Persian Affairs and Persian Gulf Affairs

Content

This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from 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. [Mumbai] Secret Department 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. [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 21 dated 29 March 1856. The enclosures are dated 29 January-25 February 1856.

The papers comprise:

1) Copies of despatches of Charles Augustus Murray, HM Envoy to Persia [Iran], to the Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, forwarded for information 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. and the Government of India, with numerous enclosures. They cover subjects including the following:

• Reports in the Tehran Gazette of the capture of Candahar [Kandahar] by Dost Mahomed Khan [Dūst Muḥammad Khān Bārakzāy], and his purported plans to capture Heart
• Reports of the movement of Persian military forces to Khorassan [Khorasan] and Persian plans to repel Dost Mahomed Khan at Herat and any British force in the southern provinces of Persia
• Persian claims that the British Government has broken its agreement not to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, following the production of: letters intercepted by the ruler of Herat, Prince Mohammed Yousuf [Muḥammad Yūsuf Khān, Regent of Herat], purportedly sent by the British Mission to Dost Mahomed Khan, which Murray insists were forged in order to provide a pretext to send troops to Herat; and letters delivered to Richard Stevens, HM Consul in Tehran (for Murray), said to be from ‘several chiefs of the principal Heratee Tribes and factions’ (f 339) proposing to support Britain against Persia (ff 341-342), which Murray claims are also forgeries
• A copy of a lengthy anonymous paper (ff 346-356), which Murray claims is a ‘scurrilous libel’ originating from the Persian Government, intended for publication in Europe alleging the: misdemeanors of individual British officials in Tehran leading to the recent break in diplomatic relations; the duplicitousness of the British Government towards Persia; and active British support of Dost Mahomed Khan regarding Candahar and Herat
• Copies of six of translated letters, forwarded to Murray by Stevens, originating from the Sudr Azem [Ṣadr-i Aʿẓam, Persian Prime Minister], to various officials near the Persian borders with Afghanistan instructing them to cooperate with the approaching Meer Alum Khan [Mīr ‘Ālim Khān, also spelled Meer Allem Khan in this item] who has been ‘nominated to the post of protecting the boundary of Herat and certain other duties’ (f 358)
• Reports that the ruler of Herat has asked the Persian authorities at Meshed [Mashhad] to delay sending an army in the hopes of settling amicably with Dost Mahomed Khan
• Murray’s modification of the demands he deemed requisite for the restoration of diplomatic relations with the Persian Government, including an apology, drafted by Murray, which he requires to be signed by the ‘Mooshtehids and Moollahs’ [mujtahids and mullahs] withdrawing their ‘charges and accusations’ against him and the British Mission (f 333)
• Reports from the British Agent at Sheeraz [Shiraz] of an agreement concluded between the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat and Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Fars regarding the port of Bender Abbass [Bandar Abbas], including the principal terms (f 338-339)

2) A letter from Murray to the Governor-General of India stating his intention to remain at Tabreez [Tabriz] and his opinion that it may be necessary to remove troops from India for a foreign expedition against Persia in order to ‘ensure for [Britain] repose and respect for many years to come’ (f 365).

3) Copies of despatches from Stevens to Murray, covering various matters including:

• Reports relating to Dost Mahomed Khan’s activities, intentions towards Herat and rumoured death
• Persian claims that William Taylour Thomson, former British Envoy at Tehran, administered anti-Persian bribes
• A protest by Stevens regarding restrictions on British Indian subjects at Kirman [Kerman] and Yezd [Yazd] with regard to wool exports from those provinces
• A report that the Persian Government has attempted to delay Dost Mahomed Khan’s advance to Herat by creating an alliance with him against Britain
• Persian instructions to officials in eastern Persia inviting them to cooperate with and place troops at the disposal of Meer Alum Khan for duty on the frontiers and ‘other services’
• The arrival in Tehran of the first interpreter of the Persian Embassy at St Petersburgh [St Petersburg], bringing news of: the embassy’s financial needs; the request of the Persian ambassador to return to Persia; rumours, said to be false, of a Russian proposal for an alliance with Persia; economic hardship in Russia and the population’s desire for peace [Crimean War 1853-1856]; a rumour that Emperor Alexander wishes to meet the Shah in Tiflis [Tbilisi] next year; and rumours, suspected to be false, that the Russian Government promised the Persian Government monetary inducements to occupy Herat and Candahar
• Intelligence of the movement of Persian military forces to Shiraz intended for Bushire [Bushehr], Kermanshah, and Mohamura [Khorramshahr].

4) Despatches from Commander James Felix Jones, Indian Navy, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire, to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, notably covering the following matters:

• Murray’s advice that Jones neither take any action following the ‘maritime outrage committed by the dependents of the Sheikh of Chaab’ (f 378) nor alienate the chiefs of any other Arab tribes in southern Persia, especially since Mohumrah [Khorramshahr] is a potential landing point for a British expedition
• Concern of the Persian authorities at Shiraz at the appearance of the steam vessels Victoria and Ajdaha from Bombay, and Persia’s removal of their troops and armaments from the island of Karrack [Kharg, also known as Khark]
• The continuing dispute between the Imam of Muscat and Persian Government over Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas] and the alleged plans of the Imam to attack Karrack and Bushire, and to recruit mercenaries from Gulf Arab tribes and tribes in Mesopotamia [Iraq] subject to [Ottoman] Turkey
• Intelligence from the British Agent at Shiraz on Persian military strength, and the strategy of the Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Fars regarding Bushire
• Jones’s correspondence with Murray, the Governor of Bushire, and the Commodore of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Gulf, to quell the alarm caused by recent British Squadron target practice exercises in the Bushire Roads.

Extent and format

1 item (63 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY', Vol 124

1014 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/486

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/5/486, ff 329-391

History of this record

Date(s)

29 Mar 1856 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

RumoursForgeryPolitical intelligenceWool tradePolitical conflictsPropaganda, Anti-BritishSecurity measuresBilateral relationsMilitary operationsDiplomacyMilitary intelligenceTerritorial disputesCorruption

Places

CandaharKarrack (island)AfghanistanPersian GulfBunder AbbasBushirePersiaHeratMohumrah

People & organisations

Native AgentPersian Gulf Naval SquadronPrime Minister to the Shah of PersiaHM Ambassador to IranGovernment of IndiaImam of OmanGovernment of PersiaSecretary of State for Foreign AffairsKing of AfghanistanGovernor of HeratBritish Consul, Tehran

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Persian Affairs and Persian Gulf Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/486, ff 329-391, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100129828683.0x000013> [accessed 4 August 2026]

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