Record

HSF - Correspondence of Sir John Frederick William Herschel, and the Herschel family
- 3 - Letters of William James Herschel
  - 9 - Letters from William James Herschel to family members

RefNo	HSF/3/9/1
Previous numbers	32.2.18 and 32.2.18A
Level	Item
Title	Letter from William James Herschel, Kishnaghur, to 'Dearest Father' [Sir John Frederick William Herschel]
Creator	Herschel; Sir William James; second baronet (1833-1917); British developer of fingerprinting and judge
Date	7 January 1861
Description	William does not wish a third mail to go by without writing to his father. He has just returned from his first cold weather tour, and he describes camp life, with its social activities, including hunting. The [indigo] planters have called upon [John Peter] Grant to apologise for the accusation of forging bonds and 'The Times' has believed them. William has come back into the station and has been ordered to report on the matter by return of post. He wonders what 'The Times' will say when he reports that of the 500 bonds filed by the largest planter concern in the district, 43 were forgeries by comparison with the stamp vendors' books. William describes some of these, saying that these are only ones where forgery is immediately apparent, but how many more forgeries there are is impossible to say, since many may have been correctly copied. One in twelve bonds are certain forgeries and William is glad that he never decreed a single case on the evidence of a bond. Many ryotts were imprisoned or sold up as a result. William notes the errors of the Press and asks [his father?] to let the facts described be known to the Saturday Review, as the Government will not catch the mail after receiving his report. He does not wish his name to be printed, but his authority might be given to the Editor. The planters are recovering their position now and are attempting to compel the ryotts to plant, refusing to receive rents to ensure that the ryotts take advances for sowing indigo. It seems hopeless to try to explain this exploitation to Englishmen. He concludes with a question about maps, which he has received without explanation.
Extent	9p.
Format	Manuscript
PhysicalDescription	Ink on paper
AccessStatus	Open

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