Describes opposition to expenditure reductions arising from provincialism, highly paid incompetence, and willingness to advocate increased burdens on the people rather than seek reasonable diminution of expenditure.
Durand unenthusiastic about appointment to amalgamated Agency of Central India and Rajputana; Mayo, having now spent more than a fortnight in the Punjab, finds Durand would be more acceptable to the Punjab Service than any other man as Lt-Governor of Punjab and Mayo proposes to appoint him though...
Encloses copy of budget estimate; departments retreated when told of Mayo's determination not to overspend; commends Temple for his support; recommends Mir Akbar Ali for CSI for services in Abyssinnia; following death of Nizam of Hydeabad, hopes to maintain Salar Jung in power during regency whic...
In any Parliamentary statements, Argyll should avoid laying stress on what will not be done for Amir of Afghanistan; further reflections on Afghan policy, difficulties facing Sher Ali, and latter's defects of personality; blessing that 'Central Asian [i.e. Russian] question' did not figure promin...
Disappointment at delay over rifled guns; indianisation of civil service must be done gradually; policy would backfire if natives appointed to posts for which they are unfit either by lack of ability or honesty; it will be long time before competent natives are available in any great numbers for ...
Encloses satisfactory letter from Fytche about Burma; prospects for rain; heat has caused great suffering and loss of life on the plains, especially in Gwalior; encloses letter from Henry Cayley at Leh on trade routes and more particularly on obstruction and intimidation faced by Indian traders h...
Comments on Irish politics; [refers to Argyll's letter of 2 July (1)] and comments on Indian land tenures in general; believes focus should be on establishing fair system for future rather than on consideration of past rights; in some areas rising rents may mean that to limited extent an 'Irish d...
Suggestion that Sir Seymour Blane (formerly Military Secretary to Sir J Lawrence) should accompany Duke of Edinburgh; cholera among British troops; widespread distress in Rajputana; encloses letter from Cayley on Shaw's travels.
Question of building Hooghly bridge; encloses letter from Fytche showing that Burma affairs have settled down; has sanctioned expenditure of lakh of rupees to relieve severe distress in Hissar; [cf Argyll to Mayo, 30 July]; great anxiety regarding financial situation; India a poorer country than ...