Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/12

Letters from Sir Henry Bartle Frere, numbered 1-95 with index and summaries.

List of letters transcribed from index:

1. 1 Jan 1861. 'Mr Erskine on Executive and Legislative Councils - he would have regular Sessions and recesses and change the seats of the Government'. Includes enclosure: Copy letter from C. Erskine to Sir Henry Bartle Frere, received 1 Dec 1860.

2. 1 Jan 1861. 'Correspondence with Sir Charles Wood on the Currency Bill. The question of 1/3 recommended by Mr Wilson. Sir Charles Wood's answer on the ability of the Home Council. Sir Erskine Perry on Police'. Includes enclosures: 1. Copy letter from Sir Henry Bartle Frere, Calcutta, to Sir Charles Wood, dated 1 Oct 1860 2. Copy letter from Sir Charles Wood, India Office, to Sir Henry Bartle Frere dated 24 Nov 1860 3. Copy letter from Sir Henry Bartle Frere, Barrackpore, to Sir Charles Wood, dated 31 Dec 1860 4. Copy letter from Sir Charles Wood, India Office, to Sir Henry Bartle Frere dated 27 Nov 1860 5. Extract of letter from Sir Erskine Perry dated 27 Nov 1860.

3. 2 Jan 1861. 'Sends his Minute relative to the mode of carrying on business between the Military Department and the Military Finance Commission. The former office is in need of reform. Colonel Balfour's complaint about the amalgamation of the staff'. Includes enclosures: 1. Copy of Minute dated 24 Dec 1860 2. Extract of letter from Colonel Balfour dated 30 Dec 1860.

4. 8 Jan 1861. 'Mr Devereux's case'.

5. 12 Jan 1861. 'Governor General's approval of his proceedings on the case between the Military Finance Commission and the Military Department. Improvement observable in the latter but there must be a change in the heads of Department before the work of the Military Finance Department can progress. Opinion of General [Richard] Birch. General opinion of the Military Department. Major Atkinson. Article in the Friend of India on the subject. Colonel Balfour and Mr [Richard] Temple no ways connected with it'.

6. 15 Jan 1861. 'Mr [Richard] Temple and Colonel Bruce's Report on Burmah [Burma]. Proposed mode of dealing with its suggestions. Military Finance Commission on the Military portion of the report. Difference of opinion as to constitution of the Native Infantry Force which is to be kept in Burmah. Suggestion as to a Resolution on Mr Temple and Colonel Bruce's services'.

7. 17 Jan 1861. Result of conversation with Mr Laing on the financial state of the Government - embodied in a memo. Mr Laing's views rather gloomy. Vigorous prosecutions of Military reductions necessary. Resolution prepared by the Military Finance Commission on the subject how to be dealt with. Major Atkinson's promise of cordial cooperation with the Military Finance Commission. There need be no Loan this year except for Railways. Colonel Balfour on actual Commissariat expenditure this year. Governor General's Adoption Despatch'. Includes enclosure: Memo of Financial Position, 17 Jan 1861.

8. 22 Jan 1861. 'Report of the Military Finance Commission on an Army Staff Corps. His Minute on same. Culpable negligence of the Military Department in the matter, Draft Resolution on carriage etc. for moveable Column'. Includes enclosure: Copy of 'Report of Military Finance Commission on an Army Staff Corps', dated 22 Jan 1861.

8a. 31 Jan 1861. 'Colonel Baird Smith on reassessment of Land Tax. His own views in favour of revising forever the present settlement'.

9. 4 Feb 1861. 'Mr Laing. Railways. Mr Laing and License Bill, Poll Tax and general Taxation. Legislative reform. Local Taxes. Balances Exchequer in 1862'.

