From Colonel R.J . H. Birch to Major W. A.J. Mayhew on convincing the sepoys that their apprehensions are groundless, 11 February 1857

From Colonel R. J. H. Birch, C.B., Secretary to the Government of India, in the Military Department, to Major W. A. J. Mayhew, Deputy Adjutant-General of the Army,--No. 388, dated Fort William, 11th February 1857.

        I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 165, from yesterday's date, forwarding a communication from the Major-General Commanding the Presidency Division, bringing to notice a spirit of disaffection prevailing among the native troops at Barrackpore, and in reply to acquaint you that Government are of opinion that Major-General J. B. Hearsey should be requested to keep on the alert to detect meetings among the sepoys, and that he should instruct the officers of the several regiments to go into the lines of their corps and converse with the men, and make use of their best native officers for the purpose of convincing the sepoys that their apprehensions are groundless.

        2. The native officers of the several regiments should be reminded by their commanding officers of paras. 16 to 21 of G. G. O. No. I32, of the 23rd January 1856, which hold the native officers responsible to Government for the conduct of the men.

        3. The delay which has occurred in submitting to Government a report of the proceedings at Barrackpore the Governor-General in Council considers most reprehensible; and His Lordship in Council desires that it may be ascertained where it lies, in order that notice may be taken of it at once. Apparently this delay has not been in your office. It was only on the afternoon of the 10th that Government was informed of what occurred on the 6th instant, and General Hearsey's report is dated the 8th.

        4. The Major-General was to have addressed the regiment at Barrackpore on parade on Monday morning, the 9th, and up to this hour nothing is known to Government of the result.

From: Selections from the Letters Despatches and other State Papers preserved in the Military Department of the Government of India, 1857-58.  Edited by George W. Forrest.  Calcutta: Military Department Press 1893, 28.