Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/82

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 1951 to 1975, 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 1952, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1974 and 1975 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’. Numbers 1962 and 1971 are missing.

1951. May 1857. Letter from Major C E Burton, 40th Native Infantry Political Agent Harowtee, Kotah

Asks for promotion.

1952. May 1857. Letter from Mr W H Abbott, Acting Secretary to the Indigo Planters' Association, Calcutta. Submits a letter to the Governor General. Copy of reply, transferred to the Home Department.

1953. May 1857. Letter from Mrs D L Richardson, Calcutta. Asks for an interview with the Private Secretary. Copy of reply, please communicate business in writing. See also 1965.

1954. May 1857. Letter from Lieutenant A G St John Mildmay, 3rd Bombay Europeans, Assistant Agent to the Governor General Rajputana, Aboo. Further to his application for the Bhurtpore appointment. See also 1760, 1785, 1808.

1955. March to May 1857. Letter from Mr C Sharp, Superintendent of the Park, Barrackpore. Has despatched 48 of the hill birds for Sydney, on the 'Frederica Arca'. He has been offered a young female leopard for the Park. Also 4 earlier letters from Mr Sharp about the Park, March.

1956. April to May 1857. Letter from Lieutenant W Phaire, 47th Native Infantry, doing duty with Pegu Lieutenant Infantry Battalion, Rangoon. Sends a letter to the Governor General asking for a change of appointment on health grounds. He is the son of Colonel Phaire. Copy of reply, application noted. See also 821. Governor General's Book number 172.

1957. May 1857. Letter from Baboo Nundo Laul Paul, Jorabagaun, Calcutta. Asks for employment. Copy of reply, the Governor General does not interfere with the disposal of posts in public offices.

1958. May 1857. Letter from Chundy Churn Singha, Proprietor and Manager of the Bali School. Submits a prospectus and asks for a contribution to the school.

1959. May 1857. Letter from Mr E Leckey, Military Board Office, Bombay. Sends the prospectus of a Gujarati Grammar. Copy of reply, asking for 2 copies. See also 2070, 3838, 3936.

1959a. May 1857. Copy of a letter to Major E L Thuillier, Calcutta. Thanking for a map.

1960. May 1857. Letter from Dr D Macpherson, Surgeon, Madras. Asks the Governor General to accept the book on the result of his archaeological researches on the site of the ancient Greek Colony of Panticapaeum, now Kerch, made when employed under Her Majesty's Government during the late war as Inspector General of Hospitals to the late Turkish Contingent Force. Copy of reply, accepting with gratitude. See also 2158.

1961. May 1857. Letter from Mr J H Black, Calcutta. Asks for money. 1/2 anna stamp. See also 2042.

1963. May 1857. Letter from Mr S L Blanchard, Editor of the 'Hurkaru', Calcutta. Asks to be furnished with correct information regarding the extraordinary reports current about disturbances at the Fort and Barrackpore, disarming of regiments.

1964. May 1857. Letter from Mr S L Blanchard, Editor of the 'Hurkaru', Calcutta. Having applied to Colonel Birch for some official intelligence concerning the Mutinies in the North West Provinces which had been given to the Calcutta Press, and which was refused to him on the ground that the opinions expressed in the 'Hurkaru' are offensive to the Military Department, asks that the omission be rectified. Copy of acknowledgement; copy of memoranda; copy of reply by Major Bouverie; note for reply, by Lord Canning. Delhi is in possession of the Native Infantry Regiments which were quartered there and aided by some part of these from Meerut. Several Europeans have been killed. Mr Simon Fraser's death is certain. He gives a list of those known to be safe. Meerut is quiet, and the troops are ready. European Regiments are on their march from the hills. At Agra, the garrison is quite staunch; from Gwalior large re-enforcements are on the road. 16 May.

1965. May 1857. Letter from Mrs D L Richardson, Calcutta. Sends copies of letters, and asks for money. Copy of reply, declined. See also 1953.

1966. May 1857. Letter from Mr G Casella, Sardinian Consul General, Calcutta. Offers the services of the Royal Marines on board His Sardinian Majesty's Frigate 'Beraldo' for any duty the Governor General may require. Copy of reply, grateful acknowledgement.

1967. May 1857. Letter from Mr P W Le Geyt, Member of the Legislative Council, Calcutta. In reply, as the papers for the meeting of the Freemasons were out it was hardly possible to prevent the meeting from taking place, and all excitement might be allayed at once by explaining to the assembly that the Governor General wished to avoid demonstrations which may tend to increase the alarm among the people of the City. 2 letters. See also 1980.

1968. May 1857. Letter from Mr T Garrett, Officiating Deputy Post Master General of Bengal, Calcutta. Sends Major Bazely's acknowledgements for the despatch from the Governor General, sent to the mail steamer 'Alma' at Kedgeree.

1969. May 1857. Letter from Sir H M Lawrence Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Chief Commissioner of Oudh, Lucknow. Reports on the state of the mutiny at Lucknow. He encloses a letter from Captain Carnegie, giving an account of the Sepoy who told his officer about the emissaries from the city to the native lines; Khoosial Hindu Talwala, a man of property, and Laoo Ling, a king's servant out of employ and Chundee Deen, servant of a Buniah [?]. No depositions have been taken yet, but the Talwala is a great intimate of Mahomud Allee Shah the king's brother. Captain Carnegie also gives a list of sepoys implicated. Lawrence writes in further explanation of this.

1970. May 1857. Letter from Captain C D Waddell, Madras Artillery, Bombay. Believes from the reply to the Government to his appeal for redress that the justice of his claim is acknowledged, and the promised recompense to him to be full should be speedy. Begs that on his arrival in Burma the Governor General may confer an appointment on him. Copy of letter to Colonel Birch; his reply about Waddell.

1972. May 1857. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department. Transfers a note from Sir James Outram recommending Major Taylor attached to the Mission at Tehran for a political appointment under the Government of India; and asks for any telegraphic news from the North West received.

1973. May 1857. Letter from Mr J J Grey, Magistrate of Howrah. Asks for the written order alluded to in the accompanying official letter. His chief object is to show he has done something towards allaying the present feeling of alarm.

1974. May 1857. Anonymous letter, not dated. The proclamation disclaiming any intention of the Government to interfere with the religion of the natives has caused much surprise. The cessation of British rule in India is what is hoped for, for the subjects are much oppressed with heavy taxation, stoppage of musical processions during holidays unless the Police Commissioner permits, and heavy exportation of produce which leads to starvation. Received 26 May.

1975. May 1857. Letter from Mr H Blundell, Calcutta. Introduces Mr Cogswell, who has overhead a conversation between some sepoys and others. See also 1979.