Warmly approves Mayo's speech on Indian budget; factionalism gives Govt difficulties on Indian questions in Commons – absence of Sir Stafford Northcote in America means there is no-one on Conservative side on whom Govt can rely for help; in the Lords, Salisbury and Derby both treat Indian questio...
Defends Napier from Mayo's complaints over his conduct regarding army reductions; in assessing Napier's views, Argyll makes allowances for Napier's indisposition to reduce; policy towards Afghanistan following fall of Herat to Amir's son Yaqub Khan; hopes to deal easily with Commons motions on Na...
Has disallowed Act on Weights and Measures because of its excessive compulsory powers over independent traders; only one member of his Council voted against disallowance; they have beaten Nawab [of Bengal] with aid of Mayo's friends [on a Commons motion]; radicals vote against Indian Govt as matt...
Acknowledges Mayo's letter of 1 September; sorry to hear financial forecast for 1872/73 less good because of opium prospects; answers Mayo's complaints regarding control exercised by Home Govt on various matters, for example, manufacture of gun carriages, and control of military expenditure; agre...
Has appointed Sir Henry Maine (formerly Law Member of Governor-General's Council) to Council of India – he will add 'much needed element of strength to the Council by his reputation among men of intellectual eminence in this country'.
Agrees that Mayo has taken right view in controversy with Muir over local taxes, that they should all be liable to increase from time to time; feels he must consult Cabinet on Gwalior; possibility that 'row' with Gwalior army would be useful by giving occasion to suppress it altogether; risks of ...
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.