Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/94

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 2401 to 2450, 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. 25 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 2401 to 2500’. 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 2401, 2401a, 2402, 2406, 2408, 2410, 2411, 2412, 2413, 2415, 2419, 2420, 2421, 2423, 2425, 2428, 2432, 2433, 2439, 2443, 2446, 2447, 2448, 2449 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’.

2401. September 1857. Letter from Mr T Sutherland, Calcutta. Asks for information about his brother Mr Charles Sutherland, merchant of Futtehghur. Copy of reply. Private Secretary regrets he has no information at all about Mr Charles Sutherland.

2401a. September 1857. Copy of a letter to the Honourable J P Grant Lieutenant Governor of the Central Provinces. The 'Cleopatra' has arrived at Calcutta with the H Q of Her Majesty's 23rd regiment being 350 strong, the whereabouts of the rest is unknown. The 'Adventure' is announced, and the 'Mauritius', both with troops. The newspaper 'Hurkaru' no longer exists; the Editor has long been fishing for martyrdom. He sends a memorandum of the number of troops brought by the 'Sans Pareil' (16 Sep) the 'Cleopatra' (17 Sep) the 'Adventure' (19 Sep) and the 'Mauritius' (19 Sep).

2402. September 1857. Letter from Mr C J Thomson, Calcutta. Asks for information about his nephew, Ensign F H Hood, 30th Bengal Native Infantry. Copy of reply, no information known.

2403. September 1857. Letter from Major H L Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General, Calcutta. Asks for a reply to his earlier letter about maps. Copy of reply about this. See also 2404, 2459.

2404. September 1857. Letter from Major H L Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General, Calcutta. Sends an outline of a disposition map; asks whether a memorandum of the mutinous corps in Delhi and the British forces outside Delhi is to be inserted, (map not enclosed). See also 2403, 2459.

2405. September 1857. Letter from Mr D George, Calcutta. Submits a memorandum about his summary dismissal from the Public Works Department. Copy of reply, his case is not one in which the Governor General wishes to interfere. Note about this.

2406. August to September 1857. Letter from Captain Hungerford, Commander of Bengal Artillery, Mhow. As son-in-law of Mrs Willoughby, the mother of Lieutenant George Willoughby who has behaved so well, reports that Mrs Willoughby was mainly supported by her 2 sons and the other one was also severely wounded and is now lying at Saugor. Mrs Willoughby was left a widow at a comparatively early age; she lost everything she possessed at Delhi. He asks for some provision to be made for her. Copy of reply, the Governor General will have great pleasure in considering this request; and would have done so unsolicited, but that he had believed that Lieutenant George Willoughby had escaped from Delhi (where he blew up the magazin) to Meerut.

2407. September 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Calcutta. Requests that the order postponing the departure of the Mail Steamer be issued from the Home Department.

2408. September 1857. Letter from Dr J A Dunbar, Surgeon 63rd Native Infantry, Berhampore. Asks for information to be sent to Mrs Dunbar at Kidderpore about Mr J P MacWhirter, Magistrate and Collector of Paneeput, who was residing at Kurnal, and was said to have gone to Delhi for medical advice. Copies of replies to Mrs Dunbar and Dr Dunbar, nothing certain is known of MacWhirter. Letter from Mr Edmonstone, he fears MacWhirter is killed, from a list published in the 'Friend of India'.

2409. September 1857. Letter from Mr J A Seth, Calcutta. Asks for employment and money, a memorandum. Copy of reply, refused.

2410. c. April to September 1857. Anonymous letter. Complaining of the preference shown by the Governor General to the Europeans over the East Indians, and attributed the present rise of the native population solely to that cause.

2411. September 1857. Letter from Mr T Palmer, Calcutta. In reply, describes the nature of the services rendered by Peeroo Mull, during the late disturbances at Allahabad, which he considers deserve some acknowledgement from the Government. Copy of reply, sending documents on to the Lieutenant Governor of the Central Provinces and 5 other papers. See also 2477, 2743, 4292.

2412. September 1857. Letter from Mrs F Trevor, Calcutta. Asks for information about Major and Mrs Robertson. Copy of reply. Mr Beadon has heard from Mr Edwards that Major Robertson was alive, protected by Hureo Buksh an Oudh zeminder, but wounded. Mrs Robertson must have been killed at Futtehghur. Letters from Mr Beadon and Colonel Birch.

2413. September 1857. Letter from Mr C Beadon and Colonel Birch. Reply about Lieutenant J H Lambe; nothing is known about him.

2413a. September 1857. Copy of a letter to Lieutenant General J Ashburnham, Hong Kong. Enclosing a copy of an official letter to the Governor General from the Earl of Elgin.

