The Anglo-Persian War

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. 54 dated 2 February 1857. The enclosures are dated 5-29 January 1857.

The primary correspondents are: Major-General Foster Stalker, Commanding the Persian Expeditionary Force; the Secretary to the Government, Bombay; Dr J G Fraser, Civil Surgeon at Ahmednuggur [Ahmednagar]; and the Secretary to the Government of India. Also included are Resolutions of the Board, and Minutes of the Governor of Bombay and members in Council. The enclosures to the despatches include letters and reports of: Lieutenant Herbert Disbrowe, Assistant 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. and Assistant Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; Charles Augustus Murray, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. at the Court of Persia [Iran] (then stationed at Baghdad); Major H J Barr, Bombay Army; and Captain Griffith Jenkins, Indian Navy, Commanding the HCS [Honourable Company Steam] frigate Assaye .

The papers relate to the progress of operations against Persia and related matters, and notably cover:

• Information regarding Persian coastal ports north of Bushire [Bushehr], particularly: their strategic value; the inhabitants, tribes and sheikhs [shaikhs]; topography; navigability, anchorage and facilities for disembarking troops; and resources for supplying the British forces in the event of future military movements in that direction. Included is Lieutenant Disbrowe’s report (ff 433-439) of the tour made by the Berenice and the Falkland to visit the ruling shaikhs of Gonavah [Bandar Ganaveh, also spelled Gonava and Ginava in this item], Dillom [Bandar Deylam], Bunder Reeg [Bandar Rig] and Roodhilla [Dehrud-e Olya]. The report describes his meetings with the shaikhs to apprise them of the current conflict between Britain and Persia and to secure their agreement (by secret compact) to provide assistance and intelligence to the British in return for a temporary allowance, and contains information on the resources of Dillom, Hindiyan [Hendijan] and Bihbian [Behbahan, also spelled Bihbihan in this item] and the roads between those places
• The placing, by Murray, of Major Taylor of the Bombay Army, at the disposal of Major-General Stalker, to provide language assistance, local knowledge, and to relieve the pressure on Captain James Felix Jones, 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. with the Forces and Civil Commissioner in the town of Bushire
• The Persian forts and works at Mohumrah [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] in the course of erection and other works at the confluence of the Karoon [Karun] and Shatal Arab [Shatt al-Arab, also spelled Shut-el-Arab in this item] rivers, and Stalker’s assertion to Bombay that he was unable to destroy them due to the recall of ships to the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. (to form transports for the reinforcements)
• Proposals for an electro-telegraphic communication between the Bushire 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. , Stalker’s camp, and the shipping in the Bushire Roads, including the proposal by Major Barr (ff 453-455) and the Bombay Government’s approval of the scheme should Lieutenant R L Brunton, Acting Deputy Superintendent, Electric Telegraph Department, confirm that sufficient telegraphic cable is procurable in Bombay
• The transfer by Captain Jenkins, of three (‘men of rank’) prisoners of war, and their followers, captured at Bushire, to Ahmednuggur, via Poona [Pune] into the care of Dr Fraser, and the terms and arrangements for their confinement.

Extent and format

1 item (47 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY', Vol 128

958 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/490

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/5/490, ff 429-475

History of this record

Date(s)

2 Feb 1857 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military communicationsTelegraph cablesFortificationsTopographyMilitary strategyMilitary intelligenceAnglo-Persian War (1856-1857)Military supplyPrisoners of War

Places

MohumrahPersian GulfBushire

People & organisations

Persian Gulf Political ResidencyCommander of the Persian Expeditionary ForceGovernment of Bombay, Chief SecretaryGovernment of IndiaHM Ambassador to IranGovernment of Bombay

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The Anglo-Persian War, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/490, ff 429-475, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100133904634.0x00000e> [accessed 23 August 2026]

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