The Sun. — London, England, 1857-07-29 00:00:00

opportunity of Conversing with two gentlemen connected with one of the colleges which he had mentioned, he had learned from them that the candidates from that institu tion were the eons of clergymen, barristers, baronets, military officers, physicians, bankers, merchants, and members of the civil service. There was no ground, therefore, for making depreciatory remarks with respect to their social position. A high authority—he believed Col. Smythe, one of the commissioners sent to inquire into the state of the colleges abroad—had stated that— " The young men who have obtained provisional commis sions have surprised the authorities by the extraordinary pro gress which they have made in acquiring a knowledge of the specialities of their profession, while their bearing and con• duct have been most exemplary." There were other passages which he could read in sup port of his views, but he thought he had stated enough to justify him in expressing a hope that the system of e xamination would not be hastily abandoned. A few weeks since 30 examinations for militia commissions were advertised, and no less than 120 candidates from the va rious schools and colleges of the country presented themselves for examination, double the number that ever appeared before. He hoped, therefore, that for the pre sent at least an ample trial would begiven to the system. It was very important that men of the highest talent should be attracted into our scientific corps. One of those corps—the Engineers—at present laboured under a considerable disadvantage from the circumstance that its best men were withdrawn from it to serve in civil em ployment. It was no doubt convenient to the Govern ment to obtain the services of those officers, but it led to the same complaint that was made of the Indian army, that all the best officers were withdrawn from military duties for civil service or for staff service. He would desire that officers of Engineers should be employed strictly upon military duties. A certain result also should bs made to attend upon proficiency in study and testimonies of general ability, that for particular profi ciency an appointment on the staff, or, if possible, a step in promotion should be the reward, as was the case in the French army. Tho , e, however, were matters of de tail, with which his resolution did not deal ; but he could not avoid expressing a desire that there should be a cer tain encouragement held out for proficiency and intellec tual acquirements. He might be told, indeed, that there were other qualities besides those of intellectual know ledge required from officers of the army, and he qui e admitted it. He believed no school could be so efficient as that of war in instructing officers in the duties of their profession, and in time of war those who proved them selves to be fitted for the staff would be the best of all officers, but in peace it was necessary to take the next best test. The last proposition which he bad to make was the appointment of a council of military and civilian members to carry out the objects he bad in view. He had only the highest opinion of the officers who com posed the present board, but at the same time he did not think that any b aly of comparatively subordinate offi cers could be completely unbiased and independent while the Commander-in-Chief sat at their head. More over, the report of the committee of th a t house had stated their opinion that officers holding high positions at the Horse Geards had not sufficient opportunity for paying due attention to the subject. He wished to add two civilians to the board, persons skill el in examina tion, to assist the military officers in examining the can didates. He had no other proposition to make, and bad only to observe that our army was a very small one, and yet had to perform duties more arduous than any other in the world. (Hear, hear.) There were some old fashioned objections still raised about a standing army, but he believed if we had not some sort of a standing army the country would soon cease to stand by itself, and would fall under the power of some foreign State. Again, it bad been said that we were a purely naval nation, and net a military nation ' • but when he glanced at the map of the world and saw how many places and what vast territories tae British army was called upon to defend and guard he could not reconcile it with com mon sense to hold that we were not a military nation. If they looked back to the history of our army they would find some of the greatest achievements ever p formed had been performed by our army. But, as it was small, it was absolutely necessary to make it as efficient as possible ; and if steps were taken to do justice to a'l officers by guarding as much as possible against fa vouritism, and by making arrangements to afford the highest amount of instruction to all classes of the army, then he thought that our array, small as it was, would be found adequate to its duties and invincible by any other. (Hear, hear.) The hon. and gallant member concluded by moving— " That in the opinion of this house a higher standard of professional instruction and more complete provision for it than hitherto deemed requisite ought to be established for the commissioned ranks of the army, but especially for the staff; that this will be best promoted by recourse to competi tive examinations of officers desiring to qualify themselves for the staff, by adopting the same principle with sues qualification as may be necessary in examination of candi dates nominated by the Commander-in-Chief for commis sions in the cavalry and infantry, by preserving the present system of admission of cadets for the Ordnance Corps, by assured encouragements for profi c ie nc y an d g enera l fitnessi for advancement, and by appointment of the commissioners, or a council of military and civilian members, empowered to direct the measures for accomplishing these objects." The motion having been put, Sir F. SMITH said it was no doubt desirable that a considerable amount of instruction should be given to officers, but he was not one of those who considered theoretical instruction equally valuable as practical in struction. (Hear, bear.) Officers in the army generally came prepared with a certain amount of knowledge of the elements of the art of war. He believed that the knowledge of two foreign language; was necessary for an officer, but he did not think a high degree of mathe matical attainments was essential either for officers of the staff or of the army at large. Neither did he consi der the amount of mathematical knowledge now required from officers in the special corps to be insufficiently high. Very few officers brought into any prac:icel use the attainments they acquired at the academy. He believed tt at for officen of the line and the staff a knowledge of field fortifi ations was necessary. They should be able to trace the front of a fortification, and when they saw an attack laid down they should be able to comprehend the objects r f it. Practically he thought they ought to be instructed in the art of making trenches, fa-cines, and gabions, of making bridges with casks and boats, and other operations which might become necessary at any time. But that would not require the high standard of attainments which the hon. and gallant General appeared to desire. Is had been a matter of discussion whether the officers of the army generally and officers of the special corps should not be instructed at one establi,h ment, and he believed that to be a most desirable ar rangement. The plan had bee n tri e d a t th e E as t I n di a Company's college at Addiscombe, and had been found to answer exceedingly well. Formerly it was not easy to carry out a scheme of this kind, but now that the whole patronage of the army rested with the Secretary for War he saw no reason why it should not be resorted to. Every officer of the line should have a knowledge of the power of the musket and of the artillery. It was easily attained, and officers of the line should be allowed to go to Wo dwich for that purpose. (Hear, hear ) Then, as regarded officers of the staff, he thought it was quite essential that they should be good topographical draughtsmen, al le to draw with ease, accuracy, and rapidity. Tne more staff officers worn educated the better ; but in selecting men for the staff they must ge beyond mere education, and have retard to physical considerations. (Hear, hear.) They must be men of robust constitutions, able to endure fatigue and to "rough it" when not in quarters, for they were often not so comfortably placed as the officers of the line. The staff officer should al.o be a man of quick sight, a good horseman, and a good sword sman. He required to be a good swordsman, for he might not unfreque.itly have to defend himself with his single arm. A son of Lord Raglan, when in action in India, had to defend himself against five or six of the enemy who surrounded him, and cut his way through them with his sword in safety. