IOR/R/15/1/157, ff 271-275

The letter is a covering letter, enclosing correspondence from Commodore Richard Ethersey, Commanding Officer Persian Gulf Squadron, relating to British efforts to suppress the slave trade to the Gulf. the enclosures are as follows:

1. Letter no.185 of 1856 (folio 272) from Ethersey to Jones, dated 10 September 1856, with details of the two slaves illegally seized by the British Agent at Lingah [Bandar-e Lengeh] having claimed ‘English’ protection, and who are now at the depot at Bassadore; and Ethersey’s own reluctance to send the two slaves back to their owners, carried out under the circumstances of Britain’s current relations with Persia;

2. Letter no.187 of 1856 (folio 273) from Ethersey to Jones, dated 10 September 1856, discussing British relations with Persia, in connection with cooperation between the two countries in the suppression of the slave trade on the Persian coast, and in the wake of the British Agent at Bandar-e Lengeh’s illegal seizure of two slaves; the handing back of the two slaves; and the British Agent’s continued refuge at Bassadore;

3. Letter no.312 of 1856 (folios 274-75) from Jones to Ethersey, dated 4 October 1856, discussing the despatch of slaves to Bombay; the legality of the British Agent at Bandar-e Lengeh’s actions, and the implications of now handing the two slaves back to the Persian authorities; Jones’s authority in relation to Ethersey and the Government; arrangements with the Persian Government with regard to slaves and the suppression of the slave trade.