FROM SABATHU TO KASHMIR. 41 



How poor an estimate William Hodson had in 

 these few months learned to form of the regular 

 native army of Bengal may be seen from the 

 letter he wrote about this time to his kind friend, 

 James Thomason, at Agra : " In discipline and sub- 

 ordination they seem to be lamentably deficient, 

 especially towards the native commissioned and 

 non-commissioned officers. On the march I have 

 found these last give me more trouble than the 

 men even. My brother officers say that I see an 

 unfavourable specimen in the 2nd, as regards dis- 

 cipline, owing to their frequent service of late and 

 the number of recruits ; but I fear the evil is very 

 widespread. It may, no doubt, be traced mainly 

 to the want of European officers. This, however, 

 is an evil not likely to be removed on any large 

 scale. Meantime, unless some vigorous and radical 

 imjDrovements take place, I think our position will 

 be very uncertain, and even alarming, in the event 

 of extended hostilities. You must really forgive 

 my speaking so plainly, and writing my own 

 opinions so freely. You encouraged me to do so 

 when I was at Agra, if you remember, and I value 

 the privilege too highly as connected with the 

 greater one of receiving advice and counsel from 

 you, not to exercise it, even at the risk of your 

 thinking me presumptuous and hasty in my 

 opinions." ^ 



It was about this time that Thomason himself, 

 writing to Hodson's father, expressed his pleasure 

 at William's evident success in winning the esteem 

 and goodwill of his brother officers. " I had some 

 little fear," he adds, " that his great superiority 



1 'Fraser's Magazine' for Febraary 1859. 



