'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.' [‎170] (201/481)

170
I have never been absent a day from my duty; I have
never swerved from my purpose for one moment; but
have endeavoured, to the utmost of my ability, in spite of
all prejudices, to make the Sind Irregular Horse efficient
for all manner of service in any part of the world, and
against any enemy; to develope the powers of the native
soldiers of India; to do justice to those powers, and render
them fully available for the successful performance of any
duty which might be entrusted to the men of the corps; to
attach those men to the service and to the Government, by
their pride in their profession, until their feelings and affec
tions became warmly excited in favour of good order and
military discipline, so that little coercion be necessary,—
for example, there has never yet been a court martial in
the Sind Irregular Horse. I have laboured at this task
for ten years past. How far I have succeeded is known
to the Commander in Chief and to the Government of
Bombay.
Sir Charles Napier and Sir Willoughby Cotton have
both recorded, in general orders, that I have brought the
Sind Irregular Horse "to perfection." It is certain that
the words of the historian, Macaulay, are as truly applic
able hitherto to the men of the Sind Irregular Horse as
they are to the Ironsides of Cromwell, the earliest silidar
corps on record. In the mountains and plains of Kutchee,
in Sind, in the Desert, or in the Punjaub, the men of the
Sind Irregular Horse, often surrounded with difficulties,
sometimes contending against tenfold odds, not only have
never failed to conquer, but have never failed to destroy
and break in pieces whatever force was opposed to them.
They came, at length, to regard the day of battle as a
day of certain triumph, and marched against the most
renowned soldiers of Asia with disdainful confidence.