Copy of Dispatch No. 13 from HM Chargé d'Affaires to Persia, Henry Willock, at Camp Sultanieh, to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning

Content

Copy of dispatch No. 13 from HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, at Camp Sultanieh [Solţānīyeh], to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, of 27 June 1826. The letter concerns the ongoing frontier dispute between Russia and Persia in the Caucasus, which has the possibility of leading to war. The letter details Persian proceedings concerning the dispute, including:

• The representations of the religious leader Aga Sied Mahomed [Agha Sayyid Muhammad Mujahid Isfahani, Ayat Allah] to the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] in favour of war in response to the reported mistreatment of Muslims in Russian territory in the Caucasus
• The arrival of the Russian envoy charged with negotiating the frontier with the Persians, Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] at Tabriz
• The alarm of the Prince Royal of Persia [Crown Prince of Persia, 'Abbās Mīrzā Qājār] at the possibility of war with Russia
• The willingness of the Shah to settle the dispute peaceably
• Willock’s representations to the Shah recommending a peaceful resolution
• The views of Persian ministers concerning the dispute, including the Prime Minister of Persia, Allah Ear Khan Auseff ed Dowleh [Allah Yar Khan Qajar Davallu, Asif al-Dawlah], and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mirza Abul Hussun Khan [Mirza Abu'l-Hasan Khan Shirazi].

The letter also originally enclosed extracts from Willock’s diary detailing the views of the Shah, the Prince Royal and the principle Persian ministers at the Court towards the dispute, which also contains a note of the communications between the Surgeon to HM Mission to Persia, Dr John McNeill, and the Prince Royal and the Shah (now catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/70/97).

This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to 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 East India Company of 28 June 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/95).

Extent and format

1 item (10 folios)

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Letter

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/L/PS/9/70/96

History of this record

Date(s)

27 Jun 1826 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Russo-Persian War (1826-1828)Border disputesDiplomacy

People & organisations

HM Chargé d'Affaires to PersiaSecretary of State for Foreign AffairsShah of PersiaCrown Prince of Persia

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Copy of Dispatch No. 13 from HM Chargé d'Affaires to Persia, Henry Willock, at Camp Sultanieh, to HM Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, George Canning, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/9/70/96, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038378586.0x0002ef> [accessed 17 July 2026]

Link to this record

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