IOR/F/4/2641/169205

The item consists of copies and extracts of correspondence and resolutions cited in, or enclosed with, extracts of a Political Letter from the Government of Bombay to the East India Company Court of Directors, 16 February 1856. A copy of this letter can be found at IOR/F/4/2641/169196, alongside details of further enclosures. The item is the tenth in a series of twelve items on events in the Persian Gulf.

The item contains correspondence principally exchanged between: Commander Felix Jones, Acting Resident in the Persian Gulf; Captain Herbert Frederick Disbrowe, Assistant Resident in the Persian Gulf; and Charles Augustus Murray, HBM's Minister at Tehran. The correspondence dates from October to December 1855 and covers a number of subjects regarding relationships between the Resident and different officials within the Persian [Iranian] Government, including:

• Disputes between British merchants and the Dureya Beggee [Daryā Begī, or Governor] of Bushire [Bushehr] regarding the rate of customs duty charged on horses imported and exported at that port
• Detention of British merchandise at Sheeraz [Shiraz] by Hajee Kewaum [Ḥājī Mīrzā 'Alī Akbar Shīrāzī, Qavām al-Mulk, or the Sheriff of Shiraz]
• Steps taken by Disbrowe to obtain payment of a fine owed by the 'Chief' of Lingah [Shaikh of Bandar-e Lengeh]
• Construction of a wall opposite the Residency property in Bushire which may obstruct the building from sea breezes
• Relations between the Dureya Beggee and the Resident
• Complaints by the Sedr Azim [Ṣadr-i Aʿẓam, or Prime Minister] against actions taken by Disbrowe, whilst Acting Resident, in a sea dispute between two Persian tribes
• Complaint by Jones of disrespect shown to him by the Sheikh of Chaab [Banū Ka‘b, tribe].

The correspondence contains many enclosures, including extract copies of earlier correspondence between former Residents in the Persian Gulf and Governors of Bushire, dating from 1846. These relate to previous customs arrangements and provide details of: people involved; the number of animals shipped; and the price of duty paid and on which basis. They include orders granted by Hajee Meerza Aghasee [Ḥājjī Mīrzā Āqāsī], Prime Minister of the Persian Government, in 1844, and by Houssein Khan, Sahibi-Ikhtiyar, Governor of Fars [Muḥammad Ḥusayn Khān, Ṣāḥib Ikhtiyār], in 1845.

Additionally, in Disbrowe's response to the complaint by the Sedr Azim, he includes extracts of earlier correspondence, dating from 1846, as proof of Persian governors permitting British intervention in sea disputes on the Persian coast.

Jones sends a copy of the above to the Government of Bombay, who in turn forward it to the Court of Directors.

As well as Jones, Disbrowe and Murray, correspondents include A Malcolm, an agent for a British horse trader, and Ahmed ben Mahomed Tahir, Kethkhoda of Dillom [Aḥmad bin Muḥammad Ṭāhir, Kadkhudā of Bandar Deylam].

The item contains multiple spellings for multiple personal and place names.

The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', Draft Number '633 [18]56', 'Collection No. 1 of No. 16 of 1856.', 'Vol: 10', and 'Examiner's Office'. Originally, the Collection number was given as '6' but this has been crossed out and replaced with '1'.