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was of the greatest importance that the officers of the army Bissell receive instructions of a practical kind, and that their military education should not be merely theoretical. A know ledge of modern languages, such as French anti German, was of great consequence, and ought also to form part of the education of every officer. (Hear, hear.) General WINDHAM thought that in these exami nations much more ought to be considered than mere education. He would suppose that two youths wire brought to be examined—one brave, generous, good humoured, full of good sense and zeal—in short, a fine fellow, and just the man they wanted for an officer, but not particularly well educated ; the other a young man of high attainments as a scholar, but possessing none of the good qualities of the first. The instant these two men came before the Board of Examiners they would take the one that had been educated, and leave the other entirely out of the question. (Hear, hear.) Now, surely the examination should extend a little be yond ascertaining the fact whether a man could speak French or nut. (Hear) He was convinced that these examinations were excellent in so far as regarded the education of candidates ; but they were not such as to secure the selection of the best men for the service. .(gear, hear.) With reg ar d t o th e s t a ff it wou ld b e very different. Officers wishing to qualify themselves for the staff would be known. Having been long in the ervice- -- perhaps •seve n y ears —th ere woul d exist the means of knowing what sort of men they were, and ' they could be with advantage , pnt through a g oo d s t r i ngent exam i nat i on (gear, hear.) But h e th oug ht th ere was a great d eal m ore fuss about education in the army than was necessar y, He had observed in the field that possessed of great attainments turned out to be theweeereeesP btfhficers. (Hear ) firmly believed that the ()facers ott e he English army were quite as well educated as those et it rench army, and that in the part of the serviceths deficient we were said to be most deficient—the staff— was more owing to the want of practice than to theenweaY edu cat ion. (Hear, hear.) Our staff was not wel t o n ce o f thought the Government would act seiseleTttyald the French system, which was established by " o e°P e ‘ i their most eminent Generals during the great warne the Crimean campaign a great error was collate teed in not having the chief of the staff and the quartermaster general independent of each other. There ought in all cases to be an independent quartermaster-general and an independent chief of the stiff, just as the Minister of War and the Commander in-Chief were independent of each other. (Hear, hear.) Ho hoped the G were meet would give the chief of the staff prop r °Maces attached to that staff, and not make ar rangements of a mixed kind, which were neit: er one thing nor another. (Hear, hear.) But with regard to military education one great advantage which he hoped would arise from it was that it would lead the people of this country to consent to a genera' system of military organisation. (Hear.) This was c o t Ibe time to discuss such a question, but he could not h alp saying that what we wanted was not such a general military organisation as fitted the continent , but such a rational system as became a f ree country.' (Hear.) What we wanted was regular militia, and reserves volute toning from -that militia, which would form a constant THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN ANG JULY 29, ,`e,7 source of supply of men for the army. Connected with this was the question of national defence and other con aiderations of great importance. If we were to go on as we had hitherto done we must always be too late— for this reason, that the Government on an emergency had to come down to the house to ask for money to get men, when the men ought to be ready to their bands. They never asked for money until they were in pressing need of the men. No doubt there were many more dif ficulties in this subject, and many more things to be considered than appeared at first sight. For instance, there was the number of the militia to be taken into consideration, the manner in which it was to be raised, and its connexion with the army—whether it should be in immediate connexion or, as at present, in a state of semi-antagonism. Then, too, there was the question of the staff, of mittary education generally, and, above all, of the relation which ought to exist between the duties of the Minister at War and the Commander-in-Chief. The noble lord at the head of the Government, of all men in the empire, was by his experience, his abilities, and his popularity best fitted to carry out some rational system of military organisation, and if he would under take and complete that task he would deserve the grati tude of the country. (Hear, hear.) Sir W. WILLIAMS could assure the gallant general the member for Westminster that he was under a misap prehension in supposing that there was any favouritism shown in the examinations for commissions by which unfit persons were admitted into the service. The proportion of those who came forward and were rejected was between one-fourth and one-third of the whole number of candi dates. He had sent a cousin of his down to Sandhurst not very long ago to be examined fora commission, and, without wishing any favouritism to be shown to him, he wrote to Sir Harry Jones, asking him to give him that encouragement which a youth would stand in need of at such a time. In the evening, however, he had the morti fication of getting a letter to tell him that his cousin had been rejected. He prepared himself again, and went up for re examination ; but, more through fear, probably, than want of attainments, he again failed. He had had under his command officers who had passed through Woolwich, and those who, owing to the exigencies of the service had been admitted without going that institu tier, and, though the zeal and good conduct of these latter had been above all praise, yet, owing to the want of a military training, they were not equal to those who had passed through Woolwich. Those . who had charge of Woolwich l a b oure d un d er th e m i s t a k e of bringing the pupils in at too advanced an age, which had the effect of making most of the officers in the scientific corps old men before they could attain high command. He was as strong an advocate of competitive examination in the line and in the two scientific corps as any one ; but he hoped that the military authorities would continue to retain the right of nomination. It would be a very dangerous ex periment for them to relinquish that right. He wished, too, to see a real bona fide staff corps established. When addressing the house ou a former occasion on this sub ject he bad expressed his regret at the abolition of the old corps of draughtsmen and surveyors, by which stop the army had been deprived of that which was necessary for its efficiency, and he hoped to see the day when those corps would be revived. The French had a beautiful staff corps, and their system ought to . be adopted by us . The questions of promotion by purchase and military education were very intimately connected. Without pur chase there would be favouritism and affection. He had seen more regiments of the line than most officers, and he had always remarked in what an extraordinary manner the system of purchase kept up the youthfulness of these regiments. In the scientific corps, where there was no purchase, the case was different. At 40 years of age he himself was only a second captain. No doubt, under the purchase system, there was a certain amount of vexation experienced when one