Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/25

 themselves at certain times before a Board of Examiners assembled on purpose, and if found duly qualified, they are passed into the Service. All medical appointments are now filled up in the same way by a medical board of examiners; but all other appointments remain subject to the old mode of nomination. The examination for medical appointments takes place at the India House in July and January; and all information respecting particulars can be got from the secretary in the military department at the India House.

Besides the professional qualifications required, young officers cannot be too careful to improve themselves in education, in the most comprehensive sense of the word. I am of opinion, that general education is too much neglected, and that cadets are too apt to be satisfied with having passed their curriculum without caring much for anything more. To write a good hand; a good essay; to be a good accountant, or a good mathematician; to play a piece of music,or paint a good picture, are no mean accomplishments. Besides, it will be very desirable to have a favourite pursuit to follow when they have nothing else to do. All officers in India may expect to be much left to themselves, to be cast entirely upon their own resources; and happiest are they who have some pleasant hobby to mount independent of the world,