I hope you will not disapprove of the resolution to which I have come of resigning the charge of the Saugor territories, now that tranquillity has been restored,—­the best possible feelings among the people prevail, and the object you had in view in recommending Lord Ellenborough to confide that charge to me has been effected,—­or of the manner in which I have tendered my resignation.  Were I longer to retain the charge, I should be subjected to humiliations which the exigencies of the public service do not require that I should at this time of life submit to, and I shall have enough of labour and anxiety in the charge that will still remain to me.  If an opening for Sir R. Shakespear could be found, his salary might be saved by my residence being transferred to Gwalior.  If either Hamilton or I were to be removed to some other post, it would be well to reduce Gwalior and Indore to political agencies, under the supervision of an agent, as in Rajpootana, with Bundelcund added to his charge.  The latter of these two measures has, you know, been under consideration, and was, I think, proposed by Sutherland when you were at Gwalior with Lord Auckland.  Had the Lieutenant-Governor known more of the Saugor territories when he wrote the paper on which Government is now acting, he would not, I think, have described the state of things as he has done, or urged the introduction of the system which must end in minutely subdividing all leases, and in having all questions regarding land tenures removed into the civil Courts, as in the provinces.  It is the old thing, “nothing like leather.”  I shall not weary you by anything more on this subject.  I hope a good man will be selected for the charge.  The selection of Mr. M. Smith as successor to Mr. Brown was a good one.  My letter will go off to-day, and be, I trust, well received.  I am grieved that Clerk has been obliged to quit his post; he has been throughout his career an ornament to your service, but his friends seem all along to have apprehended that he could not long stand the climate of Bombay.  I am anxious to learn how long you are to remain in Council.

Yours very sincerely,
(Signed) W. H. SLEEMAN.

To the Hon. Sir T. H. Maddock,
         &c. &c. &c.

_______________________________

Jhansee, 2nd April, 1848.

My Dear Elliot,

Till I this morning got the public letter, which will go off to-day, I never heard one word about Shakespear’s intention or wish to go to the hills, and only thirteen days remain.  The orders of Government as to his locum tenens cannot reach me by the 15th, when he is to leave, and I shall have to put in some one to take charge, as there is a treasury under his management.

If Government wish to take Major Stevens from the Byza Bae, and give him some other employment, he might be sent to act for Captain Ross; but I know nothing of his fitness for such an office.

I believe you know Captain Ross, and I need say nothing more than what I have said in my public letter.  If he be sent to Gwalior, I hope a good officer may be sent to act for him in Thalone, for the duties are very heavy and responsible.  Blake will do very well, and so would his second in command, Captain Erskine, of the 73rd, who is an excellent civil officer.  I must pray you to let me have the orders of Government on the subject as soon as possible.