10. 9 Feb 1861. 'Regular Estimates for this year. Means for carrying on Railway works. Fresh taxation out of the question. Is hopeful of an equilibrium next year. Colonel Baird Smith's deputation to the Famine Stricken Districts. Town Hall meeting on Famine. Mr Peterson's attack and Sir Bartle [Frere]'s rejoinder. Acceptance of Command of Calcutta Volunteers. Effect of Governor General's speech at Rajmahal. Captain Pelly about to proceed to join the Camp. Bengali ode on Income Tax'. Includes enclosures: 1. Covering note that the enclosed poem was given by Dr Duff, and that the writer was a fourteen year old boy at the Free Kirk Institute School 2. Ode to Income Tax in Bengali, by Bejoy Nath Roy 3. Translation of poem into English.

11. Copy letter from Captain Kennedy, Lucknow, 25 Jan 1861. 'Letter from Captain Kennedy, Bombay Engineers deputed to Calcutta to learn the system of Public Works Accounts, detailing the results of his inspection of the Bengal office'.

12. 20 Feb 1861. 'Mr Barnes for Foreign Secretaryship. Objections to him from Oudh'.

13. 20 Feb 1861. 'Colonel Balfour's account of Colonel Macleod of the Madras Army'.

14. 23 Feb 1861. 'Small Cause Court Papers. Mr Long [Rev James Long] on Planters attempts to use their claims for rent as a means of forcing the Ryots to sow Indigo. Existence in some of the Indigo Districts of a sullen and angry spirit towards Planters. Agency for obtaining correct information on the subject. Replies of the Military Finance Commission to the statement of the Financial Department that the former was to blame for the delay in sending in the Military estimates for the next year. Madras Estimates well prepared'.

15. 4 Mar 1861. 'News from Japan. Colonel Balfour's Public Works Report. Major Elliot might be asked to act on its suggestions. Sir Robert Napier's health. Captain Pelly's memo, its proposed publication. Missionary Society, on the 24th Punjab Native Infantry. Mr Wylie's condemnation'.

16. 5 Mar 1861. 'Major Merewether with a note from Captain Pelly communicating news of expulsion of Mahomed Ameen Khan from Kandahar [Afghanistan]. Also a newspaper extract on the subject'. Includes enclosures: 1. Extract from letter from Major Merewether dated 18 Feb 1861 2. Note from Captain Lewis Pelly 'relative to Mahomed Ameen Khan's alleged expulsion from Candahar' 3. Newspaper article 'Cabul' [Kabul] from the Delhi Gazette, 28 Feb 1861.

17. 7 Mar 1861. 'Results of interviews with the Indigo Planters. Mr Grant on the right course'.

18. 10 Mar 1861. 'Suggestion as to Governor General personally assuring Mr Grant of support with reference to letter to the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal on the results of the interview with the Indigo Planters'.

19. 11 Mar 1861. 'Increase to Mr Drummond's salary. Re-arrangement of the Pay and Account Officers. Abolition of the General Treasury. Governor General's proposed reply to Mr Drummond'.

20. 11 Mar 1861. 'As bearing on the news of a revolution at Candahar [Kandahar], sends extract from a journal of Captain Pelly which throws much light on the position of parties at Candahar. Suggestion as to reply to Sultan Ahmed Khan'. Includes enclosure: Extract of Journal of Captain Lewis Pelly.

21. 16 Mar 1861. 'Report and draft General Order of the Amalgamation Commission. Equipment and organisation of the Artillery. Presence of Artillery Officers in Calcutta may be taken advantage of to discuss'. Includes enclosure: Letter from Colonel Balfour to Sir Henry Bartle Frere, undated.

22. 19 Mar 1861. 'Colonel Bruce's suggestion as to reductions in Nagpore. Major Taylor might be associated with Major Elliot to effect the above'.

23. 27 Mar 1861. 'Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bassora [Basra] Line of Electric Telegraph. French occupation in Syria. Civil Service Petition to Parliament. Reduction in strength of Native Infantry'.

24. 8 Apr 1861. 'Sir John Lawrence on Irregular Cavalry. Reduction of Native Regiments of Cavalry. Establishment of a Municipality in Lucknow. Letter from Captain Duncan in progress of the Pegu Police'. Includes enclosure: Copy of letter from Captain H. Duncan, Prome [Burma], dated 7 Mar 1861.

