Remonstrates against tone of several recent despatches and minutes from India; in proposing military reductions, Home Govt had in mind reductions in Commissariat and suchlike branches, and therefore not inconsistent to object to reducing manpower; objectionable for General (Sir) H Norman (Militar...
Refers to Mayo's letter of 13 November; premature publication of Mayo's agricultural despatch, and difficulty of maintaining secrecy among 15 members of Council of India; unanimous opposition from Council (which Argyll largely shares) to Govt of India'a Act on Weights and Measure which goes far b...
Nawab Nazim [of Bengal ?] and Mayo's wish that he should leave England – but despite his private conduct, he has right to stay; Weights and Measures Act – Argyll 'dreads' Act contemplating compulsion and penal consequences enforced by 'Wardens and Subwardens who will be natives. I fear this will ...
Approves severity with which Mayo has dealt with delinquents in Public Works Dept at Allahabad; is sure there is 'terrible quantity of fraud in the lower departments of the P.W.D. and of gross carelessness in the higher departments'; enclose another letter from William Fenwick claiming that procl...
Death of Sir H Durand; hopes that appointment of Commons Committee on India will be limited to finance (though that is a wide subject) and will be moved in friendly rather than hostile spirit; astonished at choice of 3ft.3ins for narrow gauge; Mayo's choice of Davies for Punjab universally approved.
Encloses letter from Sir W Seymour Fitzgerald (Governor of Bombay) concerning denial of pay to his son while in England, and right of Governor to have discretion in such a matter on which Argyll is inclined to agree.
Acknowledges Mayo's letter explaining that minutes and notes on military reductions which were somewhat offensive were not intended to be sent home at all; briefly discusses question; question of 'formidable forces' kept by States like Gwalior and Indore; desire for Commons Committee on India has...
Thinks Committee on Indian Finance unavoidable – probably a joint Committee of Lords and Commons; Indian knowledge is strong in Lords; Nawab Nazim [of Bengal ?]; his Council very averse to reducing native army, but if Mayo adheres to his view Argyll inclined to support him – but matter must go to...
Explains background to despatch being sent rejecting specific proposal from India on Army reduction; matter has been to Cabinet; Committee on India has had to be conceded, and Commons' jealousy of Lords' superior knowledge has prevented it from being joint Committee; Mayo's local finance scheme s...