Commanding the Troops had communicated to me. They however said that, in so far as they were concerned, they must take what was stated in the despatch to be correct, viz. that the total number of Europeans of the proposed garrison would be 2,595 men.
8. It may be that if it was at one time contemplated to send Madras troops, such idea has been abandoned, but in case any error on this point exists in Your Lordship's despatch, I have only to say that the sending of a battalion of Madras troops here would be regarded with much disfavour by the Madrasses, the community being looked upon as the most unwarlike and the least efficient among the contemplated soldiers.