Acknowledges Lawrence's letters of 19 and 23 January which he will leave to de Grey; hopes when Lawrence returns they may have many opportunities to talk over matters.
Congratulations on termination of Bhutan campaign; de Grey strongly dislikes what Duke of Wellington called "a great country's little wars"; two despatches being sent on matters arising from motions in Commons – working of competitive system of recruitment to civil service (on which de Grey think...
Acknowledges Lawrence's letters of 2 and 8 February; explains his position on borrowing for irrigation; agrees with Lawrence in preferring Govt action to private enterprise in irrigation works and has tried to impress this opinion on successors; Stanley's case; restates his position on Oudh tenur...
Briefly reiterates position on Oudh; on Bhutan things soldiers 'talked of their doings and the necessity for preparations as if they had been engaged with the Russians instead of with half-armed savages'.
Appointment of Cotton Commissioner for Berar which is desired in Lancashire; hopes for fuller expression of Lawrence's views on Indian Sanitary Commissions, and that duties of sanitary officers can be extended from purely military sphere to cover larger towns, in which case a Sanitary Dept may be...
Never believed story about invitations to ball but wanted to be forearmed in view of rumoured attacks on Lawrence regarding Mysore, Bhutan, Oudh, and invitations; Commons' preoccupation with reform means these matters unlikely to be raised except Mysore on which Sir H Rawlinson has given notice; ...
Asks Lawrence to assist emissary being sent to India by King of Belgians to make enquiries which King unable to conclude personally during recent visit.
Acknowledges Lawrence's letter of 5 March; Indian financial situation; asks Lawrence's views on succession duty; asks whether any substance in complaint, brought to notice by Sir R Hamilton (retired Agent to Governor-General in Central India), of Maharaja Holkar of Indore regarding sanad granted ...
Acknowledges Lawrence's letters of 20 and 22 March; too late to cancel Jodhpur's Star of India; agrees with Lawrence on non-interference in Afghanistan; is still considering other matters; political crisis at home threatened to terminate his tenure as Secretary of State but is over for the moment.