[INDIA]: WELLINGTON DUKE OF: (1769-1852) Anglo-Irish Field Marshal, the Victor of Waterloo, 1815. British Prime Minister 1828-30, 1834. A.L.S., Wellington, three pages, 8vo, Stratfield Saye, 7^th February 1840, to Mr. A. Syme. Wellington acknowledges his correspondent's letter and remarks 'Notwithstanding that I am not in the Queen's Political Service; I am not surprised that you should have thought proper to address me your opinions on the Hill Coolies. Every body takes that course upon every subject. My name is well known; and all Mankind claims a right to address me', further continuing 'If you had enquired however before you wrote to me; you would have learnt that I had proposed a plan nearly two years ago; which would have regulated the matter to which you refer. It is possible that it cannot be regulated. But the Governor Genl. in Council in Bengal has legislative powers. He can prohibit altogether the extraction from Bengal of these Coolies. Her Majesty in Council has similar powers in relation to the introduction of the same class of powers with the colonies belonging to this country. It would certainly be desirable that you should state to one of the……servants of the Queen what you say that you know upon this subject, and the proofs which you can produce of your statements rather than write to an individual without power or authority'. The verso of the final page is a little crudely mounted to a partial antique engraving of Horatio Nelson. Some light staining, age wear, a few minor tears to the edges and folds and one small area of paper loss, just affecting two words of text but not the signature. About G

The Kurukh people, a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting West Bengal and several other Indian states, were known as 'Hill Coolies' during the period of British rule, at which time many migrated to tea gardens of Assam, West Bengal and Bangladesh, as well as to countries like Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Mauritius.