man purchased over another ; but that was nothing to the heartburning which was occasioned when an officer was put over another on account of some pretended superiority of talent or in tellectual attainments. During the debate of the previ ous evening the right hon. gentleman the President of the Board of Control had spoken of the want of that proper communication between the officer and the Sepoy which perhaps had occasioned a great deal of the misery we now deplored, and had asked bow that evil could be remedied. The remedy which he (Sir W. Williams) would recommend woule be not to give a single step of rank In any native regiment without an ex sminaiion, not to give a lieutenancy to an ensign until he bad made considerable progress in the native language, an i to give no man his company until be was a perfec;, master of the Hindostanee. (Hear, hear.) Mr. PALK had hoped the gallant general would have taken a broader view of the subject, that ho would have given! the house the benefit of his great experience and practical knowledge, that he would have shown the evil of the present system of pro motion both in the staff and in the line, and that he would have offered some suggestions for improving the organization of the army. He had expected the gallant general to have instanced the case of other professions, and to have shown that in them every one had to undergo a competitive examination at college or else where. He had expected him to have drawn from these premises the fact that men of vast knowledge and great acquirements who bad attained the highest and proudest positions in the State had risen from the humbler classes, affording in their own persons a proof that education would elicit the best attributes of man, and that it was not to birth alone that we cool I trust for a due per formance of the duties that were required of 12F. The gallant general might have instanced the case of our own army, essentially aristocratic—much morn so than any army on the continent—in which few men had risen from the ranks to high positions. He had thought that the gallant officer would have referred to the ga lautry of our officers—the steadiness and forbearances in times of difficulty of our men, and that he would have shown that that was owing to the aristocratic element which so strongly impregnated our armies, and which sent out young men proud of their name, of their family, and of their country, to gain fresh honours and add new laurels to our fame. He had thought that the gallant general might have gone on and have proposed, without bringing the two classes into collision, a test of education which. should insure to all w h o p asse d an exam i nat i on a com mission in the army ; and that he might have said that, great and glorious as the deeds of our army bad been, the time had come when more liberal ideas were preva lent, and when it was essential for the benefit of the country that the organization of the army should be im proved by more comprehensive and extended views. The first step towards such improvement would be to sh >w to young men that energy and talent would insure advanc e ment, and that, if they did their duty well and gallaatly and at the same time acquired those scientific attainments which were essential to their position, whether they had the good luck to be the friends of the Government or not, their talent and energy would be recognised, and their promotion would be as certain as if they were nephews of the Secretary of State for War. At present such un fortunately was not the case, as too many instances I would prove. He h e ld i n hi s h an d , f or example, a letter signed by a gallant officer who had entered the army many years ago, and whose services, perhaps, had been long forgotten. That officer served years in the artillery, ' and passed through all the courses of dr;lt and practical instruction at Woolwich several times. In the spring of 1825 he accepted the offer of the Duke of York to volun teer into the line, on the promise that everything that could properly be done for the advancement of those who so volunteered should be done. He went through a long period of service. In 1331 he was appointed by Lord Clare as assistant and secretary to the mission pro ceeding to Scinde. Having been upwards of 16 years a subaltern he purchased his rank as captain, and at length, having embarked all his fortune in the service, and when it was too late to think of devoting himself to any other profession, be was compelled, for the sake of his family, to self his commission. He then addressed a letter to Lord Pannaure, from whom he received the following reply :-- " War-office, June 24. "Sir,—l am directed by Lord Panmure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, containing a statement of your past services, which he has perused with great interest ; aed in reply I am directel to state that, while Lord Pal mure most sincerely sympathises with you in your misfor tunes, his lordship deeply regrets it is not in his power to remedy complaints of such long standing, or to reverse acts which you have characterised in such strong language. "I have the honour to be, &c., " J. CROO3IES, Assistant-Secretary." In that instance, therefore, because the complaints were of long standing, there was no remedy for that gallant officer. But the system which existed then existed still, and he would submit to the house another instance which happened very recently. It was the case of an officer who during the last war, possessing high military attain rnente, and being a first rate linguist, distinguished him self in tha field, but having no ta litary interest, at las', with the greatest difficulty, succeozejed in obtaining a staff appointment, and proving himself so highly effi eient in organisation and detail was intrusted with a high responsibility, and to the command of a brigade, which he performed with the greatest credit, winning the universal approbation o f t h ose who bore witness t the extreme judgment and ability he displayed, and for which he receive I the highest testimonials. That officer was at this moment a subaltern in the army. He was brought up for the service, for which he was speaial I educated ; he was a young man of great ability, and was rather an ex'raordinacy linguist, for he spoke French, Spani-b, German, Italian, Turkish, and Russiae wi h a certain knowledge of Arabic, modern Greek, and Persian. After the fire at Varna be was sent to Bulgaria to collect stores for the commissariat, and in consequence of his knowledge of the language and of his zeal, he, at a time when the army was in the greatest difficulties, sent down every day 30 waggon-loads of forage. He (Mr. Palk) was not permitted to go very much into the case, for the officer of whom he was speaking would be very much shocked if hie name or services were made public, but he was satisfiel no older ever distinguished hiei , elt more fer personal gall entry than this young man. Gee. Pennefather, in a teetenonial to which he was permitted to refer, spoke highly of his services in connection with the Italian Legi , n ; and yet, in spite of the services he had rendered in the Crimea, in spite of the approbation expressed with regard to hie conduct, this raing officer was at the present moment doing duty as a subaltern. He had been educated for the army, aa , Skilled in all the various languages which a soldier might require to know, had distinguished himself its h as an y matt in the service, but he had neither po• litical nor family interest, and it was to be feared that. like the gentleman whose case had previou ly betnre s t a t t h th© of W Lord ar o P re ferred to, a ft er f a i thfully serving his Queen a ue t ena e nd en c d ou o n f t days he might sh receive c laterei ve from a ffi an o tu n u e r th e was f this reason that he (Mr. P a lk) - , as e who had the honour of holding a commission in her Majesty's ser vice, and as an independent me m b er of this house, wished to ask whether the army was in such a satisfact or y state as would induce young men of t a l ent and energy to seek for that advancement in it which, w i t h out inte rest, seemed denied to them ? And yet thi s country re • quire din the ?mu of the highest talent. I t would cf officers from the small cir c l e o f no I,Ligtr do to sele those highly connected. (Hear.) It was necessary that our men and officers should be