Disposal of Delhi Crown Jewels; should Queen wish to retain certain items question arises whether their value should be made good to Delhi Prize Fund; Canning recommends it should not, in view of deplorably avaricious attitude of army - officers and men – to claiming Prize, and unprecedented exte...
Encloses Momtgomery's report on his administration in Oudh (not present); question whether statement in Home Govt's Despatch on Oudh Proclamation of March 1858, that confiscation announced therein had been cancelled, should be publicly corrected; as Montgomery's report explains, failure to uphold...
Claims to compensation of sons of Simon Fraser (Agent to Governor-General at Delhi) murdered at outset of mutiny; Canning ignorant of reasons for granting compensation for relatives killed in Irish rebellion, but judging of India alone he opposes compensation for loss of relatives in mutiny other...
Refers to Stanley's letter of 14 March on Tayler's case; Govt of India is particularly chary of interfering with Govt of Bengal because of tendency of aggrieved Bengal civilians to bypass the latter; comments on Tayler.
Narratives of the mutiny in Bengal and elsewhere will be despatched, with lists of civilians who have distinguished themselves among whom he will select those especially deserving of honour; recommends F J Halliday for KCB.
Discontent among Company's European troops regarding transfer to crown not at an end as he had hoped and believed; encloses message from Maj-Gen J F Bradford (CO at Meerut) announcing widespread and open discontent there - something amiss with command there if they were previously unaware of it.
Discusses discontent among East India Company's European troops particularly at Meerut and Allahabad and how it should be handled; situation has been critical; its possible effect on native troops; wishes Court of Enquiry at Meerut to complete its work quickly.
Encloses papers on doings of 4th European Regiment and 2nd Light Cavalry at Allahabad showing 'how narrow escape we have had from grievous disaster. I never passed a more anxious 24 hours than after the first announcement of Sir John Inglis' intention to disarm'.
Health of (Sir) Henry Ricketts having broken down, and with only two remaining colleagues (Outram and Peacock) neither of whom is in robust health, it is imperative, in view of volume of business, for him to exercise his power to appoint temporary member of Council.