Mss Eur F699/1/1/5

Series of files of copy telegrams sent to Lord Canning and his staff, generally for information, primarily by Secretaries of the Government in Calcutta, Chief Commissioners, Residents, and Military commanders. From Jan 1858 to Jan 1859 the Governor General was in Allahabad with various members of his personal staff and Secretaries of the Military and Foreign Departments of the Government of India. The Council in India remained based in Calcutta. The telegrams can be divided into two main series: Miscellaneous Telegrams Received 1858-59, and Telegrams Received from the Commander in Chief 1858-59, Lord Clyde. The latter series appears to have been created from telegrams removed from the first sequence.

Many telegrams are addressed to Colonel Richard J.H. Birch, Secretary to the Military Department, and George Edmondstone, Secretary to the Foreign Department, and others. Telegrams addressed to William Muir generally contain details of military intelligence from his network of informants, particularly in relation to the movement of rebel groups and the whereabouts of particular leaders. Some telegrams are directly addressed to Charles Canning, and some copied to the Governor General marked for information only. Some telegrams are annotated by the Governor General in pencil for action. Occasionally, telegrams are in a numerical cipher, but these have usually been decoded.

The majority of the telegrams relate to military actions and activities, on a day to day basis, during the on-going campaign against the 'rebel' factions. They include details from individual commanders regarding military action, including troop movements, and requests for support and supplies. The telegrams also include the movement and activities of 'rebel' leaders and their supporters. They include details of the Central India campaign, including Sir Hugh Rose's action against the Rani of Jhansi, and the forces of Tantia Topee [Tope]. Also details of the recapture of Lucknow by General Campbell, and the campaigns in Rohilcund [Rohilkhand] and Oudh.

In addition, the telegrams include details of appointments to military and civil positions in India, requests for finance, information in relation to British politics and the activities of the Government, and information regarding Lady Canning and other individuals.

The telegrams were originally bound in post binders, which have subsequently been removed, and filed into monthly bundles. Numbering of the telegrams reflects the volume of information processed by the Governor General and his staff, as there could be over 400 telegrams received each month. However, not all telegrams were kept and filed.