Mss Eur F699/1/2/2/123

Contains docketed sets of papers, numbered 3851 to 3899, 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. 39 Private Secretary’s Correspondence, Nos. 3801 to 3900’. 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, Lewin Bentham Bowring, 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 3852, 3856, 3857, 3859, 3860, 3861, 3862, 3863, 3864, 3866, 3868, 3869, 3871, 3873, 3875, 3876, 3879, 3881, 3883, 3885, 3888, 3890, 3891, 3892, 3895, 3898, and 3899 have a red cross on them, to indicate that they ‘may be preserved’, whilst ‘the rest may be destroyed’.

3851. June 1858. Letter from Mr H Madocks, Civil Service, Buxar. Reports that Brigadier Douglas crossed the Kurumnasa on 11 Jun, burnt two villages and captured a few Budmashes, the majority of the enemy having run away; the few who stood were shot. The force is expected at Buxar on 12 Jun. Ummer Sing is said to have fled south or south-west. 300 or 400 sepoys are said to have crossed into Ghazeepore, where the police are said to have fled and great disorganization prevails.

3852. June 1858. Letter from Mr H Madocks, Civil Service, Buxar. Reports the burning by the rebels of all the Government buildings at Bullia and the sums offered by them for the heads of some of the principal native police officials; in consequence of an express from Major Rattray about 11 miles from the jungles, who expected to be attacked by Ummeer Sing, General Lugard has recalled Brigadier Douglas' Force. The jungle-cutting progresses well. Ummer Sing crossed the Kurumnasa when Ghoomur was being burnt. The 84th is worn out.

3853. June 1858. Letter from Captain W A Crommelin, Superintending Engineer, Lucknow. Returns thanks for the promise in favour of his brother. See also 3815.

3854. June 1858. Letter from Colonel H M Durand, Engineers, Allahabad. Sends a note from Mr Edmonstone who has received no official notification of Colonel Durand's summons to Allahabad, and asks that this may be rectified.

3855. June 1858. Letter from Mr W P Palmer, Civil Auditor, Fort William. Transmits an Appendix to the books of Civil Establishment up to 1 May 1857 (not enclosed).

3856. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Agent to the Governor General for Central India, from the left bank of Sinde. States that there is a split in the Lushgur at Gwalior, and if Scindia were at hand it could be worked to advantage, both he and the Dewan are wanted. If Scindia had not made the great mistake of leaving his territory, the evil would not have assumed such proportions. He has issued a proclamation saying that a British Force was moving on Gwalior. Gwalior Fort is naturally very strong, but it is not yet provisioned or stored with ammunition. The Rao Sahib, Tantia Topi and others are at Gwalior, Tantia is in command, and has placed 32 guns on the road to Moorar. All the chiefs and officers have been warned that the rebels may escape towards Berar and the Deccan. The Camel Corps would be of service. Tantia Topi's policy is conciliatory, not a house has been plundered, and his announcement that the Peishwa would strengthen Scindia's position and make him far more independent has had a good effect, and is widely contrasted with what was done at Jhansi. Encloses a letter from the rebel Dowlut Sing to his wife in the vernacular.

3857. June 1858. Letter from Mr H Madocks, Civil Service, Buxar. Reports the movements of Ummer Sing's force of 600 sepoys. General Lugard has moved to the North East side on the Arrah road and Brigadier Douglas remains at Buxar with his force which has only 25 men really fit for duty out of 560 of the 84th.

3858. June 1858. Letter from Baboo Ram Chund Mullick, Calcutta. Asks for a reply to his earlier application. Copy of reply, Private Secretary will not interfere in this matter. See also 3509, 3718.

3859. June 1858. Letter from Mr H Madocks, Civil Service, Buxar. Reports that Ummer Sing has gone to Seckreeta with the intention of crossing the Soane, looting Sekuree and Gya and then going to Palamow and the Hills. General Lugard's Force is at Arrah, and Brigadier Douglas at Buxar, and the Sikhs are left at Jugdeespore to guard the axmen. He will not write again unless the rebels come his way again, as the Private Secretary will have news from Gya and Sasseram.

