Persian Affairs [‎79v] (30/78)

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This part of the volume consists of a copy of an enclosure 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. , Number 96 of 1847, dated 13 November 1847. The enclosure is numbered 3 and is dated 14 September 1847. The enclosure consists of a letter from HM Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, to the Chief Secretary 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. , forwarding under flying seals copies of despatches addressed by him to HM Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Viscount Palmerston, and letters to HM Minister Plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Cowley, dated 12 August to 4 September 1847.

These despatches and letters concern matters including:

• The Treaty of Erzeroom [Erzurum] between Persia and the Ottoman Empire, including: Sheil’s attempts to persuade the Persian Prime Minister Hajee Meerza Aghassee [Ḥājī Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. (ʿAbbās Īravānī) Āqāsī] of the expediency of Persia establishing a tariff with Turkey; Sheil's efforts to persuade the Persian ministers to accompany the ratification of the treaty with a confirmation of the explanations of certain points given by the representatives of the mediating powers, including the explanation relating to the construction of fortifications on the opposite banks of the Shatt-Ool-Arab [Shatt al Arab]; and ‘the breach of promise contemplated’ by Nejeeb Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Gürcü Mehmet Necip Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , or Muḥammad Najīb Pāshā, Wali or Governor of Baghdad] in relation to the removal of war ships from the vicinity of Mohemmera [Khorramshahr]
• The ‘spirit of insubordination’ amongst the Persian troops, and the revolt in Khorassan [Khorasan], including: an incident in which a ‘considerable body of troops’ had forced their way into Hajee Meerza Aghassee’s house and demanded their pay, and another incident in which a body of troops had surrounded his house and not allowed him to leave; the troops refusing to march without payment of their arrears, and the ‘great disorganisation’ in their ranks; Hajee Meerza Aghassee extracting 70,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. left in the treasury by the late Shah to pay the soldiers; 4,000 Persian infantry and six guns marching towards Khorassan, with about 1,500 being expected to be despatched in the next few days, to join the previous detachment at Bestam [Bastam]; news that the 2,000 troops sent in advance to Bestam had made a forward movement to Kalpoosh [Kalpush], where ‘an action’ had taken place, resulting in the troops of Jaffer Koolee Khan [Jaʿfar Qulī Khān] retreating, and the opposing troops taking possession of his position; Hajee Meerza Aghassee and the Shah’s rejections of Sheil’s proposal to intervene between the Government and the Salar [Moḥammad-Ḥasan Khān Sālār] and Jaffer Koolee Khan, in an attempt to settle the revolt
• Sheil’s success in settling with the Persian ministers the claim of Hajee Nooroodeen [Ḥājī Nūr al-Dīn], a British subject, against the Persian Government, with the Governor of Fars agreeing to pay Hajee Nooroodeen 8,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in instalments
• The Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Major Samuel Hennell, informing Sheil that he had learnt that it was the intention of the Governor of Bender Abbas [Bandar ‘Abbas], Shaikh Syd [Shaikh Saʿīd] (an official of the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat, with the latter renting the port and the adjoining district from Persia), to blockade the Persian ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , ‘under the pretext of retaliating injuries suffered by him from the Governor of Fars, but in reality for various frivolous [and] insufficient reasons’ Sheil asserts, and Sheil’s recommendation to Hennell that he should use every legitimate means in his power to prevent this from happening
• Sheil’s report that further to his despatch No. 67 of 29 June regarding the ‘misconduct’ of the Governor of Asterabad [Gorgan], Suleiman Khan [Sulaymān Khān], the latter had been brought to Tehran and apologised to Sheil for his treatment of the Khan of Khiva’s servant and admitted stealing his property; that Hennell had received 350 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. from the Persian Government on this account which he had paid to the servant; and that despite his very negative opinion of Suleiman Khan, Hennell had yielded to the appeals of the Persian Government and signified to the latter that he would not oppose the resumption of Suleiman Khan’s Government
• Sheil’s lack of success in his attempts to persuade the Shah to abolish the ‘traffic’ in enslaved African people by sea through the Persian ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

Enclosure No. 3 includes enclosed correspondence between Sheil and Hajee Meerza Aghassee.

The enclosure also includes a letter from Sheil to the Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General (dated 14 September 1847), requesting to be informed as to what privileges or protection the Governor-General considers a Persian, or other foreign vessel, carrying English colours [a British flag] should be entitled to claim.

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