Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/30

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 702 to 725, consisting of correspondence, relating to applications for posts and other matters. These papers were originally contained in one bundle of one hundred docketed sets of papers, labelled ‘No. 8 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 701 to 800’. Each numbered set of papers usually consists of an original letter sent to the Private Secretary to the Governor General, or to the Governor General, a copy of the reply from the Private Secretary - Humphrey de Bohun Devereux, then Gerald Chetwynd Talbot [appointed 1 August 1856] - and any other papers. In addition, for each set of papers, either on the back of the original letter, or on a separate sheet of paper, is written the number of the set of papers, the year, the name of the writer of the original letter, the official position and location of the sender, the date the letter was despatched, the date it was received, the date it was answered, any cross references to other papers, a brief summary of the letter and a note of any enclosures. Numbers 704, 705, 707, 708, 723 and 724 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’. Numbers 701 and 714 are missing.

702. July to August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant H J E Teed, 23rd Madras Light Infantry, Chinwarrah. Returns thanks for his post as Officiating Adjutant of 6th Hyderabad Contingent.

703. August 1856. Letter from Mr E Currie, Member of the Legislative Council. Asks for an audience to apply for leave, copy of reply, granted.

704. August 1856. Letter from Reverend J C Herdman Senior Minister of St Andrews Church. Asks for an audience on the subject of additional Presbyterian ministers, copy of reply, audience granted.

705. August 1856. Letter from the Reverend John Pourie, Calcutta. Asks for a donation from Lady Canning towards the 'Zenana and select school scheme' sends 2 copies of a pamphlet. Also further letter giving more information. Memorandum by Lady Canning, sending 200 Rupees; copy of earlier reply asking for more information See also 758.

706. August 1856. Letter from Mr P Gomes, Calcutta. Asks for a small monthly allowance until he recovers his health. Copy of reply, refusal. See also 516, 539.

707. July to August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant H G Raverty, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry, and Assistant Commissioner Mooltan. Asks to be allowed to dedicate his Dictionary of the Pushtoo language to Lord Canning. Copy of reply, accepted. Copy of later reply, retracting permission for the time being, while papers about Raverty's suspension are considered in Council. See also 723, 835, 1072, 1195.

708. August 1856. Letter from Reverend H H Harrington, President of the Committee of the Howrah Hospital. Asks for the patronage of Lord and Lady Canning, with copy of printed circular. Copies of 2 replies about this.

709. July to August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant A Grant, 3rd Madras Light Cavalry, Adjutant 3rd Cavalry, Hyderabad Contingent, Mominabad. Asks to be appointed to the Hyderabad Commission. Copy of reply, no vacancy, application noted.

710. July to August 1856. Letter from Officiating Civil Auditor, North West Provinces. Sends a copy of the covenanted civil list of the North West Provinces and Punjab for 1st May, 1856 (no longer enclosed).

711. August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant G J S Tireman, 4th Madras Native Infantry, Sub Assistant Commissary General, Saugor. Forwards a letter from the Earl de Grey (no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 7727. Governor General's Book number 153.

712. August 1856. Letter from Mr W Vincent, late a Lieutenant in 49th Native Infantry, Cawnpore. Accepts with thanks the post of Inspector of Post Offices in Pegu. Note from Mr Edmonstone about the appointment. See also 733.

713. August 1856. Copy of reply to Lieutenant J T Bushby, 47th Native Infantry, Benares. His application noted.

715. August 1856. Letter from Mr B C Bailey, Inspector in charge, Electric Telegraph Calcutta. Submits a bill for service messages sent in Jul (no longer enclosed).

716. August 1856. Letter from Captain C Crossman, 7th Native Infantry, Post Master and Superintendent of Sudder Bazar, Barrackpore. Asks for permission to fish in the tanks in the Barrackpore Park. 1 anna stamp. Copy of reply, permission granted, those tanks only which are pointed out by the Park Keeper.

717. July to August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant G C Finlay, 12th Madras Native Infantry, Officiating 2nd class Assistant Commissioner Hyderabad, Ellichpore. Renews his application for a staff appointment. Copy of reply, refusing request; copy of earlier reply. Also copy of letter to G Bushby Esquire asking for information about Finlay. See also 293, 487, 826, 1673.

718. August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant P Stewart, Officiating Superintendent Electric Telegraph, Calcutta. Submits explanation about 2 mistakes in transmission of messages, and states measures taken to avoid recurrence. Copy of reply, the explanation is satisfactory.

719. August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant W R Shakespear, 3 Madras Light Cavalry, Deputy Bheel Agent and Political Assistant, Indore. Asks to be made Officiating 1st Assistant to the Governor General's Agent for Central India. Copy of reply, no vacancy at present, application noted. See also 856, 909, 719a.

719a. September 1856. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Calcutta. Replies to a query about Mr Shakespear's application (number 719). See also 856.

720. August 1856. Letter from Lieutenant W G Cumming, 17th Bombay Native Infantry, Officiating 2nd Assistant to the Governor General's Agent for Central India, Indore. Asks to be confirmed in his present appointment, and to be allowed to officiate as 1st Assistant until the return from leave of Mr Anson. Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 849, 910.

721. August 1856. Letter from Mr T Powell, Calcutta. Asks for the office of Deputy Registrar of Merchant Seamen. Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 728.

722. August 1856. Letter from Captain C D Waddell, Madras Artillery, Acting Executive Engineer, Jubbulpore, Public Works Department. Asks for employment in the surveys about to be raised in the Oudh and Nagpore territories. Copies of testimonials. Copy of reply, application noted. See also 1197, 1197a.

723. August 1856. Letter from the Reverend J Thomas, Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta. Forwards part of Lieutenant Raverty's Grammar of Pushtoo (not enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 707.

724. August 1856. Letter from Sir R N C Hamilton, Governor General's Agent for Central India, Indore. Returns thanks to the Governor General for nominating Lieutenant C J Hunt 4th Light Cavalry as Adjutant in the Malwa Contingent; owing to the very heavy rains in Malwa, much damage was done to roads and bridges; as the metal road was opened this year to Surdnah, opium carts have been able to travel, and the amount of pass duty has reached 4 lakhs over a crore.

725. July to August 1856. Letter from Mr George Wood Deputy Collector and Deputy Magistrate, in Scinde, Shikarpore. Asks for consideration of his memorial to the Government of India, appealing against the reduction of his salary from 500 to 400 Rupees a month by the Commissioner of Scinde; and asks for a better appointment. Submits copies of correspondence, and a small (2inch x 1inch) book, 'Moral Precepts translated from English into Hindoostany Verse' by George Wood, Shikapore, 1855. Copy of reply, complaint will be dealt with when it reaches the Governor General through the proper official channel. See also 819, 1027.