IOR/R/15/1/70

The file contains correspondence sent during 1837 to Captain Samuel Hennell, the Officiating Resident in the Persian Gulf. It primarily concerns the operations of the Indian Navy in the Persian Gulf; the movement of ships, the transfer of officers, and the payment of allowances. Major topics covered include reports on the suitability of Bussora [Basra], and Mahamerah [Khorramshahr] as sites for coal depots; and an experiment to measure the consumption rate of two types of wood — as fuel — by the steamer Hugh Lindsay.

The Euprhates Expedition is also a significant topic in the file; this concerns instructions related to moving the steamer Euphrates to either Mahamerah, or Muscat so that it may be towed back to Bombay by the Hugh Lindsay. The expedition is also attempting to raise the steamer Tigris, which sank in the Euphrates river.

Intermixed with the correspondence is a list of books left with Captain Hennell at Bushire, a list of instruments at Bushire, a list of stores aboard the Euphrates, and a receipt for 2500 German crowns from Syed bin Selim, Vikeel of Aboothabee [Sa‘īd bin Salīm, Wakīl of Abu Dhabi]. The latter being the result of claims made by the British Government against the Daria Dowlat for acts of piracy.

Reports concerning the political affairs of Bahrain, the Arabian Coast, and the movements Arab tribes are also included. However, these topics are not heavily represented in this file.

The principle correspondents are John Pepper, Commander of the Indian Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf; and Sir Charles Malcolm, Superintendent of the Indian Navy.

The file also includes letters from the following: Francis Rawdon Chesney, Commander of the Euphrates Expedition; James Bucknall Bucknall-Estcourt, Third in Command of the Euphrates Expedition; John Croft Hawkins, Commander of the Clive; Alexander Hector at Baghdad; William Igglesden, Commander of the Tigris; Henry Nelson Poole, in Charge of the Clive; John Sawyer, Commander of the Amhurst [Amherst]; Charles Sharpe, Commander of the Elphinstone; Robert Taylor, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia; Joseph H Rowband, Commander of the Hugh Lindsay; Alfred S Williams, Assistant Superintendent of the Indian Navy; and Edward M Wood, Secretary to the Bombay Government.