Punjab and Afghanistan Affairs

Content

Enclosures to Despatch 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. No. 15, dated 9 October 1837.

The enclosures relate to affairs in Lahore (the Punjab) and Afghanistan, and are dated 24 July - 11 September 1837.

The papers cover: correspondence from Captain Claude Martine Wade, 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. , Loodeeana [Ludhiana], communicating political intelligence concerning the Punjab and Afghanistan; correspondence from Wade, and Captain Alexander Burnes, concerning the progress of Burnes's commercial mission to Cabool [Kabul]; remarks on Persian influence in Afghanistan; correspondence between the Governor General (Lord Auckland) and Maharajah Runjeet Singh [Ranjit Singh, Ruler of the Punjab], expressing the mutual goodwill of the British Government and the Sikh nation, and a willingness to promote commercial ties; minute by the Governor General on British policy on the frontier of Afghanistan; replies from the Secretary to the Government of India (William Hay Macnaghten); and a letter from the Governor General to Burnes commending his services in Afghanistan.

Extent and format

1 item (72 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM INDIA.'

1552 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/128

Arrangement

There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-14, on folios 230-231. These numbers are repeated for reference on the last verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of each enclosure.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

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/5/128, ff 229-300

Former external reference(s)

No. 15

History of this record

Date(s)

24 Jul - 9 Oct 1837 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Trade (practice)Foreign relationsPolitical intelligence

Places

LahoreAfghanistan

People & organisations

Political AgentGovernment of India, Foreign and Political DepartmentViceroy and Governor-General of India in CouncilAlexander Burnes

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Punjab and Afghanistan Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/128, ff 229-300, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100083822146.0x000001> [accessed 13 July 2026]

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