Mss Eur F699/1/1/4/2

Copy letters from Governor General Charles Canning to successive Commanders in Chief General George Anson and Sir Patrick Grant. Numbered 1-25, with detailed summaries at front of volume.

Includes reference to disturbances in Mar 1857, and uprisings in Meerut and Delhi, in May 1857 at the start of the Mutiny. Letter of 3 Oct 1857 refers to the recapture of Delhi.

1. Copy letter to General Anson, 5 Jun 1856. Rights of the Supreme Government to withdraw furlough. The Hawes case. Wishes for a list of Regiments from which it would be inexpedient, in Anson's opinion, to withdraw an Officer.

2. Copy letter to General Anson, 4 Aug 1856. Employment of Lieutenant Hurst, 7th Madras Native Infantry, on Staff.

3. Copy letter to General Anson, 20 Aug 1856. General Anson's Minute on the Cavalry can be sent to Lord Hardinge, but should not be shown to the Government until it has been communicated to the Court [of Directors].

4. Copy letter to General Anson, 20 Aug 1856. Asks if it is advisable to divide H.M.'s 43rd Regiment or move them all from Bangalore, leaving the Dragoons without European Infantry.

5. Extract of letter to General Anson, 27 Oct 1856. Lamentable account by Captain Parrott of the system of breeding at the Haupper Stud. Includes enclosure: Note from Charles Canning regarding copying portions of the letter, 27 Oct [1856].

6. Copy letter to General Anson, 18 Nov 1856. Castration of colts. Difficulty in moving H.M.'s 53rd Regiment to Rangoon. Proposes leaving H.M.'s 29th until the Corps goes home. Madras Regiments to Pegu withdrawn from Persian Expedition. Expedition will not land at Bushire until first or second week in December. Ameer [Amir] Dost Mohammed not inclined to move but negotiations proceeding. Withdrawing European Troops from Peshawur [Peshawar] to Rawul Pindee [Rawalpindi]. Inconvenience that would arise from sending back to their Regiments Officers on Staff Employ who have become Captains upon the augmentation.

7. Copy letter to General Anson, 30 Nov 1856.Brigadier Wheeler's appointment approved. It may not be possible to send H.M.'s 29th Regiment home direct from Rangoon. Has written home about steamers. Wing of 1st European [Regiment] retained at Cawnpore. Reduction to H.M 's 32nd at Lucknow and establishment of Depot at Cawnpore. Governor General inclined to make Fyzabad chief military station in Oudh. Hears good account of Oudh force. Explanation of General Order.

7a. Copy of Telegram to General Anson at Meerut, 10 Dec 1856, regarding ammunition and materials sent to Delhi.

7b. Note by C. Ashburnham regarding ammunition for the 60th Rifles, Calcutta, 10 Dec 1856.

8. Copy letter to General Anson, 27 Jan 1857. Urgent appeal for more Artillery Officers from Bombay Government. Asks for Commander in Chief's opinion.

9. Copy letter to General Anson, 13-14 Mar 1857.Will be necessary to disband the 19th Native Infantry at Barrackpore. Attempt of two men of the 2nd Grenadiers to influence men of the 34th. Reinforcements requested for China. Action at Borazjan, Persia. 14th Light Dragoons on way to Bushire. Dearth of steam transport. Governor General would prefer trying men of 2nd Grenadiers by District rather than General Court Martial due to delay. Hopes the Commander in Chief will delegate his powers to General Hearsey.

10. Copy letter to General Anson, 15 Mar 1857. Discusses punishment of disbandment for the 19th. Mistakes of Colonel Mitchell. Charge that he threatened those who refused to use the cartridges with China or Burma. There are grounds for a charge of violence. Refers to feeling in various Regiments. There are no regrets in bringing in the 84th. Believes General Hearsey will carry out his work well, but may talk too much. There has not been time to reflect on the causes of the insubordination. Refers to Commander in Chief's belief that prejudice is the cause.

11. Copy letter to General Anson, 28-29 Mar 1857. Change in loading [cartridges] approved. Official thanks to Major Bontein of the School of Musketry. 19th are marching to Barrackpore and have not been told that disbandment is their punishment. The Regiments at Barrackpore do know and it is said that the 2nd Grenadiers and the 34th intend to protect the 19th. Advice has been to gag the Native Press and take 19th to Calcutta but only weight of opinion of General Hearsey will change the plans. Mentions the amount of the force to assemble at Barrackpore which is considered ample to prevent resistance. General Order regarding non-interference in religious matters. Refers to Advocate General's view that 19th should be allowed to volunteer for Persia. Desires sepoys to see overseas service as an honourable duty not a punishment. Also refers to Commander in Chief's possible alternative to disbandment. Believes there should be an enquiry into Colonel Mitchell's conduct. Dinapore has not a Battery, as supposed by the Commander in Chief. Will write about Gurkhas another day.

11a. Copy letter to General Anson, 29 Mar 1857. Division in Council regarding withdrawing Officers from Staff and Civil employ when the number doing duty with a Regiment falls below a minimum. Minute regarding supercession of Officers in the case of Colonel Ponsonby as Brigadier. Rumour of Colonel Birch's nomination to Council. Colonel Davidson's appointment to Hyderabad.

12. Copy letter to General Anson, 30 Mar 1857. Describes Commander in Chief's speech to Depot at Umballa as 'judicious'. Refers to shooting incident at Barrackpore [Mangal Pandey]. General Hearsey has ordered an inquest. Expects trouble with disposal of men of 19th after disbandment due to delay in families and baggage arriving. They will be allowed to encamp at Chinsurah. Refers to report that 19th are refusing to march.

