The majority in favour of the latter is 754.* The total number of native officers is 4,542, of whom 573 are native doctors; these are carefully educated and instructed in the European principles of medicine, and in anatomy. Much of the efficiency of the Bengal military native doctors is owing to the care of the late Dr. Breton. The Company have sent out models in papier maché, and other improved methods of studying anatomy, for such Hindoos as object to touching the human skeleton; their prejudices in this respect are wearing away, and the native doctors of the Indian army are a real blessing conferred on the country at large. Manuals of medicine, surgery, &c are translated and printed at the Company's expense; and if nothing had been done for India but giving the people a simple system of medicine, the Government would have been entitled to their gratitude. The next table shews the force of the native army exclusive of native commissioned officers. * When such laudable efforts are being made to elevate the Hindoos to civil situations of trust and emolument, the author would respectfully solicit the attention of the Honourable Company to the condition of their gallant military native officers; it would indeed be desirable that certain staff appointments were open to them; every general officer, for instance, should be allowed a native aid-de-camp, whose allowances should be in proportion to that of his European compeer; perhaps if the commissions of the native officers were countersigned by His Majesty, it would gratify them; those who have distinguished themselves should be admitted Companions of the Bath, and every possible means taken to elevate them in their own opinion, as well as in the eyes of the troops under their command. NUMBER OF NATIVE Non-commissioned OFFICERS and RANK and FILE in INDIA, and the Corps to which they belong. The total number of non-commissioned officers and rank and file of natives in the service of the Company amounts to 181,612; these are composed of Hindoos and Mahomedans, mixed in every regiment in a greater or less proportion, and in field discipline, cleanliness, and sobriety, they are unsurpassed by any other troops. The native artillery make it a point of honour to be cut down at their guns, rather than desert them; wherever a British officer will lead, it has rarely or never been found that his Sepoys will not follow. No men are more alive to emulation; a medal is as highly prized by a Sepoy as by a British soldier; and many instances of heroism might be related of them, which would do honor to Greek or Roman story. This is not the place, however, to speak of their achievements, of their faithfulness to their officers, or of their volunteering for Egypt, for Java, for the Mauritius, for Ceylon, or for Birmah; suffice it to say, that the history of the Indian army has yet to be written; it is time the desideratum were supplied. I now give the total force. TOTAL of KING'S and COMPANY'S MILITARY FORCE at the THREE PRESIDENCIES, for 1830. The Company's European Artillery, which, in efficiency, is quite equal to the Royal Artillery, was in number, at the date of the last returns, as follows: The grand totals of the army employed in India are as follows: In 1814 the total Indian army on a peace establish It is now being further reduced, particularly the local or provincial corps, which it is thought may at any time be reorganized. The greater part of the irregular native troops are employed doing duty in the different cities as local militia, for escorts, and various harassing duties, on which it is not thought advisable to employ the regular troops. The annual charge of the different branches of the army of the three presidencies, to correspond with the foregoing returns, is as follows: • In 1813, the total army was 201,000. + During 1825 and 1826, the Bengal army alone was 170,000 men, on account of the Burmese and Bhurtpoor war. Bombay. Total. ANNUAL CHARGE of the ARMY of the THREE PRESIDENCIES, in 1830. £. £. 83,873 88,058 50,788 60,295 199,141 110,512 84,597 57,234 252,343 27,987 46,252 74,239 43,718 32,812 21,175 97,705 3,035 3,035 81,832 40,803 49,953 172,588 290,982 297,316 130,555 718,853 179,393 240,899 267,159 120,554 628,612 33,018 42,356 47,026 122,400 Ditto Native Regulars 1,433,366 1,146,000 522,989 3,102,355 Ditto ditto Irrregulars 245,204 12,980 12,528 270,712 Staff 174,794 168,501 145,195 488,490 Medical Department 66,772 35,134 30,952 132,858 Pioneer Corps 17,312 35,393 21,806 74,511 Commissariat Department 382,499 207,346 24,482 614,327 Military Charges not coming under the foregoing .... 933,769 724,816 520,302 2,178,887 Grand Total 4,328,537 3,216,275 1,849,510 9,394,322 |