Mss Eur Orme OV.47

p. [i]. Contents.

1, pp. 1-148. Orderly Book at Tritchinopoly and in Camp on the expedition to Madura, from February 12th 1763 to March 18th 1764. Apparently a copy. There is a gap between 26 Aug. 1763 and 17 Nov. 1763, that is for practically the whole period of the first siege of Madura. Probably, though not in his hand (see 48. 1 (13), it belonged to Major Preston, as the periods which it covers correspond fairly well with the periods during which he was in independent or detached command. He was evidently a very strict officer, and, not to mention other offences to which soldiers are said to be addicted, he on the 19th March 1763 strictly forbade their indulgence in "the pernicious practice of gaming," and ordered that "no cards or dice should be suffered amongst the soldiers." On the 15th June he ordered the Captains and Officers commanding Companies to receive the men's "dividends of the present from the Nabob and oblige them immediately to compleat their stock of linnen to three shirts." On the 18th August "Abdul Cawder, Commandant," was tried for cowardice by a Sepoy Court Martial, and, though acquitted of cowardice, was declared to have not bestirred himself as he ought to have done, and was therefore reduced to the rank of Subadar. Though there are frequent references to the Sepoys and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th Battalions are mentioned, these being now under European officers, the above is apparently the only mention made of a native officer in this volume. Further there is ample evidence in this volume of the very unsatisfactory way in which the Sepoy army was officered, the European officers commanding Battalions, and even the subalterns on duty with them, being only temporarily and not permanently attached to them. (See Preston's letter to Major-General Lawrence, Madras Mil. Cons. 7 Dec. 1763.)