25. 12 Apr 1861. 'Effect of Paras 58 & 59 of Draft General Order on the Armies of Bombay and Madras. Proposed amendment. Officering on the Irregular system'. Includes enclosure: Copy of paragraphs 59 and 58 of Draft General Order on Amalgamation of the Indian Forces.

26. 15 Apr 1861. 'Sir George Clerk on Aden. French expedition against Cochin China. Mr Brett's answer about Amalgamation Order. Commander in Chief likely to go beyond the letter of the General Order in inviting the Ordnance Officers to Volunteer'.

27. 27 Apr 1861. 'Sir William Denison. Indian Council on Police'.

28. 30 Apr 1861. 'Salary of Colonel Balfour and pay of Controllers'.

29. 4 May 1861. 'Letters from and to Sir Charles Wood. Mr Barnes'.

30. 9 May 1861. 'Dr Goodeve's opinion of Mr Laing's health. Successor to Mr Sconce in the Legislative Council. Necessity of a Bengal Member'.

31. 12 May 1861. 'Mr Laing better. Dr Macnamara should proceed to sea with him'.

32. 25 May 1861. 'Major Malleson and the Volunteers. Major Wolsley on the Taiping Rebels. Colonel Bruce's estimate of cost of new Police'.

33. 1 Jun 1861. 'Criminal Procedure Bill. Petition from the Landholders Association on objection of Europeans to Native Judges. Mr Harington's remarks on the subject. Sir Charles Wood's Bill on Councils. Mr Cranford's opinions. The Bombay Times complaint. Sir George Clerk on Police. Colonel Bruce ready to go to Bombay to aid in Police matters'.

34. 2 Jun 1861. 'Mr Laing likely to have to go home'.

35. 3 Jun 1861. 'Despatch on Famine. Friend of India's misstatements'.

36. 4 Jun 1861. 'Un-covenanted Service Memorial. Mr John Stuart Mill's views on Civil Service. His own opinions on the matter'.

37. 6 Jun 1861. 'Draft of Instructions to Colonel Bruce about his visit to Madras and Bombay. Mr [Richard] Temple would prefer to go to Hyderabad unaccompanied by any colleague from the Civil Finance Commission taking only a Madras Officer. Mr Temple still anxious to go to Bombay. Suggests a trip for the Governor General to Bombay'.

38. 6 Jun 1861. 'Draft letter on Un-covenanted Service Memorial. Mr Kellner's paper. Mr John Stuart Mill's opinions'.

39. 8 Jun 1861. 'Draft of Instructions to Mr [Richard] Temple about Hyderabad. Income and Expenditure of Assisted Districts. Currency Bill. Mr Temple may aid its working at Madras. Criminal Procedure Bill'.

40. 11 Jun 1861. 'Mr Laing's confidential memo. Another Financial Member from England not needed. Reductions attempted to work of Indian Officers. Mr Wilson and Mr Laing's services. In favour of getting out a Master of Accounts. Mr Morehead or Mr Grant as successor to Mr Laing. Organisation of the Financial Department. Is ready to accept any amount of the work of the Financial Department in Council'.

41. 15 Jun 1861. 'Hyderabad expenditure. Mr [Richard] Temple's mission should be reported to the Secretary of State'.

42. 17 Jun 1861. 'Papers relating to the Nizam's affairs. Captain Layard about the Nawab Nazim'.

43. 24 Jun 1861. 'Taxation on the Punjab and the North West Provinces. Changes in the Income Tax. License Tax. New Taxation. Famine subscriptions. Punjab and North West Provinces might be called upon to furnish a statement of the probable calls on them etc.'

44. 26 Jun 1861. 'Star of India. Its good effects. Drafts of reports of the Amalgamation Commission on Local Artillery. Conversion of Irregulars into Regulars, and on Native Officers of Infantry and Cavalry. Services of the Commission deserving of commendations from Governor General'.

