with the most deter
Timed courage.
General Valiant's brigade, with equal enthusiasm, took Maharajpoor in reverse, an d 28 guns were captured bv
this combined movement : so desperate was the resistance, that very few of the defenders of this very strono- no'
sition escaped. During these operations Brigadier Scott was opposed by a body of the enemy's cavalry on the
extreme lett, and made some well executed charges with the 10th light cavalry, most ably supported by Oaptai n
Grants troop of horse artillery and 4th lancers, capturing some guns and taking two standards; thus thereaten-
ing the right flank of the enemy. mcreaieu
In conformity with the previous instructions, Major General Valiant, supported by - he 3d cavalry brigade mov
ed on the right of the enemy's position at Chonda. During the advance Major General Valiant had 3 to take in
succession, three strong entrenched positions, where the enemy defended their guns with franctic desperation • Hei
Majesty s 40th regiment losing two successive commanding officers. Major Stopford and Captajn Coddino-ton who
tell wounded at the very muzzles of the guns, and capturing four regimenial standards. This corps was ably and
nobly supported by the 2d grenadiers, who captured wo regimental standards, and by the 16th grenadiers under
Lieutenant Colonels Hamilton and McLaren ; to much praise cannot be given too these three regiments.
advance under a very severe fire over very difficult ground, but when within a short distance, again the ,u S h ol the
39th regiment, as before, under Major Bray, gallantly supported by the 56tb regiment under Major Dkk carried
every thing before lhem,and thus gained the entrenched main position of Chonda. In this chartro the iQib ^
ment lost the services of its brave commanding officer Major Bray, who was desperately wounded by the biowinrf n"
of one of the enemy s tumbrils., the m.dstolthe corps, and were ably brought out of action by MajoStraubenzee
This gallant corps on this occasion captured two regimental standards. ^irauoenzee.
A small work of four guns on the left of this position, was long and obstinately defended but subseouentlv oar
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
- 14r:18v
- Author
- Bombay Government Gazette
- Usage terms
- Public Domain