UNDER A CLOUD. 159 



general unpopularity." Of the causes wliicli Mr 

 Sloggett points out in detail mention has been made 

 already ; but one of them may here be emphasised 

 in Mr Slos-o-ett's own words : " He was a man of 

 considerable attainments ; a fair scholar ; possessed 

 of information above the average ; and he was older 

 than almost any one of his standing in the army. 

 He was in this way superior to most of his fellows, 

 and being at the same time naturally sarcastic and 

 fearless, he would say and do things which galled 

 men to the quick and made them hate him. Add 

 to this the envy caused by his rapid rise owing to 

 Sir Henry Lawrence's notice of him, and his un- 

 popularity is accounted for. When, then, the com- 

 mittee of inquiry was ordered, and the members of 

 it were at last all collected at Peshawar, — some of 

 whom arrived days or weeks before the whole could 

 assemble in those days of slow and tedious travel, 

 — these became infected with the prevailing preju- 

 dice to such a degree that they believed him guilty 

 before the court assembled at all, and actually took 

 possession of his regimental papers and accounts. 

 Moreover, the native munshi and accountant, true 

 to his national character, joined in and inflamed the 

 stories against the fallen man."^ 



The spirit in which some of Hodson's accusers 

 conducted their case may be gathered from the fact 

 that a regimental order published to the corps of 

 Guides called upon all who had claims or complaints 

 against their commandant to brino; them forward 

 without delay. This fact alone would account for 

 the great number of witnesses, all native, who 

 appeared before the court. "It is diflicult to 



1 Quoted from a letter addi-essed to the Rev. G, H, Hodson. 