3860. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Sassowlee. Reports the force's arrival 16 miles from the Gwalior Fort, they will cross to the opposite bank on 15 Jun. If Scindia were present he would be joined at once by 1,000 men. The mutineers were dispersing, having got their pay. General Smith is at Mahona, Major Orr across the Sinde, and Brigadier Showers at Dholepore.

3861. June 1858. Letter from Lord William Hay, Deputy Commissioner of Simla. Complains about the manner in which Dr Peskett is carrying out his duties as Vaccine officer in the Hills. Copy of reply about this.

3862. June 1858. Letter from Pundit Ajoodhia Persad, Camp Dehra, Zillah Fyzabad. Names the Zemindars who have come in so far, many more will come in as soon as the rebels are disposed of. Submits other particulars about the state of affairs in Oudh and repeats his desire to be transferred to the North West Provinces, to Benares, Mirzapore, Allahabad or Delhi. Memorandum about Pundit Ajoodhia Persad's letters.

3863. June 1858. Letter from Sir R N C Hamilton, Agent to the Governor General for Central India, Camp. Regrets Scindia's prolonged absence, as there is a party among the rebels who would support him. In the meantime proposes to hoist Scindia's flag when the British get near Morar, or if any troops come out to meet the Force, and to use Scindia's Vakeel as his representative. 3,000 men are said to be ready to leave. The Calpee troops who have been paid are leaving. Sir Hugh Rose was for a halt, but much will be gained from the Force being seen. Mahomed Isay, formerly Thanadar of Calpee is now head of the administration at Gwalior. Tantia Topi is sure to go to Poona and not Kotah, the authorities have been warned. He would wish the Governor General to issue stringent orders to prevent looting by camp-followers, who have been terrible; Tantia's troops are the very reverse. All the Calpee papers are with Captain Ternan, who is not the man to bring the district into order. He regrets the assembly of too many native troops at Mhow, and sends copy of two notes from Holkar's Acting Minister, in one of which he recommends that Lord Elphinstone should be called upon to send European troops to Mhow.

3864. June 1858. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to Government of India Home Department, Calcutta. Reports all he remembers about Mr Goldsworthy. Forwards a copy of a letter from Mr Samuells, an unflattering account of military operations in Shahabad. Communication with Patna is interrupted except by the river route, and disorganization is spreading rapidly eastward. Copy of earlier letter asking for information about Goldsworthy. See also 3848, 3895.

3865. June 1858. Letter from Mr G C Barnes, Commissioner, Cis Sutlej States, Kussowlee. Having heard that Mr Edmonstone is to be appointed Lieutenant Governor of the North West Provinces, asks to succeed him as Foreign Secretary.

3866. June 1858. Letter from Mr H Madocks, Civil Service, Buxar. Reports that Ummer Sing is said to have crossed to Soane, and then to have returned to the jungle. Rattray's Sikhs have retired from the jungle. General Lugard goes home and his force to Dinapore; and Brigadier Douglas and his force move to Benares on 20 Jun leaving the district unprotected in the hands of the enemy. Has 70 men left to protect the Stud and 60 in the Fort. Anarchy and disorganization will now prevail.

3867. June 1858. Letter from Mr C W West, Inspecting Post Master, Cannanore, Camp, Mangalore, Canara. Repeats his request for suitable employment. See also 3557.

3868. June 1858. Letter from Mr J W Sherer, Magistrate and Collector of Cawnpore. States that Dr Duff and others having pointedly alluded to the murder of the late Mr Tucker at Futtehpore as an instance of religion being the great support of duty in the most trying circumstances, those officials including himself who left Futtehpore are open to a charge of abandoning their duty, in the absence of a full explanation; asks to be allowed to show in a narrative he has been requested to prepare, that Mr Tucker remained not from a sense of duty, but from a mistaken view of his own safety; Mr Tucker was not in full possession of his reason at the time of the outbreak. 1/2 anna stamp. Copy of reply, the Governor General hopes that nothing disparaging to Tucker's memory will be written by Sherer.

