UNDER A CLOUD. 161 



Taylor, in his careful and exhaustive report of 

 February 13, 1856, "that Lieutenant Godby, who 

 had, I believe, been called upon to ascertain all 

 claims that existed ao-ainst Lieutenant Hodson with 

 the regiment, gave public notice that all who had 

 them to make must speak then or be silent after- 

 wards. It is certain, therefore, that everj?- one who 

 thought he had a chance of gaining by coming 

 forward did so ; and it is a very important point 

 in the case that it should be seen that there were 

 no real complaints to be made on the score of pay." 

 The court, of which Colonel Halkett Craigie, C.B., 

 was president, sat all through December 1854, and 

 into the middle of the following January, hearing 

 and recording a mass of evidence which, as events 

 showed, was either wholly false or essentially worth- 

 less in its bearing on the character of the man 

 accused. While the court was taking time to con- 

 sider its verdict a cheering letter reached Hodson 

 from Dr Lyell at Ghazipur. "When we parted," 

 writes the good doctor, " I little thought that, 

 notwithstanding all the quarrelling, any one would 

 have had the audacity to bring such charges as 

 you are now accused of against you. We all have 

 our faults, and you, no doubt, have yours, but 

 nothing shall ever persuade me that a man of your 

 stamp has been guilty of what is alleged against 

 you. I am sure any one who knows you would 

 much sooner believe them to be a tissue of lies 

 contrived by those rascally niggers to ruin you ; 

 so cheer up, old fellow, and for any sake do not 

 abandon yourself to melancholy. ... I have no 

 doubt that though the odds seem against you, the 

 malice of your enemies will be defeated, and that 



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