'Telegraph and travel. A narrative of the formation and development of telegraphic communication between England and India, under the orders of Her Majesty's Government, with incidental notices of the countries traversed by the lines.' [‎21] (54/782)

i.j MEMOIR OF COLONEL PATRICK STEWART. 21
him an appointment on the executive staff of the Ganges
Canal Department, which he had not hesitated to
accept. Other openings, however, presented themselves
to him ; and at the commencement of May, 1853, he
writes that he has been gazetted to the office of Super
intendent of Electuc 1 elegraphs during the absence of
Dr. O'Shaughnessy, then on special duty in Europe.
His prolonged and tedious survey had been completed ;
and his proposal for a new bed to the Damuda, 10
miles iu extent, though at first approved, was eventually
countermanded on account of the expensive nature of
the work.
The position now occupied was an important one, and
the fact of its importance naturally enhanced the credit
of the young man of one and-twenty who had been
selected as a fitting incumbent. His selection, moreover,
appeals to luue been made by the Local Government on
immediate experience of his merits, and without any
solicitation or even expectation on his part. Mr. Siddons,
the Chemical Examiner to Government, had been first
appointed to act for Dr. O'Shaughnessy, but on the
death of that gentleman, after a few hours' illness, by
cholera, Stewart was immediately directed to officiate.
In no (ounti^ but India could the abilities of a young
military officer be provided with the wide field for dis
play suddenly exemplified in instances such as this. He
fouud himself in charge of an office at the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. ,
with a large establishment of assistants, as head of a
epaitment in direct communication with the Govern
ment, to all intents and purposes his own master. Con-
dential intelligence connected with State interests must
necessarily pass through his hands : he would be brought
constant!} before the hotice of the highest authorities of