Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/97

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 2551 to 2600, 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. 26 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 2551 to 2600’. 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 2551, 2553, 2554, 2556, 2557, 2558, 2559, 2563, 2567, 2568, 2570, 2571, 2573, 2574, 2575, 2576, 2579, 2580, 2583, 2584, 2587, 2590, 2593, 2594, 2595, 2596, 2597, 2598, 2599 and 2600 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’.

2551. October 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Mr D L Money, Extra Judge Sudder Court, Calcutta. Asks for information about his son, at Lucknow, and about Mrs R P Anderson and her family, and Captain and Mrs H Evans and child. Copy of reply, Captain Evans, Bombay Army, is alive and well, and probably at Allahabad, 14 January.

2552. October 1857. Letter from Mr R P Irwin M D, Surgeon late Bengal Medical Service, uncovenanted, Calcutta. Asks for money to enable him to move and find employment elsewhere; with a memorandum. Copy of reply, refused.

2553. October 1857. Letter from Dr E Campbell, Fort William Garrison Surgeon. Asks for information about his brother Surgeon John Campbell, 7th Light Cavalry, who was in Lucknow. Copy of reply, nothing known yet.

2554. October 1857. Letter from Mrs J M Young. Asks for information about Mr Thompson who went with General Havelock to Lucknow, as Adjutant of the Volunteer Cavalry.

2555. October 1857. Letter from Mr George Brown, Messrs Jardine Skinner and Company, Calcutta. Will send particulars of a bill shortly.

2556. August to October 1857. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel H M Durand, Acting Agent to the Governor General, Central India, Mhow. Sends a list of his letters to the Governor General and offers to supply duplicates of any which miscarried. He gives a detailed account of his retreat from Indore which he regrets to find referred to by the 'Friend of India' as 'inopportune flight'.

2557. October 1857. Letter from Captain A Cooper Key C B of the 'Sans Pareil', Calcutta. Suggests that the Madras return to Bombay and might take Sir W Wiseman to Madras and Galle; enquires if the Semiramis will be required for service in Burma; if the Semiramis cannot go to Galle (the 'Cleopatra' not being fit for service for 14 days), enquires if it would be advisable for Sir W Wiseman to telegraph from Madras to Bombay for 1 or 2 steamers to be sent direct to Galle suggesting the 'Punjab' and the 'Assay'. The 'Simoon' sails this day; the 'Himalaya' is delayed. Copy of reply, remarking on these suggestions. See also 2547.

2558. October 1857. Letter from the Reverend Dr A Duff, Calcutta. Has nominated Reverend T Smith as Presbyterian minister to accompany the Scottish regiments and asks for his services to be restricted to one division of the army. Copy of reply about this. Note from Mr Beadon. See also 2518, 2622a.

2559. October 1857. Letter from Mrs Simpson, Kidderpore. Asks for information about Lieutenant Blake, Her Majesty's 84th Regiment and Lieutenant Simpson, Irregular Cavalry, at Lucknow. Copy of reply, nothing known at present, there is no list of casualties at Lucknow. See also 2690.

2560. October 1857. Letter from The Venerable J H Pratt, Archdeacon of Calcutta. In reply, states that the sermon preached on 4 Oct will be printed as desired by the Governor General. Copy of earlier letter, asking for this to be done (the sermon was in aid of the Lawrence Asylum).

2562. August to October 1857. Letter from The Reverend J J Carshore, Anarkullee, Lahore. Sends a book to the Governor General. See also 1516, 1620.

2563. October 1857. Letter from Mr W A Byrne, Assistant Bengal Office, Calcutta. Asks for information about the wife of Captain Oakes and her daughter, from Allahabad and Ensign R S Byrne, 10th Native Infantry and his wife. Copy of reply, nothing known.

2564. September to October 1857. Letter from Mr G H M Ricketts Civil Service Officiating Deputy Commissioner 2nd class Ludhianah. Asks for a transfer to some active post. 2 copies. Copy of reply, application noted.

2565. October 1857. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department. Forwards the Durban Account for Aug (no longer enclosed).

2566. October 1857. Letter from Mr Henry Gersse, Calcutta. Asks the Private Secretary to help find him employment. 1/2 anna stamp.

2567. October 1857. Letter from Sir A De H Larpent, Calcutta. Asks for information about his cousin Mr Ommanney, Judicial Commissioner of Lucknow. Copy of reply, he died of cannon-shot wound on 7 July at Lucknow.

