Bhopal

A Letter of 1894 from His Excellency The Viceroy, Lord Elgin, to Her Highness The Begum of Bhopal Bhopal: A manuscript letter from Sir Arthur Palmer, Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of India, addressed to the Begum of Bhopal in 1902, is written on a quarto-sized sheet of folded writing paper. The paper bears black mourning edges and features the embossed seal of the Commander-in-Chief India at the top. The letter is sent from the Commander-in-Chief's Camp, c/o Railway Mail Services, dated 19th January 1902. In the letter, Sir Arthur Palmer informs the ruler, H.H. Nawab Sultan Jehan, Begum of Bhopal, that he will not be able to visit Bhopal to inspect the State's Victoria Lancers. He explains that they are currently in camp at Jhansi. Additionally, he offers his condolences on the passing of the Begum's late husband, Sultan Doulah, expressing sympathy for her loss. Sultan Doulah had suffered a massive heart attack shortly after the Begum's accession in 1901. The letter is written in a neat secretarial hand and is signed by A.P. Palmer. The final blank page of the letter contains local writing in Persian, possibly a translation or a draft for a reply.

Sir Arthur Power Palmer, G.C.B., G.C.I.E. [1840-1904], served in the Indian Army. He joined the army after his father's death during the retreat from Kabul in 1844. Palmer's service began during the year of the Mutiny, where he served in Hodson's Horse. He further participated in the Mohmand campaign, the Abyssinia war, the 2nd Afghan war, Sudan, and Burma. Palmer left India in 1902, and his successor was Kitchener.