Temple's health necessitates his going home; Patiala loan in hand; settlement of recent frontier disturbance afforded opportunity to show that Amir is willing to cooperate in repression of crimeArgyll's despatch on Stud - present system indefensible; opium prospects; (Sir) T D Forsyth (Commission...
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 16 April]; in agreement on railways; will be cautious about embarking on new irrigation projects; if irrigation is to be continued on scale commensurate with India's needs, his proposed system of accounts and payment for them will be essential; emphasises strength of...
Has just heard Bombay opium revenue for 1868-69 over-estimated by £488,680 (£1,761,320 as against £2,250,000) which accounts for much of error in estimate of cash balances; searching enquiry into error will be made.
Acknowledges Argyll's letter of 23 April; Star of India should not be given to Nawab of Bengal until Argyll hears further from Mayo; extraordinary uncertainty of opium revenue forecasts; decision to sell 48,000 chests of opium in 1870.
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 23 April]; will look into question of survey for Burma-China road - Col Fytche (Commissioner of British Burma) is very impulsive; Consul has been established at Bhamo with Burmese consent; Bank of Bengal agency in Bombay.
[Refers to Argyll's letter of 7 May]; defends text of his letter to Amir of Afghanistan, reiterating explanations given in his letter of 4 April, and endeavouring to remove misapprehensions in England about the letter and events at Ambala; deprecates any explanatory statements to Amir; secret des...
Regrets letter from Sir W Seymour Fitzgerald (Governor of Bombay) on policy towards Muscat gave offence – it should be treated as private having been included in official monthly printed proceedings by mistake.
Recent cyclone in Bengal has done little damage compared with previous occurrences; asks Argyll to give countenance to attempt by Maharaja of Kashmir to establish shawl agency in London.
Is concerned at wild talk from Fytche and his officers regarding intervention in Burma; has appealed to Napier to ensure that vacancy in command of Pegu Division is filled by prudent officer; defect of Indian Staff organisation that it is virtually obligatory to appoint a Madras officer when ther...