Mss Eur F126/1

The correspondence focuses primarily on the work and lives of the individuals corresponding with Lewis Pelly, with a key emphasis on Sind where General John Jacob, Sir Henry Green and Sir William Lockyer Merewether were all appointed to for periods of their career.

The correspondence itself covers the period 1854-1861, however there are also pencil notes written by Lewis Pelly (most likely sometime after his retirement from the India Office in 1877) and an original file label for the correspondence 'Personal letters from Ld Lytton, Ld Northbrook, Gen J Jacob, Sir W Merewether & others 1858-78' (folio 3).

Subjects discussed in the correspondence include the ongoing troubles in India following the Indian Mutiny of 1857; the organisation of the Sind Irregular Horse; matters in Afghanistan and Persia; the British press's lack of interest in Indian affairs; religion; and the Indian Army.

Approximately half of the correspondence in the file consists of enclosures to General John Jacob's letters and is his correspondence with individuals including Sir Henry Bartle Frere, Sir James Outram and Ross Balfour Moore. Other enclosures include letters to the Editor of The Times, and copies of official correspondence regarding Major Frederic John Goldsmid.

The later correspondence from 1860 to 1861 relates to Pelly's journey through Persia and Afghanistan and focuses on methods of ensuring that Pelly receives letters and telegrams en-route and also discussing matters from Aghanistan that may have an impact on India and its frontiers.

The correspondence from Lord Lytton and Lord Northbrook among others related to Sir Lewis's appointment in Baroda and the deposition of the Gaekwar of Baroda both of which Sir Lewis considered to be sensitive subjects and which was removed from the collection at the request of Lady Pellyfollowing its deposit with the India Office in 1923 (folio 2).