'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.' [‎149] (180/481)

149
There is but one thing required to ensure the perfect
success of the proposed scheme, viz. a proper choice of
officers to command, and the entrusting them with full
and sufficient powers. The subordinate grades of European
officers would then form an excellent school for future
commandants—and the supply would never fail. The com
mandants should always be allowed to choose their own
European officers. The service should always be one of
careful selection; and if the commandants be really and
honestly chosen by merit and fitness alone. Government
need never find difficulty in appointing properly qualified
individuals. The officers of the regular cavalry are, in gene
ral, not well adapted for a silidar corps. But if they should
possess the necessary qualifications, and be above the pre
judices canned by education and habit, they would in such
case certainly be the best. A certain number of the native
officers and men of the "regular" cavalry might with
advantage be incorporated into the silidar corps (some of
the best men of the Sind Irregular Horse are volunteers
received at various times from the regular cavalry of
Bombay) ; but a general transfer would not succeed at
a |l—indeed it would ruin everything. One other thing
especially should be borne in mind, viz. the absolute
necessity of not appointing more than three European
officers (besides the doctor) to each silidar regiment.
The essence of the proposed advantages of the construc
tion of the corps consists principally in the respectable
position held by the native officers inducing a very superior
class of men to enter the service. This state of things
is not compatible with many European officers: quality,
not quantity, is required. This cannot be too much
insisted on.
It is proposed to take the " Political Advantages of