Complex sentence: They instructed Bulmer Hobson not to accept any position in the Volunteers, or appear to be in any way connected with the force, despite this he accepted the Secretaryship of the Provisional Committee.
Split into simpler sentences: They instructed Bulmer Hobson not to accept any position in the Volunteers, or appear to be in any way connected with the force. Despite this, he accepted the Secretaryship of the Provisional Committee.