2568. October 1857. Letter from Bernard Dupont Esquire, Her Majesty's transport 'Cleopatra'. Asks for information about the death of Brigadier General Hanscomb, his uncle reported to be killed on 31 May, at Lucknow. Copy of reply, nothing known beyond the fact of his death.

2569. October 1857. Letter from Captain T E Rogers, Superintendent of Marine, Calcutta. Asks for an audience. Copy of reply, arranging audience.

2569a. October 1857. Copy of a letter to R D Mangles Esquire M P, India House. Regretting that owing to illness the Governor General cannot write to him by this mail; the points referred to in his letters will be attended to.

2570. September to October 1857. Letter from Colonel H Bates, Parell. Has forwarded to Brigadier General Lawrence at Ajmere 2 letters for the late Sir Henry Lawrence. Communication between Dessa and Ajmere was for a time interrupted by the mutineers of the Joudhpore Legion, but it now re-established. Copy of earlier letter about this.

2571. September to October 1857. Letter from Major G Ramsay, Resident at Nepal. Replies about Dr Campbell's ability to enlist Nepalese without special permission from the Durbar; it will be possible if it is done quietly, and unknown to the Durbar. Encloses his letter to the Commander in Chief, Punjab on the subject. Refers to previous correspondence about the failure of his predecessor to obtain the Durbar's permission for the enlistment of recruits and the animus with which Jung Bahadoor regards the Gurkhas now with the British, and the methods adopted to disgust them with British Service. Copy of earlier letter, about the Gurkhas. See also 1983, 2028, 2449, 2467.

2572. October 1857. Letter from Lieutenant J A Heathcote, Indian Navy on detached duty, Calcutta. Asks to be made Secretary to the Superintendent of Marine in place of Mr Howe, now Officiating Master Attendant.

2573. October 1857. Letter from Mrs E De Cruz, Calcutta. Asks for information about Dr Buch, the Principal of Bareilly College reported murdered by the mutineers. Copy of reply, no official report, but there can be no doubt he was murdered. 4 other letters about this.

2574. September 1857. Letter from Mr H Anderson, Oriental Bank Corporation, Calcutta. Submits copy of application to the Bank of Bengal for an advance of 5 Lacs. Copy of reply, the Governor General regrets that he cannot interfere with the Directors of the Bank of Bengal.

2575. September to October 1857. Letter from Major W T Money, Acting Deputy Quarter Master General of the Army, Madras. Asks for information about Lieutenant W H Thomas, 22nd Native Infantry who is said to have been murdered with 4 other officers of the regiment while escaping down the river from Fyzebad. Copy of reply, he was killed by the villagers at a village in Oudh after escaping from Fyzebad. Note from Colonel Birch.

2576. October 1857. Letter from Mr J Cochrane, Calcutta. If necessary offers to procure a copy of the petition against the Governor General.

2577. October 1857. Letter from the Honourable P J Halliday, Alipore. Asks for the return of a letter. Copies of 2 replies, returning letter and enclosure.

2577a. September 1857. Copy of a letter to the publisher of the 'Bombay Times Calendar and Almanac'. Asking for a copy for the Private Secretary See also 4675.

2578. September to October 1857. Letter from Mr C W West, Cannanore. Asks for better appointments for himself and his son. 1/2 anna stamp. Copy of reply, declining to interfere. See also 2359, 2815.

2579. October 1857. Letter from Lieutenant R G H Johnstone, Calcutta. Asks for information about Colonel Palmer and family, and Lieutenant and Mrs Ouseley who are supposed to be at Lucknow. Copy of reply, nothing known yet.

2580. October 1857. Letter from Major G Ramsay, Resident at Nepal. Has received particulars of an engagement between 800 Gurkhas and 1500 followers of the Rajah of Atrowlee, (who was appointed Chuckledar of Azimghur and Jounpore by the King of Oudh) which resulted in total defeat of the enemy, and the capture of 3 guns. He asks permission to present the guns to the 3 Nepalese regiments. Copy of reply, acknowledgement, the Governor General will write himself.

2581. October 1857. Letter from Mr W T Moore, Howrah. About his dismissal from the commissariat.

2582. October 1857. Letter from Mr M Townsend, Serampore. Asks for an interview with the Governor General. Copies of 2 replies asking him to call.

2583. October 1857. Letter from Captain A Cooper Key, 'Sans Pareil', Calcutta. Reports that as the 'Cleopatra' was leaving the 'Mauritius' ran foul of her and she is disabled for at least 10 days. He has sent orders to have the 'Adventure' ready to sail.

