Refers to Wood's letter of 26 November (1); gives his views on expanding Order of Star of India; numbers of natives and English who should receive second and third class awards; 'Men go home from India, who have enjoyed high position, and wielded large powers, and they find themselves without hon...
Acknowledges Wood's letters of 25 and 26 November; pay of Adjutant-General; opposes making C-in-C a War Minister; difficulty in making progress on complicated matters particularly rent question; difficulty of finding successor to Trevelyan with equal knowledge of Indian and English Finance - sugg...
Adjutant-General's remuneration: important not to pay too much – 'the greater the post is made, the less likely is it to be given to an officer who has some youth and energy left in him'; balance of opinion in Council on army reduction, for which financial case is overwhelming – 'the Country cann...
Encloses minutes of members of Council on re-organisation of native army – Lawrence is inclined to delay the matter; attack on Maj Adams (Deputy Commissioner, Peshawar); land revenue and opium revenue prospects; increase in provisioning costs for army and its reasons; cost estimates for new barra...
Montgomery is bringing home some presents to Prince and Princess of Wales from Punjab people; comments favourably on Montgomery's administration of Punjab and recommends him for baronetcy; use of honours to stimulate men to do their duty; feeling that little is done to reward Her Majesty's servan...
Acknowledges Wood's letter of 18 December; Kathiawar – Lawrence feels interference necessary to preserve peace of the country; Committee is considering Calcutta docks question; disinclination of Calcutta merchants 'who are more or less birds of passage' to invest their own money, rather than Sta...
Refers to Wood's letter of 24 October and his own of 2 December, and asks for clarification of administrative responsibility for Persian telegraph line; shares in Mutlah scheme have risen, showing that no help from Govt is required – as long as people can hope for State aid they will do nothing ...
Acknowledges Wood's letters of 31 December and 2 January; discusses various possible senior appointments; policy in Oudh; believes Sir Thomas Munro probably best administrator Madras or perhaps India ever had, and praises his ryotwari settlement; comments on James Thomason (formerly Lt-Governor o...
Refers to Wood's letter of 10 December (2); problem of surplus artillery officers; reports two reverses and some casualties in Bhutan campaign; increased expenditure resulting from increased consumption of beer by soldiers.