I have had a very unpleasant affair happen to my maid who has been in a most abominable and cruel manner seduced by an officer in the ship. The story is so bad against him that Lord Clive has taken it up and, he will, I hope, be made to provide for her as she is unfortunately in a way to produce. Lord Clive has behaved in the kindest manner to her and me upon the subject and her behaviour is so proper that when she is visible again she is to be established in some business here and we have got her a proper place where she will be concealed for some months. This has hurt me much and is a great inconvenience to me besides. She has been with us several years and is sister to one of your Damsels at Powis Castle and really a most excellent person. We endeavour if possible that nobody should know it in England, as it is in all ways a very distressing affair. Adieu my Dearest Brother I am quite ashamed of the quantity of nonsense I have been writing these two months to you but, as I said before, I cannot help it at this distance. God bless you and keep you in good health, as well as my boys.
Just before the ships sailed in the evening, Henrietta added a last-minute note to inform her brother about gifts on board for him and her sons: ‘two buffalo horns which Captain Grant gave us. They are in a box of things sent to the boys.’ This bit of family trivia was followed by momentous news. ‘We heard yesterday of the French fleet being burnt at Alexandria by Lord Nelson and are in great hopes it is true.’
On October 15th, Anna Tonelli painted a watercolour of St Thomas’s Mount in Madras. Charly’s journal kept a running account of daily events:
October 16th Colonel Cotton, Major de Grey, and a few other gentlemen dined here; the two colonels and the major of the 25th regiment made 66 between them. The 25th Regiment was one of the experiment, all of the men being under 25 years of age. Colonel Cotton, Colonel de Blaquiere, Major de Grey being at their head. It was thought their youth, might make them more fit to endure the heat of the Indian climate.
October 19th Mamma gave an assembly.
October 20th We went to see Colonel Wellesley’s regiment, the 33rd.
October 21st In our morning drive we met the Nawab, his sons, nephews and ministers, going to attend a religious ceremony four miles beyond the Mount.
October 23rd A large dinner party.
October 24th Mamma and my sister began to learn Hindustani.
October 25th Mamma went to the Asylum in state, taking Mrs Harris with her.
October 26th In our morning drive we stopped to look at a beautiful leopard. We met also a royal tiger, and some bears that some men were leading for show. We saw the tiger kill a sheep. The royal tiger was a beautiful beast; I cannot say the bears were.
Abruptly the certain menace of war appeared amidst the drives, dinner parties and the quotidian affairs of their lives. Charly’s commentary continued: ‘October 27th: We went to see the guns that had started before daylight to go to Vellore, each drawn in carriages by sixty bullocks. After we met them, Papa joined us and took us on to St Thomas’s Mount, where we breakfasted.’ ‘November 19th: Mamma, Signora Anna, my sister and myself went in palanquins in the evening to Triplicane to see a Malabar feast round the Hindoo Tank.’ ‘November 24th: Col Wellesley dined here.’ ‘November 30th: A young cobra was found in the garden near our sitting-room … Papa gave a grand dinner.’
For the most part December was given over to dinners, assemblies, a ball and the novelty of seeing a Sepoy corps. On December 7th the Clives allowed themselves an outing to the Red Hills for a day and Anna Tonelli painted a watercolour of a large house by the edge of a lake. On December 9th Charly noted a surprise: ‘We returned to the Garden House, and found Friskey with seven puppies.’ On December 27th the family attended an amateur theatrical production, The Absent Man: the Mogul Tale.
December, Fort St George, Henrietta to George Herbert
My dearest brother – as there is a ship going to the Cape, I shall write by it and take my chance of your receiving this whenever it may happen. I have the pleasure to tell you that we are all well. I think Lord Clive at times much occupied by the continual business and with the additional anxiety from the approaching war with Tipu Sultan. As for myself I never was better in my life and your nieces are so, too.