picked from the whole of the British nation. (Hear, hear.) What he would suggest was that in place of resolutions which, alter all, meant but little and carried but little weight with them, the hon. and gallant general (Sir De Lacy Evans), and •thers who i ce him hai raased a 1 irg life the service of their country, should bring forward some plan by which men who adopted the profession of arms might be assured that talent, industry, and perseverance would reap for them that reward which seemed at pre sent only to be obtained by patronage. (Rear.) He bad been favoured with a pamphlet which denied the state ment often made that the army of this country had he3n ruined by the parsimony of the House of Commons. In this pamphlet the cost of the Austrian and the English armies were cortrasted, by which it appeared that "for the outlay of 9,713,9741. we kept on foot an effective force of 120,000 men, whereas this sum would have suf ficed in A uAria to pay and maintain 540,009 men on the peace establishment." He could not, therefore, quite give hi" adherence to the statement that the parsimony of the House of Commons had destroyed or injured the army. (Hear.) It had been the long mismanagement which had injured the army ; and he thought that if the matter could be investigated it would be found that our system, as compared with that of foreign countries, was more expensive and by no means so efficient. (Hear.) What he contended was that if they were going to change their system of promotion in the army they ought not to proceed by resolution, but to lay down some practical plan, and come to Parliament for the means to carry it out, for he did not think that small palliatives for evils, if they were evils, were worthy of this kouse or of the country. Sir J. RAMSDEN believed it was universally ad mitted that it was of the utmost importance to encourage military education. The Government were engaged in preparing a comprehensive schem e on th a t subjeet, which he believed would meet all the exigencies of the case. The first of the reports of the commission which had been appointed to inquire into the education of can didates for the military service had been received by the Government, and copies of it would be furnished to the house on the following day. It proposed that these can didates should be examined at head-quarters in London, under the direction of the Council of Education, and that the examination should be conducted by military and civilian examiners, to be recommended annually by that council to the Commander-in-Chief, and to be ap pointed by him after receiving the concurrence of the Secretary of State. The candidate would have to pro duce a certificate from a clergyman to prove that he had been duly instructed in the principles of religion. If he were a member of the Charch of England be would be required to produce a certificate of confirmation. The candidate would also have to produce a certificate from the schoolmaster by whom he had been educated, testi fying to his general good conduct. The subjects on which he would be examined would be divided into com pulsory and optional. He would be required to pass an f ximination in mathematics, algebra, simple equations, the first four books of Euclid, and, in addition, he would be compelled to show that he had a considerable know ledge of French and English composition and of the his tory of England and its dependencies, and also of geogra phy. These subjects did not embrace by any means the whole of the education that would be required, because the candidates would be required to pass an examination in certain subjects which, to some extent, it would be left to himself to select. He might select any branch of the higher mathematics or some modern language in ad ' dition to French, or a more t x , ended knowledge of Li tory and geography, physical science, or a know ledge of drawing. At first sight it might appear that sufficient importance was not attached in that scheme to military education, but be thought it would be foun I that that was not so. Though they did not say that a classical education was an indefensible qualifica tion fw. an officer, yet they believed that it was very desirable that that literature should be encouraged in every possible way. The scheme of education was of a general character.. It did not require any purely mili tary knowledge. He civil refer to some of the highest authorities in this country, to France, and every other continental military nation as witnesses in favour of that part of the scheme. Another reason why the Govern ment were desirous of not requiring from the candidates anything beyond a general liberal education as a founda tion on which to raise a professional knowledge after wards was their anxiety to draw to the army as much as possible such as had been educated in the great public schools of the country. (Hear. hear.) They were of opinion that in an intelleclu.el point of view no education imparted in this country was superior to that imparted in those schools. Moreovor, the general habits of dis cipline and subordination, the healthy and manly tone which obtained in them, was deemed to be the bet pre paration for a military career. (Hear, bear.) And there was a further reason why a professional know ledge was not exacted from the candidate, because it was felt that, if he should fail in passing his examination and might wish upon that failure to enter into some other profession, the time which might have been occu pied in acquiring a military knowledge might be regarded as wa ted. The Government then did not altogether agree with the hon. and gallant member for Westminster as to the examination to be' required on entrance into the service. With regard to the staff, he agreed with much that bad fallen from the hon. and gallant memi,er for Westminster. He could not state in detail the plan of the Government, but it hal been decided that en trance to the staff should be by competition, that at the close of the course of study there should be an examlna twn, that the examination should be competitive, and that certificates should be given which should constitute the qualification of employment upon the staff. The hen' and gallant officer wished to preserve the present system of cadets for the Ordnance Corps. The Government were aware of the advantages of this system, which was established by the present Mini-ter for War. No scheme of operations had been ac ' tual'y arranged, but a plan was under the consideration of the Government for amalgamating the military educa tion of Woolwich and Sandhurst in one military college, in which all the preliminary military educatioe of the country might be given. After preliminary examinations and after being educated in this college for a certain time, it was proposed that there should be a complete examination of the pupils, and that admission should be given to the Ordnance C irps in the order of that exami nation, those who passed it with success being allowed to select an admission hit° the line if they preferred it to entering either of the Ordnance Corps. This would be a great advantage. He believed that in some of the mili tary schools of the continent all the pupils best qualified by ability and instruction entered the Ordnance Corps, leaving only those pupils for the line who could notcom pete with the Ordnance Corps. The Goverornentthought that by throwing open certain commissions, and by giv log gratuitous commissions in the line as well as the Ordnance Corps they might induce some of the most successful candidates at the Sandhurst examinations to elect the line in preference to the Ordnance Corp, so that the best men might thus be spread more evenly over the service, The Government most fully concurred with the hon. and gallant member for Westminster in his re commendations of "assured encouragements" being given " for proficiency and general fitness for advancement," and this recommendation would be entirely carried out as soon as the system of competitive examination could be applied to entrance to the staff. The hon. and gal lant officer's fifth recommendation, that a council of military education should be established, bad already been adopted. After mature consideration, however, it had been determined that it should be composed exclu sively of military members, and not of " military and civilian members," as recommended by the