The letter is an acknowledgement of Kemball's previous letter (folios 394-95), relating to the importation of seven slaves into a port near Bushire. Malet writes that, unless the men implicated in the importation are British subjects, they are not liable to British laws. Given that they appear to be Persian subjects, Malet continues, the Governor in Council considers that they should be dealt with under the existing slave trade treaty with Persia.1 folio
The volume contains correspondence relating to the Anglo-Persian War of 1856-57, following Persia's attempts on Herat. The letters cover a period when the British had an expeditionary force camped outside Bushire while Persian troops were amassed at Borazjoon [Borazjan] and Mohammerah [Korramshahr]. The correspondents include Charles Augustus Murray, former British Minister to Persia, General Foster Stalker and Brigadier General John Jacob, commanders within the British army, Henry Lacon Anderson, Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Lieutenant-General James Outram, Commander in Chief of the British Forces in Persia, Herbert Frederick Disbrowe, Assistant Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, Shuja al-Mulk, a Persian commander at Borazjoon, Lieutenant James Tronson, Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf, Colonel Shepherd, Commander at the Bushire Camp, John Taylor, Agent and Consul at Basrah, Felix Jones, Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire, Sheikh Jabir al-Kaabi, at Mohammerah, J. M. Hyslop, in charge of local duties at the Political Agency for Turkish Arabia at Baghdad, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at Istanbul, and Mirza Mohammed Khan, Commander of the Persian forces.The volume covers the following matters:Intelligence on the construction of fortifications at Mahomerah [Korramshahr] being carried out by the Persians and the discussion over whether to destroy them;The appointment and arrival of Lieutenant General James Outram as Commander in Chief of the Persian Expeditionary Force;Communications with the Sheikhs of the surrounding villages, including those of Roodhilla [Dehrūd ‘Ulīā] and Dashtee [Khormoj];Infiltrations and harassment by the Persians in and around the English camps;Preparations for the defence of Bushire against a Persian attack;Captain Felix Jones's mission to Basrah and Mohumrah [Korramshahr] to gather intelligence and communicate with Sheikh Jabir, leader of the Chaab [Banu Ka'b], to obtain their assistance against the Persians;The consequences of a peace treaty signed by the two nations in Paris on 4 March 1857, including reiterations of friendship and peace back and forth between the commanders of both armies, and a discussion of the conditions of armistice.1 volume (87 folios)The volume is arranged chronologically.Foliation: the sequence is written in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio of writing, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 79. Foliation irregularities: folio 15 is followed by folio 15A; folio 22 is followed by folio 22A; folio 29 is followed by folio 29A; folio 44 is followed by folio 44A; folio 50 is followed by folio 50A; folio 56 is followed by folio 56A; folio 62 is followed by folio 62A; folio 75 is followed by folio 75A.
This file contains letters and enclosures inwards from William Newnham, Secretary to the Governor of Bombay, to Captain Ephraim Gerrish Stannus, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire between 1826 and 1827. There are letters relating to Shaikh ‘Abd al-Rasūl Khān, the former Governor of Bushire; relations with Persia and the Imam of Muscat; East Africa, including Mombasa and Seeuee [Siyu]; and the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf.1 file, 9 items (33 folios)Pagination: There is a pagination sequence, which is written in ink, in the top right corners of the rectos and in the top left corners of the versos.Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. The sequence begins on the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 33. This is the sequence which has been used by this catalogue to reference items within the volume.
Letter containing a bundle of letters in Persian for Lewis Pelly's information. The letters are primarily between Persian and Afghani officials and include a forwarding letter from William Lockyer Merewether who initially received them. Many of the letters in Persian are written in an illegible hand.Letter from William Lockyer Merewether, Jacobabad to Lewis Pelly, 26 December 1860 informing him that a packet had been received from Kandahar for Pelly with an accompanying note in Persian (folio 1).Note in Persian, possibly written by Nawab Murat Khan enclosing a bundle of fourteen letters and notes written by officials of the Governor of Persia, including Farukh Khan, and individuals in Afghanistan including Sultan Ahmed Khan, Governor of Herat.Note in Persian, possibly addressed to Lewis PellyPetition in Persian, possibly the Petition of Maulay MūsāPetition in Persian, containing the seals of Ghulām Rasūl and Ghulām Rizā 'Abduh who may be the petitionees. There is a partial date of 10 Rabi' II, but no year is given.1 file (12 folios)This file has no discernable arrangement.Foliation: The file has been foliated using a pencil number, enclosed in a circle, located in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio.
