Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/106

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 3001a to 3050a 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. 31 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 3001 to 3100’. 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 [from 1 August 1856], 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 3002, 3003, 3007, 3010, 1013, 3016, 3019, 3020, 3029, 3030, 3031, 3033, 3034, 3034a, 3038, 3040, 3043, 3044, 3046, 3047, 3048, and 3049 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’.

3001a. January 1858. Copy of a letter to Captain W Peel, Companion of the Order of the Bath, Royal Navy, Cawnpore. To be forwarded, sending enclosures just received from China, and congratulating him on the brilliant success achieved by his Brigade.

3002. January 1858. Letter from Mr T Garrett, Deputy Post Master General, Bengal, Calcutta. Asks that the contents of Mrs Anne Orr's letter may not be published. She has no news of her husband Captain Orr except that he is in the custody of the 71st Native Infantry in fetters; by now he is probably murdered. Copy of reply, neither the Governor General nor the Private Secretary have a letter from Mrs Orr. Captain Orr has been heard of, writing under constraint, but to the effect that he was being fairly treated. See also 3003.

3003. January 1858. Letter from Mr T Garrett. Reports on Captain Orr's treatment, he was treated well while in charge of the Durbar people, his fetters were taken off, but now the party is in the hands of the 71st Native Infantry. Reports on the state of Mrs Jackson and Mrs Orr, and the death of the daughter of Mr Christian. See also 3002.

3004. January 1858. Letter from Mr A G Esaw, Calcutta. Applies for some extra work in the Private Secretary's office until he can join his post in Allahabad. Copy of reply, refusal.

3005. January 1858. Letter from the Honourable A Eden, Magistrate, Baraset. Returns thanks for information about the Evans family. ½ anna stamp.

3006. January 1858. Letter from Major G Newbolt, Auditor of Commissariat and Stud accounts, Calcutta. Recommends Boestom Doss for the post in the Government Toshakhana, vacant by the suicide of Sibnarrain Deb.

3007. January 1858. Letter from Mr R Simson, Under Secretary Foreign Department, Calcutta. States that the correspondence with Sir George Grey about the King of Delhi was not forwarded home through his department, but that in the accompanying despatch, the Secret Committee were informed of the Governor General's intention to send the King as a state prisoner to the Cape Colony. Sir G Grey's reply will go to the Secret Committee by this mail. He sends papers about the proposal of Sir G Grey to receive a Sepoy regiment (no longer enclosed).

3008. January 1858. Copy of reply to Lieutenant E R C Bradford, 6th Madras Cavalry, Jubbulpore. His application has been transferred to the Military Secretary.

3009. January 1858. Copy of reply to Edward Lushington Esquire, Civil Service, Chybassa. His request about Lieutenant Ramsay will be forwarded to the Military Secretary.

3010. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Major H Hopkinson, Commissioner, Rangoon. Reports that accounts have been received, though not from a very reliable source, that a guard escorting the pay of the frontier detachment of the Pegu Light Infantry at Mengaloon had been attacked, with casualties. He has written to the authorities at Prome about this. He encloses a duplicate of his letter of 15 Dec with further remarks about Major Phayre's return (no longer enclosed) and has officially applied for permission to revert to his former appointment at Moulmein.

3011. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Lieutenant A R Clephane, 24th Madras Native Infantry, Madras. Forwards a letter from the Earl of Home (no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgment.

3012. January 1858. Letter from Mr S Wauchope, Commissioner of Police, Calcutta. Asks if anything is known of Sahib Allum Sultan besides the correspondence. See also 1567, 1848, 1889, 2318, 2869.

3013. January 1858. Letter from Mr S Wauchope, Commissioner of Police, Calcutta. Sends some particulars about Fyzul Khan. See also 3014.

3014. January 1858. Letter from Captain Lovell, Peninsular and Orient Company. Reports that there was only one native passenger, by name Fazul Khan, by the September steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Company and adds that the Governor General is right in his remark that few natives return by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's vessels from England, and if any should do so in future he will tell the Private Secretary. Copy of earlier letter, asking for this information (private and confidential). Also draft letter by Canning. See also 3013.

3015. January 1858. Letter from Baboo Ram Chund Mullick, Calcutta. Applies for the appointment of Deputy Superintendent, Government Toshakhana, with copies of testimonials. Copy of reply, apply to Foreign Secretary. See also 3509.

3016. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Dr J L Paul, Honorary Secretary, Neill Testimonial Committee, Madras. Forwards a copy of the resolutions proposed at a General Meeting held at Madras for the raising of a tribute to the memory of General Neill. Copy of reply about this.

3017. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Captain T J W Hungerford, Commanding Bengal Artillery, Mhow. Asks for a political appointment. Copy of reply, application noted.

