Extracts from the Diary of HM Chargé d'Affaires to Persia, Henry Willock

Content

Extracts from the diary of HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, for the period 13-22 June 1826. This document details Willock’s conversations with the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] and the following Persian ministers:

• The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Meerza Abul Hassan Khan [Mirza Abu'l-Hasan Khan Shirazi]
• The Prime Minister, Allah Ear Khan [Allah Yar Khan Qajar Davallu, Asif al-Dawlah]
• The Hakim of Tabreez [Tabriz], Futteh Ali Khan [Fath-‘Ali Khan Rashti]
• The former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mirza Abdul Wahab [ Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. Abdul Wahāb Nishāt Isfāhānī, Mu'tamid al-Dawlah].

Their conversations concern the ongoing frontier dispute between Russia and Persia, which has the possibly of leading to war, including:

• Negotiations with the Russian envoy Prince Minchakoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] who has been sent to Persia to settle the dispute
• The Shah’s intention of settling the dispute peacefully
• Britain’s opposition to war between Russia and Persia
• The advantages of war to Russia
• The Shah giving the appearance of his intention of going to war in order to encourage the negotiation of a resolution
• The unwillingness, and unpreparedness, of the Prince Royal of Persia, Abbas Mirza [Crown Prince of Persia, 'Abbās Mīrzā Qājār] to go to war with Russia.

This document also includes a note detailing the communications between the Surgeon to HM Mission to Persia, Dr John McNeill, and the Prince Royal, and McNeill’s communications with the Shah, concerning the dispute.

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 (17 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/9/70/97

History of this record

Date(s)

13 Jun 1826-22 Jun 1826 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Russo-Persian War (1826-1828)Border disputesDiplomacy

People & organisations

Minister for Foreign AffairsPrime Minister to the Shah of PersiaShah of PersiaCrown Prince of PersiaHM Chargé d'Affaires to PersiaJohn McNeill

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Extracts from the Diary of HM Chargé d'Affaires to Persia, Henry Willock, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/9/70/97, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038378586.0x0002f0> [accessed 12 August 2026]

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