Correspondence and other papers concerning the drafting of an agreement between the Governments of Britain and Persia [Iran], concerning the withdrawal of the Indo-European Telegraph Department from Persia, and the subsequent taking over of cables and equipment in Persia by the Persian Government. The agreement covers: the costs of daily use of the cables; maintenance of the cable between Henjam [Jazīreh-ye Hengām] and Bandar Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]; transit dues for communications sent between Iraq and India; access to Gulf ports by cable ships. The papers include:Multiple drafts of the agreement, in French. A printed copy of the final agreement in French and English translation, dated 17 February 1932, is included (ff 141-144).Correspondence concerning difficulties in maintaining an import of supplies to telegraph stations in Persia.Registration of the Imperial and International Communications Company Limited (IICC) in Persia.Discussion amongst British officials over the merits of abandoning cable communication in the Gulf, and closing down the telegraph stations on the Persian coast of the Gulf, in favour of using wireless communications.Correspondence from 1932 concerning the costs of repairs to the Henjam-Bandar Abbas cable, incurred by IICC/Cable & Wireless Limited, and charged against the Persian Government.The volume’s principal correspondents are: the India Office (John Gilbert Laithwaite); the British Legation at Tehran (Robert Henry Clive; Charles Dodd; Reginald Hervey Hoare); the Indo-European Telegraph Department (Maurice George Simpson); the Indo-European Telegraph Company (which became the IICC, and from 1935, Cable & Wireless Limited (J O Stevens Perry; Ralph Lawson)).The volume contains a single item in Persian (f 82), being an order issued by the Shah of Persia, dated 28 Khordad 1311 (equivalent to 18 June 1932), ratifying the Indo-European Telegraph Department agreement.1 volume (407 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 409; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
This volume contains vocabularies for the following languages: English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish, and Syriac. It was published in London and was compiled by the Admiralty War Staff, Intelligence Division, on behalf of the Admiralty and the War Office during the First World War.As well as providing translations of common words from English into the listed languages, the volume also contains a brief note on pronunciation, basic numerals, and commonly used 'questions and answers'.1 volume (90 folios)Words are listed in alphabetical order (in English) until f 74 where numerals are listed. From ff 76v-90 'questions and answers' are arranged by theme.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 92; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the volume also contains an original pagination sequence.
The memo contains information in Persian, with English translation, regarding the Dashtee [Dashti] tribe and the villages that are subordinate to it.For the town of Dashtee (folio 8) the memo gives details of the tribute paid to the Governor of Bushire; for each subordinate village the following information is given:Under whose authority the village fallsThe amount, in Tomans, paid as tribute to the Dashti tribeThe number of households in the villageThe distance, in Fursacs, from the nearest neighbouring villageOn the rear cover of the memo (folio 1) are instructions from Lewis Pelly dated 21 February 1863 asking him to provide a translation alongside each section of the memo and a note from Joseph Charles Edwards dated 12 May 1863 noting that the translations have been completed.As the memo was written in Persian, with English translation added later it should be read from back to front (folio 8-folio1)The dates provided relate to the request for and completion of the translation into English, the memo itself may be from an earlier date.1 file (8 folios)Foliation: This file contains foliation on the top right corner of the recto of each folio, the folio number is given in pencil and is enclosed with a circle.The first folio of the file has been written on upside down.
The item includes a letter (ff 2-4) referred to as
murasaleh(a type of letter), a paper envelope (f 5) and a two piece pouch envelope. These items together are called
Kharita.