3018. December 1857 to January 1858. Anonymous letter, Calcutta. About appointments in Moorshedabad on the departure of Colonel Macgregor.

3019. November to December 1857. Anonymous letter, Thayet Myo, Burma. Submits representations in favour of the Madras Army at Thayet Myo, on the frontier of Pegu; that the order restricting them to the use of Burma rice be removed, the rice is unwholesome and is the main cause of the frequent sicknesses and deaths among the Madras Army; and that an enquiry be instituted.

3020. November 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Lieutenant F H M Sitwell, 31st Native Infantry, Camp near Martiniere, Lucknow. Asks the Private Secretary to tell his father he is slightly wounded. He reports the circumstances under which they are compelled to fall back on Cawnpore; the excessive bravery of Sir James Outram; and the inexpediency of placing too much confidence in the Sikhs.

3021. January 1858. Copy of reply to the Reverend R Murphy, Madras. His letter about Lieutenant Fagan has been transferred to the Military Secretary. Copy of earlier reply to Murphy, acknowledging a letter he sent to Lady Canning. See also 872.

3022. January 1858. Letter from Captain G J Neblett, Officiating Secretary to the Superintendent of Marine, Calcutta. Submits a memorandum of his services to show his claim to the appointment of Secretary to the Superintendent of Marine. Note from Private Secretary to Mr Beadon, and his reply. Copy of reply, application noted.

3024. January 1858. Letter from Mr Robert Brown, Calcutta. Asks if the Town Hall may be used for the Calcutta Cricket Club dinner, if not required for any further regiments expected in Calcutta. Copy of reply, the 80th Regiment is expected, and the Town Hall will probably be required for them.

3025. January 1858. Letter from Mrs Dorothea Theile, wife of E W Theile. States that her husband served under the Private Secretary as a Proctor before the district Court of Manaar in Ceylon, and has been in the lunatic asylum in Colombo for 14 years; asks for money.

3026. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Lieutenant T E Kennion, 8th Battalion of Foot Artillery, Lahore. States the circumstances under which he volunteered for service in Delhi where he was severely wounded: asks for a gratuity and a pension. The members of the Medical Committee differ over his case. He hopes for a favourable opinion from the Governor General to enable him to obtain a place in the Home Recruiting Department. Encloses memorandum of his services. Copy of private reply by Private Secretary. See also 1215, 1369, 3152.

3028. December 1857 to March 1858. Letter from Brevet Major G R Edwards, 2nd Madras Cavalry, Sholapoor. In anticipation of Major Sleeman's retirement, submits his application to be General Superintendent of Thuggee and Dacoity, he has previously officiated in that post. Note from Mr Beadon; copy of reply, he will be nominated on the retirement of Sleeman. See also 3296, 3382, 3512, 4419, 4470.

3029. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Sir R N C Hamilton, Agent to Governor General for Central India, Indore. Sends duplicated copies of two of his letters to the Governor General and reports that there are not enough European troops at Indore. Copy of earlier letter of Hamilton, 17 Dec, he has taken over from Colonel Durand at Mhow. His house had every window broken. He has paid two visits to the Maharajah, which he describes; the Maharajah complained about Colonel Durand. Some remarks on the immediate policy for troops in Indore. Suggests suitable employment for the loyal sepoys. Copy of earlier letter of Hamilton, 21 Dec, reporting the trial and execution of various men, including the Amghera Rajah. four have already been hung where the mutineers planted the King of Delhi's flag, and 8 mutineers blown from guns. The Maharajah has also been executing rebels.

3030. January 1858. Letter from Cowar Kalle Kishun Roy, Chitpoor Park, Calcutta. Asks for patronage for his proposed entertainment to the Calcutta Volunteer Guard. Copy of reply, refused.

3031. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Major G J Montgomery, 15th Native Infantry Brigade Major, Agra. Offers to go to the Cape or Australia to buy horses for the cavalry. Copy of reply, refused.

3032. January 1858. Letter from Mrs M A Pott, wife of Colonel D Pott, Commanding 47th Native Infantry. Asks if she may join her husband at Mirzapore. Copy of reply, refused; but Colonel Pott and his regiment are under orders to come down by water to Calcutta at once.

3033. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Mr R Spankie, Collector and Magistrate of Saharunpore. Asks to be appointed Saharunpore Judge, which was promised him by the late Mr Colvin. He sends a copy of a letter to him from Mr C B Thornhill. Copy of reply, the Governor General has the strongest objections to officers making promises of appointments, and declines to interfere. Endorsed: Agra Book R 157, 349, 362, 6225.