I must tell you that we have had much concern from the death of poor Ashton|| who was killed in a duel, at last died in five days afterwards in consequence of a ball that went into his stomach, perhaps through the liver and lodged in the hip after popping the backbone and in a degree injuring the spine. He was in great hopes of his life, as the situation of the ball was not ascertained till after his death (till he expired, he not having had on that morning any bad appearance, though he had been in the utmost danger for the first twenty-four hours after it happened). You may imagine how much it has shocked us and it is a sad thing for the service. He fought twice. The first with Major Picton ended well, but the second was with Major Allen, both of his own Regiment. The dispute was about regimental affairs in which I understand poor Ashton was perfectly in the right. I will endeavour to get an account to send you.
Charly’s brief and understated final entry for 1798 spoke volumes about the man who appeared to have come for dinner, but who would stay until September 1799: ‘December 31: Lord Mornington arrived from Bengal, and dined here. Richard Strachey was in attendance upon him.’
* Tranquebar, a Danish settlement along with Pondicherry which had been French, was a reminder of the European presences located along the Coromandel Coast.
† Clive family estate
‡ Josiah Webbe, Secretary of the Madras Council and one of Lord Mornington’s bright young men.
§ Harun ar-Rashid, the caliph of Baghdad and his vizier, Jaffar, who accompanied the caliph (disguised as a merchant) in his nightly wanderings about the streets of Baghdad are recurrent figures in the Arabian Nights. Quite possibly Henrietta read the original French translation of Antoine Galland which appeared in 1704 and 1717 (based on an earlier collection of Indian-Persian fairy-tales entitled Hazar Afsanah, ‘A Thousand Tales’).
¶ Lady Mornington (née Hyacinthe-Gabrielle Roland), an actress at the Palais Royal, had three sons and two daughters by Mornington before they were married in 1794. She was shunned by high society. In a fine portrait by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun in 1791, Hyacinthe is stunningly beautiful.
|| Col Henry Harvey Ashton, in command of the King’s 12th Foot, was killed in a duel with a Major Allen. His friend Col Arthur Wellesley was sent to take over Ashton’s command at Ameer, Arcot and Vellore. Before he died, Ashton gave his Arab horse, Diomed, to Wellesley.
1799
War with Tipu Sultan, ‘Tiger of Mysore’
‘This abominable War.’
The year 1799 began slowly and ominously in Madras. Lord Clive had no choice but to accommodate to what he described in a letter to Lord Powis as ‘a temporary suppression of my authority, but that feeling is so tempered by the circumstances … I have had no difficulty in giving a cordial and willing cooperation and concurrence to the measure of Lord Mornington’s government.’ Despite the fact that Bonaparte, after his defeat by Nelson at Aboukir Bay, was not able to transport troops to assist Tipu Sultan, war remained imminent. Henrietta chafed under the travel restrictions imposed on her. For entertainment the household kept a menagerie of animals, including for a short time a tiger, said to be tame, who immediately tore Henrietta’s umbrella which she had held out to him. Lord Clive refused to let it stay. They acquired two little bulls and a little cow no larger than calves; a hog deer; an antelope; a cockatoo that talked and whistled; a canary; a mina; and some avadavats.*
January 2nd, Henrietta to George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis
My dearest brother – on the December 31st 1798, Lord Mornington, the Governor-General, arrived in Madras from Calcutta with a great many attendants to stay here this campaign. I am sorry and glad. He will take a great deal of responsibility from Lord C, but I suspect will plague him very much as he is a fidgety man. He has been with us these three days and it went off better tha
n one could expect from the presence of two governors and it is certainly an awkward thing to have a surprise, though Lord Clive does not think so. Lord Mornington is pompous, ridiculously so at Calcutta, though it is, I find, surprising to have some form and state there, as he told me from the very vulgar familiarity of the people, which is really not the case here.
