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Letters Inward [‎9v] (20/112)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (54 folios). It was created in 24 Jun 1836-31 Dec 1836. 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. .

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Content

This file consists almost entirely of letters received at 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire. Most of the letters are addressed to the Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; very few of these letters state the name of the Acting Resident; those that do include a name are addressed to Samuel Hennell.

The principal correspondents in this file are the following: Edward M Wood, Secretary to Government, Marine Department, Bombay; John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to Government, Political Department, Bombay; William Henry Wathen, Chief Secretary to Government, Political Department, Bombay; Charles Malcolm, Superintendent of the Indian Navy; John Pepper, Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron.

Several of the letters include enclosed letters. For instance, some of Wood's letters contain copies of correspondence between 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 Charles Malcolm, Superintendent of the Indian Navy. These enclosed letters relate to new arrangements – proposed by the Resident, James Morrison – concerning the role of the Commodore's ship (previously almost permanently stationed at Bassadore [Bāsaʻīdū], but recently required, following Morrison's changes, to make regular trips throughout the Gulf). Malcolm objects to the changes and makes the case for having a station vessel at Bassadore.

The letters from Wood and Willoughby respectively relay the approval, and in some cases, the instructions, of the Governor in Council, Sir Robert Grant, regarding the Resident's duties. Many of these letters concern the Resident's conduct in political affairs in the Gulf. For instance, one letter relates to a dispute between the Shaik of Kishm [Shaikh of Qeshm] and the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat [Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd]. Other letters discuss more routine tasks, such as the forwarding of packets and the maintenance of the buildings under the Resident's charge.

Other subjects discussed include: the maintenance and movements of Indian Navy ships, particularly in relation to the Euphrates Expedition, headed by Francis Rawdon Chesney; Malcolm's dismissal of the commander of the Cyrene schooner for having shown extreme carelessness while in charge of that vessel, resulting in it running aground; arrangements – sanctioned by the Governor in Council –for the conveyance of mail between Mohammarah [Khorramshahr] and Damascus and Beirout [Beirut], using dromedaries and horses respectively; the reported tearing down of British colours by the French authorities at the Port of Bussora [Basra]; reported piratical activity in the neighbourhood of Adeed.

The final letter in the file, which is from Willoughby, concerns instructions regarding the conduct of British officers when detached with troops of British allies. The letter contains two extracts from two separate letters 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. , the first of which is dated 25 September 1835 and refers to an incident in which a British officer, Captain Rochfort, failed to intervene and prevent the execution of ninety-nine prisoners.

Extent and format
1 volume (54 folios)
Arrangement

Most of the letters proceed in chronological order, beginning on 24 June 1836 and ending on 31 December 1836. However, some of the letters include enclosures which pre-date the principal letters to which they are attached. For instance, the final letter in the volume contains an extract from a letter dated 25 September 1835.

Physical characteristics

Pagination: There is a pagination sequence, which is written in ink, in the top right corners of the rectos and in the top left corners of the versos.

Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. This sequence begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the last folio of writing, on number 54. This is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the file.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Letters Inward [‎9v] (20/112), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/69, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023513935.0x000015> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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