Demi-official letters from Colonel John Allen Wright, Political Agent, Haraoti on the state of Meywar [Mewār] affairs following the death of Maharana Shunbao Singh [Shambhu Singh].The letters discuss the circumstances of the Maharana's death and claims that his death was as a result of witchcraft; the potential successors to the throne and the difficulties in removing one of the claimants to the throne from Oodeypore [Udaipur, Mewar].1 file, 3 items (18 folios)Foliation: The file has been foliated in the front top right hand corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.Binding: The contents of the file had been tied together with red and yellow thread and within the file each individual letter had been tied together with string. All of these ties have since been removed for conservation purposes and can be found at the rear of their relevant letters/file.
Letter No. 2564 P from Charles Umpherston Aitchison, Secretary to the Government of India, 25 November 1874, to Colonel Sir Lewis Pelly informing him of his appointment as Agent to the Governor-General and Special Commissioner at Baroda as a temporary measure whilst the Baroda Enquiry Commission is being undertaken.The letter details arrangements for travel expenses, assures Pelly that it will not affect his permanent position as Agent to the Governor-General at Rajputana and requesting that he take a letter from the Viceroy for His Highness the Guicowar [Gaekwar] announcing Pelly's appointment. The letter also refers to two enclosed letters, one from the Viceroy detailing his expectations of Pelly and outlining the duties in this difficult role (not enclosed) and the other from the Government of India to the Government of Bombay:Letter No. 2563P from the Secretary to the Government of India to the Secretary of the Government of Bombay Political Department, 25 November 1874, concluding that Colonel Phayre misunderstood 'the spirit' of the instructions he received from both the Government of India and the Government of Bombay and that he is to be removed from his position as Resident at Baroda with Lewis Pelly being sent as a temporary replacement; informing them of the instructions Pelly has received from the Viceroy and of the letter for His Highness the Guicowar that he has been entrusted with.The letter goes on to reprimand the Government of Bombay for the manner in which they handled affairs, their delays in forwarding correspondence and their failure to grasp the severity and importance of the matter. The Secretary then requests to be informed of the outcome of the investigation into the attempted poisoning of Colonel Phayre, sending their sympathies to him in that matter and informing him that Colonel Pelly has been instructed to send all correspondence relating to the enquiry directly to the Government of India, with duplicates to be sent to the Government of Bombay and only to send correspondence relating to the running of Baroda State to the Government of Bombay first.1 file (8 folios)Foliation: The file has been foliated in the front top right hand corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed in a circle.
The letters contain résumés for the Viceroy (Thomas George Baring, Second Baron Northbrook) on the state of affairs in Baroda state, focusing primarily on financial matters and the reforms needed to improve them.The résumés also assess disturbances by agriculturalists within Baroda state; the relationship between the Gaekwar, Malharrao, and the Sirdars; and a résumé written by James Bellett Richey, Assistant Resident of the corroborative evidence to support the confession of the Jemadar that he had poisoned Colonel Robert Phayre on the instructions of the Gaekwar of Baroda.1 file, 2 items (12 folios)The letters have been arranged chronologically by date.Foliation: The file has been foliated using a pencil number enclosed in a circle in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio.
Copy of letter No. 1282 of 1874 which is acknowledging receipt of letter No. 2464 to the Government of India regarding a projected railway from Ahmedabad [Ahmadābād] to Ajmere [Ajmer].1 folio
Letter in response to letter No. 2465 requesting that the thanks of the chamber be conveyed to Lewis Pelly for the valuable information and great assistance he provided to the chamber with regards to the speedy construction of the line between Delhi and Ahmedabad [Ahmadābād].1 folio
Note to Pelly apologising for the unavoidable delay in sending Pelly's invitation to the ball as they were not aware of his camps movements or where to send the invitiation.Enclosed are the earlier invitation and correspondence on the matter:Invitation, dated 7 September 1874, from the race ball committee to Lewis Pelly to attend their ballExtract of a note from General Woolcombe dated 12 September 1874 requesting that the committee be advised that such invitations should be done in the proper time and proper form.2 folios
Note enclosing a telegram from Calcutta regarding the illness of the Maharana [Shambhu Singh] of Oodeypore [Udaipur] and instructing him to remain at the palace as much as possible and describing the protocol for the last hours of a Chief's life:Copy of a telegram from the Foreign Secretary to the Agent for the Governor General [Pelly] regarding the dangerous illness that the Maharana of Oodeypore is suffering from and requesting that the Political Agent [Wright] will endeavour to ascertain the Maharana's wishes; or if he dies to take steps to ensure the continuation of administration pending settlement of succession.2 folios