Answers Mr Fleming's complaints about failure to complete Arbyle Ghat Road [apparently another case of Supreme Govt efforts to check insufficiently controlled expenditure].
Explains decision to appoint Col (Sir) Richard Meade (Agent to Governor-General in Central India) as Chief Commissioner, Mysore; believes British have 'much to answer for in the state of savagery' prevailing in Rajputana and that responsibility for Central India and Rajputana is as important as a...
Encloses memorandum by (Sir) C U Aitchison (Foreign Secretary) proposing amalgamation of Central India and Rajputana Agencies, and outlines recommendations for reforms which will improve administration of those areas and offer advantages to Political Services thus attracting abler men than have b...
Refers to his letter of 2 September 1869; is sending Forsyth to complete negotiations with Maharaja of Kashmir for opening trade route through his territory to East Turkestan; Forsyth's mission to St Petersburgh and policy towards Central Asia; war between Afghanistan and Bokhara not impossible; ...
Two important foreign despatches going by this mail; Col (Sir) Lewis Pelly thinks non-payment of Zanzibar subsidy will have very bad effect in Muscat; letter on Bahrain shows up ill conduct of Persians – need to avoid giving Persia any idea that British are about to abandon their longstanding pol...
Briefly describes his tour in Central India including coal and cotton districts of Chanda and the Berars; Kashmir treaty settled; hopes of opening safe and "free of all duty" trade to Yarkand and Kashgar; financial deficit now likely to reach £1 or £¼million; difficulties increased by great and u...
Has persuaded Holkar to accept 4½% interest (instead of 5%) for his loan for Indore railway; hopes to settle matter of Hyderabad railway in negotiation with Salar Jung; despite considerable expenditure reduction, deficit will require raising Income Tax to 3%; revenue estimates still uncertain chi...