IOR/L/PS/5/388, ff 28-137

This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 90 of 1840, dated 30 October 1840. The enclosures are numbered 3-30 and are dated 21 July to 16 October 1840.

The enclosures relate to Persian Gulf affairs, and cover matters including:

• The Acting Assistant Resident in Charge, Persian Gulf, Thomas Mackenzie (also spelled Mackensie in this item), stating that he is not aware of any reason to believe the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat intends to attempt to possess Bahrein [Bahrain, also spelled Bahrien in this item], and the view of the Government of Bombay that Mackenzie’s impression is erroneous
• The opinion of Mackenzie on which season of the year the climate on the islands of Bahrein, Kishm [Qeshm] and Karrak [Kharg, also spelled Karrack in this item] is most unhealthy for the constitutions of Europeans
• The intention of the Shaikh of Bahrein, Mahommed ben Khulifa [Shaikh Muḥammad bin Khalīfah Āl Khalīfah, also spelled Mahomed ben Khalifa in this item], to undertake an expedition against Kateef [Qatif] and Lahsa [al-Hasa] in order to establish his authority over that district and free it from the control of Koorchid Pacha [Khūrshīd Pāshā, also spelled Khoorschid Pacha in this item]. Mahommed ben Khulifa’s request for assistance from the British Government with this undertaking, and for the protection of his property at Bahrein during his absence against any potential attempts by his uncle to dispossess him of it
• The view of the Government of Bombay as to whether it would be desirable to make any augmentation to the garrison at Karrack
• Intelligence received from the News Writer at Shiraz, including the Shah having sent his army in detachments to Caswin [Qazvin] and then returned to Tehran, the severe sickness which has occurred at Karrack in August, and the death of Captain Strong of the Bombay European Regiment
• Intelligence received from the Government Agent, Bahrien, on the state of affairs at Bahrien
• The Government Agent at Bahrien reporting that Mahomed Effendi [Muḥammad Effendī], the Deputy of Koorshid Pacha at Katif, has left Katif with his followers and gone to Lahsa, on his way to join Koorschid Pacha, in the vicinity of Medina (also spelled Medinah in this item), and that Ameer Khalid [Amīr Khālid bin Sa‘ūd Āl Sa‘ūd] has been proclaimed Governor of Central Arabia [Najd]
• A despatch from Mackenzie to HM Political Agent and Consul General, Egypt, reporting on the state of affairs in Arabia
• Captain Atkins Hamerton, on a mission to Muskat (also spelled Muscat in this item), reporting the renewal of ‘friendship’ between the Chief of Sohar, Saud Hamood byn Azan [Ḥamūd bin Azan Āl Bū Sa‘īd], and the Imaum of Muscat
• The concurrence of the Governor-General of India in Council in the opinion of the Government of Bombay that it would not be expedient to hold out to the Imaum of Muscat the prospect of support from the British Government in an attack upon Bahrein
• The view of the Governor-General that Captain Atkins Hamerton should remain at Muscat during the ‘healthy season’ after the departure of the Imaum of Muscat for the African Coast
• Despatches from the Secretary to the British Legation in Persia [Iran], Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Sheil, to HM Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, reporting on the state of affairs in Persia [Iran] and the movements of the Shah
• Reports prevalent in Persia of the intention of the Shah to attack Bagdad [Baghad].

The main correspondents are as follows: the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Lestock Robert Reid; Mackenzie; Hamerton; the Native Agent at Muscat; and Sheil.

The item also includes enclosed correspondence from: the Shaikh of Bahrien; the News Writer at Shiraz; the Chief of Debay, Shaikh Mukhtoom [Shaikh Maktūm I bin Buṭṭī Āl Bū Falāsah]; the Government Agent, Bahrein; Commodore George Barnes Brucks, Indian Navy, Commanding the Persian Gulf Naval Squadron; and HM Consul at Tabreez [Tabriz], Edward Walter Bonham.