1842 Rajamundry HG 2 Cover

1842

1842 (Jan) entire letter written by Captain Philip Anstruther, Madras Artillery, from Ningpo to Madras, but crossed-out and forwarded to Rajahmundry, India. There is no postal marking on the address panel but handwritten “China Expedition Letter free”. On the flap with rectangular boxed Madras Ship Letter cachet with handwritten postage of 9 Annas and Rajahmundry arrival c.d.s. (handwritten date: 2 / May / 1842).The writer wrote down his speculation on the battle in Peking and Tientsin in the letter and believed that “if the reinforcements arrive as strong as we expect at Pekin, in about August. This I hope will end the war.” However, the writer also expressed his worry that “A winter at Pekin would be frightfully severe” while “winter at Ningpo has been frightfully as bad as any I saw in England. Canals and ponds frozen for a month together. We are gradually destroying the town without intending it, but the houses are such handy firewood.” An interesting text on the weather issue during the war. The writer, Anstruther, was previously captured in the shipwreck of the Kite and was moved to Ningpo. He was released afterward in October 1841 as the Chinese abandoned the town when the British force advanced to Ningpo. He re-joined the troop and participated in several other warfares.