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Mss Eur F231/10, f116
- Record Id:
- 041-002302411
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-002302141
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100000001953.0x0002da
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Mss Eur F231/10, f116
- Title:
- Letter from Canning to Vernon Smith
- Scope & Content:
- Situation at Delhi; protracted delay in taking it 'lamentable in its effects'; Anson should not have waited for siege train; problems of carriage and commissariat have also caused delay; failure of army staff, especially medical staff, to appreciate need for speed; wishes Sir John Lawrence was nearer headquarters; decision three years ago to give up transport establishments, though prudent economically, has complicated matters; situation in Punjab; no reason to mistrust Amir of Afghanistan; situation elsewhere in India; 6th regiment has mutinied at Allahabad and committed 'fearful atrocities' but fort under Col J G Neill is holding out 'and that point the most precious in India at this moment, and for many years the one most neglected, is safe, thank God'; column collecting there to be commanded by Havelock to relieve Cawnpore and Lucknow; 'terrible anarchy' between Allahabad and Benares, landholders cutting each other's throats, pillage and murder on roads, 'a passion for riot and bloodshed rather than any set antagonism to Europeans seems to prevail through this District'; mismanagement of disarming of 37th regiment; has sent detachment of European troops to counter danger of rising by Muslim population at Murshidabad, in view of moral effect of old capital of Bengal being held against British at same time as old dynasty is in possession of Delhi; comments on cruel necessity of having to refuse pleas from Europeans in out-stations for protection, but scattering small force would lose chance of quick outcome; need to secure communications with North West; after that one or two compact columns may be able to move about to suppress disorder; risk of being cut off from Upper Provinces 'by a broad tract of country in anarchy and rebellion, which would prevent united action until large reinforcements should arrive'; efforts to secure treasure in small unprotected stations; in large areas 'the country is not only in rebellion against us, but is entirely lawless. Every man's hand is turned against his neighbours'; hunting down rebels and restoring order will take time 'and you must make up your mind to a long and bloody Sessions … there are precious lives to be avenged, and I will never rest till the score is wiped out'; conduct of King of Delhi; renewed panic in Calcutta more intense than ever; Canning agreed to disarming of regiments at Barrackpore at instance of General Hearsey but is not convinced it was necessary; Calcutta is delighted, but Canning fears effects on regiments in lower Bengal; another 'sedative' to Calcutta fears has been acceptance of 'Volunteers', but its usefulness is limited; justifies curbs placed on both Native and English press, giving examples of irresponsible reporting in Friend of India and Bengal Hurkaru, and describing latter's editor as a 'mischievous fool'; almost all European troops have arrived except for those at Pegu, and China regiments which Elgin has agreed to release.
- Collection Area:
- India Office Records and Private Papers
- Project / Collection:
- India Office Private Papers
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-002302141
036-002302142
040-002302397
041-002302411 - Is part of:
- Mss Eur F231 : Papers of Robert Vernon Smith, 1st Baron Lyveden (1800-73) as President of the Board of Control 1855-58
Mss Eur F231/1-11 : Letterbooks of correspondence with the Governor-General of India, the Governors of Madras and Bombay and others
Mss Eur F231/10 : Letters from Lord Canning Vol 2 [formerly Mss Eur B324]
Mss Eur F231/10, f116 : Letter from Canning to Vernon Smith - Hierarchy:
- 032-002302141[0001]/036-002302142[0010]/040-002302397[0014]/041-002302411
- Container:
- View / search within Archive / Collection: Mss Eur F231
- Record Type (Level):
- Item
- Extent:
- 1 item
- Digitised Content:
- Languages:
- English
- Scripts:
- Latin
- Start Date:
- 1857
- End Date:
- 1857
- Date Range:
- 19 Jun 1857
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
-
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- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)