APPOINTMENT OF CADETS. 303 



— read and construe Caesar's Commentaries, — be expert in 

 vulgar and decimal fractions, — and have a good character 

 from the master under whom he last studied. Such cadets 

 as the public examiner reports duly qualified are appointed 

 to the corps of artillery. Those who possess superior dili- 

 gence, talents, and attainments are selected for the engi- 

 neers, and sent, with the rank of ensign, to finish their 

 education at Chatham, where they remain a year, and are 

 clothed and maintained at the company's expense. Cavalry 

 and infantry cadets receive appointments direct for India 

 without going to the seminary, but are required to possess 

 the same qualifications as the candidates for Addiscombe, 

 except in point of age. They must be above sixteen, and 

 under twenty-two, unless they have been one year in his 

 majesty's service; in which case they are eligible, if not 

 more than twenty-five. Their equipment and the expenses 

 of the voyage, defrayed by themselves, always exceed 200/., 

 and on a very liberal scale will amount to 400/. The ar- 

 rangements for conveying them to India are explained by 

 Captain Dalrymple in the succeeding volume.* As soon 

 as they arrive there they begin to receive pay, and on the 

 first vacancy are appointed to the rank of ensign. From 

 this time, with ordinary good conduct, their promotion is 

 assured, and they rise by successive steps, as vacancies 

 occur, to the rank of colonel. The emoluments for such as 

 have the full batta, or field-allowance, are somewhat more 

 than double those in king's regiments at home, and after 

 twenty-two years of active service an officer may retire on 

 full pay. He has the option, in the middle of this period, 

 of spending three years in Europe, during which he has 

 only the ordinary British pay, while he thereby extends his 

 servitude to twenty-five years ; besides, if bis absence is 

 protracted beyond five years, he forfeits his commission. 

 Where he has enjoyed no extraordinary advantage, the con- 

 tinuance of his pay for life is the only benefit with which he 

 returns to England ; the great expense of living, as well as 

 of moving from one station to another, rendering it difficult 

 to save any thing from his income. Some, however, by 

 interest or talent, obtain separate appointments and com- 

 mands, or are sent on missions to native courts, which 



♦ Page 331. 



