IOR/L/PS/5/490, ff 64-98

This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 6 dated 2 January 1857. The enclosures are dated 6 November-30 December 1856.

The primary correspondents are: Commander Felix Jones, Indian Navy, Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Secretary to the Government, Bombay; and Major-General Foster Stalker, Commanding the Field Force in Persia [Iran]. Their despatches contain numerous enclosures.

The papers notably cover and include:

• Intelligence, and reports forwarded by the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], relating to: Persian fortifications and defensive measures in and around Mohumrah [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah] and the Shut-ool-Arab [Shatt al-Arab] river; and the strategic importance of British forces capturing Shuster [Shushtar] and the strength of the Persian forces at that city
• The dealings of the Resident in the Persian Gulf with the Commissariat and Quarter-Master General staff officers sent in advance to Bushire [Bushehr] to organise supplies (arms, ammunition, food and fuel) for the reinforcement troops expected from Bombay, including the Resident’s instructions that the staff officers base themselves at Bassidore [Basaidu, Qeshm Island] rather than Bushire for security reasons, and that they commence their operations but postpone any despatches, due to the uncertainty regarding the initial destination of the reinforcements from Bombay
• Correspondence of the Resident in the Persian Gulf with the Bombay Government regarding his decision to send the staff officers to Bassidore and decision not to keep one British vessel in the Bushire Roads ‘for the protection of the Residency or of British subjects’ (f 78)
• Intelligence received from Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz [also spelled Sheeraz in this item] reporting the deterioration of Anglo-Persian relations and Persian military manoeuvres and war preparations, including: news of the departure from Tehran of HM Consul Richard Stevens; instructions to the British Agent at Sheeraz to leave that city; a list of Persian regiments in the Province of Fars and their commanding officers (ff 83-84); reports of Persian troop movements from Isfahan to Shiraz, Kirman [Kerman] and Mohumrah
• Documents, obtained by the Resident in the Persian Gulf and forwarded by the British Agent at Shiraz, indicating that Tahmasp Meerza, Prince of Shiraz and Prince Governor of Fars [Shāhzādah Ṭahmāsp/Ṭahmāsb Mīrzā Muʾayyid al-Dawlah] is soliciting, on behalf of the Shah, for a reconciliation with the British Government and the avoidance of military conflict whilst publically extolling the Persian capture of Herat and the march of Persian armies to Sheeraz (see ff 85-86, 88-89, 91-94)
• The decision of the Resident in the Persian Gulf to retain his title and exercise the functions of his role instead of putting himself at the disposal of Major-General Stalker in a military capacity.