Aden Affairs

Content

This part of the volume consists of copies of 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. 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 92 of 1840, dated 31 October 1840. The enclosures are numbered 3-42 and are dated 1 September to 27 October 1840. They mostly consist of correspondence relating to Aden affairs.

The enclosures concern matters including:

• 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 Aden, Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, reporting the arrival at Aden of the Honourable Company’s sloop of war Elphinstone , brig Euphrates , and steamer Victoria carrying the mail, and forwarding the reports of the Commanders of the Elphinstone and the Euphrates 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.
• The proposed appointment by Haines of Mr Hatchatoor as Agent at Tadjoura
• The amount of reward to be paid to the Commander, Captain Warden, and crew of the barque Ariel for assistance provided at Aden over several days in November and December 1839, and 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 Aden paying Warden 200 German Crowns on account of the two brass guns which he supplied
• The approbation of the Government of India of the ‘gallantry’ with which the attack on Aden by ‘a large body of Arabs’ on 5 July 1840 was repulsed
• Haines reporting that he has ordered the Elphinstone to return to Aden for subsequent despatch to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and 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. referring him to previous instructions for the detention of the Elphinstone at Mocha during the ‘present settled state of affairs’, for the protection of British interests in that area
• The crediting of money raised from the sale of goods recovered from the barque Duria Dowlut , which was wrecked at Aden in 1837, to the Government of Madras From 1684-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Madras [Chennai] and southern India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj.
• The political state of affairs in the neighbourhood of Aden
• Measures taken by 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 Aden to counteract attempts to establish French influence on the eastern coast of Africa
• Overtures from the King of Shoa [Shewa] to establish friendly relations with the British Government, and the question of whether or not it would be advisable to send a British mission to Shoa
• Haines’s opinion on the strength and description of the force required to proceed into the interior from Aden
• 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. informing the Government of India that it is impossible at present for it equip a force of the strength and description considered necessary by the British authorities at Aden, for an attack on Lahedge [Lahej].

The correspondence is mainly between Haines and 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 between 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 Officiating Secretary to the Government of India.

Other correspondents include: Captain Sanders, Commander of the Honourable Company’s sloop of war Clive and Senior Naval Officer at Aden; Lieutenant Richard Ethersey, Commander of the Elphinstone ; Lieutenant W Barker, Commander of the Euphrates ; the King of Shoa; and Reverend F L Karff.

The enclosures also include copies of commercial treaties entered into, in September 1840, between the East India Company and the following: the Governor of Zeyla [Zeila], Syed Mahomed bar [Sayyid Muḥammad Barr]; and the Governor of Mocha, Sherriff Hussein bin ali bin Hydar al Hassenee [Sharīf Ḥusayn bin 'Alī bin Ḥaydar].

Extent and format

1 item (106 folios)

It is part of

‘ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY’, Vol 26

1781 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/388

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/5/388, ff 154-259

Former external reference(s)

No. 92 of 1840

History of this record

Date(s)

31 Oct 1840 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Military operationsTribal relationsDiplomacyNaval operationsTreaties

Places

AdenShoaZeylaMochaLahej

People & organisations

Political AgentBritish AgentNegus of ShewaGovernment of India

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Aden Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/388, ff 154-259, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100141978055.0x000008> [accessed 15 May 2024]

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