Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/80

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 1901 to 1925, 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. 20 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 1901 to 2000’. 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 1902, 1904, 1912, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’. Numbers 1903, 1905, 1907, 1908 and 1917 are missing.

1901. May 1857. Letter from Mr J W Roche, Post Master of Cawnpore. Acknowledges a draft for costs of transporting the hill birds. See also 1847.

1902. April to May 1857. Letter from Mr James Forlong, Kishenghur. Forwards his remarks on the proposed extension of the Criminal Courts. Copies of 2 replies about this. See also 1942.

1904. April to May 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. Submits an extract of the proceedings of the Governor General in Council, 28 Apr 1857 about the patronage of the Supreme Government, with remarks about appointments to the Straits Settlement. See also 9190, 1796a.

1906. April to May 1857. Letter from Dr A Sanderson, Assistant Surgeon 6th Regiment Hyderabad Contingent, Lingasoogoor. Asks to be Assistant Surgeon to the Jail at Nuldroog. Copy of reply, the vacancy has been filled.

1909. May 1857. Letter from Major L H Hamilton, Private Secretary to Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, Darjeeling. The Lieutenant Governor proposes to nominate Lieutenant Sconce to the Officiating vacancy in Assam caused by Captain Dalton's appointment to officiate in Chota Nagpore. Copy of reply about this. See also 1599, 1721, 1809, 1876, 1918.

1910. May 1857. Letter from Mr R B Chapman, Under Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. Requests the return of certain papers relating to the village of Mehmedpore. Copy of reply, enclosing the papers (in the absence of the Private Secretary, by his clerk) the Governor General would like to have them back as soon as possible. Memorandum.

1911. April to May 1857. Letter from Dr J E Tuson, Assistant Surgeon 1st Punjab Cavalry, Asnee. Asks for a civil appointment, especially the hill station, Murree. Copy of reply, no vacancy at present.

1912. May 1857. Letter from Mr H G Scott, wine merchant, Mussoorie. Asks for money promised to him by Mr Wilson. Copy of reply, no authority has been received from Mr Wilson. Copy of memorandum by Private Secretary's clerk.

1913. May 1857. Letter from Brevet Captain C Coote, 52nd Madras Native Infantry, Bombay. Forwards letters to the Governor General and Lady Canning (no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 8574 Governor General's Book number 424.

1914. May 1857. Letter from Mrs H Turnbull, Calcutta. Asks permission to send 3 spotted deer to the Barrackpore Park. Copy of reply, 10th May Governor General will be most happy to accept the deer. Lightning has struck the telegraph coil, and there is no communication at present. Written at Barrackpore.

1914a. May 1857. Copy of a letter to His Excellency Sir W Denison, Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath, Sydney. Advising the despatch of some hill birds per the ship 'Frederic's Arca'. Governor General's Book number 1346.

1915. May 1857. Letter from Lieutenant H A Prinsep, Aide de Camp to the Lieutenant Governor North West Provinces, Agra. Has received the Resolution of the Governor General in Council that all officers taken from the Army for Civil employment are to be selected and nominated by the Governor General alone, and he has told Lieutenant Jenkins to submit his application to the Private Secretary. See also 1765, 1879, 1904, 1939.

1916. May 1857. Letter from Dr R Bird Assistant Surgeon Artillery, Lucknow. Expresses regret for his former request. Copy of earlier reply. See also 1775, 1842.

1918. May 1857. Letter from Mr A Sconce, Extra Judge of the Sudder Dewanry and Nezamut Adawlut, Calcutta. About his cousin Lieutenant Sconce's appointment. Copies of two replies by Private Secretary. See also 1599, 1721, 1809, 1876, 1909.

1919. May 1857. Letter from Major H L Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General, Calcutta. Recommends Lieutenant C Dempster of the Artillery for the Punjab Survey. Copy of reply about this. See also 1725.

1920. May 1857. Letter from Mr J R Ward, Commissioner of Dacoitee, Hooghly. Having heard that the men of the 34th Native Infantry are to be disbanded, asks permission to make enquiries among the men as to the causes of their discontent; suggests they be sent by railway to Raneegunge. Copy of reply, asking him to make enquiries. The number disbanded is not of the whole regiment and 400 or 450 will be turned loose, they cannot be sent by rail. 6 May, very urgent.

1921. April 1857. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel H M Durand, Officiating Agent to the Governor General for Central India, Indore. Approves of the manner in which the disbandment of the 19th Native Infantry has been conducted. He is of the opinion that the disaffection is partly owing to a want of power and influence of regimental officers over the Non-Commissioned Officers and men under their command. Other news.

1922. April 1857. Letter from Major General Sir Henry Barnard Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Commanding the Sirhind Division, Umballa. Asks for a transfer for Mr Andrews Barnard, his son. There is much disaffection among the sepoys at Umballa, and an idea that Christianity is to be forced upon them.

1923. April 1857. Letter from Major General Sir H Barnard Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Commanding the Sirhind Division, Umballa. Writes further to the disaffection of the sepoys. The musket practice has not been again discontinued. No officers' bungalows have been destroyed, except one regimental one. Stables and outhouses have been attempted and those responsible are unknown, though a reward of 1000 Rupees has been offered.

1924. April 1857. Letter from Major General Sir H Barnard, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. Thanks the Private Secretary for the removal of his son from Sylbet to Bankora; reports further on the disaffection of the sepoys. He believes that the cartridge question is the cause but the moving power lies far deeper. The attempts to convert the Hindu should be checked especially when made by officers and civilians in high station. The conditions of the sepoys have not improved, though the rest of the country has changed. Their pay is the same, though their expenses are greater and it is more difficult for them to claim pensions.

1925. December 1856 to May 1857. Letter from Colonel H M Durand. Writes further to his application.