17 July 1843 Nepaul HG 3 Cover

17 July 1843

Indian Post Office 1843 (July 17): Cover and contents from Nepal written and countersigned by the British Resident in Nepal, Brian H. Hodgson, to TH Maddock (the previous British Resident to Hodgson) in Calcutta, struck on reverse with oval framed "NEPAUL / FREE" handstamp in magenta with manuscript date "18th July 43" inserted, with Calcutta arrival (July 26) in red below. Fascinating content "Lord E(llenborough) wants my place for some pet soldier, of late he has shown it rather broadly so that I shall cease to cross him and go home" - Hodgson resigned in 1843 due to Ellenborough's interference and was posted to Simla. Ellenborough's 'pet', Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857) was installed in his place (he was to die at Lucknow during the Mutiny). Just five examples of the Resident's "Nepaul / Free" handstamp are recorded, all used between April and August 1843.rnrnNote: Brian Houghton Hodgson (1801-1894) was initially the Postmaster (1824) and assistant British Resident in Nepal (1825) and British Resident from 1833-1843. An outstanding linguist, naturalist and scholar with many species of birds named after him, he also wrote at length on Buddhism and authored "Essays on Language, Literature, and Religion of Nepal and Tibet" published in 1874.