IOR/R/15/1/758

The volume consists of letters sent outwards (between 1 February 1789 and 18 July 1796), and inwards (between 20 October 1792 and 13 April 1798) from or to the Bushire Residency; the position of Resident at Bushire being initially held by Charles Watkins, but he was relieved in December 1792 by Nicholas Hankey Smith. These are primarily addressed to, or sent from, the Resident and Factor at Bussora [Basra] (Samuel Manesty and Harford Jones Brydges, later Nathan Crow and Piter le Messurier); and the President and Governor in Council, Bombay (in chronological order; William Medows, Robert Abercromby, George Dick, John Griffith, and Jonathan Duncan), or his secretary John Morris.

The function of the Bushire Residency during this period was primarily commercial, and this is reflected in the correspondence. The main subject discussed is the importation of wool into Bushire and Bussora, and its subsequent sale. The acquisition of Carmenian [Armenian] wool is therefore much discussed as a result. The importation of other goods such as tin, lead, and steel are also discussed to a lesser degree due to the high demand for these articles at Bushire.

Accounting concerns are another recurring topic within the volume. Primarily, this is related to changes to be made to accounting procedures, but it also includes a number of reports produced by the Committee of Accounts, Bombay, on the accounts and disbursements of the Bushire Residency; the Resident's responses to these reports can be found in the outwards correspondence.

Political concerns are less prominent. However, the volume does contain a number of reports from the Resident at Bushire on the unstable political situation in Persia. In addition, subsequent to the outbreak of war between Britain and France in 1792, reports can also be found respecting the presence of French ships off Muscat, and the arrival at Bagdad [Baghdad] of individuals believed by the British to be in the service of the French Government.

The movement of the East India Company's vessels in the Persian Gulf is frequently reported on as a matter of standard procedure; mainly related to the delivery of letters and packets. However, the volume also includes orders addressed to the commanders of the Company's ships, which are included as enclosures to letters sent to the Resident at Bushire; these are by and large of a routine nature.