IOR/F/4/343/7962

This item consists of copies of correspondence and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, political letters from the governments of Bombay and Bengal. The principal correspondents are: the Government of Bombay; Captain John Wainwright; Brigadier General John Malcolm; the Residents at Muscat, David Seton and William Bunce.

The item concerns Persian Gulf campaign of 1809 against the Joasmee [Āl Qawāsim] involving HMS Chiffonne, HMS Caroline; East India Company cruisers Mornington, Aurora, Ariel, Fury, Strombolo, Ternate, and Vestal; the transports Minerva, Friendship, Mary, and Duncan. The campaign was commanded by Captain John Wainwright of HMS Chiffonne and Lieutenant Colonel Lionel Smith of His Majesty's 65th Regiment of Foot.

The item contains a discussion of the following considerations before undertaking the campaign:

• The reasons for the campaign including the taking of the Minerva
• Alliances between tribes and the background to the link between the Joasmees and the Wahabees [Wahabi]
• Negotiations with the Imaum of Muscat [Imam of Muscat, Sayyid Sa‘īd bin Sulṭān Āl Bū Sa‘īd] for the campaign to include recovering Muscat's land from the Wahabees, defending Muscat against the Wahabees, and the Imaum's help in provisioning the expedition's ships
• Timings of the campaign
• Limitations on the campaign with respect to coming into conflict with the Wahabees
• Limitations on attacking areas of the Persian coast and attacking the pirate settlements on land
• Discussion of the opinion of Persia on the proposed campaign.

The description of the campaign focuses on the attack on Ras-ul-Khyma [Ras al-Khaimah] on 12 November, although there is also a description of the attack on the port of Luft [Laft, on the isle of Qeshm] 26 November, Linga [Bandar-e-Lengeh], and the capture of Shinnas [Shinas].

There is a detailed description of the loss of the Strombolo on 15 September and the subsequent inquiry on board the Mornington, which concluded that there was no evidence to court martial the men who had embarked in the Strombolo's boat. The Government at Bombay were not satisfied with this inquiry and intended to reopen it.

The title page of this item contains the following references: 'Political No. 16, Draft 33, Season 1812/13, Examiner's Office March 1811'.