Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/89

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 2151 to 2200, 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. 22 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 2101 to 2200’. 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 2152, 2154, 2159, 2160, 2161, 2163, 2164, 2166, 2168, 2171, 2172, 2174, 2175, 2179, 2180, 2184, 2185, 2186, 2189, 2192, 2193, 2195, 2196, 2197, 2198, 2199 and 2200 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’.

2151. July 1857. Letter from Major the Honourable R B P Byng, 62nd Native Infantry Commandant, Sylhet Light Infantry Battalion, Cherra Poonjee. Recommends Lieutenant Sherer. Copy of reply about this. See also 2150.

2152. June 1857. Letter from The Honourable E A Blundell, Governor of the Straits Settlements, Singapore. About an appointment of Captain Purvis as Superintendent of Convicts. HMS 'Simoon' with 700 men of the 5th Fusiliers left Singapore on 21 Jun for Calcutta. The 'Himalaya' is daily expected, and will be similarly despatched. Lord Elgin embarks on 22 Jun on HMS 'Shannon' for China. Copy of letter about Captain Purvis' appointment. See also 1585, 1890, 3045.

2153. July 1857. Letter from Captain H Yule, Engineer, Calcutta. Is leaving for Allahabad the following day, and wishes to see the Governor General.

2154. July 1857. Letter from Mr T Palmer, Calcutta. Forwards a letter from his son at Allahabad for the Governor General to read, of the fall of the city. Copy of reply, returning letter and acknowledgement. Note by Private Secretary.

2155. June to July 1857. Letter from the Reverend Arthur Hamilton, Calcutta. Replies about Mr Green's case. Copy of reply about this. See also 1976, 2009, 2103.

2156. July 1857. Letter from Mr H V Lillicrap, Calcutta. Thanks the Governor General for his kindness. See also 2127.

2157. July 1857. Letter from Captain J Eliot, Executive Officer, Barrackpore Division. About the repair of the road in the Park. Copy of earlier letter about this. See also 2138, 2286.

2158. July 1857. Letter from Mr R H Sankey, Calcutta. Forwards a book on the Antiquities of Kertch, from Dr D Macpherson. See also 1960.

2159. December 1856 to July 1857. Letter from Brigadier W M Coghlan, Political Resident and Commandant at Aden. Acknowledges a letter forwarding letter from the Governor General for Sir James Outram which he will send to Bombay by the mail now expected from Suez. Copy of earlier letter sending letter to Outram, on his way out from England.

2160. July 1857. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Calcutta. Reports that Sir Henry Lawrence's defeats, whether he be wounded or not, will have a depressing effect. His acting on the offensive was not prudent. Edmonstone is against any such concession to the Talukdars at Lucknow as suggested by Mr Tucker. Telegraph Message received number 314.

2161. July 1857. Letter from Lieutenant J W W Osborne, 24th Madras Native Infantry, on special duty with the Maharajah of Rewah. Should the Government think it advisable to appoint a Political Assistant at Rewah with extraordinary powers with regard to the position of the Maharajah of Rewah, asks to be considered; or for other political employment. Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2162. July 1857. Letter from Mr H V Lillicrap, Calcutta. Asks for 100 Rupees from the Governor General. Copy of reply, sending 100 Rupees, no more will be sent. See also 2038, 2044.

2163. May to July 1857. Letter from Sir Henry Ward, Rosebank, N Ellice. Has settled a line for the Railway. The fishing was better than expected, having yielded £20364. He congratulates Lord Canning on the close of the Persian War, General Outram is taking the right mode of convincing the Shah of the wisdom of ratifying the Treaty. China and Persia together would be burning the candle at both ends with a vengeance. Agrees with the Private Secretary about the China affair.

2164. June 1857. Letter from Sir H G Ward, Governor of Ceylon, Kandy. Hopes that the Governor General will be satisfied with what has been done in the matter of the troops; some risk to Ceylon has been run, but he has done what every Englishman would do and is prepared to take his chance of the issue. In order to relieve the military of a portion of their work the police will be increased and India must bear the cost. He has frustrated an attempt to collect a great gathering at Kandy under a religious pretext, in which the King of Siam is supposed to have been involved. He begs that the matter of coolie immigration may not be lost sight of. The departure of the King of Oudh from Calcutta ought to have been prevented, as a crowned head always serves as a rallying point in troubles.

