Mss Eur F699/1/1/2/24

Copies of letters from Governor General Charles Canning to Sir James Outram. Numbered 1-11, with index and detailed summaries.

1. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 3 Jan 1857. Lord Canning has received the Despatches from England, Outram's letter to Edmonstone and the Despatches and letters from Bombay. Believes he is in a position to explain the orders and wishes of the Home Government in regard to affairs in the Persian Gulf. In answering Outram's letter from England of 26 Oct Lord Canning told Outram that he did not propose to transfer Outram from Oudh to Persia, because he did not expect either negotiations, or extensive operations in Persia during the winter. Now that Outram has been given the command, Canning will give him support and confidence. Outram's arrangements are approved; an advance upon Shiraz before autumn is not possible, as there are not enough European troops in India. More troops will have to come from England for operations in the interior of Persia. Outram's plan of an advance upon Kisht is an excellent one. Believes the occupation of Shuster would not achieve much, as there is no military route between Shuster and Ispahan. But Outram's reasons for occupying Shuster are excellent. Lord Canning does not agree that operations at Herat would be preferable to operations in Persia, he is most unwilling to send an army across Afghanistan to Herat because of the danger of quarrelling with the Afghans. Believes it will be better to put pressure on the Persians on the side where Russia can give no direct help. Lord Canning hears a good account of the Kisht Valley from Colonel Bowell. Asks if the posts on the Karoon can be made strong enough. Asks what rate of sickness is expected. Wishes to know what force will be necessary for a further advance into the interior. Colonel Jacob shall receive the rank of Brigadier General at once, Lord Canning reserves the right to recall him if necessary. General Stalker has been told that it would be agreeable to Lord Canning if he should retain a command in the Persian Army after Outram's arrival, but he need not do so. The subject of Oudh is embarrassing, Canning cannot possibly retain the Officiating Chief Commissioner however speedily the Shah might come to terms. Urges Outram to conserve his health and strength.

2. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 17 Jan 1857. Lord Canning sends a memorandum upon a campaign in Persia by Major Laughton, Bengal Engineers [not enclosed, marked in the margin: Miscellaneous number 100. See Private Secretary’s Miscellaneous Papers, Mss Eur F699/1/2/6/9, item 100]. If the severity of the climate is as great as stated, more Europeans will be needed; asks what proportion of Europeans troops should be sent.

3. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 27 Jan 1857. Lord Canning thanks Sir James for his letters; he will be sorry if the occupation of Kisht does not take place. Sends a further letter from Major Laughton (not enclosed). The terms to be offered to the Arabs are very proper; they must understand that the British cannot protect them or subsidise them once the war is over. Lord Canning objects to the plan of binding the Chiefs of the tribes on the coast north of Bushire to open neutrality with secret aid for the British, this has an ugly appearance. The negotiations with Dost Mahomed are nearly completed, he is to be given aid for the defence of his frontier, and also a subsidy, the use of which will be overlooked by English officers in Afghanistan. Asks if Bengal Commissariat officers should be sent to Persia to collect animals for the Bengal Force. Preparations will be made for a Force of 10,000 men or more.

4. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 28 Jan 1857. Lord Canning has received Outram's letter of the 15th (marked in margin: number 3) and in reply is strongly opposed to the policy of enlisting Turkey as a belligerent against Persia. It would bring in new points of dispute. It would increase the probability of interference, by other Powers and Russia would most likely intervene. To give Mohummera to Turkey would be a permanent dismemberment of Persia and would serve as an example for other dismemberments elsewhere. One of the difficulties of the Persia War is that it is against a state which it is British policy to strengthen and support. This view is subject to correction from England.

5. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 31 Jan 1857. Lord Canning sends a further letter from Major Laughton (not enclosed, marked in the margin: dated 24 Jan 1857) who does not think well of Shuster as a point of departure. If Outram thinks he may need reinforcements from Bengal before the summer is over, he should inform the Governor General as soon as possible.

6. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 11 Feb 1857. Lord Canning is anxious for news from Bushire. He is prepared to hear that Outram will advance towards Shiraz and not Shuster. Lord Canning has asked the Home Government for English regiments and sends a copy of the Minute (not enclosed) and another letter from Major Laughton (not enclosed marked in margin: 31 Jan 1857).

7. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 14 Feb 1857. Lord Canning states the arrangements he is about to make for Oudh, and hopes they will not be disagreeable to Outram. Sir Henry Lawrence and Outram are to exchange posts. The Oudh Commission needs a permanent Chief Commissioner to keep it in order. Believes Rajpootana will be more congenial to Outram than Hyderabad, which was also open.

8. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 19 Mar 1857. Lord Canning congratulates Sir James on his success at Borazgoon. Reports arrangements for sending fresh troops to Persia. Lord Canning regrets the delay, which has been due to the lack of steam ships. He would not be sorry to hear that the advance on Shuster had been postponed. Agrees with Outram that spring would be preferable to the autumn for the advance upon Shiraz. Outram's announcement that for operations beyond Shiraz all the additional force must be European, has startled Lord Canning, he doubts if the Queen's Government will agree to continue the campaign under these circumstances, and Lord Canning believes it may be sufficient to halt the army at Shiraz or even after taking Shiraz withdraw again to the country on the sea-board side of the mountains. Lord Canning does not agree with Outram about the Arab Levies; he has sent a Despatch on the subject to Outram.

9. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 19 Mar 1857. Lord Canning has great satisfaction in giving the rank of Brigadier General to Colonel Lugard. As Canning has heard no more of Sir James fall he hopes he has no ill effects. The Governor General will write to Mr Vernon Smith about Lord Seymour, Canning can do nothing to bring anyone within the military service of the Company. Canning hopes that Lord Dunkellin has acquitted himself well.

10. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 27 Apr 1857. Lord Canning explains that the notice in the Gazette was delayed, because the Mohummerah Despatches were a long time in reaching him. He congratulates Outram on his campaign. Canning does not think that Outram's transfer to Rajpootana could be attributed to any reasons except the true ones. He has heard that the Nizam's people at Hyderabad were alarmed lest Outram be sent to them, identifying Outram with annexation, conquest, and all that is terrible to the native mind. Lord Canning thanks Outram for his great kindness to Lord Dunkellin. Marked 'Despatched 7 May 1857'.

11. Copy letter to Sir J Outram, 2 May 1857. Lord Canning understands the embarrassment of Outram's position as described in his letter of the 6th; but hopes he understands now that short of ratification, the Treaty is really complete. Long before the Despatches reporting the success at Mohummerah reached Canning, the Governor General had agreed with Lord Elphinstone that Outram should have full discretion in sending back the European regiments. Britain is confident that the Shah will ratify the Treaty, the only obstacle may be the declared opposition of Russia to the Article about Consuls. If the Shah sends his ratifications to Baghdad, all the Europeans may leave Persia, and the positions may be held by sepoys until Herat is evacuated. The Herat articles in the Treaty are better than Canning expected; there is some confusion between the 5th Article and those which follow it as to whether Herat is or is not a part of Afghanistan, but in all other respects the provisions are clear and sufficient. There will be some trouble in establishing the succession. Major Lumsden, already at Kandahar, will be sent to watch the evacuation. The Amir has been asked to observe an armistice on his side of Persia, with which he will comply because of the subsidy. Asks if Outram has bargained for any healthy quarters with the Persians. Canning has often thought of General Jacob's scheme, which might have been advisable had the war continued. It would not have been so dangerous as sending a force to recapture Herat; but the chief objection is that the scheme might have ended in annexation. Civil Government must grow out of continued occupation, and once the British began to govern a part of the Khan's Dominions for him where would it end. Canning will however reconsider the matter once more.