IOR/R/15/1/6-9

The first two volumes bear the original title 'Diary of the Proceedings of the Resident at the Honourable Company's Factory at Bushire'.

The volumes consist of chronological diary entries containing transcripts of correspondence sent and received, and notes on the arrival and departure of vessels at Bushire. The Residents during the period covered were Jonathan Henry Lovett, William Bruce (acting) and Nicholas Hankey Smith.

The correspondence is mainly between the Resident and other East India Company officials, particularly officials of the Government of Bombay; the Residents at Bagdad [Baghdad], Muscat, and Bussora [Basra]; and commanders of ships of the Bombay Marine (the East India Company navy).

The records of shipping consist of a note of the day of arrival and departure of ships of the Bombay Marine and country ships (privately-owned merchant ships, which operated under licence from the East India Company), and information on their port of origin and destination.

General topics covered in the volumes include:

• political developments in the Gulf;
• movements of ships;
• the transmission of packets of correspondence;
• piracy;
• the provision and sale of East India Company merchandise;
• accounting and financial matters;
• administrative matters;
• appointments;
• relations with the Court of Persia;
• the Persian Embassy to India, 1806;
• relations with local rulers;
• the activities of the French in the region (including diplomatic missions and the activities of French privateers);
• reports of political and military developments in Europe.