In all respects, we go on well. Lord Clive speaks very wishfully of Walcot and I believe will be sincerely glad when he sees it again. There is no such word as comfort in this country. There is nothing but business and solitude. There is not a possibility of society; at least I cannot produce anything like it as yet, though there are several pleasant women and men. When the war begins these women will certainly be more with me and I have some little occasion, but at present it is very dull and when I pass six or seven hours alone, except visiting your nieces at their lessons, England does attack my mind most powerfully.
I find Lord Mornington has sent a gentleman to fetch Lady Morning-ton here. It is an awkward thing for me to receive her, which I must do, and then she goes safely to be received at Calcutta. The Directors refused her coming with him and I wish may prevent her again. It is impossible for me to refuse, and yet I know I shall be criticised in England for it, as his family does not receive her. It looks like condoning him, which my Welsh dignity does not like. You will find out from Mr Bensly or Strachey if she comes. I wish she was not I confess – he talks to me of her constantly and what she is to do on the voyage as if it were quite settled and certain – I do not see if it was refused at first how she can now be so much more proper now.
There is an alarm of famine in this country. We have not had the usual rains and the crops will almost universally fail, which is terrible. But by great cautions, rice is brought in constantly and most happily the upper part of India is overflowing so much so that they had left rice in the fields not giving themselves the trouble to gather it. Lord Clive has managed so well that I find he is much praised by the Blacks. I really believe nothing can go on better than he does in all respects. He is really quite indefatigable and attends to nothing but business which sometimes fatigues him extremely. The ships sail in an hour.
Your affectionate.
H. A. C.
February 3rd, Henrietta to George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis
My dearest brother – we are all tolerably well with but little to complain of, yet not so perfect. Lord C has never, I think, been entirely well since we came – partly from anxiety – and partly the climate. I bore it better than anybody till within these three weeks and though I have not had much the matter with me, I am not quite comfortable. The girls and I all feel equally the climate, which from the want of the usual rains is uncommonly hot and oppressive, adding to that, in most of our minds, thoughts of England. You may suppose how we are … there not being much to interest or amuse me here. Out of this house there is no society and Lord Clive has been so very much occupied with Lord Mornington’s arrival that it is endless.
The army is now encamped at Vellore and I trust Lord Clive will now have a little more quietness. We were in hopes to have gone to Vellore to have seen it, but after much consultation it is not thought safe for fear of Tipu’s looties coming down and attacking us on our return. Lord Clive is not to go alone which would be more easily done than with women, but he is advised to stay which is a great mortification and a pity as I think it would have been of service to him.
Everything is military. There is a militia established of Europeans, Portuguese and Armenians and they have the same uniform as the Shropshire. I must say my old regiment has the advantage no small degree. But the generality of the people have come forward in a very handsome way. Some of the young men are a little troublesome. It is understood that those that will not enrol themselves are to (after all due admonition) return to England. All descriptions of people are enrolled in the fort division. The writers and gentlemen are privates. Brown is the Regulating Captain and I believe likes anything like a drill. He is as anxious as possible.
We are much disappointed by the loss of all the private letters and the directors’ dispatches by the overland packet about the 6th October. Having been sent in some fine box, which the Arabs suspected to contain jewels, they seized it. Probably there were letters from you. It is so long since I heard and the probability of the boat not sailing at the usual time, from the distractions of the troops, will make it a terrible long interval. There are more ships going soon direct to England by which I shall write all I have to say.
God bless you my dearest brother.
How happy I shall be to see you again.
Ever yours, affectionately
H. A. C.
February 8th, Henrietta to George Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis
My dearest brother – we have had Lord Mornington here near 6 weeks and I shall be glad when he is gone. He is extremely pompous, which you know he always was: never having even an airing without more guards than the King usually has and bringing his authority to bear on me, and everybody in conversation. He is certainly overbearing. Lord Clive likes him very well, but you know he does not mind many things, which I confess, disturb my Welsh Spirit.
