September 1, 1829.

Read with attention a paper of Courtney’s on Leach’s observations.  Wrote some memoranda upon it, which I shall send with it to the Duke, when I have got from Shepheard a statement of the benefit derived by the territory from the fixed rate of exchange.  It is a valuable paper.  I have written to thank him for it, and to ask him to give me the result of his considerations on the mode of transferring the Government of India from the Company to the King, without materially increasing the patronage of the Crown; and likewise the view he takes of the alterations it would be desirable to introduce, if the Company should continue to govern India, in the powers of the Board of Control and in its relations with the Court.

September 3.

The Directors are much afraid of the Russians.  So am I, and the Russians begin to threaten us.  They hint that they have open to them the route to Bagdad, and they announce the presence in Petersburg of an Afghan Chief, and of Ambassadors from Runjeet Singh.

I feel confident we shall have to fight the Russians on the Indus, and I have long had a presentiment that I should meet them there, and gain a great battle.  All dreams, but I have had them a long time.

I have some idea of a secret letter to Bombay, directing the Government to take possession of the Island of Karak, [Footnote:  A small island in the Persian Gulf to the north-west of Bushire.] and of any other tenable point to seal the Euphrates, in the event of the Russians moving down.

Loch wants to dethrone Runjeet Singh!

September 4, 1829.

Saw Colonel Willoughby Cotton, who commanded en second in Ava.  He has lately visited, as Adjutant-General of King’s troops, all the stations of the army in Bengal.  He says no army can be in finer order.  Lord Combermere has weeded all the old men.  The regiments manoeuvre beautifully.

Lord C. wishes to have two King’s regiments cantoned under the Himalaya
Mountains, where the climate is as good as in England.

Runjeet Singh has conquered Cabul and Cashmere.  He has French officers at the head of his infantry and cavalry, and about five others.  His artillery he keeps under his own family.  He has of regular troops 30,000 infantry, and 10,000 cavalry, about eighty guns.  All these easily assembled near the capital.

He is old, and when he dies his two sons are likely to quarrel and call us in.

The two ex-Kings of Cabul are living at Ludeana on pensions.  Zemaun Shah, the blind King, and his brother, who was King in Mr. Elphinstone’s time.

Colonel Cotton speaks most highly of the Madras troops.  They are more disposable than the Bengal troops, more free from prejudice of caste.

He regrets the reduction of the bodyguard which conducted itself nobly in Ava.  I like a guard, and I would have an infantry as well as a cavalry guard, to be formed by picked men.