Papers of Lord William H. Cavendish Bentinck (1774-1839), soldier, politician and...

The correspondence and papers, including memoranda, letter books, minute books, accounts and maps, cover the period when Lord William Bentinck was Governor-General of Bengal (later of India). The subjects covered in particular concern his policies for financial retrenchment, including the reduction of batta, settlement of land revenue in the north-western provinces, the encouragement of steamship navigation between England and India, the education of Indians in English language, literature and science and their employment in the public service, the abolition of suttee and the fear of Russia.

Correspondents include Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans as well as the leading British administrators and military figures in India, including letter books of Sir John Munro, Governor of Madras.