There is little in these lectures, or at any rate in three out of four of them, which I have not written at greater length in other volumes. I therefore publish them unwillingly, and in deference only to the wishes of some of my audience, whose good opinion I greatly value, and whose kindly sympathy I shall never forget. If this little volume should set but one student thinking seriously as to the meaning of military history, its object will be fully accomplished.

The spelling of Indian names has been, as usual, a stumbling-block. No doubt I shall be asked why I have used the form Narbada for the more familiar Nerbuddha, and yet written Hyder Ali instead of Haidar Ali. I can only say that when the form Kalkáta (or whatever may be the Hunterian spelling) is substituted for Calcutta, I shall be prepared to plead guilty to inconsistency.

J. W. F.