Kharitais an official letter from a paramount power, usually sent in an elaborate silk cover and received with great ceremony.The letter (ff 2-4) is an official one and it is sent by Abdur Rahman Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan (1880-1901) to Lord George Nathaniel Curzon. It is dated Sunday 2 Ramadan 1316 which is given as 15 January 1899. The Amir of Afghanistan is recounting a previous letter that he received from Lord Curzon in which Lord Curzon emphasized the importance of building a strong relationship between the Empire in India and Afghanistan. Lord Curzon also clarified the reasons which caused the late arrival of his letter to the Amir. After recounting the content of Lord Curzon’s letter, the Amir of Afghanistan concludes with his congratulations to Lord Curzon on his new position, and emphasizes on the strong relations and friendship between the two. The letter has a date in English, 23 January 1899, written in red ink at the top of its first folio.The letter is written in Persian on illuminated large white papers. A circular black ink seal holding the name of the Amir of Afghanistan has been provided at the end of it. The letter was originally folded and kept inside a paper envelope (f 5). The paper envelope is open from the right side corner and has the names of the sender and the recipient. Marks of red sealing wax are still visible on the front side of the envelope. The envelope itself is dated Wednesday 28 Sha‘ban 1316 which is given as 11 January 1899, that is four days earlier than the date on the letter.The paper envelope with the letter inside was placed inside a two piece pouch envelope: a silk pouch and a bobbinet cotton pouch. The dimensions of these two pieces indicate that the bobbinet cotton pouch was used as an outer protective cover for the silk one. The date of the pouch envelope is unknown.Kharita (a ceremonial illuminated letter, a paper envelope, and a two piece pouch envelope)
The file contains a private journal kept by Lewis Pelly from January to February 1865; notes taken by him during his journey to Riyadh January to March 1865; sketches, correspondence, financial accounts and other papers.Included within the file are:Extract showing a record of posting from the Bushire Post Office 16 January 1865 (f. 45)Letter from Austin Layard, Foreign Office to Sir Andrew Buchanan, 1 September 1865 regarding Pelly's intention of returning to Bushire through Russia, the Caspian and Persia and asking that Pelly be enabled to travel through these regions (f. 46-47)Letter from Austin Layard, Foreign Office to Colonel Pelly, 6 September 1865 informing him of rumours from Cairo that Sultan Feysul [Faisal ibn Turki al-Sa'ud], the Nejdean Chief has been assassinated [f. 48]Ink sketch 'H.M's Residency Steamer
May Frerefor the Persian Gulf' 1867 - possibly drawn by Captain Edwin Dawes [f. 49]Two accounts of a story of a king and his Persian slave, one written by Henry Byam Abbott 5 June 1873 and the other by Charles Allan Baylay 6 June 1873 as well as two documents in Persian, one of which is the story of a death in a bazaar in Persia. These papers appear to be attempts at translation to and from Persian being undertaken by Baylay and Abbott [ff. 50-55]Ink sketch of a building atop cliff with shoreline - possibly drawn by Captain Edwin Dawes [f. 56]List of letters to be sent by Lewis Pelly to Bushire to Captain Carew, Charles Alison and Captain Henry W Warner and briefly outlining the topics for discussion in the letters [ff. 57-58]A folio of notes titled 'explore vast solitudes and call them Russia' which contains notes about England's mission in Asia and Russian interests there [ff. 59-60]Papers containing financial accounts: one for coal, camels and horses and the other giving an exchange rate for Dollars to Rupees for an amount to be paid to Ebrahim ibn Sayed Hossein as well as detailing deductions from an account including the purchase of a horse and waterskin and an advance to camelersTwo undated letters, either in Urdu or Persian.1 file, 2 items (66 folios)The file has been arranged in chronological order, those folios without dates have been placed at the rear of the file.Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated in the top right corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.Condition: There is damage to the lower portion of the first three folios, which has made some of the text difficult to read.
This file consists of two separate physical files as follows:1) An account of a journey in Kashmir in 1898-99 written by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer of the Indian Army. His account is entitled 'Three Months of Privilege Leave'. It contains his observations on the languages, peoples, transport, flora and fauna, trade and climate of the region. There are occasional edits and corrections to the original text marked in red pen. The Persian language material in the file is a proverb written on folio 194.In addition to this travel diary, the following is enclosed: an essay by Lorimer entitled 'Modern Education' dated 9 February 1895 (folios 1-24); two copies of a pamphlet that was published 'for private circulation' in memory of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, following his death on 8 February 1914 (folios 255-262); and another essay by Lorimer entitled 'Our Indian N.W. Frontier - a study in a bye-gone Civilisation. A forgotten Chapter of Frontier History' (folios 221-253).2) Copies of letters that were sent from Emily Overend Lorimer to her parents, Thomas George Overend and Hannah Kingsbury. The letters describe the lives of Emily and her husband, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer (referred to as 'Lock' in the letters), while living in Bahrain from October 1911 until November 1912 (folios 263-310) and in Kerman from January 1913 until November 1914 (folios 313-634). David