Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/3/37

Writes of the surprise and distress felt on receipt of the news about Meerut and Delhi. The next mail is anxiously awaited. He is thankful that Lord Canning is at the head of the Government. Remarks on the prophetic words spoken by Lord Canning at the farewell dinner. Hopes to hear by the next mail how General Anson has dealt with the mutineers at Delhi, if, indeed, they await him there. All think that General Hewitt was very slack at Meerut, why did he not attack the mutineers in cantonments, or pursue them after they had fled. Colonel Smyth of the 3rd Light Cavalry is probably greatly to blame; Mangles knew him many years before, and he was then little better than a madman. The system of promotion by seniority must be broken through at once. If Hearsey or Wheeler had been in command at Meerut instead of Hewitt in all probability there would have been no serious outbreak. Describes the reinforcements that are being sent, about 10,000 men. A Regiment has also been ordered to leave the Cape for India. These large reinforcements of Queen's Troops may serve as a plea for postponing the assent of the Government to the Governor General's urgent application for three new Company's European Regiments. Preparations are being made for an immediate increase of he Artillery; asks for the Governor General's opinion of the suggestion of having only Europeans in the Artillery. Colonel Bygrave believe that Jotee Persad is the origin of all the trouble in India, and if he and his papers were seized, this would be proved. Repeats his admiration for Lord Canning's measures.