hon. and gallant officer. It was thought better to 1 ,ok for the counterpoise to the exclusively military character of th e council in the appointraeut of civilians by whom the ex aminations for commissions should be conducted. It was not the intention of the Co mmander-in-Chief te e take part in the deliberations of the council, but the military edu cation of officers of the army would be under his control, and the council would report to him, so that everything relating to the council would pass through his hands and through the office of the Minister for War. He could not say that the plan of the Government entirely agreed with that of the hen, and gallant officer ; but, although there might be a difference upon minor points, yet the Government and his hon, and gallant friend would be acting in the same spirit. He trusted that his hon. and gallant friend, seeing what had already been done and was being done, would not press his resolution,'whicle, if carried, would prevent the Government from carrying out their views with perfect freedom. Next session the house would be in a condition to consider the whole plan in all its details. (Hear.) Col. NO [tTH was glad to hear that the examinations for the Ordnance Corps would be removed to London. Many of the boys now examined failed from fright. The examination lasted from 10 to 6, and it would be a great advantage if it were spread over two days, and he hoped that the examiners would be men who would encourage the boys to answer, and not frighten them. He was glad to see the system of examination adopted, but he feared that it would deprive the service of many young fellows who could not get through their Euclid, but who made excellent officers when ever th e men were to be led in any service of peril. There would be some danger he thought in making the examination too high. He felt it to be his duty before he sat down to impress upon the Govern ment the fact that they allowed the militia to disappear almost altogether, and reduced that branch of the ser vice, in fact, to the position of being little more than a militia in name. (Hear.) Lord STANLEY said that the hon. and gallant gen tleman the member for Westninster had drawn a very wise and proper distinction between the qualifications which it was desirable that a person should possess for admission into the army and those which should entitle [inn to be placed upon the staff. He quite concurred in the opinion that there were many men who possessed but very little book-learning or very little capacity for acquiring it who, although they might not in cense (pence be fitted to hold high commands, yet would be found in a subordinate position admirably adapted to head a forlorn hope or to lead a charge in the field. But although he, upon that account, deemed it inexpedient that competition should be made the only means of oh taking admission into the army, he was prepared to maintain that it was highly desirable that a certain pro portion of thnie commt.reioes which happened to be at the disposal of the Gov ernmeLt should be open to com petition upon the part of the community at large. He was also of opinion that as at the universities scholar. ships and exhibitMa;s were granted partly as marks of merit, partly as isitteliantial incentives to industry, so would be pc:Hsieh nt a very small cost to the country to devise a system of military pr i zes which should b e dis pensed to the yout h s at our m iiitary colleges. There teas another point_ to which, &though it did not come within the terms of the resoluti on o f the hon. 14 "lielafic; mem berto for W ea tminster, he might be allowed ad vert. 'DA? hones was aware that in the navy it a9 the practice to establish a comparatively slight test of capa city in the case of an officer upon entrance, but to com pel him to undergo a most severe examination some four or five years later, wien he was ale ut to b i raised CO the • rank of lieutenant. Now, that ho must confess he re gal ded as a plan most superior to the ,system which ould make the efficiency of an officer depend entirely upon the acquirements which he happened to possess when he first obtained his commission. (Hear.) The knowledge to which a young man of the age of 16 or 17 might have attained was influenced quite as much by the circumstances of his position as by his personal cha racter or capacity ; but the knowledge of the same per son at the age of 20 or 21 would depend in a great tree. ' sure upon the use which he had made of his time, Red upon his disposition to be industrious. (Hear, hear.) He was, under these circumstances, strongly of opi nion that it would be most advisable not to hold out to young men the prospect that aheir education was finished the moment they entered the army, but, upon the contrary, the necessity of acquiring further information as a means of contributing to their promotion at a subsequent period should be impressed upon their minds. Those various questions—namely, the establishment of a fit excluding test for all persons in the case of first enlistment, the throwing open a certain number of commissions to competition, the granting of pecuniary rewards to those who might be found deserv ing of the distinction, and the institution of a separate examination for those of tiers who were about to be raised to the rank of captains or lieutenants—embraced, he believed, all the educational means which, without resorting to pedantic strictness, could well be applied to the promotion of professional knowledge in the army at large. With respect to the staff the case was, in his opinion, of a character somewhat different, and he could not help expressing his satisfaction at the statement which had been made by the hon. gentleman the Un der-Secretary for War, to the effect that the new training colleges for the members of the staff were intended to be based upon the competitive principle, both with respect to the first admission to them and in regard to the hen ours and distinctions which might be subsequently ob tained. The objections which he had urged against the adoption of such a competitive system were, in the first place, that in consequence of the way in which our troops were scattered all over the world, the system could not be carried into execution ; and, in the second place, that, even if it could be carrier 1 int ► execution, it was a scheme to which it was undesirable to have recourse, inasmuch as, whatever test of the intellectual advantages of a candidate it might afford, it presented no proof of his moral or physical qualifications. Now, in answer to the first objection he might observe that it was, at ail events, of no force so far as the military colleges were concerned, while he might state in reply to the second that, in his opinion, the competitive test, if fairly applied, afforded a much better proof of the moral than even of the intellectual qualifications of the candidate. Judging, for instance, from the analogy presented by the acquisition of academic honours, he did not believe that ability was the main reqedsite for success. A far more essential possession was indus try—(hear, hear)—which was generally found to be the accompaniment in youth of a good mural charact.r. He might add that the danger that men possessing great intellectual powers, but who were physically unfit for military service, might in great numbers obtain commis sions under the operation of such a competitive system was not one which it was probable would prevail to any great extent, inasmuch as, practically speaking, it would be found that men who were physically feeble would not enter the army for the simple reason that they would be likely to sucgeed better in some other profession. The system of;competition furnished at all events, a better test of a man's efficiency for the military service than either wealth, or political connexion, or mere seniority, or pro motion obtained through the influence of favour. (Hear.) It might, it was true, be regarded as having too demo cratic a tendency ; but, in his opinion, there was no mode of excluding a man from the higher branches of the ser vice at once so efficacious and likely to prove so gene rally acceptable to the country as that by which an edu cational test was established, which if he could not pass he should be entitled to promotion. (Hear.) He would only add that the subject was one which they were that evening