Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/221

Rh military qualities of the Regular Native Army, was deeply impressed with the possible dangers involved by its large increase in numbers since the first Afghan War. In 1838, the total Native Force is stated to have been under 154,000 men. The outbreak of the first Sikh War in 1845 found it at 240,310. After reductions on the close of that war. Lord Hardinge bequeathed to Lord Dalhousie a Native Army more numerous than at the last great peace. Lord Dalhousie's conquest of the Punjab led to a further increase of the regular Sepoy regiments from 800 to 1000 men — 'a step taken at the urgent solicitation of Sir Charles Napier, after the second Sikh War .' Lord Dalhousie, himself, became afterwards convinced of the impolicy of this increase to the regular regiments, and proposed their reduction. But towards the close of his rule the Native Army still stood as high as 233,000 men.

Lord Dalhousie endeavoured to meet the possible perils of so large a Native Regular Army by four series of measures. First, by a better distribution with a view not only to holding the country more securely, but also to breaking up the masses of the Regular Native troops. This measure, which served us in such good stead in 1857, he effected upon the principle laid down by Lord Hardinge,