IOR/G/29/38, ff 1-233

The item consists of correspondence and extracts of papers relating to French influence and activities in the Red Sea (often referred to as the ‘Arabian Gulph’) and Persia [Iran], sent to the Chairman of the Court of Directors, Charles Grant, and the Secret Committee.

Matters covered include:

• French efforts to establish a trading and military settlement on the island of Cameran [Kamaran] through the agency of Syed Mahomed Akil [Sayyid Muḥammad ‘Aqīl]
• The preparations for and progress of an expedition to the Red Sea to counter French activities
• The plunder and destruction of the American ship Essex by Syed Mahomed Akil and his followers
• Discussion of the legality of seizing Syed Mahomed Akil and his ships
• Antoine-Alexandre Romieu’s mission to the Court of Persia as an agent of France
• French influence in Persia, Bagdad [Baghdad], and Aleppo
• The impact of any agreement reached between France and Persia on Anglo-Persian relations
• A second French embassy to the Court of Persia following Romieu’s death in Tehran
• Hajee Mohsen’s [Ḥājī Muḥsin] deputation to Tehran to gather intelligence on French activities and to try and counter their influence
• The proposal of Sir Harford Jones, Resident at Bagdad, that he travel to Persia as British Envoy
• The dispatch of a Persian Embassy to France
• Hostilities between Russia and Persia along the latter’s northern frontier.

Correspondence regarding the Red Sea comes from the following: the Government of Bombay; Sir Edward Pellew, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station; the Government of Bengal; Lieutenant Charles Court, Commander of the Panther, at Mocha; the Government of Madras; Searkrun/Searkum Kirjee, East India Company Broker at Mocha.

Correspondence regarding matters in Persia comes from the following: Samuel Manesty, Resident at Bussorah [Basra]; John Barker, Consul General at Aleppo; Harford Jones, Resident at Bagdad, and John Hine, Acting Resident at Bagdad; William Bruce, Acting Resident at Bushire [Bushehr]; Alexander Stratton, Ambassador at Constantinople; Leopold Sebastiani, Prefect of the Catholic Mission in Ispahan [Isfahan]; and Lord Viscount Castlereagh, First Commissioner for the Affairs of India.