ETTRICK

See Napier's entry in the Oxford DNB (he is not to be confused with Lord Napier of Magdala). On the death of Lord Mayo in 1872, Napier acted as Viceroy of India for a little over three months, before the arrival of Mayo's successor Sir John Strachey. The present letter was written in the first months of 1878, six years after Mayo's death, follows the publication in The Times of a letter Napier had written defending Mayo's policy regarding the 'defence of Khelat and Affghanistan [sic]', against the criticisms of Mayo's predecessor as Viceroy, Lord Lawrence (previously Sir John Lawrence).

Good clear signature on one side of slip of paper, an irregular rectangle roughly 1.5 x 12.5 cm. In fair condition, aged and worn, with traces of mount on reverse. Reads: 'Your's [sic] most affectionately | James Hogg'.

Napier was Governor of Madras from 1866 to 1872. The recipient, Lewin Bentham Bowring (1824-1910), was Commissioner of Mysore between 1862 and 1870. The 'General Haines' of the letter is Field Marshal Sir Frederick Paul Haines (1819-1909), who the previous year had been appointed General Officer Commanding the Mysore Division of the Madras Army. The reference in the letter to Madras as 'a cantonment' recalls the fact that Bowring's father Sir John Bowring (1792-1872) had been fourth Governor of Hong Kong, 1854-1859. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged.