Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/111

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 3251 to 3300, 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. 33 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 3201 to 3300’. 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, [Humphrey de Bohun Devereux, then 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 3255, 3258, 3266, 3270, 3271, 3272, 3273, 3274, 3275, 3276, 3277, 3278, 3280, 3283, 3288, 3291, 3292, 3293, 3297, 3298, 3300 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’. Note that number 3244 has been altered into number 1017a.

3251. February 1858. Letter from Captain L Barrow, Commanding Volunteer Cavalry, Alum Bagh.

Applies for an appointment in Oudh. Copy of reply, application noted.

3254. February 1858. Letter from Dr G Paton, Post Master General of North West Provinces, Camp, Kurnaul. Regrets that Banghy Registers and Chelauns and cheque books are not procurable from any office at Agra, they are to be sent from one of the post offices from which they can be spared. He intends to start on 20th February for Cawnpore and Allahabad via Agra.

3255. January to February 1858. Letter from Mr H Inglis, lime merchant, Calcutta. States particulars of the action against the Dacca mutineers by a party of the Sylhet Light Infantry under Major Byng, the particulars of whose death are detailed. Details about the exploits of the Gurkhas.

3258. February 1858. Letter from Dr J P Walker, Assistant Surgeon. Asks to be allowed to take his wife to the Andamans. Asks for a higher salary. Copy of reply, he may take his wife if he thinks the Islands are suitable; his salary will be considered. Copy of letter to the Honourable J A Dorin about Dr. Walker.

3259. February 1858. Letter from Captain R Meade, late Brigade Major and Pay Master, Gwalior Contingent and Commanding Irregular Cavalry at Agra. Asks to be Superintendent of the Bhuttee Territory or for a similar appointment. Copy of reply, the appointment has been otherwise disposed of.

3260. February 1858. Letter from Post Master, Benares. Forwards the reply of the Deputy Post Master General about the misdirection of 2 parcels. See also 3227.

3261. February 1858. Copy of reply to Captain H Hoseason, 24th Madras Native Infantry. His application has been transferred to the Military Secretary 27th February. Original letter from Captain H. Hoseason is in Military Secretary's Correspondence. See Mss Eur F699/1/3/2/70, item 3487.

3264. January 1858. Letter from Colonel J Garrock, Colombo. The 'Sydney' has just arrived from Calcutta. The Governor of the Cape could not have intended to send two regiments a fortnight after his letter of 9th November and therefore he has despatched the 'Sydney' at once to Calcutta, with the remainder of the 80th Regiment now at Galle. When the 6th Regiment comes, he will despatch it on the 'Shannon', and after this no more troops can be expected from the Cape for some time.

3265. February 1858. Copy of letter to Colonel C Stuart, Military Secretary. Transferring a letter from Sir Robert Hamilton.

3266. February to March 1858. Letter from Sir R N C Hamilton, Governor General's Agent, Central India, Saugor. Mentions favourably the Regent Begum of Bhopal and wishes to know whether the Governor General has taken up the Indore extension of the Baroda Railway. He encloses a letter from Mr Alvoid, an American, describing the capture of Canton by the English and French (no longer enclosed). Describes the theft of opium chests by the Chinese. Copy of reply, the Governor General has not had time to take up the Indore extension of the Baroda Railway. Other letters acknowledged.

3267. February to March 1858. Letter from Major A Fytche, Deputy Commissioner Bassein, and late Officiating Commissioner, Tenasserim and Martaban Provinces, Calcutta. Is about to leave India on sick leave; applies to be made Commissioner of Arracan, or Agent, South West Frontier. 2 letters. Copy of reply, application noted.

3269. February 1858. Letter from Mr C Sharp, Superintendent, Barrackpore Park. Reports the escape of the spotted deer. Copy of reply, he should call upon Captain Yule, Secretary to Government Public Works Department. Copy of letter to Captain Yule. See also 3153, 3316.

3270. January 1858. Letter from Major A P Phayre, Commissioner of Pegu, Rangoon. Sends a copy of a letter from Mr Spears, showing the absence of all hostile intentions towards the British Government of the King in assembling armed men, and believes the King's object is to enter Pegu whenever circumstances were favourable.

3271. January 1858. Letter from Major A P Phayre, Commissioner of Pegu, Rangoon. Sends a letter from Mr Spears reporting the discontent among the people and soldiers, on their removal from the old town to the new capital, and states that if another European regiment be sent to the Province, the chances of an aggressive movement would be reduced. Phayre intends to visit the new capital. He believes the King's intended embassy to England is a blind to conceal his aggressive intentions; and urges that the Sardinian Government be induced to take back control of the Catholic mission to Burma, recently transferred to the Propaganda Society, to prevent French missionaries being sent to Rangoon.

3272. February 1858. Letter from Mr C T Buckland, Under Secretary to Government of Bengal, Calcutta. Submits a printed copy of papers about the alleged rejection by the Government of Bengal of a geography classbook because it contained matter hostile to the Hindu religion.

3273. February to March 1858. Letter from Mr J D Bell, barrister at law, Calcutta. Asks for information about the murder of the Misses Skene's brother and family at Jhansi. Copy of reply, Private Secretary has made many enquiries without success; he has written to Mr Sherer, Magistrate of Cawnpore, for information. See also 2960, 3322, 3339, 3347, 3355, 3417, 3500.

3273a. February 1858. Copy of a letter to Captain T Dennehy, Quarter Master General, Governor General's Camp, Allahabad. Asking him to pitch the tents of the Private Secretary's office establishment.

3274. February 1858. Letter from Mr W Glynn, Collector, Futtehpoor. Submits copies of the information furnished to General Mansfield, about the preparations for resistance in Lucknow, and the state of affairs there.

3275. February 1858. Letter from the Honourable E A Blundell, Governor of Straits Settlements, Singapore. Submits to the decision of the Governor General upon his resignation. Reports dissension among the European community, in connection with a quarrel for the supremacy between two brothers in a neighbouring Malay Principality. See also 2599, 2993, 2994, 3374, 4970.

3276. February 1858. Letter from Mr W Tayler, Civil Service, Patna. Submits letters to vindicate his conduct during the late crisis. He has been appointed to a Judgeship of a very unhealthy station, where he cannot take his wife.

3277. February to March 1858. Letter from Lieutenant W N Lees, Secretary to Board of Examiners, Fort William College, Calcutta. Having seen in 'The Times' that Sir Charles Trevelyan is urging forward a proposal that Lees had previously advocated, the establishment of an Oriental College in Great Britain, submits a copy of his pamphlet on the subject. Enclosed is a cutting from 'The Times'. Copies of three letters to Lees.

3278. February 1858. Letter from Mr G F Edmonstone. Submits reasons for embodying Colonel Stuart's account of General Frank's victory at Badshagunj into the official report. Comments about the publication of the Gazette. Copy of report on the battle, and a letter about it.

3279. February 1858. Letter from Mrs Bessie Lee, Simla. Asks for aid from the Relief Fund. Copy of reply, she should write to the Secretary of the Relief Fund.

3280. December 1857 to February 1858. Letter from John Westwood Esquire, Madras Irrigation and Canal Company Limited, London. With reference to instructions sent by the Honourable Court to the Government of India about irrigation works and navigable canals for the Madras and Bombay Presidency, submits further documents. Copy of reply, acknowledgment.

3281. February 1858. Letter from Messrs Cook and Company, Livery Stables, Calcutta. Submits explanations about their bill to Private Secretary. Copy of reply about this.

3282. February 1858. Letter from Captain H Yule, Officiating Secretary to Government of India, Public Works Department, Calcutta. Forwards a copy of a telegraph to Private Secretary showing that Court's Despatch and two pamphlets about the Indus navigation have been sent. 4 papers. Copy of reply, returning the pamphlets.

3283. February 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Agent for the Governor General, Central India, Saugor. Reports that Bala Sahib and a nephew crossed to Sherghur, to be followed by the Nana with a force. He has communicated with Sir Hugh Rose about supplies and route, and hopes he will advance. He understands that Shaghur is still held by only 50 to 100 men.

3284. March 1858. Letter from H D Sandeman Esquire, Allahabad. Sends a copy of his letter to Mr Edmonstone asking for an appointment in the Financial Department under the system about to be introduced; or to act for Mr Harrison. 3 papers. Copy of reply, application noted. See also 3303.

3285. January 1858. Copy of a reply to Lieutenant James, Commissioner at United Service Club. That he should submit a medical certificate showing the nature of his wounds.

3286. February 1858. Letter from the Reverend A B Spry, Chaplain, Allahabad. Names the hours of services at Allahabad.

3287. February 1858. Letter from Mr T Garrett, Deputy Post Master General, Calcutta. Reports that the Calcutta mail to and from Bombay now runs via Benares and Nagpore, and mentions the dates on which the steamers leave Bombay.

