Nawab Nazim [of Bengal ?] and Mayo's wish that he should leave England – but despite his private conduct, he has right to stay; Weights and Measures Act – Argyll 'dreads' Act contemplating compulsion and penal consequences enforced by 'Wardens and Subwardens who will be natives. I fear this will ...
Death of Sir H Durand; hopes that appointment of Commons Committee on India will be limited to finance (though that is a wide subject) and will be moved in friendly rather than hostile spirit; astonished at choice of 3ft.3ins for narrow gauge; Mayo's choice of Davies for Punjab universally approved.
Answers charge that tone and terms of his Despatch of 10 February rejecting Govt of India's proposals for increase in Indian Civil Service pensions had offended all members of Govt and that its publication would cause great irritation if published; write this despatch almost entirely himself; des...
Refers to Mayo's despatch on Gwalior and difficulty of making decision which may involve very serious consequences; believes British under no treaty or moral obligation to return Gwalior fort, regrets Mayo should have said anything to contrary, and requests him to hold out no expectations to Scin...
His only purpose in sending to Temple to Madras was to get some specially good man into Temple's place as Finance Member, but none is to be found; therefore wishes to keep Temple as Finance Member as he has just got into his stride, and to avoid raising expectations of change in financial policy;...
Despatch on local cesses [i.e. taxes or rates] is being sent which it approves provided they are levied on all landowners with interest in the soil, and not just zamindars; also states opinion they should be levied on all immovable property, not just land; sees some Bengal regiments have been con...
Refers to Mayo's letter of 10 April reporting atrocious mismanagement of Bills for local taxation in Legislative Council; Argyll more concerned at setting maximum percentage for local taxes; permanent settlements being made under Wood's despatch of 1862 and rapidly rising land values make princip...