Camp near Peshawar, Richmond Shakespear to Selina Shakespear

Letter and enclosed coded message (both holograph). The letter makes reference to the necessity to send military messages in code: "We have to write in Greek Alphabet, in Rice water, and in French to prevent the enemy finding out the purpose of our letters...." At the end of the letter, Shakspear promises to send Selina an example coded message (to Sir Robert Sale), advising "if you commence the alphabet with M instead of A you will be able to read it."

Following Shakespear's instructions, the message can be 'de-coded' as follows: "March 12th 1842, Camp near Peshawar. My dear General, I am so situated that it has become a consideration of the utmost importance that a shod receive my reinforcements of Dragons ald IMty before I move to your relief. I have today heard that they were at Ramnaggur on the 9th instnt and I have written to them to leave the infantry and come on by forced marches they will be here by the end of the month and you may depend upon my advancing the[ ] after their arrival. Let me know the latest possible date to which you can hold out. Yours very sincerely. Signed G Pollock. True copy R C Shakespear Secretary."