discussing upon imperfect information. When the report of the commission which was now sitting upon the que-tioa of education in the army was laid before them they would be iu a better position to come to a conclusion with reference to the important topic of mili tary promotion. Meantime he should content himself with the expression of his approval of the measure which the Government proloted to adopt, as being, to use an crdi nary phrase, a step in the right direction. (Hear.) Mr. S. HERBERT—I am indebted to the house to so great an extent for the indulgence which, when I addressed it upon this subject upon previous occasions, I received at the hands of its members, that I will endeavour to prove my gratitude for their past kindness by now trespassing upon their attention for as short a time as possible. It is, I thick, of importance that we should this evening begin to take stock of our agreements and disagreements with respect to the ques tion under our notice. My hon. and gallant friend the member for Norfolk seems to object to a scheme of com petitive examination for commissions in the line, and I concur with him so far as to deem it desirable that we should wait to see the result of the system of competition in the case of the Ordnance corps before we give a de cided opinion with respect to the expediency of adopting it in reference to first commissions in the line. There appears to me, I confess, to be this difficulty with regard to the establishment of competitive examinations for those commissions, viz., that the qualifications necessary to constitute a good officer cannot always be made the subject of educational test. So far as intellectual quali ties are concerned, you can ascertain them by that test ; but if you admita competitive examination, and no other test, men may enter the army who have no qualification beyond what that examination proves them to possess. confess I rather agree with the view of those who arc in favour of a competitive examination only, because you may extend it not only to intellectual, but to moral and physical qualities. You may ascertain what a man's strength is with the gloves on or at single stick ; or yeti may put hint into a field surrounded by four stiff Leices tershire fences and Fee how he gets out, of it. (A. laugh.) These points are not immaterial in the creation of good officers, though they are not! tests usually applied by ext miners. My hon. and gallant friend (Gen. Windham) has put the case of two candidates for a commission in the line—the one a generous, liberal, fine fellow, who has been rather idle with regard t o hi s stu di es, an d t h e whose ey es are worn out w i t h and who is alt og eth er ru o e t na h fid e ti r a og r, etwahhreno:e, active ibavoebo dutiesa k d w o rm o , f a horseman, collier's life. I don't want however, to substitute the bookworm for the fine fellow, but to get hold of the fine fellow and to take care that he knows his duties thoroughly. Under the present sys tem you may have the b ookworm—the man physically inefficient, an d you constantly have him. As to the fine fell rt.; I agree in the opinion of Sir C. Napier, who says there is no officer in the world lik e th e E ng li s h gen tl eman —I don't mean in the sense i n w hi c h t h at term is some times used, applying only to th e l an d e d gentry, but a man of liberal education, who possesses the advantages which result from such an education. An hon. and gallant officer has expressed a fear lest you should establish tso high a standard ofexathination ; but why hav e t oo hi g h a standard of examination ? I think the danger is the other way. Standards of examination are not apt to rise. On the contrary, they have a great tendency to fail, and if you insist upon men otherwise competent to be officers passing through an examination for their first commis sions danger of the standard bring I placed dm't toothink do not give any opinion on ( t h k ig t h h . erep any the subject of competition for entrance into the ordnance corps. You have, I believe, the same class of men as you had beiere—neither better nor w orse . I k now it i s not a popular doctrine that it is of any importance that the army should be officered by gent l emen, b ut I hold that it is so. (Bear.) I will tell you why I entertain that opi nion. Our object ought to be to get that class of men who will make the best officers. Prove to me that pea sants make the best officers, an d I say "L et ad your officers be peasants. I think, however, that in dealing with a question of this kind you ought not to consider the interests of any class, but your object ought to be to obtain man who can roost efficiently discharge the duties they are required to perform. E ng l an d i s a nat i on essentially not military with regard to its interior habits and organisation. Thu habit of military organization is foreign to its people. As the most complete discipline and thorough obedience are necessary he the efficiency of an army, you cannot afford to throw away any ele ment which will secure those objacts ; and one of the main elements of oar army is that the peasants who compose the - private soldiers have a natural tendency to toilew the lead of a gentleman by whom they are effi cored. That is my only reason for entertaining the opi nion I have expressed. You cannot persuade men that, in other professions, it is a disadvantage to be a gentle man, and, indeed, the common sense of mankind leads to a contrary conclusion. The hon. gentleman opposite (tlr. Palk) says he does not see how a system of army education con be carried to any height compatibly with the system of purchase. I don't see any such diffic u lty . Whether a man rises by seniority, aided by purchase, hether by seniority without purchase, or whether by selection, I don't understand why you cannot have a standard of examination which will secure that a man, however ho t bas obtained his promotion, is fit to di-- charge the duties of his position. There are one or two other points upon which I may be allowed to say a few words. I have heard it said that a core feeling has been produced in the array by the statements that have been made by civilians with respect to the conduct of general officers commanding in the field, and that the na ye went for increasing education in the army is regard e d by them as a slur, think the latter idea is unfounded, but I also think that the civilians of this country have judged officers in high command with great untairntes. (Hear, hear.) The traditions of our youth are farmed upon the successes of one of the most remarkable men England over produced, and we are disposed to complain that every officer sent in cernrnand of an expedition dues not poi secs the genius of the Duke of Well'ngton. Now, how many great generals has England produced ? Why, you may count them on your fingers. Fa, Wellington,ke Cromwell, Marlberoug,b, Peterborough, if you and Clive ; but when you go further you find yourselves in another class, and it cannot be expected that every . ;exhibit t' in com man d o f an army should nut only exl.a . bit " "[laxity, but should possess t h e experience, at Wellingten or a Marlborough. `o far, then, we But I nerietain that th e have jud ge d very un f a i r l y. army may re t or t upon c i v il i ans, and may say, " Here we have had a war con du c t e d during three or four years, ana ydu cannot point out one civilian who has show n any great aptit u d e or gen i t or for directirg the. elt that opera tions of the war." (Hear, hear.) I have always f the most important question in connexion with this sub ject is the mode of admission to the s'aff. A gallant officer, who sits near me, baa recommended that we should copy the French system. I c olfe . ss that I e on very much afr a id of adopting a' y plan which . is merely a copy of the systems of other c ountriee, u:rdspec' we of the peculiar qua liti e s an d habits of the British army, and 1 don't believe that the French system of a separate staff ...., _ corps rising by promotion within that c r i m, and r aver • would be desirable to offer a certain number of commis.. going back to regimental duty, would be suitable to sions from time to time for competition in our great 1 the British army. It would create a separate class, public schools, which would give an impetus to a well which will be regarded with the greatest jealousy, and educated cites of young men to enter the priny who I believe the best feature of our system is that the staff night otherwise experience El' nos difficulty in obtaining officer, when not employed on the staff, goes back to his a commission. It :souls not then be simply the aristo ordinary duties and mixes with the regimental officers. craiic class who would get commissions, but also men I am not prepared to give an opinion as to the principle i who had earned them by their own ability and exertions. of a competitive examination for first commissions, but i It was not, however, only the able mathematician or the when once you have men who are good officers in your skilful constructor of fortifications that made a man a service I see no objection to competition for staff ap- good officer. To be t s horoughly efficient in his profess pointmente, or for admission into the staff school. I pro- sion he must also have a liberal education, and, as the po s ed last year that those officers who most distin- late Sir Charles Napier bad observed, the best officer, guished , h mesh es in t xtroinatior e for promotion should i after all, was the English country gentleman. (Hear.) compete for admission in the staff schools ; and I think Lord PALMERSTON.