This bundle consists of summaries of letters received from HM Minister to Persia [Iran], Charles Augustus Murray (17 September 1857, Number 96; 20 September 1857, Number 97; 25 September 1857, Number 98; 2 October 1857, Numbers 101-102; 3 October 1857, Number 104; 5 October 1857, Numbers 109 and 111-113).The summaries relate to matters including: the punishment of a Persian regiment for running away at Mohamra [Mohammerah, now Khorramshahr]; the Persian troops all being withdrawn from Afghanistan, and a large Persian force being prepared to march around 22 October 1857 against the Turcomans [Turkmens] of Serekhs, under the command of Prince Sultan Morad, and Prince Sultan Morad soliciting British assistance against the Turcomans; and the Jewish prisoners from Herat.1 item (4 folios)
Letter speculates that the Vakeel (referring to Karim Khan) will not carry out his threats of destroying Bussora [Basra] and states that it is likely that the town will soon revert to Turkish rule. Shipped by Hamdan Carack boat.1 folio
The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, newspaper cuttings, maps and notes, relating to negotiations over the proposed Berlin to Baghdad Railway in the period 1910-1912.The discussion in the volume relates to the economic, commercial, political and military considerations impinging on British strategy for the international negotiations over the development of a railway to Baghdad.Further discussion surrounds the motivations and strategies of British competitors in the area; included in the volume is a copy of the Russo-German agreement.The principal correspondents in the volume include Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Sir Gerard Augustus Lowther, Ambassador to Constantinople.1 volume (268 folios)The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.The subject 2764 (Bagdad Railway) consists of five volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/56-60. The volumes are divided into five parts with each part comprising one volume.Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 269; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. Pagination: a pagination sequence in red crayon is present between ff 244-252.
An introduction to the principles of alchemy spuriously ascribed to Democritus. This Democritus is not the atomist philosopher of Abdera, but the Greek alchemical authority of the same name, sometimes equated with Bolos of Mendes. The text’s style and content suggest that it is not, in fact, a Greek, pre-Islamic text translated into Arabic. The lower half of fol. 57b and the whole of 58a are taken up by tabulated descriptions of the four elements, and the remaining text is divided into three sections (
maqālāt):Section 1 (ff. 57v line 1 - 59r, line 10) describes a progression of the 4 elements from the grossest (earth) to the most refined (fire) and this progression with that of the 4 seasons;Section 2 (fols. 59a, line 10 - 64a, line 7) deals with the unity of matter; the formation of the microcosm out of opposing forces; the relationship between chemical substances and the four elements and other subjects;Section 3 (ff. 64r, line 7 - 66r, end) is divided into seven parts (
abwāb), each one describing a chemical procedure.The text was copied in the middle of Rajab 925 AH (mid-July AD 1519) at Damascus by Qudrat Allāh al-Marandī al-Ādharī (see colophon, f. 66r).Begins (f. 57v, lines 2-5):قال الحكيم ذومقراطيس إنّه ينبغي لمن طلب هذه الحكمة أنْ يعرف الأركان التي وُضِعَتْعليها والأجناس والطبائع والألوان والائتلاف والبعث والثبات والقراباتوالملائمة والمخالفة والتعادي والطعوم والتمازيج والهئات والدفاع وتزويج الأركانوتركيب الأجناس ثم يضع يده بعد ذلك الصناعةَ المكرّمةَ ...Ends (f. 66r, lines 15-19):... هذه المنازل السبعة قد أفصحت بها جهدي وبالله الذيإليه معاد كلّ شيء ما كتمتُ أهلَ العلم من أصل هذا الحجر شيئًا ولا من منازل تدبيرهوما أرجو أنْ يكون قد وضح لأهل العلم والرأي ومَن أراد الله إفهامه وعميتذلك على أهل الجهل والنقص والدين (sic) وأنا أوصي مَن طلب هذا العلمأنْ لا يستخف بهذا الكتابColophon (f. 66r, lines 19-22):... تم الكتاب بحمد الله تعالىوحسن توفيقه على يدي العبد قدرة الله المرندي الأذريفي أوساط شهر رجب سنة ٩٢٥بدمشق المحروسةوصلواته على نبيه سيدنا محمدوآله وصحبه أجمينff. 57v-66rMaterial: PaperDimensions: 215 x 150 mm leaf [168 x 112 mm written]Foliation: British Museum foliation in pencil; Arabic foliation in the purple crayon typical of Lebanese bookdealers of the 19th centuryRuling:
Misṭarah; 19 lines per page; vertical spacing 11 lines per 10 cm (ff. 113r-158v: 29 lines per page; vertical spacing 17 lines per 10 cm)Script:
Naskhwith
nasta‘līqtendencies and some titles in
thuluth(ff. 113r-158v:
naskh)Scribes: Qudrat Allāh al-Marandī al-Ādharī (ff. 3r-112v) and Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān al-Mawṣilī (ff. 113r-158v)Ink: Black ink, with rubricated, yellow and green headings and overlinings in red (ff. 113r-158v: black)Binding: British Museum bindingCondition: Some worm damage, foxing, and tears towards the fore edge. Folios 19, 21 and 24 have been replaced.Marginalia: Extensive marginal corrections, conjectures, glosses in Arabic and Persian and other evidence of collation and textual study (ff. 113r-158v: very few)
