It is to be hoped that better days are in store for the East; and, in that comprehensive term, I would include China, and countries nearer home, Asiatic Turkey, Persia, etc. I am sanguine that the bright dawning of a happy future is awaiting these interesting countries. If the British people have conquered India, it is their imperative obligation to promote the welfare of their possessions; and we are glad to notice a laudable spirit in recent legislative measures to promote many desirable improvements. India, under an improved system, and with greater facilities of intercourse, will more than recompense any effort, or application of capital, on our part. Its internal resources are beyond our conception, and its people will unquestionably advance and improve in proportion to its elevation as an empire. Schools, industry, and commerce, if based on a solid foundation, will be the quick harbingers of peace, good-will, and prosperity to the people and their rulers, both native and European. May this happy era be expedited in the good Providence of God! _Eynesbury, St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, May, 1, 1854._ CHAPTER I. Voyage to India--Advantages of Sailing with Troops on Board--Regulations at Sea--March from Cawnpore to Meerut--Return from Nougawa Ghât to Meerut--March to Ferozepore--Cantonments at Kurnaul--Colonel Campbell's Force--Number of Cattle required on a March--Sunday--Rev. W.J. Whiting, M.A.--Distribution of Prize-Money--Advanced Guard--Governor-General--Major Broadfoot and Captain Nicolson--Suspicions of the Sikhs--Sir David Ochterlony--The Sikh Army--The Battle of Moodkee--Tej Singh. THE circumstances of a voyage to or from India are so well known, from their frequent occurrence, that I will not even allude to them. Our voyage, however, offered some variety to the usual monotony of a mere passenger ship, from our having troops on board. This naturally gave rise to numerous incidents which afford topics of interest, especially to military men. We, of course, had regular parades both for the sake of discipline, and to ascertain that the men were sober and clean. The men had, too, specific duties assigned to them--keeping watch, etc. The object of placing the troops in watches, in time of peace, is, that they may assist in pulling and easing the ropes. They are confined to duties on deck only. If there should be an old sailor among them he may, of course, occasionally reef and unfurl sail. It is obvious that the addition of some fifty or sixty men to the crew of a merchant vessel of 600 or 700 tons burthen, is a great advantage in bad weather, as it enables almost the whole of the ship's crew to be employed aloft. In case of necessity a soldier or two will also assist the man at the wheel, or those at the pumps, by order of the quarter-master, or of the officer on duty, or of the captain himself.