Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/221

Rh our service and proposed to resign. He is a half-caste, and was formerly in the Maráthá service. On the war breaking out with them (the second Maráthá war), he quitted their service in consequence of the proclamation recalling all British subjects, was employed by us, and much distinguished himself by his enterprise, his intrepidity, and his judgment. At the peace the corps commanded by him was kept in pay, and he was retained at its head, at the frontier station of Hánsi. The equity and the strict observance of every promise which had marked Captain Skinner for many years, had obtained for him a prodigious influence among the natives. The loss of such a man would be serious, especially as there was little probability that he could reconcile his mind to idleness, and it is sure that he would have most tempting offers from Holkar or Sindhia. His discontent arose from this, that the officers of Irregulars have no rank but in their own corps. Hence, if the garrison of native infantry at Hánsi be reduced (as has often been the case) to a subaltern's party, Captain Skinner must find himself under the orders of possibly a very inexperienced youth. I affected not to know anything of the dispositions which he had indulged; but, beginning by a compliment to the state of his corps, I told him I wished to give a public mark of my estimation of his character. I therefore requested he would assume the honorary title of Lieutenant-Colonel; and I apprized him of my intention to propose to Government that such a rank in the Irregular's should entitle the officer holding it to rank as youngest field-officer of the line, and to command all captains and subalterns. I explained that as battalions were often commanded by captains, it would be easy to compose such a corps for an irregular officer in whom one had confidence, as might enable him to achieve actions meriting the highest distinctions and recompense. He appeared extraordinarily gratified, and with peculiar earnest-