John McCosh

“ The club house with all its advantages, is however only a family mansion and is but a humble representative of the Indian army compared to the club palaces of the Royal United Service in its immediate neighbourhood. The managers would very willingly have a better house, but, with due regard to the finances of the club, their best intentions are neutralised by the want of funds to enable them to meet the expenses of a worthy representative of the East India United Service. ”

“ WOUND PENSIONS.—Government are most liberal in granting pensions for wounds received in action. Every officer severely wounded, is allowed compensation or "blood money" proportionate to the extent of his wound, and those who have lost an eye, an arm, or a limb, or injuries equivalent to such a loss,receive extra pensions for life. ”

“ Children born in India and brought up to puberty in the relaxing climate of Bengal are poor weakly creatures, without energy either of body or mind and fit only to blow a fife and beat a drum or sit at a desk as a section writer, and these are the professions generally aspired to by the scholars. ”

“ C borrows 1,000 from the Agra Bank, giving A and B as his securities, all binding themselves to pay ten per cent, interest till the loan is paid off. Soon after, perhaps, A dies, and B is killed in battle, and their estates being insolvent, C is made liable for their debts when struggling to get rid of his own. Nothing is more injurious to an officer's character than to be constantly summoned before a Court of Requests ”

“ There, in a climate altogether European, nearly 200 boys and girls of a class similar to the pupils of the orphan schools, are being brought up, imbued with English ideas by an English method of education, full of English health and energy, and likely to become efficient members of society, remarkably contrasting with their unfortunate compatriots of Kidderpore and Alipore. ”

“ INVESTMENT & REMITTANCE OF MONEY.—It may be well for the young officer to know that when he has any spare cash he can at any time and without trouble deposit it through the paymaster in the Government Treasury, where it will accumulate by interest without risk of bankruptcy ”

“ Surgeons are limited to £100, and assistants to £70 per annum. This may also be done through the paymaster with but little trouble and no risk, and in general at a favourable rate of exchange.
11. DEBT.— I would strongly advise every young officer to lay it down as a sacred maxim not, if possible, to live beyond his pay; and at first he will be able to do so only by great moderation and economy, but if he can escape that rock at first he may expect an easy course thereafter. Nothing is more tempting than the possession of rich plate, a handsome Arab, or a stylish buggy ”

“ The average applications of the last 5 years, have been about 20, the greater number being men in the prime of life. The subscriptions and donations vary according to rank, that of assistants being recently raised to 39 13 1 rupees, and of surgeons 69 10 11 rupees per month, regularly deducted in the pay office and placed to account in the Treasury, at 6 per cent, interest. The subscriptions and donations though heavy are paid with alacrity, and the most improvident are forced to make a provision for their declining years. ”

“ Gratuities for severe wounds less than the loss of an eye or a limb, vary from three to eighteen months full pay of the regimental rank of the officer wounded. Pensions for the loss of an eye or a limb are also regulated by the rank of the wounded officer; Lieut. Generals receiving £400, Colonels £300, Majors £200, Captains and Surgeons £100, Lieutenant and Assistant-surgeons £70 per annum for such injury. ”