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VICTORIA (1819-1901), Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India. Autograph letter (in 3rd person) to Sir Colin Campbell, Commander-in-Chief in India, Buckingham Palace, 19 January 1858, 7 pages, 8vo, on paper with gilt letterhead and royal cipher; and two alternative drafts of Sir Colin Campbell's reply, n.p., n.d., 4 pages, 8vo. Provenance: Sotheby's sale, 11 July 1986, lot 294; the Spiro Family Collection.
ON THE 'GLORIOUS VICTORIES' OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN PUTTING DOWN THE INDIAN MUTINY: 'The Queen must Give utterance herself to the feelings of pride & satisfaction with which she has learnt of the glorious Victories which Sir Colin Campbell & the gallant & heroic Troops which he has under his command have obtained over the Mutineers! The manner in which Sir Colin has conducted all these Operations - & his rescue of the devoted Band of Heroes & Heroines at Lucknow...is beyond all praise!...'. General Campbell's answer declares that the letter is 'more valuable in his eyes & to his heart than a principality'.
The son of a carpenter, Campbell had served with distinction in the Peninsular War, the Crimea, and China before in 1857 Palmerston offered him the post of commander-in-chief in India. After re-capturing Lucknow in March 1858, by a series of masterly operations he restored peace throughout the north of India by May.
ON THE 'GLORIOUS VICTORIES' OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN PUTTING DOWN THE INDIAN MUTINY: 'The Queen must Give utterance herself to the feelings of pride & satisfaction with which she has learnt of the glorious Victories which Sir Colin Campbell & the gallant & heroic Troops which he has under his command have obtained over the Mutineers! The manner in which Sir Colin has conducted all these Operations - & his rescue of the devoted Band of Heroes & Heroines at Lucknow...is beyond all praise!...'. General Campbell's answer declares that the letter is 'more valuable in his eyes & to his heart than a principality'.
The son of a carpenter, Campbell had served with distinction in the Peninsular War, the Crimea, and China before in 1857 Palmerston offered him the post of commander-in-chief in India. After re-capturing Lucknow in March 1858, by a series of masterly operations he restored peace throughout the north of India by May.
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