IOR/L/PS/5/445, ff 65-98

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 97 of 1846, dated 26 August 1846. The enclosures are dated 22 October 1844-15 August 1846.

The principal correspondents are: Mirza Mahomed Hadee [Mīrzā Muḥammad Hādī], messenger of the Shah of Persia [Iran]; the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay; and Aga Mahomed Husson Khan [Āghā Muḥammad Ḥasan Khān, also spelled Aga Mahomed Hassan Khan in this item], Agent to HRH Mahomed Koolee Khan [Muḥammad Qulī Khān]. Also included are minutes of the Governor and President in Council, Bombay, concurred in by the Board or members in Council, and resolutions of the Government of Bombay in the Political Department.

The papers cover the following matters:

• The arrival in Bombay [Mumbai], in October 1844, of Mirza Mahomed Hadee with a rukhum [official correspondence] and a khilaut [a dress or robe of honour, also spelled khelat and khilat in this item] for Hajee Mahomed Rahim Khan [Ḥājī Muḥammad Raḥīm Khān Shīrāzī, also referred to as Aga (Āghā) Mahomed Rahim Shirazee Khan in this item], the Persian Consul in Bombay, and the Government of Bombay’s decision not to ‘interfere in any way’ regarding arrangements for a public presentation of the khilaut to the Consul, due to no information having been received by them on the subject from Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, HM’s Chargé d’Affaires at Tehran
• Mirza Mahomed Hadee’s request, in November 1844, that the Government of Bombay intervene in a long-standing dispute, pending in the Supreme Court at Bombay, between the Persian Consul and Mirza Mahomed Allee Khan [Mīrzā Muḥammad ʿAlī Khān], to help attain its amicable settlement, and the refusal of the Government of Bombay to interfere with the proceedings
• The arrival, in May 1846, of Aga Mahomed Husson Khan, with a khilaut from the Shah of Persia for the Persian Consul, repeating the request for the Government of Bombay to present it to the Persian Consul, and the former’s repetition of its decision not to ‘intefere’ in the matter
• Aga Mahomed Husson’s request, in May 1846, that the Government of Bombay assist in the recovery of a debt owed by Khaja Tela [Khwājah Tilā(?), also spelled Tila in this item], a Hindoo [Hindu] (who was in Kurrachee [Karachi] and is now in Bombay), to Mahomed Koolee Khan Hesheck Agasee Bashee [Muḥammad Qulī Khān Īshīk Āqāsī Bāshī], son of the Nowab Assesood dowlah [Nawwāb Āṣaf al-Dawlah] and dewan of the Shah of Persia, including a copy of letters written by Mahomed Koolee Khan to the Governor of Bombay (f 83) and by Sheil to the Governor of Scinde [Sindh] on the subject (f 90). The Government of Bombay: confirms that it is not in their power to interfere in the matter (f 85) and that Mahomed Koolee Khan should apply to the Supreme Court of Judicature, Bombay. It also reiterates its intention not to be involved in the presentation of the khilaut from the Court of Persia as they have had no intimation of it from Sheil
• Aga Mahomed Husson’s request, in August 1846 (f 93), that all proceedings against the Persian Consul (who was formerly thrown into prison and may well be ‘again cast’ in there if he cannot pay the debt he owes dating back to 1833) in HM Supreme Court of Judicature at Bombay to be suspended for six months, and the Government of Bombay’s confirmation that it is not in their power to interfere.