—I am sure my hon. and I understood that it is now the intention of her Majesty's gallant. friend (Sir De Lacy Evans must be well satire Government to establish an examinati on f or th e sta ff . I ) fled with the interesting discussion which his resolution understand the arrangement proposed by th e general order that any officer nominated to the staff should be has elicited. The matter is one of the highest interest required to submit to examination by three officers ap• to the country, and those gentlemen who have expressed pointed by the Horse Guards is to be abandoned. Such their opinions in the course of the discussion are all an examination would come down to the candidate, and men who appear by their professional pursuits', or by would not attempt to establish a standard to which he should rise. I consider that you ought to have a per- the attention they have devoted to this interesting topic, manent body of examiners, who would subject all candi- to be highly competent to arrive at a sound conclusion da'es to an equal test, and would be competent to ascer- in reference to it. Upon the general necessity—l won't tain whether the attainments of candidates were the even hewer it; so far as to call it the expediency—of result of craminifig, or of study and application. (Hear, securing a good education to the officers in the army, hear). I think, also, that the education of the staff I think everybody who has thought for a moment on should apply to aides-le-camp. Th e y are requ i re d to discharge most important duties, and v er y hi g h respon- the subject must be only of one opinion. There is this, sibility frequently attaches to them. Although ,t is not however, to be considered, that any examination into their duty to direct operations, but to convey orders ) merely intellectual attainments can afford you but an circumstances may change before they arrive at the point imperfect standard as to the qualifications of an indivi to which they are despatched, and they may be called upon to exercise consideraLle discretion. If th e y are dual for military employment. (H ear , h ear.) Th ere only to be the bearers of messages, that duty mi g ht b e are three requisites for making a goo d o ffi cer. Th ere as well performed by ordinary Dragoons. They are is first of all general intelligence, and that ordinary usually in personal attendance on the officers in corn- education which a gentleman is supposed to have ob mend, and they are sure to be mentioned in despatches rained ; next, there is proficiency in his profession—in and to obtain promotion, for the generals to whom they those matters which are for thoroughly military, and which are attached naturally speak of duties which are pei - do not belong to a g enera l literary educatio n ; and above med under their own eyes. Ido not say that a general officer may no t b e a ll owe d t o c h oose hi s own all, in the third pl a ce, there are th ose const i tut i ona l personal staff, but h e s h ou ld b e li m it e d i n hi s c h o i ce t o qualities which a r e em i nen tl y an d b eyon d all others im those persons who are on th e li st as h av i ng qua lifi e d portant in the composition of an officer. (Cheers.) Un , doubtedly my ri g ht h on , f r i en d t h e mem b er for South themselves for th ose d u ti es w hi c h t h ey wil ' Wiltshire (Mr. S. Herbert) has o b serve d b ow f ew greatbe called upon to pe r f orm . I b eg par d on o f t h e h ouse f or generals the histo r y of • this country hat recorded. He detaining them upo n th ese p o i nts, b u ' e w h at I wan t t o m see is that the exami na ti on f or t h e sta ff s h ou ld b e m ad e might have gdnerali s ed th a t o b servat i on an d extended it sed as practical as it is po ss ibl e t o ma k e it . I see f rom th e to the whole civilised s report of the commi ss i on appo i nte d t o i nqu i re i nto t h e constitutional qualities, world, for th a t com bi na ti on o f education in foreign c ou n t r i es , th a t i n A ustr i a th e exa -11 general knowledge, which united make a grea t m ili tar y i of military att a i nmen t s , an d o f mination is not only one of i n t e ll ec t, b u t th a t personal leader, is perhaps one of th e rares t thi ngs t hi ngs you ca n find in the whole ran ge o f h uman nature —(h ear, and physic il qualiti es are t a k en i nto cons id erat i on. I hear) —anti and accordingly there are f ewer men recor d e d i n tempt it if we wish t o arr i ve a t any pract i ca l resu l t. know that we shag find it very difficult, but see must at- ) history who have been gre a t genera l s th an t h ose w h o h I cannot sit clown witho u t men ti on i ng t h e name o f one have excelled in oth e r pu rsu it s . Th e fi rs t exam i nat i on of a young man who is to enter the army ought to be a gentleman who more than any one else has been instru standard test to show that he has received the liberal mental in bringing this question forward—l mean Mr. e Gleig, the chaplain-g en . sa l. Th at gent l eman has b een ducation of a g e ntl eman , an d t h at b e i s possessed of mental and natur a l q u a li t i es w hi c h i n di cate that he i s a one of the principal mo ti ve powers i n st i rr i ng up th i s question at the W ar - o ff ice ; and when I had the honour young man of capa c ity an d i n d ustry, and l i kely to excel of being connected w i t h t h at d epartment I derived the in advancing himself in the knowledge of his prof e s s i o n. I think it most ess en ti a l an d w i se to propose that the greatest possible benefit from his advice and a s sistance, fi and I have th e grea t est p l easure now i n g i ving him the first examication sh a ll not app l y to purely military at credit he so w e ll d eserves , (H ear. ) I regret, I must say, tainmente. A youn g man o f the age to enter the army the delay which h as ta k en p l ace i n d ea li ng w i th this should be examined up on th ose general b ranches of which question. Du r i ng th e l est year that I had the honour of education to (Hea every y oung man ought to devote being Secretary at W ar , I l a id upon t h e table a plea very his time. r, hear) ` s be he has received much like the o ne w hi c h h as now b een l a id b efore us, his commission, and after h e ha been a certain time and which I h o p e w ill b e carr i e d out. Tee late House in his regiment, his com man d ing officer has an of Commons rece i ve d th e p l an w hi c h I proposed-w i t h opportuni.y of seeing wheth er h e possesses those other urpose, qualities which fit hintto rise and t o di st i ngu i s h him great indulgen ce , an d, w h at was more to the they voted th e money f or carry i ng i t out; butp,neither self in the profession. The comp e titi ve exam i nat i on for the staff seems to meet the gene ra l a pp ro b a ti on o f t h e last year nor thi s y ear h ave I seen anyth i ng a b out t h e House. (Hear.) With regard to the strictness o f th e matter in the es ti ma t es . l am w illi ng, however , to exercise patience, and I hop e th a t nex t y ear th e h on . examination, I quite agre e w ith th e r i g ht h on , gentle baronet* will be prepa re d t o as