IOR/L/PS/5/385, ff 512-620

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 47 of 1840, dated 18 July 1840. The enclosures are numbered 3-65 and are dated 26 April to 17 July 1840.

Enclosure numbers 8 and 9 (a letter from the Government of Bombay to Captain Atkins Hamerton, on political duty at Muscat, and a resolution of the Government of Bombay, both dated 10 July 1840) are recorded as missing in a note on folio 513.

The enclosures mostly consist of correspondence, relating to Persian Gulf affairs, and concern matters including:

• The Resident in the Persian Gulf, Captain Samuel Hennell, reporting that no interference with the trade of Bushire [Bushehr] has taken place since Shaik Nasir [Shaikh Nāṣir] assumed the Governorship, but that in anticipation of the likelihood of a renewal of the blockade on the port, he requests the instructions of the Government of Bombay as to whether protection is to be provided to Bushire boats employed by British subjects
• Hennell reporting the revival of the desire of Esa ben Tareef [‘Īsá binṬarīf] and his followers for revenge for losses they sustained at the hands of the ‘Chief’ [Hakim] of Bahrein [Bahrain] and Hennell reminding Esa ben Tareef that as long as he resides on the Island of Kenn [Kish], he must give up all ideas of aggressive warfare on any part of the Arabian Coast
• Hennell reporting the circumstances which cause him to conclude that the Shah of Persia [Iran] contemplates hostilities against the Pachalic of Bagdad [Pashalik of Baghdad]
• The Government of Bombay instructing Hennell that he should not put any impediment in the way of the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat [also spelled Muskat in this item], or discourage him, should he desire to obtain possession of the island of Bahrein
• An ‘amicable arrangement’ having been concluded between Sheik Hamed [Shaikh Ḥamad] of Brymee [Al Buraymi] and Sued Humood ben Azan [Ḥamūd bin Azan Āl Bū Sa‘īd], ‘Chief’ of Sohar
• Hennell requesting the sanction of the Governor of Bombay in Council to an application being made to the Imaum of Muscat for two of his smaller frigates to be attached to the British Squadron in the Persian Gulf
• The probability of an interruption occurring in the passage of the overland mails through Egypt
• Hennell’s observations on a report from the Native Agent at Bahrein, Mirza Mahomed Ally [Mīrzā Muḥammad ‘Alī]
• Hennell forwarding news from the Native Reporter in Shiraz, and commenting that the reports contain ‘nothing of any great interest’ except the entrance of the new Governor of Fars, Nasr Oollah Khan [Naṣr Allāh Khān], into Shiraz, and Hennell stating that he has received intelligence that the Shah’s troops have taken possession of Soolimaniah [Sulaymaniyah] and that the Shah threatens to attack either Bagdad [Baghdad] or Bussorah [Basra]
• The Native Agent at Muscat, Khojah Ruben [Khawājah Rūbin], reporting that the Honourable Company’s schooner Emily was saved from shipwreck in Muscat Cove during a gale by the exertions of the nakhadas [nakhudas] and crews of the Imaum of Muscat’s two frigates
• Hennell seeking clarification from the Government of Bombay as to whether or not it is the case that no vessels of war of the Persian Gulf Squadron should be detached upon any service without the knowledge or concurrence of the political authority (the Resident in the Persian Gulf), and the Government of Bombay informing the Superintendent of Indian Navy that the Senior Naval Officer Commanding the Persian Gulf Squadron, Commander Anthony H Nott, was in error in detaching the Honourable Company’s brig Tigris from Karrak [Kharg Island, also spelled Karrack in this item] without communicating with Hennell and obtaining his consent
• Hennell forwarding to the Government of Bombay a return (table) showing the sick of the European and Native members of the field detachment at Karrak
• Hennell forwarding translations of letters from Armenian merchants at Shiraz and Bushire, and observing that from these communications it would seem that the Shah is still stationary at Isfahan, where it would appear he is inclined to fix the seat of Government
• The Resident in the Persian Gulf requesting Commodore George Barnes Brucks to despatch the Honourable Company’s schooner Royal Tiger to Bahrein and Kateef [Al Qatif] for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of the report of the sea ports of Sohat [Sayhat], Kateef and Ajeer [Al-ʻUqayr, Saudi Arabia] having been evacuated by the Egyptian troops which had been occupying those places
• The arrival at Karrak from Bussorah [Basra] of two Italian men, who subsequently left for Bushire
• Hennell requesting the permission of the Governor in Council of Bombay to erect a Treasury and Guard Room for the use of the Persian Gulf Residency at Karrak
• Information regarding Syud Musstapha [Sayyid Muṣṭafá, also spelled Syud Moustuffa in this item], who at the invitation of the Shah proceeded to Persia [Iran] from Hyderabad, after being surrendered by the Government of Bombay to stand trial for murder before the Cauzee’s [qadi’s] court at Hyderabad
• The Government of Bombay requesting the Superintendent of the Indian Navy to despatch the steamer Sesostris for duty in the Gulf on its return from Aden, in order to reinforce the Persian Gulf Squadron
• The Native Agent at Muscat reporting on the state of affairs at Muscat and the movements of Khoorshed Pasha [Khūrshīd Pāshā, also spelled in various other ways in this item] and the Egyptian army
• The Imaum of Muscat being ‘importuned’ by the Governor of Bourbon [Réunion] to enter into a commercial treaty, granting certain immunities to French traders between Bourbon, Zanzibar and Muscat.

The main correspondents are: the Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay, Lestock Robert Reid; and Hennell. Other correspondents include: Khojah Ruben; Nott; and Hamerton.