Acknowledges Lawrence's two letters [of 1 and 2 September]; Oudh question; need in such matters to achieve quick settlement which avoids legacy of bad blood; views on migration to Simla; monument to Lord Elgin
Gives his views on Lawrence's letter of 16 September on Indian finance; possibility of reducing military expenditure must be decided by Lawrence; Cranborne cannot now attempt general reversal of policy to spend huge sums on barracks; too many useless roads being built; agrees with Lawrence's opin...
Acknowledges Lawrence's letters of 22 and 23 September [sc. 20 and 22 September ?]; officers' grievances; believes Mysore may have right to be a separate Government under Partition treaty; wishes to avoid decision on this point unless forced; has sent Lawrence secret instructions not to absorb My...
Acknowledges Lawrence's letters of first week of October; announces appointment of (Sir William) Seymour Fitzgerald to succeed Frere as Governor of Bombay; Frere will probably become member of Council of India; argues at length in favour of abandonment of barracks at Peshawar; argues that Lawrenc...
Acknowledges Lawrence's letters of 18, 22 and 23 [sic] October; comments on Frere, Fitzgerald and Yule; suggests moving latter from Hyderabad to become member of Lawrence's Council in succession to Grey; asks for documents relating to Mysore which cannot be found in India Office.
Points out high cost of British soldier; understands 70,000 needed to watch native army and that native army cannot be reduced; asks whether danger of revolt of native army could be reduced by stationing troops far from their birthplace; since Muslim and Hindu troops likely to be alienated, not b...
Irrigation should be undertaken by Govt if possible, by private enterprise if not; hopes work will begin without delay; absolutely necessary to establish new Irriagation Dept; no time should be lost in beginning surveys; trusts other Presidencies, especially Madras, will receive fair share of Imp...