Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/75

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 1776 to 1796a, consisting of correspondence, relating to applications for posts and other matters. These papers were originally included in one bundle of one hundred docketed sets of papers, labelled ‘No. 18 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 1701 to 1800’. 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, Gerald Chetwynd Talbot, 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, and a brief summary of the letter. Numbers 1782, 1783, 1784, 1786, 1787 and 1791 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’. A memorandum after 1796a, dated 21 August 1861, states that numbers 1797, 1798, 1799, and 1800 have been ‘transferred to Lady Canning's Book’.

1776. April 1857. Letter from Mr C Sharp, Superintendent of Barrackpore Park. About the fish tanks in the park. Copy of earlier letter, ordering him to stop dragging the tanks with nets. See also 1771.

1777. April 1857. Letter from Mr George Campbell, Magistrate and Collector of Azimgurh, Umballa. Will await instructions; it has been proposed that he should act as Secretary in the North West Provinces, when Mr Jackson returns in November, may he have some appointment in another part of India. Copy of reply, application noted.

1778. April 1857. Letter from Mr George Plowden, Commissioner and Agent to the Governor General, Nagpore. Justifies his refusal of leave to Mr B P Singer on private affairs. Copy of earlier letter; copy of reply. See also 1501, 1594, 1699.

1779. April 1857. Letter from Mr J Fegredo, Calcutta. Asks for money. Copy of two memoranda about Fegredo. Copy of reply, refusal.

1780. April 1857. Letter from Major H L Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General, Calcutta. Requests that the accompanying maps of Pegu and the Koorun Valley be given to the Governor General (maps not enclosed).

1781. April 1857. Letter from Sir Henry Lawrence K C B, Chief Commissioner of Oudh, Lucknow. Sends a letter on which his telegraphic message about Fuzzul Ali's death was founded (no longer enclosed) Mr Lynch is an imposter, his report of threats to Europeans in the streets is false. The burning of the doctor's bungalow, if it was by his own Sepoys (the 48th) was due to his unpopularity having given offence by tasting some medicine out of a full bottle. Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 1252, 1269, 1279, 1814, 1720, 1751 1764.

1782. April 1857. Letter from Mr J R Ward, Commissioner for Dacoity, Hooghly. With reference to his reports of 9th April wishes to know if there is any necessity for him to deliver the five men of the disbanded 19th for evidence; if not he would propose to let them go at once. Copy of reply, let the men go, but keep in mind where they may be found. See also 1783.

1783. April 1857. Letter from Mr J R Ward, Commissioner for Dacoity, Hooghly. Submits his report on the inquiries made as to the mutiny of the 19th Native Infantry and agitation among the other Regiments. He was to find out: 1 if the introduction of grease in the manufacture of the cartridges was the whole cause of trouble, and if not, what influences were at work. 2. What was the effect of a general feeling, very prevalent in the North West Provinces, but particularly in Bundlekund, that the year 1857 was to be disastrous to the native community or native soldiery. He talked to the sepoys himself and sent a spy among the disbanded soldiers; he found they would not talk to strangers of their own colour, but would talk to him. The animal grease was the whole cause of their complaint, no outside influences had been at work, and they knew nothing of the prophecy about 1857. They learnt of the introduction of animal fat from the 34th Native Infantry and 2nd Native Infantry by letter, and these letters warned them to resist any attempt to force them to use this ammunition, spoke of demonstrations already made and contemplated, particularly mentioning the firing of bungalows. Two detachments of the 34th Native Infantry which passed Berhampore spread reports, and one of these, stationed near the 19th lines, instigated the mutiny. The letters from the 34th have been destroyed. The men of the 19th now feel very hostile to the 34th. He believes that if there be any cause for this movement beyond the objection to use cartridges tainted with bullocks' fat, the 19th are ignorant of it, and that they were urged into mutiny entirely by the 34th Native Infantry. Copy of reply, grateful acknowledgement. See also 1782.

1784. April 1857. Letter from Captain D Robertson, Officiating Superintendent of Marine, Calcutta. Asks if there was a Bill of Lading for the freight of birds by the 'Lady Thackwell'. Copy of reply, no Bill of Lading.

1785. April 1857. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department. Replies about Mr Thornhill, appointments in Oudh and elsewhere. See also 1750.

1786. March 1857. Letter from Colonel R J H Birch, C B, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department. Forwards with his remarks an extract translated from the 'Bhaskur' a native newspaper published in Calcutta. It is about the disaffection in the regiments, giving a report that the 19th Native 1nfantry would be blasted with guns, and this would be the fate of any regiment that would not become Christian. Letters have been sent to troops at other places, saying that if the 19th be cut up, each regiment at its own station will plunder the Treasuries and kill all the Europeans, except those European soldiers who have not agreed to oppose the native infantry. The Government has stopped the dawk, so that the sepoys may not send letters, but the Khottas are taking the sepoys' letters to Agra, Cawnpore, Lucknow and elsewhere. The Government has taken kingdoms not by force but by guile; let it now beware, this is not an ordinary disturbance. Published on 21 March.

1787. April 1857. Letter from Colonel R J H Birch, C B, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department. Sends the letter of instructions to General Hearsey, and the original General Order in which appears the direction that the uniform of the 19th Native Infantry was to be stripped off. Subjoins a copy of the Regulation about the clothing of men discharged which he transcribed for General Hearsey. Reports the execution of the Sepoy Mangal Pandy the same morning, and believes that in the present temper of the Court Martial, the Jemadar who commanded the guard on Sunday 30 Mar is likely to be sentenced to death.

1788. April 1857. Letter from Lieutenant G C Finlay, 12th Madras Native Infantry Ellichpore. Asks for another appointment with testimonial. Letter from Mr Edmonstone about this. See also 487, 1673, 1735, 1752, 1754.

1789. April 1857. Letter from Baboo Gobind Chunder Dey, Secretary Aheritollah Vernacular School, Calcutta. Asks for a decision on his petition asking for funds for the school.

1790. April 1857. Letter from Colonel G St P Lawrence, Officiating Agent to the Governor General for Rajputana, Aboo. At present there is no need for the two vacancies to be filled up, and requests that in future any Assistant in Rajputana may have passed the Surveyor's examination, and also an examination in the vernacular. Copy of earlier letter about the vacancies. See also 1708.

1791. April 1857. Letter from Major H Hopkinson, Officiating Commissioner Tenasserim and Martaban Provinces, Moulmein. Has arrived at Moulmein and finds everything seemingly quiet. Meng Loung is said by some to have gone to Siamese territory, and by others to be still on the northern borders. In view of his long service in jungle stations, he asks the Private Secretary's advice about the etiquette of calling. Copy of reply about this. See also 1829.

1792. April 1857. Letter from Monsieur C Casella, Sardinian Consul General, Calcutta. Asks for an audience on behalf of the Count de Viry, Commander of His Sardinian Majesty's Frigate 'Beraldo'.

1793. April 1857. Letter from Captain the Honourable E P Hastings, 32nd Native Infantry, Stud Department, Buxar. Forwards a letter from the Marquis of Waterford (no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgement. Governor General's Book number 385.

1794. April 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. In reply, Mrs Cannon is a very proper object of Lady Canning's bounty.

1795. April 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. Encloses a note from Captain Robertson about the coal for Bushire and Bombay. Also a note from Mr Templeton about the case of Mrs Horn. (Beadon's letter only remains).

1796. April 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. Replies about a telegraphic station at Matheran. Telegraph Message sent number 106, 49, 50.

1796a. April 1857. Copy of a letter to Colonel W E Baker. About applications from local Governments for the services of military or civil officers to fill vacancies. See also 1904.