2584. October 1857. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel R Strachey, Secretary to the Government Central India, Benares. About the taking of Delhi Palace; he imagines the old King will not be treated as his 3 sons were, though an accidental shell would have removed that difficulty. There will be more fighting in Oudh. Outram is still holding out at Lucknow. He hopes to secure the frontier at Benares though an attack by the Pandies is not likely.

2585. October 1857. Letter from Captain H Hoye, Acting Master Attendant. Sends a further testimonial.

2586. October 1857. Letter from Captain H Howe, Secretary, to the Superintendent of Marine, Calcutta. Complains that Captain Rogers will not allow him to take up the duties of his new office of Acting Master Attendant and submits copies of testimonials. See also 2532 and 3126.

2587. October 1857. Letter from Mr L I W O'Brien, 3rd Assistant for Head Assistant in Charge, Electric Telegraph, Calcutta. The message to stop the 'Himalaya' going to sea was duly forwarded to Kedgeree and Saugor.

2588. October 1857. Letter from Major H L Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General, Calcutta. Sends 4 copies of the Military Map (no longer enclosed). Copy of earlier letter; copy of reply about the maps. See also 2589, 2641.

2589. October 1857. Letter from Major H L Thuillier. About the Military Maps. See also 2588, 2641

2590. October 1857. Letter from the Honourable E A Blundell, Governor, Straits Settlements, Penang. Has been visiting the stations in his charge, and all is quiet in the Straits.

2591. October 1857. Letter from Mr H Piddington, Calcutta. Asks to be Superintendent of Marine.

2592. September to October 1857. Letter from Captain E B Ramsay, 31st Regiment Madras Army, Bangalore. Encloses a letter of introduction from Lord Panmure and asks for an appointment in the Mysore Commission. Copy of reply, he is appointed an Assistant in the Mysore Commission. See also 2744 Governor General's Book No. 632.

2593. August 1857. Letter from Mrs Lucy Cheke to Sir Patrick Grant. Returns the statement about the Futtehgurh refugees. She sends a copy of a letter from Mr Secretary Thornhill containing accounts of Delhi etc. and census of people in the Agra Port. General Havelock is said to have crossed the Ganges on 15 Aug, defeated the rebels and taken 3 guns from them. The Nana Sahib is said to have crossed to the Cawnpore side. Lucknow was alright on 4 August and able to hold out until the end of the month.

2594. October 1857. Letter from Captain A Cooper Key, 'Sans Pareil', Calcutta. Reports that the Himalaya has been detained at Kedgeree by order of the Governor General. The Assistance is arriving with the 82nd. The Mauritius will not leave for Galle for a day or two. Copy of earlier letter to Cooper Key. Also memorandum and letter from Garrett.

2595. October 1857. Letter from Mr H B Riddell, Director General of Post Offices, Calcutta. Submits a memorandum of the arrangements made regarding the bullock trains for the conveyance of troops up country.

2596. October 1857. Letter from Messrs Turner, Cadogan and Company, Calcutta. Asks if there is any truth in the rumours that the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry have mutinied; and for information about Captain C Reay and the other officers. Copy of reply, apply to the Government of Bengal for the information required.

2597. September to October 1857. Letter from Mr C M Teed, Master, Supreme Court, Madras. Acknowledges a letter enclosing one alleged to have been written by him against Dr Balfour's conduct towards the servants of the late Nabob of the Carnatic, and denies all knowledge of it. Copy of reply, he is urged to discover the forger of the letter. See also 2705.

2598. October 1857. Letter from Mr W Tayler, late Commissioner of Patna, Calcutta. Requests that he be allowed to draw his salary pending the enquiry into his case. Copy of reply, asking him to call on the Governor General.

2599. September to November 1857. Letter from The Honourable E A Blundell, Governor of Singapore. Having officially received and replied to a representation made against him by Captain H Man, late Resident Councillor at Malacca, offers to resign if his explanation is considered unsatisfactory. Copy of reply, the Governor General does not wish him to resign; unfortunately there seems to be some truth in Man's statement. See also 2993, 2994, 3275, 3374, 4970.

2600. October 1857. Letter from Sir R N C Hamilton Bt, Calcutta. Submits a letter from Brigadier Ramsay with a list of officers killed and escaped at Gwalior. Copy of reply, returning list with thanks.