2165. July 1857. Letter from Mr W P Palmer, Civil Auditor, Fort William. Forwards an appendix to the books of civil establishments (no longer enclosed).

2166. June to July 1857. Letter from Mr C W West, Inspecting Post Master, Cannanore Lines in Nuggur and Coorg, Camp, Cannanore. Reports that there are several wells in the ground floor of the Delhi Palace which are poisoned; asks for a reward for this information. Copy of reply, declined. See also 2148.

2167. July 1857. Letter from Mr J Crawford, late Conductor, Public Works Department, Serampore. Offers his services. Note by Private Secretary.

2168. July 1857. Letter from Mr C Wingfield, Commissioner Bahraich Division, Goruckpore. The messenger entrusted with the letter enclosed from Mr Gubbins to his brother at Benares failed to reach Benares, being turned back by some insurgents. In the hope of obtaining important information the letter was opened but later intelligence had previously been received from Lucknow. The only native troops there supposed to be still faithful were the 7th Oudh Irregular Infantry, a portion of the 4th, and a few sowars. Has just heard from Raja Man Sing that his messenger was unable to make his way into Lucknow, but Wingfield does not believe this story. He doubts whether the mutineers will attack Lucknow. Man Sing says the rebels have been fighting amongst themselves. On the relief of Lucknow a detachment should move out to disperse the rebels if they still hold together, which is doubtful as they have plenty of money and are sure to try and hurry homewards. The Talukdars are robbing them of their booty.

2169. July 1857. Letter from Mr S L Blanchard, Editor of the 'Hurkaru', Calcutta. Asks if there are any objections to the publication of the discussion in the House of Lords upon Lord Ellenborough's question. Memorandum about this, and note for reply.

2169a. July 1857. Copy of a letter to Mr T Goldsworthy, Calcutta. Regretting that the Private Secretary has not been able to obtain reliable information about his son.

2170. July 1857. Letter from Captain J Woodley, Superintendent, State Yacht Establishment, Calcutta. Reports that repairs being urgently required for Government steamers, the docking of the 'Sonamookey' will be delayed. See also 2125.

2171. July 1857. Anonymous letter. Suggesting the immediate dismissal of subadars, jemadars, havildars and naicks of the 3 sepoy regiments at Dinapore, and the promotion of the best sepoys from the regiments.

2172. July 1857. Anonymous letter. Reporting a gang of budmashes in Zillah Baraset. The son of the King of Delhi is the instigator of the troubles.

2173. July 1857. Letter from Mr H Piddington, Calcutta. Forwards a pamphlet on Cyclones in the Hooghly. Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2174. July 1857. Letter from Mr Manockjee, Rustomjee, Calcutta. Offers the use of his godown at Cossipore for the accommodation of troops. Copy of reply, grateful acknowledgement.

2175. July 1857. Letter from Mr T Sutherland, Calcutta. Offers to raise a body of seamen in the port of Calcutta to act as Irregulars in the North West Provinces. Copy of reply, declined.

2176. July 1857. Copy of reply to Mr W A Byrne. His application has been transferred to the Military Secretary.

2177. July 1857. Letter from Mr A W Pinson, late a Lieutenant 1st Madras Native Infantry, Howrah. Asks for employment. Copy of reply, refused.

2178. July 1857. Letter from Mr C Sharp, Superintendent of the Barrackpore Park. About the state of the Park; one of the deer has been poisoned and he has suspended both keepers. Copy of reply, dismiss the keepers.

2179. July 1857. Letter from Mr C A Shillingford, Pureah. Hopes that when there are troops to spare his request will be borne in mind. See also 2146.

2180. July 1857. Letter from Mr J S A H Byrne, Calcutta. Reports that on 29 Jun he went to Burdwan to apply for employment under the Rajah. He spoke to the men on guard, who said that the Rajah had 500 men but could call up 15000. They were very resentful of the British Government, which had taken away their lands and left them with only 4 annas for every Rupee they possessed. The Government intended to spoil their caste and tax them heavily. The Europeans in the Burdwan Railways station were very alarmed and doubted the Rajah's power of controlling the native soldiers. The Rajah has not provided the guard he promised for the railway station and has sent back 10 out of the 50 European sailors he brought from Calcutta to protect himself.