45. 3 Jul 1861. 'Nagpore reductions. Annexation policy does not pay. Improvement of Mr Lushington's office. Publication of a collection of papers on Cotton'.

46. 14 Jul 1861. 'Mr Paterson Saunders on Cotton, Waste Lands and Oudh Railway'.

47. 15 Jul 1861. 'Discrepancies between Estimates and actual charges. Preparation of future Estimates. Amendment of Mr Laing's Budget Estimate. North West Provinces Report on Income Tax'.

48. Covering note, undated. 'Sir Charles Wood on publicity in Councils. Mr [Cecil] Beadon's views. Number of Regiments'.

49. Covering note, undated. 'Sir Charles Wood on discrepancies between the accounts of past years and Mr Laing's statements. Railway Exchange and Mr Laing's speech'.

50. 19 Jul 1861. 'Draft Resolution on sale of Waste Lands and redemption of Land Tax. Registration - reference Home not necessary'.

50a. 23 Jul 1861. 'Memo of information required from Bombay on Frontier Force in Sind. King of Oudh'. Includes enclosure: Memorandum regarding Sind Frontier Field Force.

51. 28 Jul 1861. 'Date in Council on the Income Tax Amendment Bill and conduct of Sir Barnes Peacock. Latters attempt to deprive Mofussil Courts of power to punish for contempt of court. Amalgamation of Courts likely to be a difficult matter with present Judges to deal with. Effect of a warning from Home to Chief Justice'.

52. 31 Jul 1861. 'Mr [Richard] Temple's account of Mysore. Barracks at Hyderabad. Mr Temple's visiting Bombay, object of doing so. His visit to Nagpore. Mr Fitzwilliam on Gold, Opium and Cotton. Prize for Cotton. Sir William Denison and Colonel Cotton's letters not irreconcilable'.

53. 7 Aug 1861. 'Sir William Denison and General Cotton on the Godavery works not quite irreconcilable. Suggestions on the subject. Former's letter to the President of the Cotton Supply Association. Reduction of Madras Regiments'.

54. 5 Aug 1861. 'Comments on Mr Seton Karr. Best form of announcing Governor General's decision. Planters likely to drop further prosecutions thereafter - if not the Advocate General should defer to Mr Seton Karr. Mr Hurst. Waste Lands'.

55. 6 Aug 1861. 'Amendment to the office Draft on Cotton Prize. Mr Paterson Saunders apprehensions as to imputations that he is spinning out his Commission. Mr Fitzwilliam doubtful of further prosecution in re Nil Durpan [Nil Darpan] being staged'.

56. 7 Aug 1861. 'Governor General's correspondence with Sir Charles Wood. Latters views of supporting Governor General. His attempt at Government of India from London. His three Bills not quite in accord with Governor General's views, nor with his own speeches. Necessity of Amalgamation Commission. Mischief of some home interference. Alterations in Resolution on Mr Seton Karr. Latter's resignation of office. Mr W. Brett and Nil Durpan [Nil Darpan] further prosecution. Suggestions of a hint to Sir Charles Wood not to alter decision in Mr Seton Karr's case'.

57. 8 Aug 1861. 'Answer to Mr Hurst. Waste Land Resolution. Mr Taylor on Income Tax in Behar. Original scheme of a License Bill after all the best mode of direct taxation'.

58. 8 Aug 1861. 'Memo of injunctions on increased establishments for Colonel Balfour. Policy of giving him a good staff. Economy of the measure'.

59. 14 Aug 1861. 'Captain Malleson ready to disconnect himself with the Times. Cause of his acting as its correspondence'.

60. 15 Aug 1861. 'Remarks on letter from the Land Holders Association - best reply to it. Governor general's view of Mr Seton Karr's case the correct one. His retention of his seat in the Legislative Council. Mr Seton Karr's letter on the subject. Governor General's note about Captain Malleson'.

61. 19 Aug 1861. 'Criminal Procedure Bill passed through Committee. Debate on the Contempts chapter. Chief Justice's conduct'.

