one half the cost of a British line-of-battle ship; and as to the second, I urged that an argument of this sort against frontier defences would hardly bear examination; that the possibility of external attack was freely discussed in every newspaper; that Russian movements and frontier difficulties were known and commented on in every bazaar; that the construction of fortifications in support of the Ruling Power had been an Oriental practice from time immemorial; that our action in this respect was at least as likely to instil the idea that we meant to retain our eastern possessions at any cost, as to give an impression of weakness; that the progressive re-organization and mobilization of our army were well known to have reference to service beyond the frontier; and that we had extended our confidence in this respect to Native Princes by encouraging them to train their own troops and fit them to take their place in line with ours.]

[Footnote 11:  Given in the Appendix. (Appendix XVI.)]

[Footnote 12:  Ibid. (Appendix XVII.)]

* * * * *

APPENDIX

APPENDIX I.

(See Chapter XIV, Footnote 4.)

The 9th Native Infantry, to which Captain Donald Stewart belonged, was divided between Aligarh, Mainpuri, Bulandshahr, and Etawa, Stewart being with the Head-Quarters of the regiment at Aligarh.

The news from Meerut and Delhi had caused a certain amount of alarm amongst the residents at Aligarh, and arrangements had been made for sending away the ladies and children, but, owing to the confidence placed in the men of the 9th, none of them had left the station.  Happen what might in other regiments, the officers were certain that the 9th could never be faithless to their salt!  The Native officers and men were profuse in their expressions of loyalty, and as a proof of their sincerity they arrested and disarmed several rebel sepoys, who were making for their homes in Oudh and the adjoining districts.  As a further proof, they gave up the regimental pandit for endeavouring to persuade them to mutiny.  He was tried by a Court-Martial composed of European and Native officers, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged.  The sentence was carried out that same afternoon.  It was intended that the regiment should witness the execution, but it did not reach the gaol in time; the men were therefore marched back to their lines, and Stewart, in his capacity of Interpreter, was ordered to explain to them the purpose for which they had been paraded.  While he was speaking a man of his own company shouted out something.  Stewart did not hear the words, and no one would repeat them.  The parade was then dismissed, when the same man, tearing off his uniform, called upon his comrades not to serve a Government which had hanged a Brahmin.  A general uproar ensued.  The Commanding Officer ordered the few Sikhs in the regiment