Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/13/35

Letter will be delivered by Colonel Carthew, who goes to Calcutta to command the Brigade of Madras troops. Praises Carthew. He will be able to describe the dismounting of the 8th Cavalry. There is some doubt as to whether the men volunteered for foreign service or not. At all events they are now disarmed and dismounted in an orderly manner. Harris is anxious to know how Canning likes Sir Colin Campbell. Hopes the 'Coromandel' will return to Madras by the 24th, so that she may be sent to Suez if necessary. All is quiet in Madras, it may be the quietest Mohurrum Madras has ever had. Hopes Cuddapah will remain quiet, it has a large Treasury but Harris cannot move the money for lack of an escort. In Vizagapatam there have been two small grain riots, there will probably be more of these because of the large exports of grain to Calcutta. Remarks on how curiously circumstances have combined to fan the troubles. The veterans have been worked up against a new uniform button, which has a small cross in the centre (drawing of the two buttons). The change had been made in England without any communication with Madras, and a supply sent out. Sends two telegrams [not enclosed]. The people in England should be stirred up, unless they want to lose India. They have sent just about enough troops to fill up the vacancies in the Regiments already in India.