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...
Encloses copy of letter to Lord Derby from Maharaja Holkar of Indore which Argyll describes as 'insolent'; Holkar's claims for substantial cession of territory as reward for services during mutiny; question of undue interference in internal affairs of states by Political Officers; possibility of ...
Despatch will be sent supporting Mayo's refusal of any concessions to Holkar; Mayo should demand explanation from him of his gun-casting and other warlike preparations; Canning's mistake in allowing Scindia and Holkar to keep armies; Napier's reference to gun-casting in Bundelkhand States; since ...
Answers charge that tone and terms of his Despatch of 10 February rejecting Govt of India's proposals for increase in Indian Civil Service pensions had offended all members of Govt and that its publication would cause great irritation if published; write this despatch almost entirely himself; des...
Education of Abyssinian Prince; permanent settlements of land revenue in North-Western Provinces should make it clear that they do not preclude further local taxation; argument against permanent settlements has been difficulty of devising other means to tax wealth thus left in hands of individual...