Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/86

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 2051 to 2075, 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. 21 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 2001 to 3000’. 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 2052a, 2053, 2054, 2055, 2056, 2057, 2059, 2060, 2061, 2063, 2065, 2066, 2068, 2071, 2072, 2073 and 2075 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’. Number 2070 is missing.

2051. June 1857. Letter from Mr H Piddington, Coroner of Calcutta. Asks to be Officiating Superintendent of Marine, or Acting Master Attendant should the present incumbent be made Officiating Superintendent. Copy of a printed memorial. Copy of reply, application will be considered.

2052. June 1857. Letter from Captain J E Stace, Secretary to the Indian General Steam Navigation Company, Calcutta. Forwards a letter from Captain G V Ayles. On the evening of 6 Jun he anchored 12 miles from Allahabad and saw the place ablaze; in the morning he found the Fort closely besieged and 60 European soldiers trying to get across the ferry to the Fort. He managed to take some soldiers into the Fort. The mob attacked and looted the boats, but not Stace's boat which fired into them. They then attacked the flat Stace had had on tow. Mr Gordon put the treasure and 6 ladies and children into the jollyboat and sailed down the river at great risk all night. Stace went after them, and found them safe. After other adventures he arrived at Mirzapore. He still has the Allahabad cargo, and no one will take delivery of it. He has run out of fuel and has taken possession of a boat of sleepers. The whole country is in a rebellious state, and his crew is frightened. Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2053. June 1857. Letter from Monsieur C Casella, Consul General for Sardinia, Calcutta. States that there is a rumour that Barrackpore is in a state of mutiny and Calcutta is in some danger; is this true? 2 copies of reply, there was some apprehension of disturbance at Barrackpore on the night of the 13th, which was guarded against and has come to nothing. Calcutta is quite safe.

2054. June 1857. Letter from Mr H Piddington, Coroner and President of the Board of Marine, Calcutta. Submits a plan for making the seamen in the House of Correction an available force in time of need. Copy of reply, grateful acknowledgement.

2055. June 1857. Letter from Captain B D W Ramsay, Brigade Major, Queen's Troops, Fort William. With reference to the shortcomings in the arrangement for Her Majesty's 37th regiment, submits a report and complains of the way in which matters are being conducted.

2056. June 1857. Letter from Mr W Taylor, Commissioner of Patna. Reports all well at Patna. There was good reason to fear a rising among the sepoys on the night of the 7th at Dinapore, for which preparations were made. Captain Rattray's Sikhs have arrived and arrangements are made for defending the opium Godowns. No trust can be put in the sepoys and the religious excitement still prevails.

2057. May 1857. Letter from anonymous Englishman. Suggesting the quickest way of moving up the European troops expected at Calcutta shortly.

2058. June 1857. Letter from Mr A Speirs, son of the late Colonel Speirs, Camp Jokehai. Repeats his request for an uncovenanted appointment at Rangoon. See also 1993.

2058a. June 1857. Copy of a letter to Mr G F Edmonstone. Sending a letter from Sir H Ward, which is to be sent home.

2059. June 1857. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel H M Durand, Acting Agent to the Governor General, Central India, Indore. Fears that some of his letters have been intercepted, and sends copies (no longer enclosed). Has heard that the Malwa Contingent Cavalry have risen and killed Captain Brodie and Lieutenant Hunt. If true Major Timins must fall back on Indore and the Contingent in Mhow is sure to rise. A rapid advance on Delhi would have saved a great deal.

2060. June 1857. Letter from Mr J S Judge, Attorney at Law, Calcutta. Reports the prevalence of a rumour that there is to be an attempt to massacre the Christian population of Calcutta on 14 Jun during service time. Copy of reply, acknowledgement. Memorandum.

2061. June 1857. Letter from Mr S MacGowan, Moonsiff and Deputy Magistrate, Mirzapore. Reports the unsatisfactory state of affairs in the North West Provinces, and the urgent necessity for European troops at every station. Copy of reply, the Governor General hopes the despatch of Europeans from Calcutta and the fall of Delhi which is momentarily expected will restore safety.

