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Thanks Lord Canning for his very friendly letter of 24 Jul. Considering the support of the late Govt he cannot regret having quitted office, and as a private MP will always do what he can to support the Indian Government Has given all available information to Sir Charles Wood. Both the late and the present Ministry agreed in the selection of members for Canning's Council. There is a tendency in England to overrate the financial difficulties of India, and to blame the India Government for them. Stanley will continue to refute this. Public opinion in England looks for the reduction of the native army by 50,000 to 80,000. Opinion is coming round in favour of an imperial guarantee for the future requirements of India, and Wood seems not averse to this. It is possible that there may be discussions later in the year on the manner in which the local Europeans were dealt with. It is now clear that the men wanted not the bounty but their discharge. It is a most unlucky business, but Stanley does not see what else could have been done. No sane man would have proposed disbanding the European army in May or Jun 1858, and if it was unjust to transfer the men permanently to the Crown, it would have been equally unjust to transfer them for a limited time. Thinks there will be an attempt to reintroduce a separate legislative body for each Presidency, the present system is a failure, and Wood who was the author of it is now strong against it. Mentions several reforms Stanley was considering when the Government fell. These were the reconstruction of the Executive Council at Calcutta, the admission of noncovenanted men to the higher grades of the Civil Service on the recommendation of the Governor General, local loans for public works. Thanks Canning again for his letter, and assures him of his support. Hopes that Canning may return to England with uninjured health after accomplishing a work of almost unprecedented difficulty and responsibility and labour such as few public men have ever had to endure. Has read with pleasure Canning's decision on the question of admitting missionaries to gaols. The Exeter Hall agitation seems to have passed off. Private.