Mss Eur F699/1/1/3/9

Henry Durand was commissioned by the Governor General Lord Canning to gather information relating to military organisation in India. These letters from Durand relate to his views on and analysis of the Military in India, including reorganisation of the Army. Includes correspondence from London, late 1858 - early 1859, when Durand presented the views of the Government of India re: Army reorganisation to the Peel Commission.

Numbered 1-20 with index and detailed summaries.

List of letters transcribed from index is as follows:

1. 28 May 1858. 'Formation of Cavalry in single ranks advocated'.

2. 2 Jun 1858. 'Reports that the questions in all four classes are ready'.

2a. 'Encloses memorandum on recruiting Europeans and suggests that the Governor General should write to Lord Stanley to urge the necessity of recruiting as fast as possible. Enclosure: Memorandum on Recruiting for India'.

3. 18 Jun 1858. 'Colonel Davidson about the Sikhs at Hyderabad. Returns Minute of the President in Council which he thinks excellent but fears he is sanguine in supposing a large increase of European force feasible without great extra expense. Advocates gradual substitution of European for Native Artillery and Cavalry in Madras and Bombay Presidencies'.

4. 1 Jul 1858. 'Brigadier Jacob's answer to first series of questions received Delay in obtaining correct Return of the Army, which shows it was well not to wait for it, before issuing questions'.

5. 2 Jul 1858. 'Has received good paper from Sir John Lawrence and other Officers Civil and Military of the Punjab. Sir John Lawrence advocates cession of Peshawur[Peshawar] to Dost Mohammed'.

5a. 3 Aug 1858. 'Intimates that the replies relative to the Reorganization of the Armies have been received from the Commander in Chief at Bombay, Commander in Chief at Madras, and from Colonel Melville, Military Secretary to the Government Bombay'.

6. 17 Aug 1858. 'Forwarding Précis and explaining it'.

7. 27 Aug 1858. 'Forwarding Précis of replies to Infantry series of queries not ready'.

8. 28 Aug 1858. 'Précis returned with addenda required. Enclosure: List of Civil and Military authorities addressed'.

9. 9 Sep 1858. 'Forwarding Memorandum upon question of seniority and merit promotion of Native Officers, and substitution of Warrant Officers or Serjeants in their place. Also a sketch of Instructions based on Lord Stanley's Heads of Enquiry'.

10. 8 Sep 1858. 'Accompanying Memorandum on Legislation for the Native Army, and explanatory of his views on the subject'.

11. 9 Sep 1858. 'Forwarding remarks upon First and Second Précis. Is against forced close association of European and Native Troops, and employment of Foreign Mercenaries'.

12. 10 Sep 1858. 'With Memorandum on European Officers. Will be necessary for him to start for Calcutta on the 15th'.

13. 24 Sep 1858. 'Has seen divers Members of Council and received a Memorandum from Mr Ricketts. Acknowledges receipt of Memorandum of Instructions'.

14. 9 Nov 1858. 'Lord Stanley has the Governor General's Memorandum. Précis first sent home has been printed. Colonel Durand has written a Cavalry Précis and completed the two others. Has received from Lord Elphinstone printed copies of his replies'.

15. London, 23 Nov 1858. 'The Governor General's Memorandum placed in Lord Stanley's hands. Substance of what passed at two interviews with his Lordship. Data necessary for submission of question of exchange of Actuaries not to be obtained. Bad recruiting prospects in Ireland. Sir George Clerk's views coincide with those of Horse Guards'.

15a. India Board, 8 Dec 1858. 'Forwards the corrected copy of the evidence given on the 25th and 26th November, he had looked at the first pages and found the mistake uncorrected, possibly there are more. Says he would not detain the printed papers in order to go through it being anxious that the Governor General should be in possession of it'.

16. 1 Dec 1858. 'Statement of what took place at first examination before Commission views of Duke of Cambridge. Lord Elphinstone's opinion will strengthen Horse Guards tendencies'.

17. 14 Dec 1858. 'Local European Force cannot be increased without remedial Act of Parliament. Increase of strength to be given to Royal and Bengal Artillery serving in Bengal. This measure a compromise between Horse Guards and India Board. Reasons which induce the Horse Guards to advocate large increase of Royal rather than Local Troops in India. Plan of Artillery submitted by Colonel Durand to Lord Stanley'.

18. 24 Jan 1859. 'Announces and explains his appointment to the Council. Commission adverse to a Local Army. Lord Stanley wishes to proceed with formation of Infantry Regiments. Recruitment goes badly in Ireland. Expansion and contraction of recruiting should be affected by raising or lowering the standard'.

19. 3 Feb 1859. 'Conference before Lord Derby. Difference of opinion in the Commission upon the Amalgamation question, renders their report valueless. Lord Derby inclined to a Local Army, but not yet decided. Troops in China likely to return soon to Calcutta'.

19a. 8 Feb 1859. 'Acknowledges Colonel Stuart's letter of 3rd Jan mentioning that the Governor General was very anxious for Colonel Durand's return. Hopes to receive a letter from the Governor General.'

20. 'Law Officers have it is understood given theor opinion that Local European Troops in India can be employed elsewhere if necessary. Lord Stanley is firmly opposed to Amalgamation'.