2062. June 1857. Letter from General Sir M Cubbon K C B, Commissioner of Mysore, Nundydroog. Recommends Lieutenant W H Campbell, 45th Madras Native Infantry, as District Executive Engineer in Mysore. Believes that the Madras sepoys would readily march against Bengal mutineers, towards whom they entertain a deep-rooted hatred. Copy of reply, the news is uniformly bad with the exception of the 2 fights at Ghazee Ooddee Nuggur. The news of the fall of Delhi is anxiously awaited, every post brings in tidings of regiments rising, shooting their officers, and marching to Delhi. The utmost alarm prevails at all isolated stations, as well it might, for the atrocities committed at Allahabad are almost beyond conception. The advance on Delhi has been very slow and it seems doubtful whether the officer in command is aware of the vital importance of speed. European regiments from the Persian Gulf, Madras, Rangoon and Ceylon have arrived and are being pushed up country with great haste. An act has been passed to restrain the Press in India. 17 Jun. See also 2083.

2063. June 1857. Letter from Mr E D Kilburn, Calcutta. States that the man captured in the night turned out to be a respectable native on a visit to some female acquaintance. Mr Wauchope suggests an order against private individuals patrolling on their own account.

2064. June 1857. Letter from Mr J Rennie, Calcutta. About his brother's return from the Persian Gulf. 2 letters. See also 2049, 2097.

2065. June 1857. Letter from Mr D W Taylor, Assistant, Calcutta Mint. Has learnt from a Brahmin that the Nepalese contemplate a descent upon Benares and Ghazeepore joined by the disbanded sepoys of Barrackpore, and after he has completed certain enquiries, will submit further information. Also letter of 11 Jun, further details about the causes of the mutiny. Copy of reply, asking for further details. Memorandum. See also 2088.

2066. May to June 1857. Letter from Lieutenant W Davison, Officiating 3rd Assistant Military Auditor General, Calcutta. Forwards an extract from a letter of Major W Lindsay, Assistant Adjutant General at Cawnpore, to Major R Ramsay, about a conversation held with the Reverend E T R Moncrieff on the subject of Mr Moncrieff's proselytizing at the present moment. Note by Private Secretary.

2067. June 1857. Letter from Captain E Bowles, Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General.

Forwards a petition from Ramdeen Sing, late a Burkundaz, asking for employment, and Bowles wishes to know if the Private Secretary is supplied with paper of the same inferior quality as he is given.

2068. June 1857. Letter from Colonel R J H Birch C B, Secretary to Government of India, Military Department, Calcutta. To Dr Leckie, encloses a copy of a note from Brigadier Hearsey of an intended rising of the sepoy Brigade at Barrackpore and of the precautions taken; leaves it to Dr Leckie whether or not to wake the Governor General. Written half past midnight.

2069. June to July 1857. Letter from Mr R Lloyd, Head Uncovenanted Assistant to the Accountant of the Government of Bengal. Asks to be Secretary to the Superintendent of Marine. Copy of reply, application will be considered. See also 815.

2071. June 1857. Anonymous letter, Calcutta. Suggesting the immediate disarming of the sepoy regiments at the Presidency.

2072. June 1857. Anonymous letter from a foreign traveller, Agra. Warns the British Government of its dangerous position and recommends certain measures, such as the raising of Sikhans Gurkha and Eurasian regiments. Deprecates the employment of natives in any responsible post.

2073. June 1857. Anonymous letter. Stating that the Raja of Puchate has succeeded in raising the Southals in his own Raj and neighbourhood, and has sent agents to raise Ramghur and other troops at Midnapore, Dinapore, Barrackpore and many other places.

2074. May 1857. Letter from Lord H W Browne, Officiating Magistrate of Monghyr, on leave, Darjeeling. Mentions the appointments for which he is eligible. Note about this. See also 3312. Governor General's Book number 886.

2075. June 1857. Letter from Captain G N Adams, Commander Honourable Company's Steam Frigate 'Assaye', Calcutta. In reply, about the latest news. The latest he has was from the extra published on Sunday, which he has sent, also the only newspaper from Madras (not enclosed).