13. Copy letter to General Anson, 31 Mar 1857. 19th disbanded, men at Chinsurah. Captain Baring's report will be forwarded. Praises General Hearsey. Unnecessary alarms in Calcutta.

14. Copy letter to General Anson, 4 Apr 1857. Has sent message that he is opposed to postponement of target practice at Umballa. States that Government was in some degree in the wrong in the matter of the grease. Believes concession would be misunderstood, and would be inconsistent after what happened with the 19th. 34th are creating some uneasiness. States that on the night before the disbandment some men of the 34th went over to the camp of the 19th in attempt to get them to rise up. Refers to punishments. Also Colonel Wheler will be dealt with 'who has been known to act the missionary'. Has not decided on an ordinary court of enquiry or a more private investigation. Praises actions of General Hearsey. Peace in Persia is confirmed.

15. Copy letter to General Anson, 10 Apr 1857. Refers to hanging of 'fanatic sepoy of the 34th' [Mangal Pandey]. Speech by General Hearsey. Believes there is a change for the better in the 2nd Grenadiers. Refers to punishment of transportation. Attempt to gather information on the causes of the outbreak at Berhampore. Treaty signed in Paris regarding Persia. Terms satisfactory regards Herat. Reports of deaths of General Stalker and Commadore Ethersey. Peace will bring need for reductions in Regiments. Captain Wheler has admitted to talking to men about Christianity. Sends copies of some letters between Governor General and Commander in Chief to [Robert] Vernon Smith on the progress of the disbandment. Sends Captain Baring's report.

16. Copy letter to General Anson, 10 Apr 1857. Telegraph from Lord Elphinstone announcing arrival of Lord Dunkellin at Bombay with account of Battle of Mohammerah.

17. Copy letter to General Anson, 15 Apr 1857. Proceedings of the Government in the matter of the disbandment of the 19th have been approved. Commander in Chiefs views. All going quietly. Awaiting Commander in Chief's authority to General Hearsey to deal with the case of the Commissioned Officers. Refers to sentence of death of the Jemadar of the 34th. Difficult lesson for the troops. Does not like to give up two Native Regiments even for one European Coprs. 34th will not be disbanded. Proposed to fill spaces in 19th Regiment with Sikhs. Comments on system of purposely recruiting from a particular race or caste. Believes Mhairs make good soldiers. Increase in European Regiments by means of decreasing Native Regiments. Description of Battle of Mohammerah and General Outram's movements in Persia. No explanation of the deaths of General Stalker and Commadore Ethersey has been read.

18. Copy letter to General Anson, 20 Apr 1857. Issue of warrant and delay to execution. Madras Battery to Calcutta. Discusses in detail composition, character and conduct of the 34th. Colonel Wheler has admitted talking to his men about religious matters. Lord Panmure and Duke of York wish to increase Queen's Troops and decrease Company's European Troops. Conditions of the Persia Treaty.

19. Copy letter to General Anson, 2 May 1857. Import of horses for the Stud.

20. Copy letter to General Anson, 15 May 1857. News from Agra that Meerut quiet but Delhi in the hands of 'Insurgent troops' and some Europeans killed. No news from Lucknow. Europeans sent from Madras and Moulmein. General Order issued empowering Commanding Officers to convene Courts Martial and carry out sentences. Trust he will come down to Meerut with two Hill European Regiments. Military situation at Delhi unclear. Meerut may not be able to spare Europeans. Has written to Sir Henry Lawrence to see what force can be spared. Communication with Agra.

21. Copy letter to General Anson, 21 May 1857. Glad to hear he will leave Umballa on 18th with strong body of troops. Dangerous effect of delay in action against Delhi. Does not want to give confidence to disaffected Regiments. Wishes him to make short work of the rebels. madras Fusiliers are expected at Calcutta in a day and 35th from Rangoon in ten days. Expects news of 64th from Bombay and 78th will follow. Message sent to Galle to request use of Regiments bound for China. refers to shameful panic in Calcutta.

22. Copy letter to General Anson, 24 May 1857. Wishes Delhi to be made a 'fearful example' of, as it will be 'true mercy in the end'. Reinforcements expected to come in regularly. News from Sir John Lawrence that the Native Infantry in Lahore and elsewhere have been disarmed. Plan for moveable column under Brigadier Cotton. Cawnpore, Allahabad and Benares are anxious points. Arrival of force from Lord Elgin uncertain.

23. Copy letter to Sir Patrick Grant, 6 Jun 1857. News of General Anson's death. Governor General believes General Grant is the best Officer to serve as Commander in Chief. Requests that he come to Calcutta. Has urged Sir Henry Barnard now Commanding the Delhi Force not to delay, but believes Force will not be there until 8th. Cawnpore, Allahabad and Benares 'are trembling in the balance'. Sir Henry Lawrence can hold out for a month at Lucknow. Refers to movements of Regiments, including troops from Persia and Ceylon. Hopes to secure China Regiments but they cannot be in Calcutta until July.

24. Copy letter to Sir Patrick Grant, 29 Jul 1857. Stores expected from the 'Himalaya'. Is in favour of publishing General Order against pillage.

25. Copy letter to Sir Patrick Grant, 3 Oct 1857. Congratulations on the capture of Delhi. Dost Mohammed, Jung Bahadoor and other 'Native Chiefs' are watching events closely. Detailed particulars not yet received from Lucknow. General Neill's death reported. Apportionment of European Regiments for Galle.