Draft letter from John Jacob, Jacobabad to Henry Bartle Frere

Content

Draft of a letter to Bartle Frere regarding Jacob's fears of a mutiny and rebellion in upper Sind if matters continue as they are and his ongoing fears of ruin for the whole empire under the current guidance of the British Government.

Enclosed with the letter is a letter from John Braithwaite Hardy, Bombay Artillery, who was accompanying the British Mission in Herat, 22 February 1858:

• Letter, regarding prior arrangements for his letters to be forwarded to Herat via Jacobabad and Kandahar, and his desire to stop the arrangement owing to Colonel Taylor's mission being recalled which has led to his immediate departure for India. The letter goes on to inform the recipient that the sudden departure from Herat was due to H M's Government having decided to give over the city to Russo-Persian influence and waive the terms of their treaty, including the clause to release all prisoners taken during the last war with Persia. Also discussed are Persia's response to this decision; Hardy's fears that a revolution may occur once the British Mission departs as the people are not happy with the recent actions of their ruler; their departure from Herat via Bushire; and their intention to take any troops stationed at Karrack [Bandar-e-Charak] with them. The letter concludes by enquiring after Colonel John Jacob and whether he has returned to Jacobabad; and promoting the need for a strong British force above Bolan (Afghanistan).

Extent and format

6 folios

It is part of

'private letters from [John] Jacob, [Sir Henry] Green and [Sir William] Merewether while I was in England'

617 images

Ref: Mss Eur F126/1

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Letter

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Mss Eur F126/1, ff 39-44

History of this record

Date(s)

13 Feb 1858 (CE, Gregorian)

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

Draft letter from John Jacob, Jacobabad to Henry Bartle Frere, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/1, ff 39-44, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024079755.0x000009> [accessed 17 July 2026]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024079755.0x000009

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001524.0x000379/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content