IOR/L/PS/5/228, ff 246-264

This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a secret despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secret Committee, Number 39 of 1856, dated 8 September 1856. The enclosures are numbered 3-10 and are dated 28 August-3 September 1856, with one dated 22 March 1854.

The enclosures consist of a minute by the Governor-General of India, concurred with by members of the Board, and letters from the Secretary to the Government of India to: the Secretary to the Government of Bombay; the Military Department and the Marine Department, Government of Bombay; and Commander James Rennie, Indian Navy, Commanding the HC [Honourable Company] steam frigate Ferooz [also known as Feroze (?),also spelled Ferooze in this item].

They relate to the amount and nature of the military force that the Government of India considers necessary to commence operations in the Persian Gulf, in response to Persia’s [Iran’s] proceedings against Herat, and which would be sufficient to occupy the island of Karrack [Kharg, also known as Khark] and the district of Bushire [Bushehr]. Included are the following:

• Extract of a letter (ff 248-251) to the Governor of Bombay by the then Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Arnold Burrowes Kemball, dated 22 March 1854: recommending no less than 5000 men would be required to occupy Karrack and the town and district of Bushire; detailing the composition of the force required; and describing the port of Bushire. Kemball includes sketch maps of the defences of Bushire port (catalogued as IOR/L/PS/5/228, ff 252-253) and the water resources in the country and neighbourhood of Bushire (catalogued as IOR/L/PS/5/228, ff 254-255)
• A request that the Government of Bombay send Commissariat officers to Bushire regarding the furnishing of supplies for an Expeditionary force
• Instructions that the Ferooz and the HC steam vessel Berenice proceed to Bombay [Mumbai] and place themselves under the command of the Bombay Presidency.