2181. July 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Calcutta. Sends Lieutenant Stewart's memorandum about the delay in the transmission of messages on 16 Jul. See also 2182.

2182. July 1857. Letter from Lieutenant P Stewart, Officiating Superintendent of Electric Telegraph in India. Has given orders for sending copies of every message not already supplied by the Private Secretary. See also 2181.

2183. July 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Calcutta. Will enquire about Mr Eddis. Mr Hercules Ross has applied to return to Benares. See also 2140.

2184. July 1857. Letter from Mr F O Hely, Calcutta. Has offered through Lord Dunkellin to proceed with 100 seamen to any part of India. Copy of reply, the Private Secretary has nothing to do with this.

2185. July 1857. Letter from Mr T W Robinson, Calcutta. Asks what the Government would pay Europeans who went to defend Patna. Note for reply, £3 a month and a bounty if newly enlisted.

2186. July 1857. Letter from Mr D W Taylor, Kidderpore. Has heard that all the sepoys are now making their way to Nagpore, where they would be joined by others. Has also heard that the Rewah Rajah aids the sepoys, and they are to fight the British for 7 years, by which time they expect the Russians will add to their strength from Dost Mahomed's side.

2187. May to July 1857. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Foreign Department. States that Sir Henry Lawrence is not entitled to 6 or 8 assistants in addition to those already in Oudh. The complement of Assistants is 18, there are 17 at present. See also 484, 485, 738, 1852, 1986.

2188. March to July 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Calcutta. Replies about Captain Man and appointments in the Straits. 2 letters. See also 1311, 1312, 1426, 1682, 1683, 1684.

2189. June to July 1857. Letter from Mr D W Mitchell, Secretary to the Zoological Society, London. About the rearing of birds in the Hills for the Society. Copy of earlier letter about this; copy of letter of July, recent occurrences in the Upper Provinces make the attempt to rear birds at present impossible.

2190. May 1857. Letter from Dr Vos, Calcutta. Reports on the case of Mrs Phillip. Copy of earlier letter about this. See also 1949.

2191. July 1857. Letter from Mr J S A H Byrne, Calcutta. Offers his services in the proposed Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry. Copy of reply, referring him to the 12th paragraph of the General Order about the Cavalry.

2192. July 1857. Letter from Mr H R Pink, Calcutta. Reports cases of the purchase of arms by Mahomedans. Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2193. July 1857. Letter from Mr C W West, Inspecting Post Master, Cannanore Lines in Nuggar and Coorg, Camp, Cannanore. Suggests that suspicious natives and pilgrims might be searched for documents; and suggests he be appointed Magistrate, 1/2anna stamp.

2194. July 1857. Copy of reply to Mr F Midson, late of the Pilot service. Returning his letter which must be submitted through the official channel.

2195. July 1857. Letter from Messrs C Durrschmidt and D C Mackey, merchants, Calcutta. Send a letter and a pamphlet about the copper mines in Singbhoom, on the South West frontier of Bengal (no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2196. July 1857. Letter from Mr F F Willis, Messrs Willis and Company, Calcutta. Reports the extraordinary behaviour of a sowar, apparently one of the bodyguard. Copy of reply, asking for further details. See also 2197.

2197. July 1857. Letter from Mr F F Willis, Calcutta. Further to the preceding, see also 2196.

2198. July 1857. Letter from Sir H C Ward, Governor of Ceylon, Colombo. Thanks Private Secretary for his letter stating that Lord Elgin had been caught up with at Singapore, and willingly gave the troops. He gives his views on the causes of the Mutiny. Since the troops left Ceylon, all has remained quiet. Other comments.

2199. June 1857. Letter from Mr Frederic Wilson, Derallee, near Gangootree. About the rearing of hill birds. Copies of 2 earlier letters about this. See also 8539.

2200. July 1857. Letter from Mr F C Grenier, Ceylon. Asks for information about the safety of Mr Louis Roch, a Catechist at Delhi.