In regard to our health we are pretty well in general, but between you and I, I have much anxiety about the girls, particularly Harry who has very often complaints in her bowels, which she never had before and is reduced to nervous and hysterical disposition with the least fatigue. I dread the hot winds, which I expect to be very unpleasant, and unwholesome. I am trying to persuade Lord Clive to let us go into the country occasionally for a change of air. We left this place for two nights two months ago and were all astonishingly improved by seeing a very pretty place nine miles off and having a little variety. I find from everybody that change of air is really necessary here.
This abominable War has prevented our making a journey up the country, which I was in hopes to have done. There is so much conversation about Tipu’s looties … who sometimes come suddenly down that people do not like to leave Madras, but I believe with our Body Guard we are quite safe anywhere.
Charlotte is well but they both are very thin as they grow so fast. I held out a long time but within this last month have been unwell with what is bilious, and I believe a little to do with the liver, of which Lord Clive doubts, but I have some. It is now gone and, except not feeling in great spirits, I am well.
But to tell you my whole mind, which I like to do as it relieves me much, I doubt our being able to stay long here. I am perfectly determined to fight as long as I can as I am here, but we must not sacrifice my own life and health or my girls. The next six months will decide. If the hot winds do not affect us materially, we are safe, but if they do, there is but one thing to be done. I have not breathed a thought to Lord Clive on this subject nor shall I, because his situation would be very sad, alone in this country. The event must speak for itself. He has never been quite well since he came here and will not soon be so I am persuaded. And that the hot winds will affect him very much as he feels everything, but I know he will not give it up and particularly during this War. I hope in any case that this time – it is really a most miserable life and he is tired of it and … has said that there is much more than he expected. The War adds to that and altogether it is really hard though I do not say so to anybody.
February 8th, Henrietta to Lady Clive
My dear Lady Clive – I was in hopes to have heard from you among a very few letters I had the happiness of receiving the day before yesterday, but as there were not any from William Strachey, I suppose they are in a ship that is coming in the next fleet as these came by a Danish vessel which is uncommon for private or any letters. I had a letter from my brother in great spirits and that the boys are well. I hope and believe you are so too, but shall be very glad to see it in your handwriting. I shall endeavour to tell you all I can, but events have been scarce that could amuse you though we live in great deal of business.
The War with Tipu has given great occupation to Lord Clive. The
preparations – which, you know, in this country, are endless – are all that is. There are 18,000 men with all their followers and bullocks encamped near Vellore ready to march towards Seringapatam. It is supposed that Tipu was disappointed at the defeat of Bonaparte and that all will end in this campaign. I hope it is true, as it seems the general opinion is our force is much superior to what it ever was, and the battering train is in great order. This has swept away all our military society, which are indeed the most pleasant, but I trust it will be soon over. I was in hopes to have been able to have gone to Vellore to have seen the army, but it was not thought safe as the looties might have met us, and given us some alarm, on our return, after we had quitted the field.
I have the pleasure to tell you that we are all pretty well. We have some little complaints, but I trust we shall continue as we are. Lord C has a great deal of business and of course is much more confined than he has been used to. Your grandchildren are growing astonishingly fast. I think they will soon be taller than either your Ladyship or myself. I shall send their exact height at the end of my letter. They are thin, which must necessarily follow, but in good spirits. Charlotte bears the climate better than her sister. I wonder if her being a Florentine makes that difference. Signora Tonelli is pretty well, too, and her singing enchants everybody. She is a most excellent presence and the more I see her the more I like her. Mrs Woodhouse, too, is I find an extremely good musician, which we have found out of her lately, as at first she never would play. The girls’ education goes on as well as I could wish and I do not find in them or myself that degree of indolence, or idleness, which I understood pervades everybody here. You and I are not idle people, naturally. Those that are so, become much more so here. I go on, as in England, with all my operations just the same, and can amuse myself alone, as I used to do at Walcot.
Birds of Passage Page 7