served as Political Agent in Bahrain 1911-12 and as HM Consul, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, 1913-14.The letters discuss a range of topics including Lorimer's observations of local customs, food, climate, scenery and festivals; the couple's domestic life and arrangements (especially their servants, who are often discussed in racialised, insulting language); and her interactions with other non-local residents. Also discussed are Lorimer's reading habits, her and her husband's health, family news and, occasionally, world events and political developments.On folios 322-324, the file contains a description of a walk around Kerman in March 1914 that is accompanied by a sequence of six small black and white photographs of various points in the journey (folios 315-321).In addition to these letters, the file also contains a number obituaries and letters of condolence written upon the death of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, on 8 February 1914 (folios 299-302, 415-416 and 543-544).On folio 417, the file contains an obituary of David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer published in an unknown newspaper following his death on 26 February 1962.2 files (630 folios)Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover of volume one (ff 1-262) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 263-634); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
The volume contains correspondence between the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Trenchard Craven Fowle, Percy Gordon Loch), the India Office (Maurice Clauson), the Foreign Office (John Cecil Sterndale Bennett), the Colonial Office (Owen Gwyn Revell Williams), representatives of Petroleum Concessions Limited (Frank Holmes, Stephen Hemsley Longrigg, John Skliros, Ernest Vincent Packer), the Political Agent at Bahrain (Percy Gordon Loch, Tom Hickinbotham), and the Residency Agent at Sharjah (Khan Sahib 'Abd al-Razzaq) regarding the conclusion of negotiations with Shaikh Sa’id bin Maktum Al Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm Āl Maktūm], Ruler of Dubai for an oil concession for his territory and the signing of the concession agreement on 22 May 1937.Correspondence includes discussions around the conclusion of a Political Agreement (folios 192-193) and Refinery Agreement (folios 194-195) between the British Government and Petroleum Concessions Limited (PCL); the approval of drafts of an exchange of notes (folios 9-10) to be held with the Shaikh of Dubai once the agreements had been signed; and the final negotiations over the wording and clauses of the Commercial Agreement between the Shaikh of Dubai and Petroleum Concessions Limited.Also discussed are concerns by the representatives of the British Government about the movements of representatives of the California Arabian Standard Oil Company who were alleged to be attempting to persuade the Trucial Coast Shaikh’s to not sign concession agreements with PCL and to wait until the end of their option clauses to negotiate better terms with them; and attempts by the Shaikh’s of Sharjah (Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qasimī) and Ras al Khaimah [Ra's al Khaymah] (Shaikh Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī) to convince the Shaikh of Dubai to join with them in undertaking such an action.Also discussed in the volume is the reluctance by the Shaikh’s of Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and Ajman (Rāshid Bin Ḥumaid Al-Nu`aimī) to accept the security undertaking owing to the inclusion of an unlimited amount of compensation liability; the proposal by the British Government to amend the undertaking so that compensation requirements would be subject to Shara’ [Sharia] Law which the Shaikh’s of Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and Ajman ultimately agreed to, and including formal acknowledgements in Arabic and English of this undertaking.Other items of interest within the volume include:a report from Thomas Fulton Williamson and David Glynn Jones, geologists for Petroleum Concessions Limited on their survey of Ras al Khaimah, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and their cursory investigations in Ajman; also included is correspondence regarding the area of Jibal Fayah in Sharjah which the geologists were prevented from entering by the ruling Bani Kitab [Beni Qitab] tribe;meeting between the Shaikh’s of Abu Dhabi and Dubai at which Ahmad bin Khalif bin ‘Utaibah [Shaikh Aḥmad bin khalīf bin ‘Utaybah] and Shaikh Ahmad bin Hilal [Shaikh Aḥmad bin Hilāl], Ruler of Dhawahir [ Z̧awāhir] had served as mediator’s in order to settle the question of where the boundary between Abu Dhabi and Dubai should be;correspondence with Shaikh Saqar bin Sultan Al Hamid [Shaikh Saqr bin Sulṭān Āl Ḥamīd], Chief of Braimi [Al Buraymī] regarding a rumour that the Residency Agent at Sharjah was intending to visit Braimi in order to negotiate an oil concession and response from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf that they wished the Residency Agent to visit Braimi to establish personal contacts with local notables there;query from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf regarding the need for PCL to appoint a Chief Local Representative; and noting that Ernest Vincent Packer had been appointed as General Manager and whether they intended this to be the same as a Chief Local Representative or not;a request by PCL to employ Robert Sutherland Cooke as a negotiator in the Middle East and whether Cooke’s past employment difficulties in Iraq might hinder this request;the appointment of Basil Henry le Riolet Lermitte as Assistant Manager for PCL in Bahrain;a request for Mrs (Dorothy) Holmes to visit Sharjah with her husband which was initially rejected by the Political Resident over fears of setting a precedent for oil Company and Superintendent’s