IOR/L/PS/5/369, ff 112-145

This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee: Bombay Secret Letter 9 November 1822. The enclosures are dated 6 July-1 November 1822.

The enclosure comprises correspondence between Captain William Bruce, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire [Bushehr]; Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay; James Farish, Acting Secretary to the Government, Bombay; and Mountstuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay. Also included are Bruce's enclosures to his letters and a Minute of the Governor with an associated enclosure.

The main subjects covered are: the negotiation by Bruce of an unauthorized treaty with the Prince at Shiraz, relating to the British occupation of the island of Kishm [Qeshm], the destruction (by the British Navy) of local inhabitants’ ships at Lingua [Bandar-e Lengeh] and Charrack [Bandar-e Chārak], and the British naval presence in the Gulf; the admonishment of Bruce by the authorities at Bombay for exceeding his remit; and the replacement of Bruce as Resident in the Persian Gulf. Notably included are:

• Bruce’s account of events at Shiraz and a translation of an agreement with the Government of Bombay proposed by the Hossein Ali Meerza, Prince at Shiraz [Husayn 'Ali Mīrzā Farmānfarmā, Prince-Governor of Fārs], who was acting on behalf of the Shah of Persia [Iran] (ff 119-122)
• A letter from Warden to Farish angrily berating the ‘entirely unauthorized’ negotiation and treaty which is ‘in every article opposed to the views and intentions of Government’ (f 124) and recalling Bruce to India, enclosing drafts of letters of retraction and explanation to be sent to the Prince of Shiraz, Imaum [Imam] of Muscat, and Shaikh of Bahrein [Bahrain] (ff 128-132)
• Draft instructions to Lieutenant John MacLeod (ff 138-145), appointed successor to Bruce, detailing how he is to: oversee the withdrawal of British troops at Kishm and recompense the owners of destroyed property at Lingua and Charrack without appearing to capitulate to the demands of Persia or accept liability for the destruction of boats; and to conciliate all the Arab chiefs of the coast and to protect the East India Company’s trade and commerce in the region of the Persian Gulf.