Mss Eur F699/1/1/1/14/47

Thanks Canning for his kind letter, he is glad to find that he is acquitted of intentionally passing over the Government of India and he is sure that Colonel Melville who drew up the General Order is equally innocent. There has been another mistake in the General Order which was published thanking the officers who held taken a part in the preparation of the Expedition. This General Order by mistake has published the exact numbers of all the troops embarked, including, details of followers, horses. Elphinstone read through the General Order very hurriedly, and did not notice that the exact numbers were given. However, he supposes that the strength of the force was already known to the Persian Government. Sir George Clerk is said to be opposed to the occupation of Mohumra, and Lord Clarendon is in favour of employing General Outram. Hopes that Stalker will not be superseded by Outram; if operations were extended, perhaps Anson might be sent to command. The Court are sending out the warm clothing asked for. Elphinstone gives his views on the junction of Sind with the Punjab in one Lieutenant Governorship; he is not sure it would be a serviceable arrangement. Unless the Bombay troops in Sind could be relieved by Bengal ones, it would be a mistake to transfer the Civil Government of the Province to another Presidency, and it is very doubtful whether it would be-desirable to substitute Bengal troops for Bombay Sepoys in Sind. There seems to be a mistaken idea that Bombay is jealous of Kurrachee. Geographically Sind seems to belong to the Punjab, but it is more accessible from Bombay than from Lahore. This objection would be lessened when the railroad is made. Private.