WAITING FOR BETTER TIMES. 181 



intimate to you that he objects to again address 

 Government regarding your case, as he does not 

 see how he could do so with propriety. I should 

 have been glad had it been in my power to assist 

 you in this matter." 



In spite of his maimed ankle and of mental 

 worries which might well have soured the sweetest 

 nature, he set himself to discharge his reoimental 

 duties with a zeal and an energy which elicited the 

 warmest praise from his commanding officer. On 

 January 18, 1857, Colonel Welchman addressed the 

 following appeal to the adjutant- general of the 

 army : — 



" I consider it a duty, and at the same time feel 

 a great pleasure, in requesting you to submit, for 

 the consideration of his Excellency the commander- 

 in-chief, this my public record and acknowledg- 

 ment of the very essential service Lieutenant Hodson 

 has done the regiment at my especial request. On 

 the arrival of the re2:iment at Dag-shai I asked 

 Lieutenant Hodson to act as quartermaster. I 

 pointed out to him that, mainly owing to a rapid 

 succession of quartermasters when the regiment was 

 on field-service, the office had fallen into very great 

 disorder ; . . . and that he would have to restore 

 order out of complicated disorder, and to organise 

 a more efficient working system for future guidance 

 and observance. To my great relief and satisfaction, 

 Lieutenant Hodson most cheerfully undertook the 

 onerous duties : he was suffering at the same time 

 severe bodily pain, consequent on a serious accident, 

 yet this did not in any way damp his energy or 



