Introduction:  The following two letters were written in 1863 and 1864 by Harry Edward Julius Man (HEJM), the second eldest son of Harry Stoe Man, to his elder bother Morrice King Man (MKM).  The years 1861 - 1864 were significant for Harry and Morrice. In November 1863 Henriette Marie (wife of HEJM and mentioned in the first line of Letter No. 2) had died. Emma Elizabeth (HEJM and MKM's younger sister), and also mentioned in the first line of Letter No. 2 , died one day later although the two deaths are not connected. Both HEJM and MKM died in 1864.  Caroline Eliza, the daughter of Emma Elizabeth and Charles Edward Walch died in 1862. Squeezed between these years were the births of Morrice and Harry's four daughters, all of whom survived to adulthood. In the letter HEJM refers to his daughters (Ella, aged 2½ & Harriet 8 months) as the 'poor little girls'. In Letter No. 2 he also mentions Eleanor who is his elder sister (she raised both Ella and Harriet on the death of her brother) and George who was his younger brother. He also refers to 'Aunt Ann' who is Eleanor Ann Man, his father’s younger sister.

We gather from these letters that Harry must have once visited or lived in Jamaica: 'Such a mass of Mud, I have never waded through before. There is nothing like it in Jamaica'

The best source on the history of the laying of the telegraph from London to India is Sir Julian Goldsmid's 'Telegraph and Travel'.  The book gives details on three of the people mentioned in the letters namely: Champain, Walton and Hoeltzer. G oldsmid also mentions Harry Man in a number of places but only in passing although he does mention Harry's illness and return home.  Below the letters are extracts from Goldsmid's book where Harry Man is mentioned. The illustrations are taken from Goldsmid's book.

Letter No. 1

Teheran, Persia, 14 Oct., 1863

My Dear Mo,

A Mail arrived here yesterday from Bushire, but not a line for me from anyone in India - are you aware that a Steamer leaves Bombay with letters etc. for Karrachee and the Persian Gulf twice every month?; after arrival of mails a courier is despatched immediately up to this -- so do write as often as you can.

You are by this aware that I left London on the 8 August for Teheran, in company with Mr. Walton, a Mr. Hoeltzer (a German from Siemens, Halske & Co) and a Persian servant belonging to Captain Champain, the Persian ran away back to his master from Cologne - so we have got rid of him. Our route was via Calais - Brussels - Cologne - Berlin - Konigsberg - St. Petersburg - Nigni - the Volga calling at Astracan - the Caspian - Enzelli - Rescht - Casvin - and Teheran. We stopped at Brussels - 2 days - and did Waterloo, at Cologne, the Cathedral, and slightly the Rhine -- at Berlin we were a week stopped at a swell Hotel du Nord, and everything - our detention was due to the necessity of getting authority to go through the disturbed part of Russia -- on a/c of Polish rebellion - with our guns - also having to tel. and wait for answers about the blessed Persian servant, who we thought was murdered etc. etc. At St. Petersburg we were 10 days; there we were obliged to stop as the Volga Steamer only went twice a month. At Moscow we remained two days - and at Nigni we caught our vessel. At every place we enjoyed ourselves. Brussels is a very clean city -- Cologne nothing but the Cathedral, Suspension, and Rhine the latter at Cologne is a humbug - Berlin, lots to see, pictures, Statues, principally; St. Petersburg a wonderful city – beautiful statues - fine galleries - regular Cremorne - Emperor's Summer Palaces - Cronstadt etc. - we stopped at an English boarding house kept by a Miss Benson - very jolly - about 15/- a day. After we received our Order from Russian and English Consuls at Berlin for passage of our Guns, the blessed Russians seized them at the Polish frontier, not liking the cuts of our jibs - and we have not yet got them back, though we are promised by the bigwigs to have them sent after us; at Moscow (all this time we travel by rail) - we saw the Emperor's palace - the big bell Kremlin - and went to Sparrow Hill to look down upon the city - and drink tea, everybody swigs tea all day in Russia - looked at the way old Napoleon went into Moscow, went to Cremorne there, etc, etc. - at Higni the Volga is joined - here we begin Steamers, fine vessels very swift, River in Places grand -- time taken to the Caspian, about, 9 days. To Enzelli where we land, 3, - we have to change vessels 3 times, as the river vessels do not go to sea - every night nearly we go to anchor, and at Sea did so also, as it blew hard. We coast along - now for Terra Firma - after lending we go over a sandbank, cross a lake and up a narrow stream to Pera Bazaar, a dirty hole. There we take horse for our baggage and ourselves - this 6 miles to Rescht is awful, particularly in wet weather. Such a mass of Mud, I have never waded through before. There is nothing like it in Jamaica. Fancy nothing but steps of deep mud. At Rescht (Persia) we slept a night at the English Vice-Consul's - took post-horses and went Express, Walton and I, Hoeltzer bringing up the baggage. From Rescht to Teheran is 200 miles; good: we rode it in under 4 days - changed horses every 25 miles; at first country forest and rich vegetation; lots of Tigers; Pheasants; Partridges; then an immense chain of mountain for 2 days; we were constantly going up mountains and also going down into Valleys, crossing rivers, and getting wet, all over, - climate cool scenery very grand. After clearing these mountains we came upon a plain - mountains running up on each side; the plain has occasionally very pretty slopes of trees - cultivation here and there - not at a11 bad country - fruit and vegetables about -- Grapes and all European fruit and vegetables abound - apples and pears excellent - grapes the finest in the world. We put up at the Dhurmsallahi. Not at all good - sometimes beastly. At last, 53 days' journey from London we sight the chief down of Persia. Teheran is not half a bad place - the Bazaar is very fine - a brick vaulted building. The Houses occupied by Europeans - always a garden with a fishpond .............. [the rest is missing]
 

