Item: Mutiny Of Seringapatam Fiott De HAVILLAND Ennore Madras 1809 East India Company
Sold For: $1,025.00
Bids: 20
Date: Jun 30, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: lemarechaldesaxe
Description and Image By: lemarechaldesaxe
India – elizabeth de sausmarez (1782-1818). Letter to her husband thomas fiott de havilland (1775-1866), army officer in the east india company, while he was under arrest at bangalore to await his eventual trial for his participation in the mutiny of seringapatam – ennore (near madras/chennai, india), december 24th 1809. 2 pp. In-4. Address with postmark post paid fort st george and date mark 24 dec – superb example for this postmark. The mutiny of seringapatam (1809): In summer 1809 various disputes broke out between the officers of the madras army and sir george barlow, the governor of madras. The disaffected officers included lieutenant-general macdowall, the commander-in-chief, who was dismissed. Other senior officers were disciplined, and the officers in some of the garrisons mutinied in sympathy with them. The most serious mutiny occurred at seringapatem on 29th july where the officers seized the city, which lies on an island in the river. The city was surrounded by loyal troops and an exchange of fire resulted in several deaths. Thomas de havilland was among the mutineers. On one occasion he and two other officers formed a delegation which conducted unsuccessful talks with col. Davies, heading the loyal troops. On 23rdaugust the mutineers, realising that they would achieve nothing by further resistance, gave themselves up. They were arrested and detained awaiting trial. De havilland was detained at bangalore. In the spring 1810 the trial of de havilland and the other mutineers began. He and some of the others, conceiving that they were not receiving a fair trial, resigned with the intention of mounting a campaign for restoration when they got home (cf. Below for the biography of tom fiott de havilland). The family of de havilland is very famous: to it belong e.g. Sir geoffrey de havilland (1882-1962), famous british aviation pioneer – and the two actresses olivia de havilland (*1916) and her sister joan fontaine (*1917), tom was their great-granduncle !!! Scarce historical letter.
Transcription: Ennoredec(embe)r 24th 1809. My dearest tom, The bread man has been here there two hours but alas, no letters. This is the ninth day since the date of your last, so that i calculate on six due. Of course as many of mine are owed you, for i understand that the arcot river, is what has detained the tappal. How do you support this silence, i can tell you it makes me very low spirited, for it is particularly unfortunate at this moment, when we expect so much news from bangalore, as from that place only can we know for certain, whether major storey’s trial [joseph storey – the mutiny broke out on 25 june 1809 at masulipatam when major storey, 1st bat. 19th regt. Native infantry, placed his commanding officer under arrest – at the end he was cashiered, but recommended to mercy, and was subsequently reemployed.] Is going on, and if colonel bell’s court martial [lieutenant colonel robert bell, madras artillery, had been the commandant at seringapatam] was actually sent back. It was reported yesterday, that he was suspended for six months, and that the court gave their reasons for this sentence; but that the explanation not pleasing government, it had been sent tobangalore in order that the opinion might be withdrawn, and only the suspension remain. This it is said the court refused to do, but as i have often told you, the reports at madras are so various, that it is almost impossible to form an idea on the subject, without its being immediately contradicted by some fresh intelligence. In this however nearly all agree that everything wears a favorable aspect, and that the final decision will be no more than a reprimand, or a six month’s suspension, if it is not an entire acquittal. If i judge from what i have experienced on your account, the anxiety of mind he must have labor’d under for the last five months, ought to be consider’d sufficient punishment. Are you still of opinion that you will not be tried, your letters, probably mention something on the subject,but as there is no getting them we are in absolute ignorance. The report that the court had only sat ten minutes when the proceedings were sent back to them, and their having arrived three days ago, perfectly contradicts itself, for if an express could come across the river, surely the tappal might. Last night after dinner, mr. Taswell explained of give me another glass of wine, i have forgot to drink the health of people at top of the ghants. He insisted on mrs. Taswell and myself doing the same, and my tom will easily believe i did not require much pressing to join in this toast, particularly as the wish of your speedy return, was added to it. Mrs. Taswell asks for this letter as the bread man is going off. I am ashamed to send it so empty, for it contains litterally nothing. To enhance its value a little i shall tell thee my dearest life that i am very well, and that i feel i love thee more and more daily. I am ever thy fondly constant Eliza