'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎18] (29/481)

XV111
PREFACE.
Legislators, and tlie English People, information
which they should, in the present crisis, possess ;
and towards supplying which I chance, by a long re
sidence with General Jacob, on his Personal Staff,*
to have been favourably circumstanced.
I am convinced that no unprejudiced person, ac
curately acquainted with the History of our Native
Army, can read these military papers, or become
familiar with the practice on which they result, with
out perceiving that the principles advocated are in
exact conformity with whatever has been or still
may be worthy in the Constitution of that Army. I
believe there is scarcely a Commanding Officer or
Adjutant of a Regiment who would not at once
acknowledge that the details in which he has found
himself hampered are those pointed out in these
papers. And all who have perused the works of the
late Sir John Malcolm, and the Selections from the
Correspondence of the late Lord Metcalfe, recently
edited by Mr. Kaye, will be impressed with the
coincidence of the principles enunciated by these
Statesmen with those independently practised by
General Jacob. One principle, common to all three
Writers, cannot be too strongly urged. It is this—
* As Assistant in the Revenue and General Department when
the General was acting as Commissioner in Sind ; as Aide-de-
Camp when he was in Command of the Cavalry Division Persian
Field Force ; and as Political Secretary when he was Comman
der in Chief in Persia.