62. 19 Aug 1861. 'Delay in preparing Receipt and Disbursement Returns. Colonel Balfour's letter about his own Department. Savings effected by him'.

63. 25 Aug 1861. 'Proceedings in Legislative Council on the Criminal Procedure Bill - it is nearly ready for passing. Discussion of the Articles of War for the Native Army. Draft Bill relating to Banks'.

64. 26 Aug 1861. 'Draft Resolution on employment of Military Officers for whom the Commander in Chief cannot find employment, and who cannot be put into the Staff Corps nor on the pension list. Early disposal of this may induce Commander in Chief to be content with a smaller allowance of officers per Native Regiments. Star installation'.

65. 31 Aug 1861. 'Special meeting for the Bill for Articles of War for the Native Army. Criminal Procedure code passed. Flogging Bill. Discussion on it. Mr Seton Karr's Bill for the registration of Nij jote and Khamar Lands'.

66. 3 Sep 1861. 'Treatment of the Bheels in Holkar's Districts West of Bombay. Major Keatinge's proceedings right and proper – he should be allowed two Young Officers. No necessity for transferring charge to Bombay. Instructions to the Officers as to a change of policy towards the Bheels. Money allowance to them for clearing roads'.

67. 9 Sep 1861. 'Signatures to the address to Sir Mordaunt Wells. Mr Fitzwilliam's placability in the matter. Information obtained at a gathering of merchants at a party at Mr Fitzwilliam's house. Waste Lands question. Suggestions as to a protest against limiting Governor General's power to send home European Troops, and against any attempt to reduce the English Army by cutting off the Indian Regiments. Embarrassment arising from the want of clearness in Secretary of State's instructions about the Artillery, and the indiscretion of the Commander in Chief in pressing Officers to volunteer'. 68. 16 Sep 1861. 'Reply to Sir Charles Wood as to Mr Laing's false figures. Additions to public Works grant. Memo on the subject. Cash balances very favourable. Chances of remitting home 1 ½ million. Power of Bombay Government to impose Tolls. Duty on salt in Bombay. Want of Cotton roads. Mr Sillar's report on it'. Includes enclosure: Note by Bartle Frere on financial issues.

69. 16 Sep 1861. 'Sends two letters from Colonel Bruce. Improved Finance'.

70. 19 Sep 1861. 'Cuttack Irrigation'.

71. 19 Sep 1861. 'Army retirement Scheme. Extension of time up to which the original grant to £50 extra pension offered to all Officers is available – with special reference to Artillery and Engineer Officers. Memo on the subject. Books on infanticide'. Includes enclosure: Note by Bartle Frere on Army retirement scheme.

72. 21 Sep 1861. 'Furzand Ali's case [Farzand Ali Khan] – and position of Talookdars in Oudh'.

73. 21 Sep 1861. 'Colonel Davidson's Report on the grant of the Star to the Nizam. Unseemly discussion on the subject should have been avoided by Colonel Davidson. Insignia should be withheld pending clearance of all doubt'.

74. 22 Sep 1861. 'Draft Financial despatch. Mr Laing's false figures. Amendments proposed'.

75. 23 Sep 1861. 'Notice regarding Income Tax. Mismanagement in Bengal. Transfer of business of Income Tax to Financial Department not an improvement – the reverse. Extension of the period allowed for taking the £50 extra pension'.

76. 25 Sep 1861. 'Mr Yule on checking Infanticide in Oudh, and reducing the cost of marriages. Interference of Courts to be avoided. Establishment of a High Court of Talookdars. Permanent settlement on Oudh and the North West Provinces. Lord Cornwallis' errors. Tobacco Tax. Native newspapers'.

77. 28 Sep 1861. 'Memorial of his connection with Sind. Presentation to him of a piece of Plate. Mr Mangles' letter'.

