DARJEELING. December 28th, 1849. My dearest Mother, Greatly delighted I was, two days ago, to receive your little letter of November 6th. The weak, tremulous hand gave me much thought of the affectionate solicitude which prompted you to write to me, when you were evidently all but unable to make the exertion. The whole aggression was aimed by the Rajah against Campbell *1 (not myself, for to me he owed no grudge;) nor was it against poor Campbell personally, but against some of his political measures, which our own Government had already confirmed. The ignorant Barbarian supposes, that the British Resident at Darjeeling [West Bengal] is omnipotent, and that he transacts all business without reference to higher authority, and as the Rajah is not himself of sufficient dignity to be entitled to hold direct correspondence with Government at Calcutta, [Kolkata, West Bengal] so he suspected, that Campbell intercepted his various letters, and prevented his applications from reaching the Governor-General. The main grounds of complaint are these: Ist. The emancipation of those slaves, in Darjeeling [West Bengal], who may have fled thither from Sikkim [Sikkim State], and whom our laws protect within our boundaries, if they are not evil-doers. 2nd. The refusal of Campbell to receive, as the Rajah's Agent, that most insolent scoundrel, the Lassoo Kaji,[?] of whose behaviour to me last spring I told you: here, also, Campbell was long ago sanctioned by our Government. The 3rd. grievance is, about a wretched scrap of land which

Campbell made over to the Ghorkas, [Gurkha] when the frontier of Sikkim was fixed; twelve years back. Not only did we then give to the Rajah all his own lost territories, but the land in question is indubitably Nepalese. The accusation that our friend burkes *2 the letters, which the Rajah addressed to the GovernorGeneral, winds up, I believe, the catalogue. I was imprisoned from the 10th November. This outrage arose partly from rage and disappointment, because I would not divulge things which they wanted to know, and partly because they hoped, by seizing my coolies *3, to prevent other Europeans from entering the country. The Sikkim Dewan *4, I believe to be at the bottom of all. He had arranged for C.[ampbell]'s seizure from the day he crossed into the country, three months ago. It is Tartar fashion to catch and coerce a great man when they can.

Such are, as nearly as I can learn, the outlinees of the affair. The great barbarity shown to Campbell arose from the animus of those persons who were empowered to seize him - namely the Singtam Soubah [?] (whom I had already impeached) and the Dingpun, a sort of corporal, who had kidnapped two Brahmin girls from Nepal, and whom Campbell (by application to the Rajah) had compelled to restore them. The Dewan's brother and the brother of the Lassoo Kaji, [?] were the Rajah's instigators and counsellors. Thibet [Tibet] seems to have had nothing to do with it; nor did the Rajah ever complain of our crossing the Border. He could not well do so, seeing that (as I told my father) we went escorted by the Chinese Guard, and in company with the Lachen Peppon [?] and the Tcheba Lama [?]; all, or any of whom, might have stopped us if they chose, we being alone and unarmed. Still, papa must be cautious and print only the scientific parts of my Journal, or he may do great mischief. This affair will put Nepal, I fear, out of the question. I have written to Lord Dalhousie, requesting that he would give Thomson leave to accompany me to the Khassya Hills, instead. If he consents, we go to Major Jenkins' (in Assam) in February, or March, and thence up to the Khassya Mountains, where we shall spend all the unhealthy (i.e. the rainy ) season; for if I do not go now, I cannot till November. It were folly to expose myself to the Plains of India after April. If His Lordship refuses, I must consider what is to be done. Many thanks for all your kind attention to my requests. The Barometer I shall not now want; but the Azimuth compass will be most opportune, for the soldiers smashed Captain Thuillier's, [?] of which I had the loan, and which I cannot replace at Calcutta, [Kolkata] under £14. The rubbing-paper came all right, but I am sorry to say it proves useless for stone inscriptions.