Turkish Arabia Affairs

Content

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of India Secret Department to the East India Company 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. , Number 2 of 1838, dated 7 February 1838. The enclosures are dated 17 July-29 November 1837.

The item relates to Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. [Ottoman Iraq] and covers the following matters:

• The arrival of Lieutenant Henry Blosse Lynch at Bagdad [Baghdad; this spelling is also used in the item] to take command of the steam vessels in the rivers of the Pachalic [Pashalik] (the Euphrates and Tigris) and to put them in condition for effective service. The correspondence chiefly discusses the officers, men and stores considered necessary to equip the Euphrates steamer for service, including the indent (request) submitted by Lynch to the Superintendent of the Indian Navy (ff 15-18), and which 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. (Bombay or Bengal) will be liable for the expenses incurred and the personnel required
• The arrival of ‘Indian Agents’ deputed to supervise the restoration of the canal of Kerbela [Karbala], including a meeting of the 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. in Bagdad with the Pacha [Pāshā], and his expectation that complications will arise due to the involvement of various interested parties (f 8)
• The proposal of the Governor-General of India to send a Mr Eliot to provide assistance to Colonel Robert Taylor, the 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. at Bagdad, and the suggestion that since there is no actual need for an assistant, Eliot could be employed ‘collecting information on the political and commercial condition of the countries in the neighbourhood’ (f 26).

The correspondents are: Lynch; 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. ; Government of India; the Controller of the Government Steam Vessels, Calcutta [Kolkata]; and Taylor.

Extent and format

1 item (24 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM INDIA', Vol 48

1548 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/129

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/5/129, ff 4-27

Former external reference(s)

No. 2 of 1838

History of this record

Date(s)

7 Feb 1838 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Naval personnelSteamshipsNaval supplies

Places

Pachalic of Baghdad

People & organisations

EuphratesPolitical Agent, Turkish ArabiaGovernment of BombayGovernment of India

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Cite this record in your research

Turkish Arabia Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/129, ff 4-27, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100139136445.0x000005> [accessed 15 August 2026]

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