3034. c. 1856-57. Bundle of papers. Labelled 'Lieutenant Hodson's papers received from General Anson and Mr Atkinson of La Martiniere'. In 3 groups, 'A', 'B' and a memorandum for Colonel Seaton. Bundle A contains a memorandum about Hodson's case by the Private Secretary; a printed letter from Major Taylor, late Commandant of the Guide Corps to Major J D Macpherson, Military Secretary to Chief Commissioner, Lahore, 1856 clearing Hodson from a charge of falsifying regimental accounts; copies of 4 other letters. Bundle B contains a note from General Anson; a letter from Anson; copy of a letter from Colonel Napier, Chief Engineer Punjab to Colonel Welchman, commanding 1st East Bengal Fusiliers. Extract from a letter from Mr Montgomery, Judicial Commissioner Punjab; memorandum about his case by Hodson; memorandum about the case by Private Secretary and Canning.

3034a. January 1858. Copy of a letter to the Right Honourable R Vernon Smith, Member of Parliament, London. Sending copy of a letter from Mr Sherer, the Magistrate of Cawnpore, to Mr Beadon. This is done with reference to an article in the 'Overland Friend of India' which gives what purports to be the copy of an inscription on the walls of the building in Cawnpore in which the unhappy women of the garrison were put. Lord Canning is prevented by a violent headache from writing himself to Vernon Smith or the Chairman, and from finishing his letter to Lord Palmerston. Miscellaneous Bundle number 202.

3035. January to February 1858. Letter from Mr A M Dowleans, Government Commissioner for the Conservancy and Improvement of the Town of Calcutta. Suggests the appointment of a committee to arrange relief for the sufferers by the mutinies, and offers his services. Copy of reply, from Governor General's camp, Allahabad, 17th February, acknowledgment.

3039. January 1858. Letter from Mr Edward Blyth, Curator of the Zoological Museum of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. Asks to be informed where he could see the savage from the Andamans. Copy of reply, apply to Dr Mouat.

3040. January 1858. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to the Government Home Department, Calcutta. States that the letter about the defeat of the Chittagong mutineers and Major Byng's death is in circulation; sends Colonel Fraser's last narrative in which he mentions having offered, to the Commander-in-Chief, the services of 300 Ramghur horses (no longer enclosed).

3041. January 1858. Letter from Dr A H Cheek, Civil Surgeon, Benares. Asks for permission for his wife and her sister to return to Benares under escort of his brother. Note from Sir Arthur Buller. Copy of reply, refusal.

3042. January 1858. Letter from Mr W Edwards, Civil Service, Calcutta. Asks for an interview. Note about this.

3043. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone, Calcutta. Submits part of a note from Edwards about his protector Hurdeo Buksh (note no longer enclosed) and asks Private Secretary to suggest an answer to a curious telegram from Mr E Woodcock, Civil Service.

3044. January 1858. Letter from Mr T H Kavanagh, Superintendent Chief Commissioner's office (of Oudh) Calcutta. Submits a memorandum about Moonshee Kunonjee Lal who acted as his guide, from the entrenchment at Lucknow to the camp of the Commander-in-Chief on 9th November and asks that he be rewarded.

3045. June 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Mrs Ellen Flint, Singapore. Asks for her husband to be appointed Superintendent of Convicts and Roads in the Straits, or a post in the Public Works Department at Nagpore or anywhere else. See also 1585, 1890, 2152.

3046. January 1858. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel R Strachey, Secretary to Government Central Province, Allahabad. Suggests that the three regiments of Gurkha sepoys be placed at the disposal of the Lieutenant Governor, Central Provinces, for service in the lower Doab, now that Colonel Frank does not need them. Copy of reply, the Governor General does not consider it advisable to propose any separation of Jung Bahadoor's force at present.

3047. January 1858. Letter from Mr R Simson, Under Secretary, Foreign Department. Encloses a note from Colonel Cavenagh about salutes to Jung Bahadoor.

3048. January 1858. Letter from Mr S Wauchope, Calcutta. Reports the results of his enquiry about an anonymous letter addressed to Lieutenant Neile, Royal Artillery, warning him against walking near St Andrew's church. Also the original letter, and a translation. Copy of earlier letter to Wauchope about this, and note from Lord Canning.

3049. December 1857 to January 1858. Letter from Mr W Tayler, late Commissioner of Patna. Asks for a letter from the Governor General to enable him to obtain a position as Tirhoot Judge. He has letters from Lord Ellenborough, who entirely approves of his withdrawal of officials from Gya (which cost him his post) and also from Mr Disraeli. Copy of reply, Private Secretary does not recommend laying this letter before the Governor General as he can do nothing. See also 3084.

3050. January 1858. Letter from Baboo Gopaul Chunder Mullick, Calcutta. Asks for employment. ½ anna stamp.

3050a. January 1858. Copy of a letter to Sir Albert Larpent Bt, Calcutta. Lady Canning wishes to inquire after the health of Mrs Ommaney [?] and her daughters at the end of their terrible sufferings.