The volume contains secret correspondence (original correspondence received and copies of correspondence sent) within the following three separate categories: Bahrein [Bahrain]; Muscat and Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas] (and local); and miscellaneous and local. The Resident in the Persian Gulf during the period covered by the volumes was Commander (James) Felix Jones (acting until July 1856).The correspondence is principally with Henry Lacon Anderson, Secretary to Government, Bombay and other East India Company officials, including Commodore Richard Ethersey, Indian Navy, commanding the Persian Gulf Squadron; Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent, Turkish Arabia; and the commanders of vessels of the Indian Navy. There is also correspondence with other British officials, including Charles Augustus Murray, Envoy and Minister-Plenipotentiary to the Court of Persia, and correspondence (some of it in Arabic) with local rulers and Persian officials.General topics include:the slave trade;political intelligence;the Wahabees [Wahhabis];the operations of the Indian Navy in the Persian Gulf;Russian involvement in Persia;relations with Persia;administrative matters;appointments;the transmission of dispatches around the region;pearl fishing;the Anglo-Persian War (1856-57).Specific topics include:correspondence concerning the effect of the British suppression of the slave trade, January - May 1856 (folios 12-19);correspondence concerning the migration of the Al Ali tribe to Demaum [Dammām], March 1856 - January 1857 (folios 20-90);correspondence concerning relations between Muscat and Persia in the light of the claim of the Imam of Muscat to Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas], February - August 1856 (folios 92-110);letter from Jones to Henry Frederick Disbrowe, Assistant Resident, Persian Gulf, dated 3 May 1856, briefing him on his duties at Bushire during Jones's temporary absence (folio 144);papers concerning Civil Surgeons' fees for attendance on the families of public officers of the East India Company in the light of the unhealthy nature of the climate at Bushire, June - September 1856 (folios 148-152);correspondence between Jones and the Government of Bombay and between Jones and the staff officers of the Bombay Army, concerning military operations in the Persian Gulf, September 1856 - February 1857 (folios 172-297).2 volumes (305 folios)The volumes are divided into three parts, with separate title pages: 'Secret Records 1856/57, Bushire Residency, Bahrein [Bahrain]' (ff 11-90); '1856/57 Secret Records, Bushire Residency, Muscat and Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas]' (ff 91-112); and '1856/57 Secret Letters, Bushire Residency, Miscellaneous' (ff 113-297). Within each section the correspondence is arranged in approximate chronological order. There is an index between ff 4-9. This is divided into three sections corresponding to the three parts of the volumes: 'Bahrein' (ff 4-5); 'Muscat and Bunder Abbass and Local' (f 5); and 'Miscellaneous and Local' (ff 5-9). The index is entered in the same order as the correspondence and has columns for number, address, subject, and page.Foliation: the foliation sequence runs across the two volumes into which this record has been bound (Part 1 ff 1-141B; Part 2 ff 142-299). The foliation sequence commences at 1 on the (modern) title page of volume one and terminates at 299, the last folio before the back cover of volume two. The numbers are written in pencil and appear in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. Foliation anomalies: ff 141, 141A, 141B. This is the system in use.Pagination: three original pagination sequences, which generally number only those pages bearing text, numbered 1-124 (ff 12-90); 1-30 (ff 92-111); and 1-305 (ff 113-297) are also present. The numbers are written in ink and appear in various positions at the top of each page.
The letter is missing the opening section, along with the address. So the recipient of the letter is unknown. It concerns an unknown native agent that William Bruce has suggested may be interested in an unknown post.1 folioCondition: Some of the ink in this item has faded and obscured some of the text. Some of the content is therefore difficult to read.
The letter is acknowledging the receipt of a Bombay
Government circular (No 315 of 1822), which transmitted instructions regarding the
procedure for transmitting registers of unanswered references (in other words,
correspondence).2 foliosCondition: The item has suffered from pest damage, which
has resulted in a hole in the fabric of the folio. In consequence, a small portion of
the text in the body of the letter has been obscured.
The letter asks for news of any further communications from Toorkie bin Saud [Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Āl Sa‘ūd, founder of the Second Saudi State].2 foliosFoliation: This item has two different foliation sequences. The first is part of an original foliation sequence which was applied to the whole volume. It is written in ink and appears at the top right (recto) or top left (verso) corner of the folio. The second foliation number is a small pencil number enclosed in a circle which also appears in the top right corner (recto) only, this is the foliation number that has been used in referencing this item.Condition: The item has suffered from slight insect damage, but this does not affect the reading of the text.
The letter relates to previous correspondence from the Government of Bombay, approving of Kemball’s actions in the Gulf relating to unrest in Bahrain. Anderson writes that the Government is apprehensive that its previous instructions suggested unlimited authority in using arms against the Wahhābī forces, and that it now seeks to state that ‘warlike measures’ that could lead to the deployment of British troops cannot be sanctioned.1 folio
Distinctive Features:Watercolour, pen and ink and pencil on paper.The sketch drawn by Lieutenant Michael Houghton shows three sequential topographical views of the coastal region at the Ras Moosendem [Ra’s Musandam, Oman].The views were sketched from on board ship and show landmarks inscribed: ‘Jezeerat Gunnum’ [Jezirat al Ghanam] and ‘Southern Entrance to Discovery Strait’ [Khor Quwai, Oman], also features several dhows and an anchored ship.1 watercolour viewMaterials: Pen and ink with wash on paperDimensions: 80 x 350 mm or smaller
Translation of a memorandum regarding Seistan which the Persian authorities consider to be part of their territory but which the British Government consider to be disputed territory between Persia and Afghanistan.The memorandum briefly mentions the evidence the Persian Government provided to Britain to prove that Seistan belongs to them and their desire to maintain quiet frontiers and not to incite any aggression between themselves and Afghanistan.The translation was undertaken by W J Dickson.2 folios