Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/17

Correspondence from Sir George Clerk. Letters numbered 1-49 with index and detailed summaries. The index and summaries list 6 letters which do not appear in the bound volume: nos. 20, 29, 31, 47, 48 & 49.

1. Letter from Sir George Clerk, India Office, 10 Apr 1860. Having been informed by Sir Charles Wood that he is to relieve Lord Elphinstone, will do all he can to assist Lord Canning's administration. Thanks Lord Canning for offering his son an appointment on the Staff, but his son was then an invalid, and came home in a crippled condition. He can never return to India.

2. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 31 May 1860. Assures Lord Canning that he will aid the Supreme Government in all its measures. The Despatch from the President in Council has been received; no time shall be lost in examining and reporting on the obscure points of Lord Elphinstone's Minute. Recommends caution in the introduction of new financial measures. The Government should be content to rule India without putting into effect wild ideas of quickly revolutionising all Indian society. These ideas might produce fresh unrest, of which there are already signs in Oudh and the Punjab. Suggests that some measures have only been successful (in Upper India) owing to the presence of large numbers of troops. Recommends October for the imposition of any measure likely to rouse hostility, so that trouble can be dealt with promptly in campaigning weather. Though the tax on merchants, fundholders, retail dealers and handicrafts seems just, Clerk would not have enforced it immediately. From the rebels point of view, the insurrection was not altogether unsuccessful, some of the encroachments on social customs and laws since 1844 have been relaxed, others have been abandoned. The change of policy over adoption has been most successful, but though men of high rank have been won to the British cause, Clerk fears that the lower orders are still full of mischief. Clerk fears a reactionary policy will be carried out by Lord Canning's successor. He has not yet had time to learn much about the people in the Presidency, but is about to visit the Deccan. The announcement from Calcutta that India's creditors are not to expect an Imperial guarantee was much needed.

3. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 5 Jun 1860. Clerk has investigated, but failed to find any connection between the Bombay newspapers, and any Department of the Secretariat. The Director of Public Instruction is an occasional supporter of the 'Bombay Times', Clerk does not know what his views are on Income Tax. He imagines the Editorials are the work of the Editor Knight. Reports a conversation with a native, who explained how the Indians would hate the inquisitorial nature of the Income Tax system. If the Central Government takes over Revenue duties, the Local Governments can be reduced, and the Presidencies made into Lieutenant Governorships, or Governor General's Agencies.

4. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 7 Jun 1860. Forwards a letter from the Chief Commissioner Sind. One paper annexed: Letter from Mr Inverarity, Chief Commissioner Sind, Kurachee, 3 Jun. The Commissioner believes there can be no doubt that Herat is quite under the influence of Persia and is therefore open to Russia at any time. Russia seems to be steadily advancing towards India, and already influential at Bokhara, will be prepared to act whenever Dost Mahomed dies. There is a report that the Dost and the English Government have quarrelled, and that the Dost has sent messengers to the Russians to see what they would do for him. It is impossible to know what truth there is in these rumours, when the policy of the Supreme Government is unknown. Thinks it would be useful if Political Officers exchanged information. At Kandahar there are many ridiculous stories about the new taxation, and how it is to be carried out at Peshawur, the prevailing idea being that the taxation is to be used to overcome the Hindu and Mahomedan faiths, and that all who enter a temple or mosque are to pay 5 annas for each time of entrance. These stories gain credit partly by the missionary proceedings of some Punjab officials whose letters have lately been published. The Kandahar story about the Dost is somewhat corroborated by Major Goldsmid's report from Kurrachee, and it would be credulous to suppose the Dost would remain friendly longer than suited his own ends. Anticipates no difficulty about the Income Tax in Sind, though wishes the lower income limit for tax was 500 Rupees a year, and not 200 Rupees, which will include the income of native officers down to Duffledars.

5. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 14 Jun 1860. Reports that the Bombay Establishment has too many young Civilians. Is glad to see the native undertakings in Bombay, such as steam cotton mills, coast steamers, which compare favourably with the wildcat schemes of the authorities. The Red Sea Telegraph is one of the latest follies. Clerk heard at Suez some people connected with the Telegraph joking over the broken cable and the Guarantee. The cable used has been found unsuitable, and a suitable type has yet to be found. Finances in India have suffered heavily and will continue to suffer because of the extraordinary facilities enjoyed by share jobbing speculators in manipulating public money. The Post Office in Bombay is not in good order its reform rests with the Government of India. Asks for a very active and intelligent uncovenanted official as Post Master General. The Indian Navy will have to be reformed, in Bombay Commodore Wellesley seems a good man. Clerk would recommend leaving the war vessels to the Admiralty, and the introduction of an ample transport service for all purposes by the Indian Government.

6. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 23 Jun 1860. Clerk thanks Lord Canning for his Despatches on adoptions and on the Police of the North West Provinces, and on the Hill States. Will send the estimates about Sattara. Approves of the arrangement recommended by Lord Canning in the Bughat case. British rapacity even in those mountains had been going beyond all bounds; Dost Mahomed might well observe, as he did to Clerk on his return from Calcutta, that of all that that was wonderful in the British, nothing had so excited his wonder as their conduct in incurring the trouble and expense to go so far to knock their heads against his hills. Clerk has no amendments to offer to any of the Despatches.

7. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 30 Jun 1860. Clerk has received the instructions from Sir B Frere about cipher messages. In future anything sent in cipher from Calcutta for England shall be forwarded without being deciphered in Bombay. Sends an extract of a letter from Mr Badger, Interpreter to the Mission, just returned from Muscat. The interviews with the Imam have been satisfactory. Brigadier Coghlan is expected, and Clerk hopes to send Coghlan's mission off to Zanzibar in a week or two. One paper annexed: Extract from a letter from the Reverend G B Badger to Sir George Clerk, 27 Jun, Badger is glad to see that Clerk is considering the affairs of the Gulf with the French in the Red Sea and the Persians (alias Russians) in the Persian Gulf the avenues to India are in some danger of being closed. The Telegraph from Constantinople to Baghdad will soon be completed. From Baghdad it is to be sunk in the Tigris to the Persian Gulf and Bushire. The Red Sea cable for the present is a total failure.

7a. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 31 Jul 1860. Sends a Minute by Sir W Mansfield (marked Miscellaneous: 762) confidentially, he has not shown it to anyone in Bombay.

7b. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 20 Jul 1860. Sends a memorandum by Sir William Mansfield (marked Miscellaneous: 761). Clerk remarks that during his time as Political Agent and Governor General's Agent, he himself never controlled more troops than a Company. If he required more aid, he raised the armed retainers of neighbouring chiefs, or informed the General Officer commanding the nearest Division of the Army. He always found this system effective.

8. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 31 Jul 1860. Refers to the unsatisfactory state of affairs as regards Malwa and Rajpootana. For all political purposes the territories are best under the Government of India, unless Clerk's earlier advice be adopted, and a Lieutenant Governor appointed. Sir R Shakespear has had another panic. Acting on information received by a Christian Rissaldar, Lieutenant Wood was sent to Nursinghur to arrest two men, one of them an official of the Rajah of Nursinghur. Nursinghur is in no way directly under British jurisdiction, so it is not surprising that the arrests caused the greatest excitement. This kind of high-handed behaviour is likely to alienate the chiefs from the Government and may lead to disaster. Private.

9. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 2 Aug 1860. Sends the Sattara return, prepared by the Commissioner for the Southern Division. Charitable grants and pensions swallow up a great deal of the revenues, but this is the price paid in India to reconcile or to appease the people when disposed to resent British usurpations. 1 paper annexed: Statement showing the Amount of Receipt and Expenditure of the Sattara Province from 1850 - 1851 to 1858 - 1859. With the comments.

10. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 26 Aug 1860. Sends a copy of a letter from Aden. Brigadier Coghlan leaves on 27 Aug, Clerk hopes Coghlan will be as successful at Zanzibar as he was with the Zanzibar Chief's brother, the Imam at Muscat. The most pugnacious brother is fortunately in India. One paper annexed: Copy of a letter from R Playfair, Officiating Political Agent, Aden, 30 Jul, reporting some confirmation of his suspicions that the French intend some interference in the neighbourhood. The Pasha of Yemen attempted to make some arrangement with Tajourra for legalising the slave trade, he demanded an export duty of 50% on all slaves embarked. The people of Tajourra refused to pay, adding that the French would soon come, and then what would the Pasha do. The visit of the 'S S Yemen' to the African coast near Yemen was doubtless to weaken British and increase French influence. A ship of war should be sent by the British to visit all the ports on the Somali Coast. The Somalis have always been friendly, and the Dunkaulies never have, they are the great slave dealers, and they know that the British are the consistent enemies of the traffic. The most exaggerated reports are current about French intentions. A Christian Company has farmed the revenues of all the Turkish ports in the Red Sea, and is employing Christian soldiers for the Customs Service; this has been magnified into an intention to take Yemen. 'HMS Lady Canning' has been sent to Massorrah, Disseh, Hodeida and Mokha, to obtain information. Playfair has again been visited by one of the Chiefs of the Sheryebi tribe, a highly intelligent and friendly Arab. He brought a inscribed slab as a specimen of Himyaritic antiquities, and says his country teems with them. Playfair is sending a man back with the Chief, to collect as many of the slabs as possible. The Chief was shown forts and artillery practice.

11. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 11 Sep 186. Sends two notes. He does his best to keep Captain Jones at Bushire quiet, but he has not much reliance on Jones' discretion. Two papers annexed: l. Letter from Brigadier Coghlan to Sir George Clerk, Bombay, 27 Aug, giving news of Outram received from Playfair. Outram is a wreck of his former self, his left arm is slightly paralysed, his utterance impaired and his memory not good. Coghlan has no news of French movements on the Coast or in the Red Sea, but hears that Colonel Rigby is not getting on well with the new French Consul at Zanzibar. Clerk will hear of the insane proceedings of the Turks at Mocha and Hodeida from Playfair's public letter to Mr Anderson. Coghlan proposes to leave on 28 Aug and hopes to return in about two months with suggestions to settle the Muscat question. 2. Letter from Sir Henry Rawlinson to Sir George Clerk, Teheran, 5 May, Rawlinson has heard that Alison has been appointed to succeed him, and will go to Tabriz to meet him. The Shah is put out by the change. The Russians have been trying to make a Treaty with Herat, ostensibly for trade purposes, but doubtless with political objects. This Treaty has been stopped for the present, but the discussion will be reopened in future, and unless the British position in Afghanistan is secured by something more than friendly speeches, Russian Agents will be established along the Indian frontier, making trouble in unscrupulous ways. The Bahrain question must be considered in Bombay. The Shah promised not to try to realize his claim but be may alter his mind and send troops to occupy the island. Rawlinson has warned Ferook Khan not to involve the two Governments in war for such a worthless object as the nominal sovereignty of a barren island. The Shah is like a self-willed child, and needs most delicate management.

12. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 12 Sep 1860. Writes that of the two principal newspapers in Bombay, the Bombay Gazette seldom goes against the Government and has supported the Government of India in its late financial measures. Clerk has just seen an extract from the paper of 1 Sep which states that he, Clerk, has quietly opposed the financial measures of the Supreme Government ever since his arrival in the country. This is an atrocious falsehood. Clerk is on the point of naming his Commissioners for the Presidency. Suggests that the Government tendency to centralise all chief Departments would be more successful if the Supreme Government were moved to Agra or Delhi; and Lieutenant Governors could be substituted for the Governors of Madras and Bombay. If this were done, a more talented officer than Sir R Shakespear would have to be appointed Lieutenant Governor in Central India. Though Clerk does not think speed in communicating with England very important, submits a proposal of Mr Corlett through the Reverend Mr Badger to quicken communication. That part of the letter referring to the Red Sea cable no longer applies, the cable is said to be broken in many parts, and irrecoverable. Two papers annexed: l. Letter from Mr Badger, Hope Hall Hotel, 2 Jul, forwarding two letters from Mr Corlett about telegraphic communication between India and England, with comments. Details given by Mr Corlett (who is Reuter's Agent) show why Government messages are often received later than those sent by Reuter's Agency. Suggests that the Government appoint Mr Corlett their Agent at Alexandria. The Muscat Report is finished. Dr Welsh is sending some Muscat photographs. 2. Letter from Mr Corlett to Mr Badger, Alexandria, 31 May. Corlett explains that he manages to forward news so quickly because he takes advantage of every opportunity with expense as a secondary consideration, and because he sends duplicates of messages by all available means of transport. Offers to forward to and from India and Europe all messages from the Indian Government giving them as much precedence as possible; asks for £18 a month and expenses.

13. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 16 Sep 1860. Regrets that a mistake was made in a telegram sent on 13 Sep, he only needs one Under Secretary, not two.

14. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 20 Sep 1860. Forwards a note from Mr Badger. One paper annexed: Letter from the Reverend Mr Badger to Sir George Clerk, Point de Galle, 4 Sep, commenting on the news of the Amalgamation question, and the French proposed occupation of Syria. Badger feels that the French will never leave Syria unless driven out. Britain will have to look after Egypt as a counter-balance. Badger's landlady at Galle reports favourably of Outram when he stayed at Galle, Outram was cheerful and talked of returning to India after his leave.

15. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 14 Oct 1860. Forwards a letter from Mr Playfair and awaits a decision on the reference made to Canning about Playfair's suggested substitute for the Income Tax at Aden. One paper annexed: Letter from Mr Playfair, Aden Political Residency, to Sir George Clerk, 1 Oct, Playfair has not written about the Province of Yemen officially, as he awaits the arrival of Kurdi Osman Beg, the new farmer of the Customs, with authentic information. It seems probable that the late disturbances are due to the new system of farming out the revenues. The farmers, not content with their salaries, extort money from the Arab tribes, who are uniting in their hatred of the Turks. Trusts that the Income Tax will not be introduced at Aden, it might drive the merchants to ship their goods at Mokha and Hodeida instead of Aden. The Agent of the new French Steam Navigation Company has passed through Aden, he gave out that Disseh was immediately to be occupied as a coal Depot. The Calcutta steamers have been overcrowded by French troops for China. Mrs and Miss Wilson and Lady Ward and her daughters have passed through Aden.

16. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 16 Oct 1860. Refers to the squabbles of the Bombay newspapers, which have lead some members of Government to form strange notions of Bombay administration. The Government letter indicates the state of things existing at the time in Gujarat, and explains the peoples' feelings on understanding the first speech on the Income Tax delivered in the Legislative Council; because of public feeling it was thought prudent for the time to stop reduction. The people gained courage from the success of the serious disturbance at Surat. The people in the Presidency are now getting reconciled to the modifications of the Bill, and the Bombay Government has lately proposed considerable reductions of military force. Assures the Governor General that the Bombay Government is doing its best to carry out the Income Tax measure as judiciously as possible.

17. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 27 Oct 1860. Suggests that the seat of the Bombay Government should be at Kirkee, three miles from Poona. Describes his Tour movements. Sends preliminary returns of the numbers of landholders liable to Income Tax (copied into letter), and gives details about military reductions. Three papers annexed: 1. Extract from a letter from Brigadier Coghlan to Sir George Clerk, Mauritius, 19 Sep. Coghlan has heard reports that Colonel Rigby's position at Zanzibar is unpleasant. The French are bullying Syed Majids on every occasion, and seem resolved on a quarrel. Their Treaty allows them to erect buildings, and so they are erecting a hospital in the centre of the town. This hospital is a strong barracks for 1200 men, is turreted and parapeted, and commands the whole town. Captain Speke and Captain Grant came out from England with Admiral Keppel. 2. Extract from a letter from the Reverend G Badger to Sir George Clerk, Mauritius, 19 Sep. Admiral Keppel has captured 2 slavers. Speke and Grant will probably have left Zanzibar in search of the sources of the Nile before Badger arrives there. Reports the building of the French 'hospital' at Zanzibar. The French still persist in countenancing the slave trade. The French at Mauritius all seem to expect the Contingent now in China to capture Madagascar on their way home. They also talk of the new lines of French steamers. The Admiral has arrested the building of a Portuguese Fort in Delagoa Bay, which was to thwart British claims to the southern side, cut off the mouth of the St George River from the British, and serve as a channel of communication with the Boers. 3. Letter from Mr Playfair, Aden Political Residency, to Sir George Clerk, 19 Oct, reporting all well at Aden. The Turks seem to be doing all they can to effect their own expulsion from Arabia. Describes the latest atrocity. Playfair hopes his arrangements for disbanding the Camel Troop are approved. Playfair understands the need for economy, and is trying to make the people do something for themselves, quite successfully, the natives have subscribed towards a new civil hospital, and towards a church at Steamer Point. Suggests various appointments at Aden which might be reduced. The Foudtheli Chief has behaved nobly both in the matter of the plundered camels and in that of the French ship wrecked on his coast. He has been rewarded with a present of 300 dollars, paid by the purchasers of the wreck. Playfair hopes he will be allowed to continue in charge when Brigadier Coghlan goes home.

18. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 5 Nov 1860. Writes that he is anxious for orders about his proposed military reforms. Has found two or three towns making up their minds not to accept the Income Tax, but hopes to be able to deal with them. The 57th will soon be despatched for New Zealand.

19. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 14 Nov 1860. Forwards a letter from the Chief Justice of Bombay, concerning Mr Lodwick's dispute with the Supreme Court officers about their salaries. Clerk considers the Chief Justice to be in the right, and does not object to the course adopted. One paper annexed: Letter from the Chief Justice to Sir George Clerk, Bombay, 12 Nov, reporting that an action has been commenced in the Translator Office against Government Returns have been sent by the other offices, under protest. The collision has been reduced to a minimum. Salaries have been paid, except in the Translator Office, where the staff will be temporarily paid from fees received, until the question is settled.

21. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 24 Nov 1860. Regrets that he has not yet been able to send the list of Chiefs who might be given the permanent right of adoption. The list needs much research, and the Secretariat has been short-staffed owing to ill-health. Clerk is doing all he can to help Sir R Shakespear with information about Scindia's possessions south of the Nerbudda; this would have been easier had Clerk known sooner of Shakespear's mission. Clerk heard such accounts of the sullenness of the people in Poona and Bombay that he has thought it advisable to abandon his tour, and return to Bombay. Regrets that he has not seen Sheodasaghur; is not satisfied that the Madras Government has selected the best road to the port, but will accept it. Has found some opposition to the Income Tax, which was soothed down by Captain Sandford. (Continued on 1 Dec, Bombay) The trouble seems over, the easier forms have reconciled thousands to submit returns who were puzzled or indignant before. There has been a disturbance, now ended, at Surat. Marked: 'R 8077' 5 papers annexed: 1. Letter from Rustomjee Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy to Sir George Clerk, Bombay, 11 Nov, reporting great discontent among the people over the Income Tax. It is not the amount which is disliked, but the method. Even the intelligent native gentlemen do not understand how to fill in the forms. Asks if the Governor would like the writer to get up a Memorial to the Governor General in Council. 2. Letter from Mr Rose, Commissioner, North Division, Bombay Presidency, Joonere, 11 Nov, Rose has delayed replying until he could report the settlement of the dispute between the missionaries and the people of Joonere. Rose will do his best to carry out the summary settlement of Alienation. Officers must be selected from the present Alienation Establishment. The demand for Returns of Income is causing great discontent, it is the forms which are objected to. The dispute with the Missionaries, over water, has been solved by allowing the Missionaries a limited supply from the aqueduct under restriction. 3. Letter from Davidson (?) Collector and Magistrate of Poona, to Sir George Clerk, 20 Nov, reporting that the people are now giving in their returns, and all will go well if there is no bad example from elsewhere. The writer will hold a public meeting on 21 Nov and reprove the ringleaders of the trouble. 4. Extract from a letter from Mr Tytler, Collector and Magistrate, Ahmednuggur District, 27 Nov. The principal merchants of Ahmednuggur have given in their returns. There is no unwillingness to pay a tax, but the people dislike numbering their sheep or gains, or anything else. 5. Part of a letter from Mr Reeves, 30 Nov, reporting that a great many returns had been given in.

22. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 28 Nov 1860. Sends a copy of a report of the annihilation of the Persian Army (marked Miscellaneous 1009). The Shah would not listen to advice not to undertake the campaign. The Russians will probably turn the defeat to account by offering the assistance of half of their now idle army of 120,000 men. Copy of report not annexed.

23. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 9 Dec 1860. Seeing that Baroda has been re-transferred to the Bombay Government will do his best to fulfil the Governor General's injunctions. Will probably visit Baroda on his way to Sind, and deliver the Khureeta then.

24. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 11 Dec 1860. Hopes shortly to be able to send the Despatch on adoptions, and something satisfactory about the Bhonsla claim to recover Deear in the Suttara. Sir R Shakespear should be lent a Bombay officer for some weeks, to compare the accounts and valuations Government now possesses with the information received from the Chiefs concerned. Mr Tytler has been nominated for this task. Sends various papers about the Income Tax. Clerk thinks the Income Tax will now be accepted; he does not like the Licence Tax following so soon upon it, with so universal an application. Comments on the mismanagement of the affairs of the Bombay and Baroda railway, Clerk has always thought Colonel Kennedy a humbug. In reply to Sir Charles Wood has written proposing to accept responsibility for the Railway, the Company being in a hopeless state. Marked 'Governor General 1778, Telegraph Messages Received 1262 R 8116'. Two papers annexed: 1. Copy of a report by A F Bellasis, President of the Income Tax Commission, to A D Robertson, Secretary to Government, Dec 1860, on the progress of the introduction of the Income Tax into the town and island of Bombay. The original forms of returns were abandoned for simpler forms. The time limit had to be extended, because of the change of forms. Merchants in the Bazaar passively resisted the Act, and some of these were summonsed. Thereafter, all but two of the merchants sent in their returns. 2. Letter from a Guzerat Brahmin in the Educational Department now in England on leave, written from Surat High School, 4 Dec, describing the disturbances in Surat on 29 Nov over the Income Tax, the riot being broken up by Mr Ravenscroft and Captain Hodgson. Now the people are flocking to the Assessment Office with their returns; some of the returns are a maze of lies and chicanery. Reports on the school.

25. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 16 Dec 1860. Comments on the history of Deear, which was a gift to the Bhonslas by the Rajah of Sattara in 1733 - 1734. Its tenure was changed to a surinjam, or service grant, in 1750. By the rules of the Bombay Government Deeor would have remained hereditary had the Nagpore Rajah left mule issue. Should the Governor General now recognise the adoption made by the widows as giving a right to the properties, Deeor and other small properties would become as a matter of course the hereditary property of the adopted son. Marked: 'Governor General 1778 R 8261'.

26. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 17 Dec 1860. Sends a paper about Bombay finances. One paper annexed: 1. Extract from a letter from S Birch to Sir George Clerk, 15 Dec 1860 commenting on the regular estimate for the current year. The deficit in 1859 - 1860 in the Bombay Presidency and Sind was 2,23,19,460 Rupees and the deficit for 1860 - 1861 is estimated as 27,15,190 Rupees.

27. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 17 Dec 1860. Replies to the Governor General's doubts about the transfer of the Bombay Government to Poona. The Accountant General's Office would not be moved for some time. One good effect of the change would be the weeding out of some overgrown and rusty Government offices. The same good result would come from the half-yearly stay of the Governor General at Agra or another central place. Hopes it is true that Lord Elgin is going home, for though Clerk thinks Elgin will become Governor General (for which post he is well qualified), Clerk hopes Lord Canning will remain in India for another year or two

28. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 31 Dec 1860. Clerk is glad the Governor General does not disapprove of the Bombay Government becoming Railway makers. Sends a statement of the tax to be paid by the ryots, who cannot complain of their treatment. They are the hardest worked and the best fellows in India. In a few days the results of Brigadier Coghlan's visit to Zanzibar will be sent. Clerk sometimes thinks that affairs on the east coasts of Arabia and Africa are assuming such proportions that a Governor General's Agent should be appointed, with Assistants at Aden, Bushire, Muscat and Zanzibar, with two or three sloops of war. The growing slave trade is a serious consideration. Captain Kelly (given in the summary as Pelly) has arrived in Bombay, Clerk has advised him how to join the Governor General's Camp. The cession from Scindia of territories in the Presidency will be of considerable value. Clerk leaves Bombay for Baroda about l5 Jan. Four papers annexed: 1. Statement showing the number of landholders and cultivators, other than holders of alienated land, in the Bombay Presidency; subject to the payment of Income Tax on their holdings, and the amount which the Tax will realise. 2. Table of estimated amount of Income Tax in some of the Districts in the Mofussil. 3. Memorandum of work done by the Bombay Income Tax officers up to 19 Dec 1860 (Bombay Island). 4. Note on the French in the Red Sea: copy of a Paris letter in the Nord commenting on the growth of French influence in East Africa, and on the impression made by the expedition of Captain de Roussel.

30. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 8 Jan 1861. Sends a more accurate account of Income Tax assessment in the agricultural classes. 1 paper annexed: Statement showing the number of land holders and cultivators other than holders of alienated land in the Bombay Presidency subject to the payment of Income Tax on their holdings, and the amount which the Tax will realise.

32. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 12 Jan 1861. Clerk has been asked to provide a Civil Servant as Commissioner of the Hyderabad Assigned Districts. Wishes to name a military man, Captain Cowper, whom he wishes removed elsewhere, as Cowper's Commissionership of Enam and Alienations is being abolished, to make room for the marking out of the summary settlement of those tenures. Is about to leave for Surat and Baroda. Endorsed: note by Lord Canning, that the Governor General has no objection to Captain Cowper, but the salary of the post cannot be increased.

33. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 20 Jan 1861. Sends a letter from the Commissioner in Sind. Clerk describes his coming tour. Does not think a visit to Jacobabad would be helpful. Both the Commissioner and Major Merewether think that if Clerk saw the position, he would abstain from making reductions. Asks whether the effort to open Sheodasaghur before the rains in Jun is to be made by Clerk or by Mr Morehead. One paper annexed: Letter from Mr J D Inverarity, Commissioner of Sind, to Clerk, Ruttadera, 12 Jan, asking for instructions as to meeting Clerk on his proposed tour. Hopes that some time will be given to Kurrachee, Hyderabad and Jacobabad. Mr Brunton, the Chief Engineer of the Sind Railway, writes that the Stanley reached Mooltan from Kotree in 13 days 6 hours. The staff of the Punjab Railway are reported to be disorganised, and the works at a standstill. This will be a serious thing for the Sind Flotilla Project. There will be no difficulty in obtaining freight. The Income Tax has been introduced into Sind without difficulty. Regrets the reduction of the Sind Horse, Jacob's Rifles could have been better spared.

34. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 20 Jan 1861. Reports that Captain Cowper has declined the post in the Assigned Districts. Recommends Captain Anderson as the next best officer. If the Sheodasaghur project devolves on Clerk, he would like to employ Anderson as Superintendent there. Sends some Minutes on finance, with comments. Is not impressed by the parts of the Railway he has travelled on; after two or three years, the works look derelict. Sends a photograph showing a tender half-way through a railway bridge; this happened on 18 Jan when the train was bringing down the Gaekwar' s Minister to meet Clerk, and the tender remains stuck, with engine and carriages off the rails. Three papers annexed: 1. Copy of six Minutes by the Governor of Bombay and two members of his Council, Dec 1860, about the reduction of the Enam Commission, and the introduction of the Summary Settlement. Printed. 2. Resolution by the Bombay Government on the introduction of the Summary Settlement of Alienated Revenues. 3. Photograph of an accident on a railway bride, see description above. Very faded.

35. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 21 Jan 1861. Asks if there is any plan for reforming the Native Infantry in India on the scale of the Irregulars as regards officers; if the change is to be made he would draw more frequently on the Army for officers to take up Civil duties during the mania for 'running home' which the new rules have excited. Sir Charles Wood mentioned the reform, and said he would stop the supply of cadets, and requested Clerk to take steps to ease off the change. Since Clerk came to India he has heard nothing of the reform. The Gaekwar is very grateful for the grant of a village each to his two Ministers, who have not yet decided what villages to ask for. Both the Ministers and the Gaekwar were anxious for a guarantee, Clerk did not hold out any hope.

36. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 7 Feb 1861. Clerk will shortly submit a scheme for a revision of the establishments on the East coast of Africa, Arabia and Persia. Sends a statement showing expenditure on these establishments, amounting to more than l00,000 a year. Clerk thinks Aden should be directly under the British Government and Zanzibar, Bushire and Muscat along with and subordinate to Aden, India paying half the cost. Whenever the Turkish Electric Telegraph is completed to Bussorah, Bushire should be made a Consulship at half the present cost, and placed directly under Downing Street. One paper annexed: Cost of the Political Establishments at Aden, the Persian Gulf, Zanzibar, Muscat and Judda.

37. Copy letter to Sir H Bartle Frere, 9 Feb 1861. From Sir George Clerk, sends an extract from a published Report of an 'Anglo-Indian Protection Society' (not annexed) and attacks the Punjab Government. Since Runjeet's time the greatest energy has been used in squandering public money. Attacks the daydream of Representative Government in India; British India will of course have Representative Government in time, but not, it is to be hoped, until there are many more Europeans in the country than at present, who possess property and character, and still more until there are a few intelligent and influential natives to accept dignities and seats in a Supreme Council. Captain Arthur has joined Clerk at Ahmedabad, bringing his Chiefs with him. He is respected and liked. Comments on Clerk's settlement of the Bawnuggur Thakoor's affairs. All the Chiefs Clerk meets are cheerful and well disposed, owing to Lord Canning's policy, and their Political Agents say 'we really don't want any troops'. The Districts are not so satisfactory, for instance the extravagant width of land taken by the Bombay and Baroda Railway five years before has not yet been paid for, and the Collectors fear they will not be able to identify the ryots after so long.

38. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 18 Feb 1861. Urges the advantages of Irregular Infantry. European officers should be kept to a minimum, a Commandant and two or three others. Sir Charles Wood has complained of Clerk's new organization of Cavalry. Clerk will strike out two regiments, probably the Guzerat Horse, to please him, the regiments will revert to being Police Corps. Although there are still some incompetents in the Army of India, thinks that on the whole the officers are excellent. It was not pleasant to have to do away with three regiments suddenly, but there have been no complaints, and the saving will be considerable. Clerk is about to visit Hyderabad and Kotree, and will see what can be done to find steamers for the river between Mitten Kote and Kalabagh. The India House spent a great deal of money, but were not successful in building boats fit for both rivers and deltas, on the west coast of India. Clerk himself took the 'Comet' upstream as far as Roopur 17 years ago. Sends various papers. Three papers annexed: 1. Letter from Mr Playfair, Aden Political Residency, 1 Feb, reporting the arrival of the French steam corvette 'La Somme' with the French Commodore Viscount De Langle. One of his objects is to inquire into the alleged murder of M Lambert. Playfair sees no reason at present to alter his view that M Lambert's death was an accident. Fears that the Commodore would rather have a good atrocity story than the truth. He has a firman from the Forte ordering the Governor of the Yemen to make searching inquiries. What other scheme the Commodore has, Playfair will soon know, as Playfair has supplied the Frenchman with a very intelligent interpreter to help him communicate with the Chiefs on the Arabian and African coasts. Sends an extract of a letter from Colquhoun about the Suez Canal scheme. The Income Tax has nearly all been collected. Another French ship has come in, and a further ship is signalled; this makes a total of five ships, the plot is thickening. Lord Elgin is expected in three weeks. 2. Extract of a letter from Colquhoun; the Pasha of Egypt has been reproved by Constantinople about the Suez Canal. The Canal works are in a wretched state, and if the English papers would leave the subject alone, the whole project might be dropped. Colquhoun believes the idea feasible, but Lesseps is not the man for the task. 3. Letter from Mr Tucker, Collector and Political Agent in the Southern Mahratta Country, to Sir George Clerk, Belgaum Districts, 2 Feb, Tucker will do his best to find employment for the native officer recommended. The season is below average, but the prospects are not gloomy for the harvests. Tucker regrets not having met Clerk, as he wished to give him his views on the Khote question.

39. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 28 Feb 1861. Asks to be informed by telegraph which Presidency is to superintend the opening of a way to Sheodasaghur and the harbour there. There are still three months in which work could be done by prisoners; asks for 3,000 Rupees for these three months. Captain Anderson would be put in charge; a vessel of the Indian Navy could be kept in the harbour during the monsoon to test the safety of the anchorage.

40. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 28 Feb 1861. Complains of inefficiency in the Electric Telegraph and Post Office Departments, both are under the Government of India. Agrees that these two departments should be under central control. The Post Office should be under a Director General who moves constantly and at all seasons, about his Provinces. The iniquities of the Telegraph have been exposed. Captain Murray, the Bombay head of the Telegraph, is not well suited to his post

41. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 3 Mar 1861. Clerk has agreed with Sir William Mansfield that Brigadier Coghlan should be sent to assist the Amalgamation Committee in Calcutta. Wishes that the question of amalgamation could have been settled by authorities from all parts of India in a central Camp. Marked: 'Telegraph Messages Sent 897; Telegraph Messages Received 1298'.

42. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 8 Mar 1861. Asks Lord Canning to urge the Council in England to allow Bombay to run steamers between the River Indus and Bushire. Many of the Councillors use their influence to prevent any advance in Bombay. He is not being allowed to undertake the Bombay and Baroda Railway. Attacks the mismanagement of the Railways. Kurrachee harbour is almost empty; probably because false statements were circulated about the depth of water in the harbour, and some ships were wrecked in consequence. Nothing much can be done for the Punjab rivers as yet. The gun-boats are useless. Montgomery has one gun-boat, and the ancient 'Assyria' which should be broken up. The 'Indus' might be partly rebuilt. Clerk awaits authority for opening the cotton line from Dharwar to Sheodasaghur. 1 paper annexed: Letter from Mr Playfair, Aden Political Residency, to Sir George Clerk, 18 Feb. Everyone seems to expect the French to take action soon. Playfair will be relieved to hear that the French troops in China have actually gone home, as 500 men landed in Abyssinia might carry all before them, and by occupying the upper regions of the Nile they could effectively command Egypt. The defeat and execution by the Emperor Theodore of the French puppet king Dejaj Negoolee must be a terrible blow to the French, and may stay their proceedings. The Emperor is anxious to send a Mission to the Queen, and the matter has been referred to the Foreign Office. Saied Pasha seems to be losing his senses, he has left Egypt for Medina with 500 Cavalry and three pieces of Artillery, carrying with him more than £140,000 in specie, all his jewels and gold plate, enough to tempt all the Hejaz to rise and rob him. He is entirely neglecting the government of his own country. The steamer with the new telegraphic cable for the Red Sea is expected. The 'Constance' has been nearly wrecked, and her sailing powers are much injured. Asks to be allowed to detain the 'Feroze' on her return from Suez, in order to be able to watch the African coast, to prevent the slave trade, and to off-set the French snips. Playfair's efforts to stop the slave trade have been very successful, thinks no slaves have been exported from the Somali Coast in the current season.

43. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 13 Mar 1861. Urges the necessity for troop-carrying ships; they would save the Government a great deal of money. He has been informed that the Government intend to sell the Australian, Sydney, and Arracan, all excellent troop ships. The King Arthur has been sent to New Zealand with the families and a draft of the 57th.

44. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 15 Mar 1861. Sends a copy of an official letter about steam communication with the Persian Gulf. 1 paper annexed: Copy of a letter from the Governor of Bombay to the Secretary of State for India, 12 Jan, asking for consideration of Mr Badger's letter on communications between Busra and Bombay.

45. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 17 Mar 1861. Forwards a letter from an enterprising and intelligent merchant about the cotton trade. The merchant's firm will doubtless ship cotton from Shadasghur in the next year. Had the port been in Clerk's hands, he is sure he could have begun operations in the present season. He sent samples of cotton brought by a young German settler to Mr Adam Gladstone at Liverpool. One paper annexed: Letter from Mr Fleming to Sir George Clerk, Lovegrove, thanking Clerk for letting him see Mr Gladstone's note and the brokers' report on the cotton grown at Cadara. It is no new discovery that India can produce fine cotton, the difficulty is to persuade the natives to cultivate it, and this can only be done by the introduction of European Agency into the Districts. Hopes to establish an Agency at Sadashaghur. Exports of cotton from India to Great Britain have increased enormously. Fleming would like to show Clerk the reclaimed land at the Elphinstone Bunder.

46. Letter from Sir George Clerk, 8 Apr 1861. Describes the amount of cotton which is pouring into Bombay from all sides. Major Elliot will be sent a Company of Sappers to improve communications (marked R 8466). It looks as if some of the cotton speculators may burn their fingers; they anticipated an immediate price rise in England, but so far prices have not risen, and may for some time be kept down by the large quantities of cotton being sold by American owners from their warehouses in expectation of the burnings and lootings of civil war. The Madras Government do not wish Clerk to take in hand the road from Shadasghur eastwards, except for a small piece. Clerk has heard that the Madras Government are likely to continue to oppose the transfer of North Canara. Suggests, if the objections are continued, the transfer of a small piece of land only: sketch map in letter. Will endeavour to make reductions in maritime costs. Sir C Wood has declared in the House that Her Majesty's ships are to take up the duties of the slave trade suppression on the east coasts of Africa and Arabia; this cost little less than £1,000,000 in 1859. Awaits Lord Canning's instructions about the Muscat and Zanzibar Mission.