Aden and Red Sea 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 26 of 1850, dated 1 May 1850.

The enclosed papers, dated 28 November 1849 to 14 April 1850, concern affairs in Aden and the Red Sea. They mostly comprise despatches from Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, 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 Aden, 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. . These despatches often contain enclosures consisting of correspondence from diplomatic and naval officers in the Red Sea region. Also included is correspondence between: the 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. ; the Marine Board of 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. ; Commodore Stephen Lushington, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy; and the Government of India.

Several matters are covered by the papers, including:

• The death of the Ottoman Governor of Hodeida [Al Hudaydah]
• The poor state of British trade at Red Sea ports under Turkish [Ottoman] rule and suspected reasons for it
• The removal of Captain William Lowe as Senior Naval Officer, Aden, due to his refusal to grant Haines's request for the services of East India Company Ship Elphinstone .

Enclosure Nos. 15-16, listed in the abstract of contents as copies of the Bombay Overland Times and the Bombay Overland Telegraph and Courier dated 1 May 1850, are recorded as missing in a note dated 31 October 1906.

Extent and format

1 item (39 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY', Vol 101

1378 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/463

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/5/463, ff 619-657

Former external reference(s)

No. 26 of 1850

History of this record

Date(s)

1 May 1850 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Trade (practice)

Places

Red SeaAden

People & organisations

Political AgentGovernment of India

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Aden and Red Sea Affairs, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/463, ff 619-657, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100149251877.0x000013> [accessed 1 August 2026]

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