WRITING FROM SHUMLA SHORTLY AFTER THE SIEGE OF SEVASTOPOL SKENE (James Henry, 1812-1886, Writer, Traveller and British Consul a Alleppo in the Crimean War)For his services with the staff of the Army served in the Crimean War)

Fine Long Autograph Letter Signed, marked ‘Private’ to ‘His Exxcellency Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe’ saying that he has done his “utmost for Sir Artur Rumbold as your Excellency seemed to take an interest in him, but I am sorry to say he has not obtained a Staff appointment. I had arranged one for him with Genl Smith and Major Green, who is at the head of the department I wished to get him into, but when Gen Watt assumed the command he objected on the ground of his being a Baronet which might make the untitled complain. He has therefore been posted to a regiment, and I hope his activity and zeal will enable him to achieve a better position. I shall be watchful to assist him when an opportunity offers. Poor Lady Rumbold is much disappointed with Shumla and the Bashi Bazaks, so much so that they talked of leaving us, but I hope they will get reconciled to this sort of life. Since writing to your Lordship on the 24th I have had the satisfaction of seeing our greatest difficulty, that of procuring supplies, overcome. I have also renewed my exertions to get the scattered portions of the Force together in the tents of Pravadi as soon as an improvement in the weather may favour this short march. Genl Watt has been guided by my suggestions on this point. Genl Smith has gained some strength this week, and hopes to be able to go in a sledge to Varna on Sunday next. I have still much cause for anxiety about this Force...”, 4 sides 8vo., Shumla, 28th December 1855

For his services with the staff of the Army during the Crimean War he was appointed British vice-consul in Constantinople and in 1855 was appointed British Consul-General at Aleppo, a position he held until 1880. When he returned to Edinburgh from Syria in 1880 he brought back with him a colony of Syrian hamsters. This colony died out by 1910.
Sir Arthur Carlos Henry RUMBOLD, 5th Baronet (1820-1869) was a British soldier and diplomat. He served in the Crimean War as brigade major. He was also appointed to the rank of Colonel in the Ottoman Army, and was invested with the Order of the Medjidie.
Stratford CANNING, 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe (1786-1880) was a British diplomat who became best known as the longtime British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Canning's term in Constantinople lasted from 1842 to 1852. When Canning's old ally Stanley, now Earl of Derby, formed a government in 1852, Canning hoped to receive the foreign office, or at least the Paris embassy. Instead, he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe. In 1852 he went to Constantinople for the last time, Stratford came in the midst of a crisis caused by the dispute between Napoleon III and Nicholas I over the protection of the holy places. This crisis ultimately led to the Crimean War. Stratford is accused of encouraging the Turks to reject the compromise agreement during the Menshikov mission. It appears that he was consistently urging the Turks to reject compromises arguing that any Russian treaty, or facsimile thereof, would be to subject the Ottoman Empire to protectorate status under Tsar Nicholas I. He left Constantinople for the last time in 1857, and resigned early the next year.
Shumla is a fortified town of Bulgaria,and is where the Turkish Staff had their quarters in the Crimean War. Provadia is a town in northeastern Bulgaria, part of Varna Province, located in a deep karst gorge along the Provadiya River not far from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

Item Date:  0

Stock No:  42534      £275

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