IOR/L/PS/5/447, ff 119-181

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 135 of 1846, dated 16 November 1846. The enclosures are dated 25 September-16 November 1846.

The enclosures relate to affairs in Aden, notably the following:

• The progress made in the defences and other public works in the course of construction at Aden, including: a memorandum by Captain James Kilner, Executive Engineer at Aden, on the ‘state of the principal works’ up to 15 October 1846 (ff 129-134); letters from the Military Board and Lieutenant-Colonel C W Grant, Bombay Engineers, complaining that progress will be continuously delayed and obstructed due to hostile relations between the British at Aden and the neighbouring Arab inhabitants of the interior, and suggesting measures to bring food, forage and other supplies from the opposite coast of Africa; and the Government of Bombay’s suggestion that in the event of roads to Aden being closed a continuous forage supply from India could be established at minimal expense
• A report by Assistant Surgeon Giraud, Professor of Chemistry, on the unsuitable quality of water from the ‘Ras Meil Well’ at Aden (f 140), and the conclusion of the Government of Bombay that unless the salt water springs in the well can be closed and only the sweet springs kept open, it should be abandoned
• The report of a Committee composed of naval and engineer officers on the best site for the construction of a pier of obstruction in the Western Bay at Aden, forwarded to the Government of Bombay by Captain Stafford Bettesworth Haines, Political Agent at Aden. Included with the report is a plan of the pier (catalogued as IOR/L/PS/5/447, f 148)
• The suggestion by Haines to accommodate ‘native’ Indian convicts, employed on the works at Aden, on vessels stationed off shore, and its rejection by Captain Sir Robert Oliver, Superintendent of the Indian Navy, who cites the probable high mortality of convicts confined under such arrangements, in addition to the lack of available ships and the excessive cost of converting vessels for that purpose (ff 152-153)
• Two detailed memoranda of Governor-General of India on the subject of the works of defence in progress at Aden (ff 157-166), and the requirement that Colonel C W Grant remain at Aden until their completion
• The Government of India’s agreement to a proposition to employ Arab labourers upon the public works at Aden and instruction that the result of the experiment should be ‘carefully watched and reported to Government’ (f 176).

The principal correspondent is the Government of Bombay.