3869. June 1858. Letter from Mr R Temple, Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab, Lahore. Asks if there is any chance of the Governor General making the Punjab a Lieutenant Governorship, or if it will be necessary to wait for official orders from England. Asks if there are any officers named to be Foreign Secretary, if Edmonstone be made Lieutenant Governor of the Provinces, besides Messrs Barnes and Muir. All is well between Delhi and Peshawur. The Delhi customs realize more than ever Sir John Lawrence is not entirely well, but works away.

3870. June 1858. Letter from Mr F Gubbins, Commissioner, Benares. States that Mr Money has shown Mr Check his mistake on the bonus system. It is important to put the police levies in good working order, he has applied for orders for tenting the men.

3871. June 1858. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to Government Home Department, Calcutta. Submits copy of the reply of the Calcutta Petitioners to the marginal notes on the petition for the recall of Lord Canning, and a letter about discrepancies in Mr Tayler's statements (Reply of the Petitioners no longer enclosed). Copy of reply, acknowledgment.

3872. June 1858. Letter from Messrs Pharoah and Company, Madras. Submits an account rendered. 1/2 anna stamp. Copy of reply asking what the account was for. See also 4044.

3873. June 1858. Letter from Missur Gayan Chund, Umritsar. Reports that Mr Deputy Commissioner Cooper has placed under his management since Sep 1857 the collection of the municipal funds of Umritsar, and submits a statement in the vernacular showing the extent of trade carried on in the City and the amount of town dues realized thereon. Miscellaneous Bundle number 779.

3874. June 1858. Letter from Copy of a letter to R Montgomery Esquire, Lucknow. Sending him extracts about Binee Madhoo Rao, who might come in.

3875. June 1858. Copy of a letter to Lieutenant C H Mecham, Lucknow. His drawings were sent to England by the 'Ava'. The packet was a tin roll covered with wax cloth, so it is possible they may have been recovered. Two notes about this.

3876. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Agent to the Governor General for Central India, near Gwalior. Reports the arrival of Scindia, who was received with all honours. His force attacks the enemy at the Phoolbag at 3pm. The Rani of Jhansi had been killed on 17 Jun. Tantia Topi and Rao Sahib have fled, and General Napier is in pursuit, Regrets that Mr Edmonstone's despatch did not contain any praise of Hamilton. General Smith has taken two guns and spiked two more. Copy of reply, he will have a special despatch devoted to him at the close of the campaign.

3877. June 1858. Letter from Mr W Kelly, Head Clerk, Commissioner's office, Mooltan. Returns thanks to the Governor General for his approval of his services, and remarks that the two sergeants attached to the Ordnance Department had received promotion for performing the same service, ie completing the repairs of the defences of the Fort. See also 3796.

3878. June 1858. Copy of reply to the Reverend A B Spry, Allahabad. The Governor General has granted leave to Spry's son in order that he may visit his father.

3879. June 1858. Letter from Dr A H Check, Benares. Renews his request for a bonus; encloses copy of his letter to Mr Gubbins on the subject.

3880. June 1858. Letter from Baboo Praunath Bose, Calcutta. Asks that Mr Edmonstone be directed to state the grounds on which he declined to give him employment in the Foreign Office.

3881. June 1858. Letter from Mr C Wingfield, Officiating Commissioner of Goruckpore. Regrets that he has not received a reply to his letters about his resignation of the Oudh Commissionership and his future prospects. Copy of reply, the Governor General regrets the delay, and will shortly explain the situation himself.

3882. June to July 1858. Letter from Lieutenant J F MacAndrew, late Military Secretary, Gurkha Force, Papamhow. Applies to be 1st class Assistant Commissioner in Oudh. Copy of reply about this. Memorandum. See also 3906, 4009, 4440.

3883. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Gwalior. Reports the return to Gwalior of Baja Baee and all the other ladies, and the restoration of Scindia to the Palace, where he held a Durbar; sends a letter from Sir Hugh Rose, reporting the recapture of the Fort. Hamilton believes the Hyderabad Contingent should be sent home as soon as possible.

3884. June 1858. Letter from Mrs G H Tresidder, Allahabad. Asks if ladies will shortly be allowed to travel to Cawnpore, where her husband is. See also 3889.