Letter No. 2

Ispahan, Persia – 7 Feb (18)64

My dear Morrice,

You will ere this have heard of the death of my dear wife and also of Emma – poor dear girl. What an awful blow it has been to me – I am truly broken hearted altho(ugh) I strive to keep up on acc(oun)t of those poor little things left behind motherless – I have lost a dear affectionate wife one whom I dearly loved – how all our plans are frustrated by God’s will – poor dear Emma was an excellent correspondent with me lately – she wrote me such cheerful letters that all was going on so well – I cannot bear to dwell upon it – my health is very bad – this blow has nearly crushed me – I think since my attack of fever followed for a short time by dysentery I am now suffering from diabetes - a regular wasting away. We have no medical advice which is a great shame, as a medical man could have been easily obtained from Bombay or Teheran. An Armenian priest who knows a little has kindly doctored me a little – I do not get any stronger. May the Almighty spare me just a little for my poor children’s sake. When at home I tried to insure my life for £2,000 with the Royal - they would not take me ... not thinking me a safe subject. I am very uneasy and unhappy about the future of the two poor little girls. I must bequeath them to you all – there will possibly be about £1,000 – the Indian debts may ... me here – that is little but if judiciously put out will accumulate by the time they grow up if spared. My poor old mother has been sadly afflicted with these deaths. Eleanor writes me she bears up wonderfully. I should not wish her to be put to any expense on my account. Thank God it need not be much but it is cruel to take anything from her. The doctor at Teheran - to whom I wrote detailing my case to him – says I am suffering from severe nervous prostration – God trust there may be nothing more ... the greatest reluctance I ask you all to do what you can for my poor children. Some of you may have it in your power to offer a home at all events. Keep them from being wanderers. Eleanor is very kind she has taken a great interest in Ella – so has Aunt Ann she is now an old lady – it is the future. I hope you or Eleanor will buy the old house at home [Halstead Hall]. May the day be far off yet when it will be sold. I send you a letter to the Manager of the Agra Bank ... to transfer to you all monies to my credit with him. My a/c here to end of Feb are

These a/cs I have today sent in asking Champain to send home a bill payable to my mother for the sum, less 50 ..., about 250 Rs, I want here.

I have this moment recd your letter of 21 Dec also one from George and ... Give my love to both of them. I hope to answer both. I am very glad to hear George has safely arrived and has got so good an appointment. I am much obliged to you for all the trouble you have taken about my things. You are doing much better than expected. I recd the Gazette all right but not one paper this mail. You are sure to recover my pay. We were obliged to sign our bills before the supt. Controller could draw the money from .... I could not do it after giving over the charge. Because the Agent appointed by Govt not by me – it was his duty to pay me as soon as he drew the pay – the same on the other hand on the ... he has no authority from me to keep the money or to act for me. I have all monies in Agra Bank transferred to Lon(don). I send you a letter - ... money to nearly all there I believe. I got 200 odd ... to London ... that was all – they will soon tell ...

...a/c with ... stands thus. Total a/c was 457.10.0

...to the best of my belief has to pay 150Rs, he will recollect, see (endorsement) on bill – the interest should not allow old C(hampain?) – I think we compromised for 50. I paid you see much more than my half – so should not lose out – S went home and forgot all about it – I send the a/c.

Tom Hill late paymaster Sind Railway owes me Rupees 188. I sent him his a/c. I suppose I shall have to take what I can get – he never paid a (rupee?). I am glad to hear that all the a/cs are likely to be right with Government they should pay the bills quick and then there would be no trouble. The recpts for ... money I left with poor H. I feel sure 774 Rs are still at Karachee.
 

Yours affectionately

HARRY

NOTES:  The envelope of the second letteris addressed  M K Man Esq, Supd Gov Tel Dept, Indore, Bombay, India, and is crossed Champain and King’s physician.  On the reverse is written 'Found amongst Harry’s papers by me E(dward) G(arnet) Man and sent on to M K M(an).'  Harry clearly was not expecting to live long. Capt Champain must have been a MO and presumably recommended his repatriation. He died on 1 July 1864 aged 42 at Halstead Hall, shortly followed by Morrice who died on 16 July 1864 aged 38, while staying with the Walches, Jane’s family, in Hobart, Tasmania. The letter would have arrived after Morrice had died.

It is interesting to note that Champain-Bateman, one of the leaders of the British group who laid the telegraph line through Persia, married a daughter of Sir Frederick Currie and that another daughter married Edmund Elliot Lowis.  One of the sons of this Currie-Lowis marriage was Cecil Champain Lowis (CCL) whose middle name was probably derived from his mother's brother-in-law. In 1894 CCL married Sarah Josselyn Man the niece of Harry Edward Man and daughter of Edward Garnet Man.