Attempted assassination of Davidson (Resident at Hyderabad) would have led to outbreak at Hyderabad and perhaps throughout the Deccan had it succeeded; as it is, no need for apprehension but may be necessary to hold back one regiment due to return to England.
Hamilton having declined seat in Council, Canning suggests Frere, Harington and Beadon in that order, particularly as he has just named Beadon Foreign Secretary.
[Refers to Stanley's letter of 7 February(3)]; opposes transfer of Mysore (or other Native States) to supervision of local Presidency, because Calcutta's remoteness makes attempts at corruption and intrigue far more difficult; in any case elderly and childless Raja intends to leave Mysore to Govt...
[Refers to Stanley's letter of 15 February(2)]; describes modest reforms in his Council's procedure to expedite business which will bring some relief to his colleagues but not to him; real cause of delay is sheer volume of business; scope for delegating more work to Secretaries is limited by fact...
Disposal of Delhi Crown Jewels; should Queen wish to retain certain items question arises whether their value should be made good to Delhi Prize Fund; Canning recommends it should not, in view of deplorably avaricious attitude of army - officers and men – to claiming Prize, and unprecedented exte...
Encloses Momtgomery's report on his administration in Oudh (not present); question whether statement in Home Govt's Despatch on Oudh Proclamation of March 1858, that confiscation announced therein had been cancelled, should be publicly corrected; as Montgomery's report explains, failure to uphold...
Claims to compensation of sons of Simon Fraser (Agent to Governor-General at Delhi) murdered at outset of mutiny; Canning ignorant of reasons for granting compensation for relatives killed in Irish rebellion, but judging of India alone he opposes compensation for loss of relatives in mutiny other...
Refers to Stanley's letter of 14 March on Tayler's case; Govt of India is particularly chary of interfering with Govt of Bengal because of tendency of aggrieved Bengal civilians to bypass the latter; comments on Tayler.
Narratives of the mutiny in Bengal and elsewhere will be despatched, with lists of civilians who have distinguished themselves among whom he will select those especially deserving of honour; recommends F J Halliday for KCB.
Discontent among Company's European troops regarding transfer to crown not at an end as he had hoped and believed; encloses message from Maj-Gen J F Bradford (CO at Meerut) announcing widespread and open discontent there - something amiss with command there if they were previously unaware of it.