2415. September 1857. Letter from Messrs Gordon Stuart and Company Calcutta. Ask for their application to be exempted from their coal contract with the Marine Authorities to be considered without further delay. Copy of reply, notice that their contract will not be insisted upon will be made to them through the proper channel. Also draft reply, and 2 other copies of letters. See also 2336.

2416. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr F H Vernon, Private Secretary to the President of the Board of Control, London. Encloses a letter for delivery to Lord Seymour (no longer enclosed).

2417. September 1857. Letter from Major P A P Bouverie, Aide de Camp to the Governor General Calcutta. Asks to be made Agent at Meywar, vacant by the Appointment of Sir James Outram as Chief Commissioner of Oudh. Note for reply, Outram's appointment is temporary only.

2418. September 1857. Letter from Lieutenant G Blair, Assistant Superintendent Pegu Survey, Rangoon. Has applied for permission to return to Calcutta to complete the building of the Pagoda at the Edens Park, but has been remanded for regimental duty where active service is scarcely probable; applies for any appointment with the army against the mutineers. Copy of reply, refused. See also 946, 1054, 1165.

2419. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr M P Crisp, Moulmein. States that during his stay at Ameerapoora he was asked by the Prime Minister to give his opinion on state affairs which he duly did, copy enclosed; and he believes the Prime Minister will continue his policy of remaining at peace with England. Three 1/2 anna stamps.

2420. July to September 1857. Letter from the Marquis of Dalhousie, Malvern Wells, England. Recommends Dr Hunter Adams, now with 4th Battalion of Artillery at Secunderabad. See also 2605.

2421. September 1857. Letter from Major H Hopkinson, Officiating Commissioner of Pegu, Rangoon.

Encloses a letter from Mr Spears of 25 Aug reporting all quiet at Ava at that date, and that the King was engaged in the building of his new city and the Prince in irrigation works. It is said that they are both watching each other, the Prince courting popularity through the medium of the priests and the King looking carefully to his soldiers, drilling them and giving them large donations. Woondah, Governor of Maloon has fallen under the King's displeasure and has been sent in irons to the capital. D'Orgoni is busy at Paris setting up a company to trade with Burma. Pegu is quiet. Copy of reply, acknowledgement. See also 2320.

2422. September 1857. Letter from Colonel W E Baker, Secretary to the Government of India for the late Military Board in the Public Works Department Calcutta. About a petition from Ramtoonoo Mytee, late Darogah of the Coloobareah road, Midnapore Division.

2423. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr D W Mitchell, Secretary to the Zoological Society, London. About the collection of hill birds sent to London in March: 63 only were landed alive and of the Impeyan and Horned Pheasants which seem to have suffered most, only 1 of each species survived. He hopes that the 'Cairngorm' will supply the deficiency. Also 2 lists of birds.

2424. September 1857. Letter from Mrs C E Mainwaring Knocker, Cuttack. About an appointment for her husband. Copy of reply, at present the number of absentees from the 40th prevents the removal of another officer. See also 2110, 2220, 2468.

2425. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr C W West, Inspecting Post Master, Cannanore Division, Nugger and Coorg, Camp Cannanore. Suggests the expendiency of proclaiming a reward for the restoration of every European, many of whom are said to be kept concealed in the neighbourhood of Cawnpore.

2426. September 1857. Letter from Mr Charles G Reade, Collector, Magistrate and Agent to the Governor of Port St George, Vizagapatam. Asks to be appointed to act for Mr Maltby, Financial and Judicial Commissioner, Hyderabad, during his leave, Copy of reply, no vacancy at present.

2427. September 1857. Letter from Mr T G A Palmer, Calcutta. Asks for an interview with the Private Secretary. Endorsed 'I cannot see him, being too unwell G C T'. See also 2411.

2428. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr C W West, Inspecting Post Master, Cannanore Division. Recommends the dismissal of all the Mohammedan servants in the Government House, who are said to have formed a conspiracy, and their replacement by Christians supplied by the missionaries. Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2429. September 1857. Letter from Lieutenant W H M H Davies, Indian Navy Honourable Company's Steamer frigate 'Zenobia', Calcutta. Applies for the temporary appointment of Master Attendant at Rangoon. Copy of reply, application noted.

2430. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr R W Pierce, Head Clerk, Bhopal Political Agency

Asks to be Assistant Political Agent for the charge of the Bairseah. 2 letters and enclosure. Copy of reply, refused.

2431. April 1857. Letter from the Duke of Newcastle. Forwards with his recommendation a letter from Mr W Taylor, asking for a staff appointment for Lieutenant G F Dakeyne, 22nd Madras Native Infantry (Cover only). See also 2035, 2214. Governor General's Book No. 580.

