18 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



for life, with the prospect of liberal rewards for 

 tried capacity in various fields. There was, of 

 course, a fixed age-limit to all such appointments, 

 and that limit Hodson had nearly overstepped 

 when he took his B.A. degree in the spring of 

 1844. He might still, however, attain his heart's 

 desire by passing through the doorway of a militia 

 regiment. 



Through the timely intervention of Lord de 

 Saumarez his friends obtained for him a commis- 

 sion in the Guernsey Militia from General Sir 

 William Napier, then Lieutenant - Governor of 

 Guernsey. " From the first," writes Mr G. H. 

 Hodson, "he felt that the profession of a soldier 

 was one that required to be studied, and took 

 every opportunity of mastering its principles." To 

 that end, indeed, he could hardly have studied 

 under a worthier teacher than the great historian 

 of the Peninsular War. 



On leaving Guernsey in the winter of 1844 

 Hodson took with him the following testimonial 

 from Sir William Napier : " I not only consider 

 you fit to hold a commission in any service, but 

 I think you will be an acquisition to any service. 

 Your education, your ability, your zeal to make 

 yourself acquainted with military matters, gave 

 me the greatest satisfaction during your service 

 in the militia, and I heartily wish you success in 

 your present application." General Napier also 

 gave the young soldier a commendatory letter to 

 his brother Sir Charles, who was now strenuously 

 governing the province which his arms had lately 

 wrested from the Amirs of Sind.^ How little 



^ The victories of Miani and Haidarabad in 1843 had settled the 