78. 1 Oct 1861. 'Returns of the force in the Punjab and the North West Provinces for Colonel Bruce. Telegram to Punjab about Colonel Bruce's going there. Supply of young civilians for Bengal. Employment of Military Officers in their stead. Dr Jerdan's work on Indian animals'.

79. 3 Oct 1861. 'Captain Cowper. Colonel Davidson's treatment of his subordinates. Opium. Extravagance of Board of Revenue. Evils of present system of cultivation'.

80. 5 Oct 1861. 'Colonel Baird Smith's Report. Petition of Landholders about alleged intentions of the Government in regard to publicity in the proceedings of the Governor General's Legislative Council. Suggestions as to a reply'.

81. 11 Oct 1861. 'Waste Lands Resolution. Mr Ritchie's suggestions. Memo by Colonel Bruce on the Native Army. Record Commissions catalogue of papers. Meerut Committee's papers on Artillery. Remarks on the subject. Suggestion as to Mr Court'.

82. 13 Oct 1861. 'Note on the Mysore case. Colonel Davidson's proposed answer. Suggestion as to report to Secretary of State on the real character of the Raja's claims. Sir Robert Napier's proposed reply to the Commander in Chief's manifesto of July. Number of Batteries'.

83. 13 Oct 1861. 'Queen's approval of Governor General's services. Effects of Governor General's policy. Past policy. Mysore case. Signatures to the Mysore Treaty of 1799'.

84. 14 Oct 1861. 'Dak arrangements. Morshedabad case'.

85. 20 Oct 1861. 'Draft of an answer to the Bengal Police letter. Commander in Chief's Minute on Mr Grant's letter. How he would have acted if in Mr Grant's place in regard to the Police Battalions'.

86. 31 Oct 1861. 'Police for North West Provinces. Mr Court as to subordination to the Government of India. Limit of time for North West Provinces to complete their Police. Remarks on the subject. Punjab not dealing fairly with the Government of India in the matter of Police. Major Meade's reproof to the Gwalior Raja'.

87. 11 Nov 1861. 'Effects of Governor General's trip. Information obtained at Benares as to how Governor General has touched some of the springs of Native feeling. Nagpore Resolution. Memo of remarks on it'. Includes enclosure: memorandum on the Nagpore Resolution.

88. 15 Nov 1861. 'Has telegraphed to Bombay about the mail'.

89. 17 Nov 1861. 'Reply to his telegram from Bombay. Is ready to relieve Governor General of any work'.

90. 26 Nov 1861. 'Arrangement as to disposal of ordinary current work. Suggestion as to trip to sea'.

91. 2 Dec 1861. 'Letter from Sir George Clerk as to his health and resignation, and home interference, and as to Sir Bartle Frere being the best successor to him'. Includes enclosure: Copy of private letter from Sir George Clerk to Sir Bartle Frere dated 15 Nov 1861.

91a. 14 Dec 1861. 'Military Expenditure of the Punjab. Sir Robert Montgomery's objectionable letter. Colonel Durand's note. Correspondence between Sir William Mansfield and Sir John Lawrence in 1858 or 1859 on reductions. Sir George Clerk's health'.

92. 20 Dec 1861. 'Sir Charles Wood's complaint of delay. Transmission of Messrs Morris and Monkeson's reports. Explanation regarding publishing papers before they are received at the India Office. Appointment of another Commission at the Indigo Districts'.

93. 13 Jan 1862. 'Proposed answer to the Punjab remonstrance against the Resolution of Nov 11th in which they were charged with being a burden on the finances of India. Despairs of Sir Robert Montgomery over reducing his superfluous force. Difficult of getting correct returns. Three Commanders of Forces better that one Commander in Chief. Telegraphs, and Major Goldsmid and Major Stewart'.

94. 15 Feb 1862. 'Mr Grant's reply anent [about] the rent question. Mr Hershell's views'.

95. 11 Mar 1862. 'Madras rules for sale of Waste Lands and redemption of Land Tax. Permanence of Madras assessments. Sir William Denison's non fulfilment of Sir Charles Trevelyan's promises to the Wynaad Planters'.