File FPG1/7 - Letters by Thomas Griffith

The file comprises letters by Lieut. Thomas Griffith of the 20th Bengal Native Infantry, 1804-1813, to his father, John Wynne Griffith, his mother, Jane, brother, George, grandmother and aunt, written on board Lord Keith and from Calcutta, Cawnpore, Barrackpore, Prince of Wales Island, Malacca, Java and Bengal, describing the voyage, Madras and Calcutta, scenery, animals, naval engagements of the English, French and Dutch, his lieutenancy, April 1805, promotions, 1812-1813, life in the army camps, isolation from family, military and social activities of Marquis Cornwallis (and his death in 1805), Marquis of Wellesley, Col. Ochterlony, Lord Lake, Sir Edward Pellew, the Duke of York, Lord Wellington, Lord Minto, Sir George Nugent, Major Scott Waring, events in Europe and elsewhere, including Nelson's defeat of the French in 1805, military and political activities of the French under Bonaparte in Austria and Prussia, capture of Bourbon by Colonel Keating, 1810, capture of Java in 1811, collection of seeds and plants to send home, Indian life, a hurricane in Madras, 1807, preparations for war against the Sikhs, trade of the East India Company, news from home including the death of his brother, John in 1804, the Wynne family of Garthmeilio and Plasnewydd, 1806-1807, 1812, a marriage of Salusbury and Mostyn with concerns about hereditary maladies, 1810, death of his grandmother, 1811, election of Lord Kirkwall, 1813, acquaintances such as Howell and Henry Clough, William Evans, surgeon, Capt. Ingleby, Conway Shipley and Rev. Charles Shipley.