Pretensions of Legislative Council; annual deficit of Indian budget will one day arouse wrath of John Bright and 'other Indian agitators' and be taken up not unjustly by milder men – Finance and Police seem to be matters requiring Canning's immediate attention.
Relations with Persia and Afghanistan; Crimean peace negotiations; possibility that check to Russians in west will cause them to encroach towards India; need to reduce Indian expenditure. [Note: Date obtained from Mss Eur Photo Eur 476]
Policy towards Persia and Afghanistan; pretensions of Legislative Council, and need for parliamentary legislation if law officers' opinion finds in its favour; political situation at home; East India Company directors due for re-election are canvassing grossly; asks to be kept fully informed on O...
Policy towards Afghanistan where he considers British interests are best served if it is disunited; approves despatch of native troops (who are more suited to the climate than Europeans) to Singapore and Hong Kong; cartridge affair; hopes Anson will now be convinced that 'superstition'of sepoys i...
Believes certain technical impediments pointed out by Sir James Colville (Chief Justice of Calcutta Supreme Court) to turning Supreme Court into High Court as proposed by Civil Procedure Report can be overcome; Sir Charles Jackson (puisne judge) has sent in unwise protest at scheme for a High Cou...
Preparations for Persian campaign; comments on Maj-Gen Stalker; good policy to keep aloof from entanglement in Afghanistan with Amir's death approaching.
Question of conferring Admiralty jurisdiction upon Indian courts; as regards question of amalgamation of jurisdictions, Canning has no objection to Vernon Smith legislating on that in Parliament; progress on Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure and Penal Code; Peacock's hard work on latter; slow...