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Letters Outward [‎43r] (91/464)

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The record is made up of 2 volumes (227 folios). It was created in 21 Jan 1839-17 Dec 1839. 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

The volumes consist of letters outwards from the British 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. . Most of these letters were originally penned by Samuel Hennell (Resident), with a few towards the end of the second volume penned by Thomas Edmunds (Assistant Resident). Most of these letters are addressed to John Pollard 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. in the Political and Secret Departments; Lestock Robert Reid, Acting Chief Secretary to the Bombay Government; George Barnes Brucks, Commodore of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. of the Court of the Directors of the East India Company, London; and Robert Taylor, 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. , Bagdad [Baghdad]. The remaining correspondence is directed towards various officers/officials/servants of the British Government and the East India Company. Some letters also have translations of correspondence to and from various rulers in and around the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. enclosed.

Much of the correspondence concerns the conquest of Nedgd [Najd] by Khorshed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Khūrshid Pāshā], Commander of Egyptian Forces in Central Arabia, and the establishment of Ameer Khalid [Amīr Khālid] — also known as Khaled ben Saood — as ruler of that province. Much of the correspondence therefore concerns itself with Khorshed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's efforts to extend Egyptian influence throughout the rest of the Arabian Peninsula and therefore extend the power of its ruler Mahomed Ally Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā]; the British are specifically concerned about Bahrein [Bahrain], Bagdad, Bussora [Basra], Koweit, and the various rulers of Oman submitting to becoming vassals of Egypt. Much of the subject matter therefore relates to the Resident trying to check the advancement of Egyptian power in order to maintain Britain's dominant position, its reputation, and prestige in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . A specific example being the removal of Sued ben Mootluk, an Agent to Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. operating in Oman; the agent was claiming to have been empowered to rule Oman on Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's behalf.

Another major topic concerns political relations between Britain and Persia. A diplomatic rupture between the two states takes place, and all communications between the Resident and the Government of Fars is therefore suspended. The correspondence covers events in Southern Persia leading up to — and following — the removal of the British 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 on 29 March 1839 to Karrack [Khārk, Jazīreh-ye]; a diary of events leading up to the removal of 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. is enclosed. The correspondence also concerns itself with the British force stationed — without the permission of the Persian Government — on the island of Karrack, along with subsequent reports of disturbances surrounding Shiraz and Bushire.

Other matters featured in the volumes include a visit to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by Sir Frederick Maitland, Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies and China, aboard HMS Wellesley ; efforts by the British to prevent the abduction of Africans for sale as slaves in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and discussions relating to the deployment of the ships of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Gulf.

It also contains material of a routine nature such as the transmission of letters, packets, and parcels; and the issuing of disbursements.

The volumes appear to have been subjected to a degree of weeding, as evidenced by the gaps present in the original pagination. As a result, some letters are only present as fragments (i.e. only the opening or ends of some letters remain).

Extent and format
2 volumes (227 folios)
Arrangement

The correspondence in the file has been bound in two volumes and arranged chronologically. In the first volume the correspondence runs from 21 January to 4 July 1839, and in the second volume from 25 June to 17 December 1839. The overlap is in consequence of the presence of enclosures to the final letter in volume one, which are transcribed at the start of volume two.

Physical characteristics

Condition: The volumes are by and large in good condition, though on a small number of folios the ink has faded; in consequence, the text is therefore difficult to read on these folios. A very small number of folios have also suffered physical damage at the edges, and therefore a small proportion of the text has been lost.

Foliation: The foliation sequence runs through two physical volumes. This sequence commences at the first folio of the volume one and terminates at the back cover of volume two; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The volumes contain the following foliation corrections; f. 111, and ff. 111A-F.

Pagination: There is an original pagination sequence, which is written in ink, that is also present in the volumes between ff. 1-220; these numbers are located in the top outermost corner of each page. There are a large number of gaps in this sequence, indicating that a degree of weeding has been undertaken at some point in the past.

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English in Latin script
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Letters Outward [‎43r] (91/464), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/80, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023576161.0x00005d> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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