IOR/G/29/38, ff 455-479

The item consists of a memorandum on the dispatches from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d’Affaires at the Court of Persia [Iran] in Tehran, to Viscount Castlereagh [Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry], Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Specific dispatches are referenced in the margin and are numbered and dated between 13 July 1817 and 14 May 1818. Appended to the end of the memorandum are copies of some of the correspondence referenced.

The memorandum principally concerns relations between Russia and Persia their impact upon British interests. Specific matters covered include:

• The Russian Embassy of General Yermolew [Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov] and negotiations for peace between the two powers
• The suggestion that the allegiance of the Pachalik of Bagdad [Pashalik of Baghdad] lies more with Persia than the Ottoman Porte
• The status of places such as Georgia and Ghilan [Gilan] Province in light of the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Persia
• The Imaum [Imam] of Muscat’s desire for Persian assistance in his attempt to take Bahrein [Bahrain]
• The presence of diplomatic agents from Scind [Sindh] at the Persian Court
• Willock’s recommendation to the notice of Castlereagh of Mr Campbell [Dr James D Campbell], surgeon of the Bombay Medical Establishment, and his subsequent death on 23 March 1818
• A note on the design and colour of flags being flown by vessels in the Persian Gulph [Persian Gulf]
• The campaign of Mahomed Ali Pacha [Muḥammad ‘Alī Pāshā al-Mas‘ūd bin Āghā] against the Wahabees [Wahhābī]
• The dismissal of French officers from service in the Persian Army
• The request of Prince of Kermanshah, Mahomed Ali Mirza [Muḥammad-‘Alī Mīrzā Dawlatšāh], for arms and military officers from the British
• The Shah’s [Fatḥ ʻAlī Shāh Qājār] determination to send an ambassador to London.