to 245,000. At the close of Dalhousie's reign, the numbers were still 233,000. On the other hand, the European force had been gradually lowered from 48,709 men in 1852 to 45,322 at the moment of Lord Canning's arrival. He found, accordingly, an approximate ratio of one European to five native soldiers. In the Artillery there were more than 12,000 native Gunners, as compared with 6500 Europeans. The European force was very unequally distributed, a preponderating number being employed in garrisoning newly-acquired territories, the Punjab, Sind and Oudh. Twenty years before there had been no less than six European regiments between Calcutta and Allahábád. In Dalhousie's time there were only two, and when the Mutiny broke out, Lord Canning found that, for the 750 miles between Barrackpur and Agra, there was only a single European regiment, stationed about half-way, at Dinápur.
This numerical disproportion had occasioned anxiety to Lord Dalhousie, and he had brought the subject strongly before the Home Government. In 1853, Parliament had sanctioned an increase of the European local force from 12,000 to 20,000 men. Unfortunately, advantage had been taken of this permission only to the extent of an addition of three regiments. Under the pressure of the Crimean War, two European regiments from the Indian garrison had been demanded, a request which provoked a vehement protest from the Governor-General. Such a transfer would,
