Marked 'strictly private'; correspondence with Halifax [probably on his C-in-C/War Minister proposals]; does not intend to press those proposals given that Argyll does not appear to favour them; [refers to Argyll's letter of 4 November]; discusses pros and cons of Mansfield remaining another year...
Govt management has reduced rather than increased cost of Port Canning line [Calcutta and South Eastern railway], though original decision to guarantee it an 'egregious folly'.
Refers to Argyll's letter of 11 September; assistance given to Candlish; fears from Argyll's telegram of 2 December that he has been misinformed regarding actions taken on reductions; outlines proposed reductions in police particularly in Madras which is rumoured to have appealed to Secretary of ...
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 12 November 1869]; explains why he wants an American railway engineer; extravagance of Indian railway construction; need to learn things which own engineers cannot teach; sickness problems in Punjab PWD; embarrassment of spending large sums of money on entertainment ...
Agrees to Argyll's memorandum on Indian Frontier Policy enclosed in letter of 26 November 1869, and comments further on relations with Russia and Central Asian peoples and situation in Afghanistan; Mansfield's dissatisfaction regarding the failure to consult him on proposed extension of his tenur...
Important Duke of Edinburgh should visit Bombay; suggests he might visit Hyderabad which would be a well deserved compliment to Sir Salar Jung. (Prime Minister of Hyderabad).