‘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.*
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 than 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.
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.
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.
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.
I have had several leaves of trees drawn for you. I cannot say I have done them myself. It is very fatiguing to the eyes, and the glare is so disagreeable, that they require great care, and the delicacy of Botanical Drawing requires a great deal of attention. I had no more drawing paper left; therefore you shall have more bye and bye, when I meet with any of an extraordinary shape. You have heard so much of the Bread Fruit that I thought the Leaf would be worth sending, though it is of such an unreasonable size. I have tasted the fruit of it, which did not answer my expectation. None of the fruits here please us. We are told the ripe mangoes are excellent, but those I have already tasted are not pleasant, from being like turpentine. The custard apple and guava are the best … In short I do not find anything that is better than in England, except the moon. She is certainly brighter and gives more light early, than in England. The moonlight nights are beyond all ideal, and Signora Anna allows they are superior to Italy. You know Cassaicoli said, ‘La Lunard e Italia e puis brilliante cheil sole d’Ingliterra.’† I think he might say so here most truly. I have not been more than nine miles distant from hence and from the Mount there is an appearance of hills at a distance, but here you know it is very flat, sandy, and not pretty, yet everybody that comes from Bengal says we have the advantage.
Lord Mornington and Lord Clive go on in great friendship, which you will be pleased to hear, as that is not always the case with the governors of these places. We are in hope of great news in about two months from the army. I am now watching for letters from England, as I find we shall not have any more for many months. That is a most dismal thought. We are all at a frightful distance from one another. Butler and the coachman have been ill and are alarmed and return with this letter to their own land. The following is an account of the army, which I thought would interest you. Active infantry – 11, 061; European division – 4,608; Cavalry – 912; Active division – 1,766; Artillery Men – 576; Lascars – 1,726; Pioneers – 1,000; Colonel Robert’s Detachment – 6,785; Colonel Brown’s Detachment – 3,817; Nizam’s Cavalry – 7,000; Nizam’s Infantry – 6,000; 12 Field Pieces and Battery Train; 57,000 Bullocks provided by Government; About 90,000 followers of different description, besides women and children.
Since I wrote the above, I find that the Princess of Wales is a single ship and therefore it is best not to send my things by her. Therefore, my Leaves will wait a straight journey or three weeks for the next ships from Bengal.
Once more, adieu.
My dearest brother – I believe as to public affairs, all goes on well. Lord Clive is much liked. The idea of his management is much diminished. He is thought a useful man by Mr Webbe. Yet I understand that he is not thought better of in regard to principle and that Webbe has spies over him and that he cannot do any harm. He made great advances to Lord Mornington, which have not succeeded.
Lord Mornington is so much afraid of his person that notwithstanding he has a guard of a company of infantry and twenty of the Body Guard, which is as much as is ever employed as a rear guard to the whole army. He has taken fright and is going into the fort where there is a bad house, though large and chiefly occupied by the writers and public offices except for a few rooms. He has added that all there are to be turned out and all the papers and records to be removed which can only be done to the Admiralty where by his arrangement with Lord Clive we were to go in case of any siege or attack which though improbable is not impossible. Now we are left out. He says the walls we have round the yard, which Lord Clive has just built, is a sufficient security for us. It has occasioned great confusion. All the ladies whose husbands are gone with the army who are living in the country houses are taking fright and going into the Fort, which is very hot, and people cannot get rooms. You can see by this he is not likely to be very popular and the removal of papers and offices is by no means an easy thing to settle.
When I think of you at Edinburgh and myself many thousand miles off with all sorts of heat and the idea of the river, which will put itself before my eyes, I am not gay nor is Lord C more so than myself internally. We are, however, perfectly comfortable in our selves and both mutually wishing ourselves at home again.
General Harris, our Commander in Chief, is a poor fool, extremely good and all that, but has neither much knowledge nor much activity. That is the only thing that is alarming about the war. Everything else is in high order. This is my private dispatch and will be sent with more that are to go overboard if they are taken.
God help you my dearest brother.
I long so much to see you again, that I hardly dare hink of it.
Your ever affectionate, H. A. C.
February 15th
On February 22nd Charly noted that ‘the mosquitoes bite us most shockingly. I think they are much more troublesome than they were when we first came here.’ From March 4th to March 25th the whole of the Clive family and servants contracted a fever beginning with pains in the bones and ending in an eruptive rash. Lord Clive speculated that the causes of the fever were somehow connected to the failure of the rains. The stagnation of the water in the river emitted smells that were particularly offensive between the Garden House where the Clives resided and the fort.
In April, Henrietta and the girls were allowed to make small excursions near Madras. They visited a Malabar pagoda, where they were forbidden to enter for fear of their polluting it. At Bonansalie, they were once again barred from entering a Hindu temple: ‘Friskey ran into it,’ Charly wrote. ‘Some man ran after her, and pulled her out.’ They went to a feast in honour of Vishnu at the village of Sydrapet, where they got out of the carriage and were given flowers and fruit: ‘After the devotees had said their prayers, they brought out Vishnu with his wife on one side and his brother, Ramswamy on the other. Vishnu had golden hands and his wife had a golden rod to chastise the wicked.’ In Madras the Clives gave a ball and climbed to the top of the Mount where Charly undertook to count the steps. Once they visited a bungalow twenty-one miles from Madras where Henrietta thought she saw the print of a tiger’s foot and was told that three tigers were about in the hills. The amateur theatrical group produced Shakespeare’s King Henry the Fourth and their physician Mr Thomas acted the part of Sir John Falstaff.