'Slave Trade'

The letters concern the 'slave trade' [trade in enslaved people] and, in particular, a new Act passed by the British Parliament relating to the trade, as well as reports on the trade being carried out in numerous places in and around the Persian Gulf. The first letter is dated 31 March 1849. Enclosures can be found at IOR/F/4/2343/123025. The second letter is dated 23 June 1849. Enclosures can be found at IOR/F/4/2343/123026. The third letter is dated 25 July 1849. Enclosures can be found at IOR/F/4/2343/123027. The fourth letter is dated 31 August 1849. The fifth letter is dated 3 October 1849. Enclosures can be found at IOR/F/4/2343/123029, which refer to the same incident described in the fourth letter. The item also contains enclosures to extracts of three Government of Bombay Political Consultations, dated from June and July 1849. These include:. A letter from Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf, to the Government of Bombay, dated 9 May 1849, in which he requests discretionary authority in cases relating to the 'slave trade'. He cites a recent incident involving a boat from Bussorah [Basra] and the Bahrein 'Chief' [Ruler of Bahrain]; A letter from Hennell to the Government of Bombay, dated 21 July 1849, recounting a recent conversation he had with Sheik Ally bin Rashid of Ejmaun [Shaikh 'Alī bin Rāshid al-Na'īmī, Ruler of Ajman]. The conversation related to reports that subjects of the Imaum [Imām] of Muscat were permitted by the British Government to bring enslaved people from the African Coast; A letter from Captain Atkins Hamerton, HM Consul at Muscat, to the Government of Bombay, dated 4 May 1849, reporting that the 'slave trade' continues to be active, despite the convention currently in place between Britain and the Imaum; The title page of the item contains the following references: 'Bombay Political Department', 'Draft No. 189 of 1850', 'Collection Vol: 1', and 'Examiner's Office'.

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the item. The item also contains a table of contents (f 118), noting 'Page', 'Date', 'From', 'To', and 'Date of Cons[ultation]'.

Unrestricted