Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/3/27

Hopes that the ratification of the Treaty will free Lord Canning of anxiety about troops. Describes an interview with Ferook Khan, and their discussion of the Russian objections to the peace Treaty; Ferook Khan will probably return to London as Ambassador. Two iron screw steamers should be despatched within a fortnight. The Dockyard and Naval Store Department at Bombay are to be investigated thoroughly. Captain Kempthorne is to be court-martialled for selling stores. The Board has sanctioned the appointment of a Comptroller, who is to be independent of the Commander in Chief and the Master Builder. The Court have been persuaded to pass a vote of thanks to the Persian Expedition. Comments on decorations. If accounts from China are to be relied upon, Yeh is in disgrace with the Emperor, and the Canton difficulty will soon be finished. Lord Canning has not commented on the comprehensive system of Police, nor on the gold currency. Sykes has been succeeded in office by Mr [Ross] Mangles, with Sir Frederick Currie as Deputy. Regrets to hear of the affair of the greased cartridges; if the high caste sepoys are once given cause for alarm about their caste, the Government may be compelled to have recourse to bloody measures.