3288. February 1858. Letter from Sir R N C Hamilton, Agent to the Governor General in Central India, Saugor. Encloses a letter from Major McPherson, about the appointment of an Agent in Western Malwa; speaks favourably of Captain Keatinges. Returns thanks for the telegram about his brother. With reference to a letter from Major Erskine, Sir Robert explains that he was co-operating with Major Western and only easing Major Erskine of responsibility.

3289. March 1858. Letter from Mr W Muir, Secretary to Government, North West Provinces, Allahabad. Submits with his recommendation an application from Captain R Patton, 3rd European Regiment, for a military appointment in the Andaman Islands; also letter from Colonel Fraser. See also 5766.

3290. February to March 1858. Letter from Captain F D Atkinson, Deputy Secretary, Military Department, Calcutta. Asks to be allowed to live in one of the bungalows at Dum Dum for 10 or 15 days; submits an explanation about an alleged shortage of supplies for invalids on board the 'Himalaya'. Copy of reply, granting permission to use the bungalow, with some comments about the supplies of the 'Himalaya'.

3291. February to March 1858. Letter from Colonel H M Durand, Calcutta. Asks permission to publish a letter (no longer enclosed) to refute certain misstatements supposed to have been made by Sir Robert Hamilton against him. Copy of reply, granting permission and returning the papers.

3292. February 1858. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Calcutta. Sends papers about Longueville Clarke, and the assertions reported to have been made by him at the Indian Reform League meeting held on 5th February about the petition to the Queen praying for the recall of Lord Canning. A petition to this effect was returned to Calcutta by Lord Palmerston, with the request that it be forwarded through the Governor General as the usual channel. Mr Clarke, as Chairman of the Indian Reform League, asserted that Canning had seen the petition, which he denied. 8 papers, including a copy of the 'Phoenix'. See also 3293, 3343.

3293. February 1858. Letter from Mr R V Doyne and others, the Committee for drawing up the petition for the Governor General 's recall, Calcutta. Submit tor transmission to Her Majesty's Government, a petition praying for the recall of the Governor General in conformity with the resolution passed at a meeting held on 5th February (no longer enclosed, either letter or petition). Copy of reply, the petition will be forwarded by the next mail. See also 3292, 3343.

3294. February 1858. Letter from Mrs S M Moscrop, widow of Henry Moscrop, surgeon to Her Majesty's Regiment, Calcutta. Asks for a recommendation for her son to the Collector of Customs, and for money. Copy of reply, refused. See also 61, 103, 137, 651, 1446, 2859.

3295. February to March 1858. Letter from Major E Lawford, Madras Engineers, Madras. Further to his application to be Officiating Chief Engineer in Mysore. Copy of reply, his application will be considered. See also 3333.

3296. February 1858. Letter from G Edmonstone Esquire. Forwards an appeal from Brigadier Colin MacKenzie and suggests he be appointed at once. Encloses also a note from Major Edwardes, who is a fitting successor to Major Sleeman, if the latter should go. (Neither enclosure remains). See also 3028, 3221, 3382, 3512, 4419, 4470.

3297. February 1858. Letter from H Brereton Esquire, Bustee. Encloses copies of correspondence with Man Singh about Mrs Duhan, whom with three children, he has sent to Gorruckpore, and other female captives now at Lucknow, whom Man Singh, with Wajid Ali, Darogah of the Police, is endeavouring to rescue. Most of the people of the District think highly of Man Singh. He has recommended that he petition the Governor General. See also 3222, 3398.

3298. February 1858. Letter from G Osborne Esquire, Deputy Opium Agent, Gorruckpore, Bustee. In reply, about the list of the Lucknow captives; it was written by himself at the dictation of Mrs Duhan, who was sent in by Man Singh. He thinks Man Singh will do his best to rescue the other Europeans still at Lucknow. In July last he sent in several female captives and their families from Fyzabad. He attributes mainly to Man Singh's conduct the fact that Bustee was held until a very few days before the evacuation of Gorruckpore. Copy of a letter from Man Singh, in the vernacular. See also 3222, 3297.

3299. February to March 1858. Letter from Dr C Smith, Peshawur. Asks to be given the medical charge of Murree.

3300. June 1856. Letter from Mr J Lavies. Encloses a letter from Mr Snowden against the discontinuance of medical supplies from him for the use of the Nizam's Army (no longer enclosed).