wives in the future but was ultimately approved as 'Um Rashid' (mother of the Shaikh of Dubai?) wished her to visit;correspondence between Major Frank Holmes and the Political Agent at Bahrain regarding his intention to commence negotiations for concessions with Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah as soon as the Dubai concession was signed;correspondence regarding the Shaikh of Umm al Qaiwain’s [Umm al Qaywayn] interest in opening negotiations with Petroleum Concessions Limited; and the possibility of opening negotiations with the Shaikh of Kalba [Kalbā] as it was now a Trucial Shaikhdom;correspondence regarding the alleged intrigues of Haji ‘Abdullah Williamson who was believed to be involving himself in local politics in the Trucial Shaikhdom’s and working for the California Arabian Standard Oil Company, whilst visiting there as an interpreter for Petroleum Concessions Limited;table detailing the amount of money being paid to each Trucial Shaikh under their Anglo-Iranian Oil Company options, including how often the payments are being made and which AIOC agent was handling the payments. The table also includes notes on instances where existing or future payments differed from the norm (ff 184-185).Correspondence with the Trucial Shaikhs and copies of agreements are in both Arabic and Engliash; letters written by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company have a Persian and English letterhead.A series of file notes which were maintained as a record of the correspondence in the volume can be found at folios 288-300.1 volume (302 folios)The volume contains a table of contents on folio 4 consisting of subject headings and page references.The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.The main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 5-287; these numbers are also written in pencil, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence, but they are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
The file contains two letters (f 1 and ff 2-4), a paper envelope (f 5), and a two piece pouch envelope (un-foliated). The first letter (f 1) is referred to as
khat(standard letter). The letter is a personal one and it is sent by Abdur Rahman Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan (1880-1901) to Lord George Nathaniel Curzon. It is dated 19 Safar 1313 which is given as 11 August 1895. In the letter, the Amir thanks Lord Curzon for a set of family photos as well as a magic lantern the latter has sent him.The second letter (ff 2-4) is referred to as
murasaleh(a type of letter), together with the paper envelope (f 5), and the two piece pouch envelope are called
Kharita.
Kharitais an official letter from a paramount power, usually sent in an elaborate silk cover and received with great ceremony. The letter that is part of the
Kharitais an official one and it is also sent by Abdur Rahman Khan, to Lord Curzon. It is dated Sunday 2 Ramadan 1316 which is given as 15 January 1899. The Amir of Afghanistan is recounting a previous letter that he received from Lord Curzon in which Lord Curzon emphasized the importance of building a strong relationship between the Empire in India and Afghanistan. Lord Curzon also clarified the reasons which caused the late arrival of his letter to the Amir. After recounting the content of Lord Curzon’s letter, the Amir of Afghanistan concludes with his congratulations to Lord Curzon on his new position, and emphasized on the strong relations and friendship between the two. The letter has a date in English, 23 January 1899, written in red ink at the top of its first folio.Both letters are written in Persian on illuminated large white papers. A circular black ink seal holding the name of the Amir of Afghanistan has been provided at the end of each letter. The four-year gap in the dates given on the letters, as well as the difference in dimensions between the first letter (f 1), when folded, and the paper envelope indicate that this letter is not part of the
Kharita. Rather, it has been misplaced and eventually ended up in this file.The second letter was originally folded and kept inside a paper envelope (f 5). The paper envelope is open from the right side corner and has the names of the sender and the recipient. Marks of red sealing wax are still visible on the front side of the envelope. The envelope itself is dated Wednesday 28 Sha‘ban 1316 which is given as 11 January 1899, that is four days earlier than the date on the letter (ff 2-4).The paper envelope with the letter inside was placed inside a two piece pouch envelope: a silk pouch and a bobbinet cotton pouch. The dimensions of these two pieces indicate that the bobbinet cotton pouch was used as an outer protective cover for the silk one. The date of the pouch envelope is unknown.1 file (5 folios and a two piece pouch envelope)The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the file. The paper envelope with the letter inside was placed inside two pieces of a pouch envelope: a silk pouch and a bobbinet cotton pouch. The dimensions of these two pieces indicate that the bobbinet cotton pouch was used as an outer protective cover for the silk one.Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 5; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the two piece pouch (silk pouch and bobbinet cotton pouch).Silk pouch construction: Orange silk folded in half, and hand stitched along one short and one long edge. Emerald green silk attached to opening edge with running stitches. There is some evidence of sealing wax.Bobbinet cotton pouch construction: Net folded in half, and hand stitched along one short and one long edge.Dimensions: The orange silk pouch: (height) from bottom edge 415mm x (width) 155mm and (width) of opening green edge 170mm.The cotton bobbinet pouch: (height) from bottom edge 380mm x (width) 165mm and (width) of opening edge 185mm.