The Guides are at Peshawur, where I shall probably join them.
Lieutenant Hodson's descent in position, upon the annexation of the Punjaub, was, perhaps, unavoidable, though it was very natural that he should feel it. So soon as the country was placed under the government of the East India Company, the regulations of the service with regard to seniority of course took effect, and it was not to be expected that a subaltern of less than five years' standing should be continued in so important a charge, however well qualified he might have proved himself for it in the most trying times. His position altogether had been a peculiar and exceptional one.
We shall see, however, that his disappointment did not prevent his throwing himself with his usual energy into whatever duties were assigned to him.
To his Brother.
Peshawur, May 14th, 1849.
My stay here is very uncertain. I merely came to settle affairs with Lumsden relative to the increase of the Guides. Meantime, I have been much interested with my first visit to this Affghan province and to the Indus. You will see at once that though it gives us a very strong military frontier, only passable to armies in half a dozen points, and therefore infinitely less difficult to hold than a long line of river, which is ever "a silent highway for nations," yet at the same time we have once more established a footing in Affghanistan from which there is no receding, as we did when we went as allies to the puppet Shah Soojah. Our next stride must be to Herât, I fancy; when the day will come no man can say, but "the uncontrollable principle," which, according to Sir R. Peel, took us there before, will not be the less active in its operation now that we have no longer the court and camp of Runjeet Singh between us and these wild tribes. It is to be hoped that "the uncontrollable principle" will not appear so very like an uncontrollable want of it as it did in days gone by! However, go we must, and shall some day,—so hurrah for Cabul!
I wish you would hit upon some plan for keeping me more "au fait" with the events of your home world. My time has been occupied so constantly since I came to India, that, though I may have made some progress in the knowledge of men, I have made but little in that of books. We are sadly off for military works in English, and few sciences require more study than the art of war. You might get me a list of good works from the "United Service Institution" at Charing Cross. I want the best edition of Cæsar procurable; also Xenophon and Arrian. I fancy the last has been very well edited.
Peshawur, June 8th, 1849.