3885. June 1858. Letter from Mr H G Keene, Superintendent of Dehra Doon. Returns thanks for the Private Secretary's letter promising to submit his application for a financial appointment to the Governor General. Reports the circumstances which have made it necessary for him to get away from his present post. Copy of reply about this. North West Bundle number 207.

3886. June 1858. Letter from Mr J W Breeks, 2nd Assistant to the Accountant General, Madras. Asks to be nominated to some other branch of the service, and to be allowed to retain his present appointment until nominated. Cover only. Copy of letter, sending Breeks' letter to the Private Secretary to the Governor of Madras.

3887. June 1858. Letter from the Reverend P W Kellner, Officiating Chaplain, Field Force, Lucknow. Asks for a permanent appointment on the Bengal Establishment and encloses copy of a testimonial. Copy of reply, he should apply to the Court of Directors. See also 3929, 3980.

3888. June 1858. Letter from Mr W S Atkinson, Principal of La Martiniere, Calcutta. Further to his plan to purchase 'The Englishman', for about 150,000 Rupees; wishes the Government to guarantee him to enable him to raise the money on easy terms. Copy of reply, the Government cannot be so closely connected with the newspaper. See also 3789, 3832.

3889. June 1858. Letter from Dr J N Tresidder, Civil Assistant Surgeon, Cawnpore. Asks permission for his wife to join him. Copy of reply, permission granted. See also 3884.

3890. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Agent to the Governor General for Central India, Gwalior. Forwards a letter from Major Macpherson, reporting that Colonel Riddell and Brigadier Napier attacked rebels near Jawra Allapoor.

3891. June 1858. Letter from Mr J H Prinsep, late Assistant Commissioner, Sialcote. Asks to be appointed to any station where his wife may accompany him. 1/2 anna stamp. Copy of reply, he has been appointed to the North West Provinces but may be allowed to go to Meerut.

3892. June 1858. Letter from Mr H Madocks, Civil Service, Buxar. Reports that Ummer Sing and Hurkeshen Sing are roving about the jungle attacking and plundering villages supposed to be friendly to the British. The Government's inaction is likely to alienate those well-disposed towards it. The rains are not so bad as represented, and Major Eyre marched and fought in the height of the rains.

3893. June 1858. Letter from Mr George Brown, Calcutta. Asks if he may publish the Governor General's letter in testimony to the late Mr Venables, and returns thanks for the subscription. Endorsed: answered privately. See also 3837; Telegraph Messages Sent number 464, 469; Telegraph Messages received number 795.

3894. June to July 1858. Letter from Major H L Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General, Calcutta. Sends another copy of the Goruckpore Frontier map. Copy of earlier letter asking for this.

3895. June 1858. Letter from Mr C Beadon, Secretary to Government Home Department, Calcutta. Sends a letter from Major Atkinson about Mr Goldsworthy. See also 3848, 3864

3896. June 1858. Letter from Mr J Bickers, Deputy Collector and Magistrate, Goruckpore. Asks permission to send for his wife and children to Goruckpore. Copy of reply, request cannot be granted at present.

3897. June 1858. Letter from Lieutenant Colonel J Ramsay, Commissary General, Calcutta. Sends an application from Mr J C Macdonald for a civil appointment. Copy of reply to Macdonald, as he does not appear to have any knowledge of the vernacular languages, he cannot hold a civil appointment. See also 4447; Governor General's Book number 1090, 1091.

3898. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Governor General's Agent, Central India, Gwalior. Reports that the fugitives from Gwalior have been caught up with, 23 guns captured and a number killed on the road to Durowhee.

3899. June 1858. Letter from Sir Robert Hamilton, Gwalior. Encloses a letter from Sir Hugh Rose, and observes that it is time General Whitlock was applied to for troops to settle Bundelcund. The work at Gwalior is over, Scindia must have the force allotted to him. The 8th Hussars and 95th can march from Gwalior to Saugor or elsewhere, and the wing of the 3rd Europeans return to Jhansi, and the Hyderabad Contingent should at once return home. He expects the Rajah of Shahghur will come in now that Gwalior is smashed, and the Rajah of Banpore also, as the death of the Jhansi Ranee cut their connection with the Mahrattas and stopped supplies.