2432. September 1857. Letter from Mr Harington Balfour, Assistant Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Purneah. Asks for information about his brother Lieutenant Melville Balfour, 2nd Light Cavalry, Cawnpore. Copy of reply, he is reported to have been among those who embarked in the boats and were fired upon. Of his fate there can be no doubt.

2433. September 1857. Letter from Dr R P Hutchinson, Assistant Surgeon, Allahabad. Asks for information about his eldest brother John Ross Hutchinson, Magistrate and Collector of Delhi. 1/2 anna stamp. Copy of reply, there is no official information about him, but it is generally feared that he was murdered on the first outbreak in Delhi. Letter from Mr Edmonstone about this.

2434. September 1857. Copy of reply to Captain J E Fraser, Assistant Commissioner, Mooltan.

His application has been transferred to the Military Secretary.

2435. August to October 1857. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel H J Stannus, Deputy Pay Master, Meerut Circle, Meerut. Asks for an appointment in Calcutta. Since 10 May the Europeans have been living in a fortified barrack and the rebels from Delhi had frequently contemplated an attack on the station. It is said that the attack on Delhi will be made about 20 Aug. All communications have been cut off from Meerut, except to the north. See also 1452, 1492, 3076.

2436. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr J R B Bennett, Post Master General, Bengal, from London. Represents the serious consequences which will result from his suspension from office, and asks to be allowed to resume his duties on his return to India. Copy of reply, the Governor General cannot alter the order which has been sent. See also 1455, 1515, 2437.

2437. August to September 1857. Letter from Mr J R Burlton Bennet, Post Master General, Bengal. In continuation of his earlier letter, represents the loss he will sustain by his suspension. Copy of reply about this. Letter from Mr Beadon about Bennett. See also 1455, 1515, 2436.

2439. September 1857. Letter from Major J P Richardson, Commandant Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry, Alipore. Reports the circumstances under which Mr Hely was dismissed from the Regiment. Copy of earlier letter about Hely, asking for information; copy of reply, the Governor General fully approves of Richardson's proceedings. See also 2371, 2478.

2440. September 1857. Letter from Captain J Wake, Commander 'S S Tynemouth', off Kedgeree.

Encloses telegraphic news received from England via Bombay, and a letter from Lord Harris (no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgement.

2240a. September 1857. Copy of letter to Mr W P Sims, proprietor, Bengal 'Hurkaru Press'. The Governor General does not wish to give any opinion upon the legality or otherwise of printing the 'Overland Hurkaru' for despatch to England.

2441. September 1857. Letter from Mr J Fegredo, Calcutta. Applies for an appointment as Assistant, or Patrol officer at Jhansi or elsewhere. Copy of reply, Private Secretary does not interfere with appointments to Public Offices.

2442. September 1857. Letter from the Honourable F J Halliday, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, Alipore. About Mr Wake, who is not fit enough for employment at present; he has granted his leave. Copy of earlier letter about Wake. See also 2370.

2443. September 1857. Letter from the Honourable Ashley Eden Officiating Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Baraset. Submits a subscription list for the erection of a district charitable hospital in connection with the Dispensary at Baraset. Copy of reply, sending 250 Rupees. See also 2480.

2444. September 1857. Letter from Mr W J Moore, late 3rd Assistant Electric Telegraph Department, Howrah. Submits his claim to salary for the interval between his dismissal from the Electric Telegraph Department and his present probationary appointment in the Commissariat Department as his dismissal was neither reported to nor confirmed by the Government. Copy of reply, he should apply through the Public Department concerned. See also 2470

2446. September 1857. Transcript of Madras General Orders. Detailing the strength, pay and allowances of the Madras Native Militia; dated 3 July 1819. 1 anna stamp.

2446a. September 1857. Copy of a letter to T N Waterfield Esquire, India Board, London. Asking him to send the enclosed military map of India to the Queen.

2447. September 1857. Transcript of 3 General Orders of the Commander-in-Chief of Madras of 1828, 1829, and 1830. About the Madras Force. Also transcript of General orders of 1819 and 1824 about the Madras Force. One anna stamp, one 1/2 anna stamp.

2448. September 1857. Anonymous letter, Calcutta. Giving a method of fortifying an opium factory, treasury or powder magazine

2449. September 1857. Letter from Dr A Campbell, Superintendent of Darjeeling. Asks if there is any reason to suspect the fidelity or intention of the Nepalese Durbar. Asks if he is to enlist Gurkhas. Copy of reply, the Government has no reason whatever to question the fidelity of the Nepalese Durbar. Enlistment of the Gurkhas is postponed for the present. See also 1083, 2029, 2467, 2571.

2450. September 1857. Letter from the Editor of the 'Phoenix', Calcutta. Asks for a list of ships and troops expected from England. Copy of reply, the Private Secretary has no such list.