Mss Eur F213/27, p193

Acknowledges Dalhousie's letter of 15 June; Dalhousie's doubt as to reception of annexation will long ago have been removed and sanction of Home authorities will be sent shortly; old India hands are concerned at continuance of Punjab Irregular regiments – Hobhouse thinks fact that no more than tenth of ranks will be Sikhs makes measure far less objectionable; approves Dalhousie's unpopular order concerning ladies – has seen private letter from George Lawrence which suggests latter's judgement in negotiations with Chattur Singh and Sher Singh may have been unduly influenced by concern for his wife; article in Times today suggests that newspaper would not be sorry to see Mulraj hanged, but [Lord] Fitzroy Somerset (Military Secretary at the War Office, later Lord Raglan) thinks he should not be; opposes Henry Lawrence's 'wild scheme' of holding Punjab merely by Irregular regiments to be raised there; Hobhouse has no confidence in fidelity of Punjabis when in the Punjab, but 'well and good' if drafted elsewhere; has every confidence in Napier's advice on this question; approves giving some Kashmir shawls to Abbas Pasha, but Dalhousie should consult 'the Chairs' [i.e. Chairman and Deputy Chairman of EIC] who will be cooperative if treated courteously – EIC Directors have not yet fully grasped that Charter Act of 1833 'deprived them of much of their authority'; despatch on Punjab medal has been sent; Maddock's demand for an honour; Hardinge wants baronetcy for Gilbert.

4 August. Absurd Commons debate on Satara in which Sir Edward Colebrooke made ridiculous claim that Dalhousie's doctrines on rights of paramount power in cases of adoption would terrify Native Princes, but Hobhouse asks Dalhousie for certain concessions to Rani of Satara as he gave 'a sort of promise' on the point; disapproves of Mr (later Sir) H B Frere (Resident at Satara) taking the part of the ex-Raja's family and recording minutes on the subject; hopes an example will be made of Cunningham.