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Rh which would be set free by the abandonment: and in the event of a rising in the Deccan, or on the side of Baroda, our position would be hopeless unless we could keep the Native Governments on our side. I look upon Central India as gone, and to be re-conquered; and I believe that Southern India, that is, from Gujarát on the west to Nágpur on the east, and downwards to Cape Comorin, is at present in a more critical position than any part of the Punjab, not excepting Pesháwar itself. Sir Patrick Grant is pretty sure of the Madras Army, and some three or four regiments will be brought to Bengal to ease our exhausted Europeans. The family system of the Madras regiments gives the Government a great hold on them, especially in the present case, when the families will be left in Madras. Still, if the Deccan were to rise, the Madras Army would not be equal to cope with the difficulty; and the Cavalry, almost entirely Muhammadan, could not be trusted, in spite of all checks upon it. On the Bombay side, I fear there is already some taint in the army. How can it be otherwise? One half is Hindustání, and pretty much of the same materials as the Bengal regiments. I should not like to see them tempted by any open resistance to us in Gujarát or elsewhere near at hand to them. ... Of Delhi I know nothing later than the 19th, and I begin to despair of hearing any good from there. The arrival of Chamberlain and Nicholson is the best remaining ground of hope.'

In a postscript he adds: —