Failure of Forsyth's mission to open trade route to Yarkand; Goldsmid will move towards Kerman for Baluchistan frontier arbitration if he cannot proceed to Sistan
Temple unlikely to give up present post for any other; Durand's views on Fenwick and his eports of unrests; encloses newspaper report on his tour to Rajputana; failure of Maharaja of Jodhpur, because he was not given equal precedence with the Rana of Udaipur, to attend Durbar an insult to the Vic...
Conduct of Maharaja of Jodhpur and how it should be punished, possibly by degradation from Order of Star of India [Note implication that Viceroy can order attendance of feudatory chiefs in Durbar]; Jodhpur State is in anarchy, Maharaja 'is plunged in drunkenness and vice', and something will soon...
Refers to his letter of 16 November (1), and enlarges on his objections to Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry; reforms would be hindered; dangerous to discuss military matters (including weaknesses of Indian military system) in public; even more dangerous to discuss relations with Native States –...
Is glad mission to Persia has been given up; encloses financial estimate for 1870/71 which should be kept secret; need to adjust procedure for making financial statements to Parliament and in India to avoid discrepancies due to their being based on data collected at different times; opposition co...
Stephen intends to resign as Law Member of Council in Spring 1872 when he hopes to have passed Bills for law reform or at least have then ready for passing.
(Sir) H Maine intends to retire as Legal Member of Council; praises Maine's abilities; distinguished English lawyer would fill vacancy better than anyone in India (some of whom are unsuitable for appointment to Council because of private circumstances); describes how he intends to handle proposal...
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 16 April]; in agreement on railways; will be cautious about embarking on new irrigation projects; if irrigation is to be continued on scale commensurate with India's needs, his proposed system of accounts and payment for them will be essential; emphasises strength of...
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 23 April]; will look into question of survey for Burma-China road - Col Fytche (Commissioner of British Burma) is very impulsive; Consul has been established at Bhamo with Burmese consent; Bank of Bengal agency in Bombay.
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 7 May]; defends text of his letter to Amir of Afghanistan, reiterating explanations given in his letter of 4 April, and endeavouring to remove misapprehensions in England about the letter and events at Ambala; deprecates any explanatory statements to Amir; secret des...