DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION,

TO THE HONOURABLE

THE CHAIRMAN, THE DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN,

AND

MEMBERS

OF THE

COURT OF DIRECTORS

OF THE

Honourable the East India Company,

BY THEIR OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT,

HENRY KERR,

A Retired Officer, Bengal Army.

PREFACE.

THE first edition of this little Work having been received in a most flattering manner, by the parents and guardians of many young officers, and by those also of young ladies who were proceeding to India, I am induced to offer a second edition, in the hopes that it may be found, from many corrections and additions, still more useful than the last.

Although the first publication was dictated mainly with the view of advertising an agency connected with India and its services, more particularly for the equipment, outfit, and passage of the Cadet, yet, at the same time, it struck me, that from the experience of nearly thirty years' knocking about in all quarters of the globe, and from having for some time held the appointment of Superintendent of Cadets in Calcutta, that I might offer some practical hints to young soldiers, and point out to them a path, which, if studiously followed, must necessarily lead, not always, perhaps, to worldly advancement,

but certainly to the good-will and esteem of men in general, and would tend to produce in them that firm and unbending rightness of mind, which interest can never biaswhich adversity can never shake-which, prosperity can never enervate; it will lead them to let reason conquer passion, thereby rendering them fit for the duties of command, and qualify them for the high and important offices which many of them may be destined to fill; and last, not least, it will have the effect of making them happy in themselves, and respected by all.

My young readers are here informed, that the advice contained in the following pages, does not emanate from one whose life has been passed in the quiet and comfort of a happy English home, and who has merely culled from the pages of others, maxims of morality, which it is easy for those to preach who have never been subjected to the trials and temptations, which alone lead to the breach of them; but they proceed from one who has been as thoughtless and careless as the wildest he may be addressing, who, ere he had entered his twelfth year, was walk

ing the quarter-deck of a man-of-war, and who, since then, has passed through the various vicissitudes of both a sailor's and a soldier's life,-from one whose experience has been dearly bought, - who has suffered acutely from much that he wishes to avoid. you We cannot put old heads on young shoulders, and, therefore, there are many of you who will, no doubt, get into scrapes; if they proceed, whilst you are young, from mere thoughtlessness, and not tinctured by selfishness, want of principle, or falsehood, they will be forgotten as soon perhaps as forgiven, but be careful that they lead you not into more serious dilemmas,—that of betraying your comrades, denying facts, and throwing the blame on others, if questioned by those who have a right to demand. When you criminate only yourself, candidly acknowledge your error; a falsehood or prevarication evidences a little mind, and leaves a stain on the character which it will take

very many noble deeds to clear away. You are commencing your part on the busy stage of life-you have a character to form-a