Preparations at Bombay for Persian campaign; size (5000 men) and objectives of force; decision, chiefly on grounds of expense, not to send division from Bengal as well as one from Bombay; further justification for not sending officers to Herat; more money will have to be given to Amir; small subs...
Preparations for Persian expedition; Capt J F Jones (Indian Navy, Political Agent, Persian Gulf) reports great difficulties of roads between Bushire and Shiraz, and in obtaining transport animals from Turkish side of Gulf; Bombay Govt estimates cost of expedition for Sep 1856-Apr 1857 at 52 lakhs...
Discusses at length impracticability of any inland operations in Persia with only six regiments of European infantry; therefore an advance beyond Bushire to Shiraz would be extremely hazardous; India can spare no more European troops – Canning has already gone to 'the utmost bounds of prudence'; ...
Receipt of instructions for Persian expedition to sail; it plans to rendezvous on 25 November at entrance to Gulf; comments on its commander General Stalker; if operations inland are embarked on Canning proposes to put Anson in charge; important that commander of mixed force of Queen's and Compan...
Policy towards Afghanistan following fall of Herat to Persia; Lawrence is to meet Dost Muhammad; degree of support to be given latter; an independent Herat, however desirable, is not feasible – its ruler must depend on either Persia or Afghanistan; contests view that Herat is the key to India – 5...
Acknowledges Canning's letters of 22 and 25 March; sorry to hear Canning thinks expenditure will increase and not decrease; cannot see why Indian civil service salaries should be higher than Colonial service – Directors (who are all closely connected with service) only say style of living is gran...
Acknowledges Canning's letters of 30 April, 2 and 3 May; comments on Peacock and intemperance of Sir James Hogg (MP and East India Company Director); adverse comments on Directors as a body; will send Law Officers's opinion on claims of Legislative Council which, if known, would end 'all hope of ...
Refers to Canning's letters of 8 September; Persian expedition; Court of Directors now adopting more liberal attitude to Oudh royal family; encloses draft Act on Admiralty jurisdiction in India; has urged O'Shaughnessy to return to India rather than take charge of railways and telegraphs of other...