k f or a vote to carry out a man the member for Wil ts hi re — t h ere i s a l ways, i n a plan which will b e sa ti s f actory to t h e country an d a d- standard examination, so me d anger t h at it w ill f a ll too low. I think, however, the arrangemen t s i n t en d e d t o vantageous to the efficiency of the se r vic e . (H ear .) Major WARBURTON w i s h e d, as a mem b er of one o f be made, thay the examinati ons are t o b e con d uc t e d by the instructive corps of th e serv i ce , w hi c h h a d hitherto examiners periodically ch ange d, not b e l ong i ng to any shall not fall below the p o i n t to w hi c h i t ought to received little encour a g eetien t, to express t h e grat ifi es -official establishment, and: p ar tly c i v ili ans an d part l y military men, will suffici en tly secure that the examina tion which bo had f e lt a t th e announcement o f t h e h on. dobaronet. That announcement wou ld g i ve new lif e an d energy to many au unfriend e d man i n t h e army , w h o be reduced. (Hear.) There i s i n compet i t i ve exemiea tion, on the other hand, the dang er o f go i ng too h i gh ; would now see a fair field open f or th e d eve l opmen t • to his abilities, inasmuch, as those v a l ua bl e a p po i n t men t s and I must submit that in many ex e mi nat i ons , not ex which had hitherto been open only t o p ersons w h o pos - eluding the Universities and other sy s t ems , t h e ex sessed interest and connexion would n o w b e open to a ll, aminers, from the natural feeling that what ever y man It was of the greatest imp o rtance th a t th e s t a ff co ll ege dots should be done as well as possihle p ace a lit t l e t oo should be open to memb e rs of th e i ns t ruc ti ve corps o f t h e high the standard to which they submit the comp e titi o n serv.ce. In the case of th e o r d nance cor p s th e sys t em of candidates. More especially, I should say, w ith re of c nnpetition had hith er t o p rove d mos t success f u l, an d Bard to mathematics, there a re limits beyond which no that system ea. would, he hoped, be fully carried out to its Practical advanta g e is ga i ne d i n s t ra i n ing the mind in utmost e attaining abstra c t k now l e d ge , f or w hich in aft e r lif e Sir x there is no imrnedi ate or practical use. (Cheers.) W. CODRINGTON did not think that competi- Therefore, 'a great deal of discretion is required in titive examination for a first comm i ss i on was advisable, persons who examine to see that the examination as to establish that principle might shut out from the turns upon matters which will be useful in the lice army that particular class of men who made the best soh- which the young ma n w h o i s exam i ne d i s i n te n d e d to diets. As regarded th e p ar ti cu l ar e d uca ti on f or th e follow, and that he i s n ot t axe d b eyon d th e use f u l amoun t staff, he did not quite und e r s ta n d th e ex t en t t o w hi c h it which he may be exp e cted t o a tt a i n . Th e result, if examinations' are carried too far, no doubt is that you was proposed to be carried, and he did not think that it are n.pt to get a young man who is endowed with a very would be worth » bile at present to enter into any de- retentive and sometimes to lose a young man 8 E.llie memory, andwhose romotitude and tails upon the subject. Th e genera l pr i nc i p l e appeare d readiness t ' in action make him the P more . useful in to be admitted that the re s h ou ld b e a compe titi on among the service (hear, hear); you get a man whose mind is a officers of the line for an entry into the staff college. complex dictionary, instead of a man whose mind is Now, this difficulty *would arise with regard to the staff. created for energy and action, (Cheers.) In the devising Was the staff to be a distinct staff corps for England, a system applicable to military education, the fist part is or were officers to be takeu from regiments out of the completed, o ta State r and,tiio War m my hon. t f in ri e e ,%td hagth e U. said, e r - S e c r e t a ry will be irn country I If officers of a regiment on service i 9 India or I mediately laid on the table of the House. The remain the colonies were allowed to came home to be examined ing, portions are under consideration, and will, no doubt, for staff appointments the effect would be detrimental to be prepared with tho same views with which the portion the efficiency of the service ; and if they were not allowed already prepared has been completed. The resolutions to come home, then how could the best men throughout of my hon. and gallant friend seem to me to be a little the service be chosen by competitive examination ? There too much in the affirmation of points still under considera• were one or two points in the resolution of the gallant Cott. I am quite prepared to agree to the main general to which he was not disposed to give his con- principles upon which the resolutions are founded. currence, and one was that part of the resolution which But at the same time when be sees that the referred to the appointment of a council of education. council to whom the matter has been referred by her As he understood the gallant general, his proposal was Majesty's Government are still considering many of the that the council should be especially under the Secretary points on which his resolutions touch ; I would submit for War acting independently of the Commander in to my boil and gallant friend whether he may not either Chief, and that its duties should be to examine persons be satisfied with the discussion and wait to see what is for the staff, taking away from their regiment for that proposed in the next session, or, it he feels that this is a purpose officers on full pay. lie did not think that matter of such deep interest that he is anxious the house it was advisable even in matters of a civil nature that the Secretary for Tar should be able to interfere -should record its concurrence with him, by some slight modifications of his resolutions affirm the general prin with the responsibility of the Commander-in -Chief for ciples without tying down the Government to particular the education and efficiency of the officers of the army points. (Hear.) I will leave him to consider which of by taking them from their regiments. The result would those two alternatives he thinks best. I can assure him be a divided authority, and experience had shown the danger of such a division. The establishme n t o f a staff that the Government have at heart the same object so earnestly and creditably to himself he has ad. college would cost a very large sum of mo n ey, an d he vocated, and I think, knowing that we both wish the hoped that hon. members who were so anxi ous f or th e establishment of that system would not hesitate when same end, there cannot be much difficulty is agreeing they were asked to pay the bill. In A us t r i a , h e be- upon the means. (Cheers.) Sir DE L. EVANS said he was very much gratified lieved, where such a system existed, the annua l cost was at the spirit in which the noble lord had met his pro about 148,0001., and the amount required w ou ld b e a position. He had no intention of proposing an unqualified serious question to discuss in considering the estimate competitive system to be applied to the whole body of which might be presented to Parliament. No one officers, cavalry and infantry. He wished to see an in doubted the advantage of giving an officer as good an f us i on of competition in education. He understood that education as was possible. Education never did any the Government intended to infuse that competition with one any harm ; but it was very difficult to fix the regard to some portion of the officers of the line, and that standard, and the house would remember that many men would meet his views. He did not propose any definite might reach that standard without any of those other or fixed system, and, as the subject was under considera qual ties which in the army were particularly required. ties), he would omit a passage in the resolutions which Mention had been made of the appointment of a chief of he hoped would completely meet the wishes of the noble the staff, and he would therefore briefly refer to the cub- lord. (Hear, hear.) j •ct. The appointment of a chief of the staff, was an The resolutions_ were then put and agreed to in this imitation of the French system, and in the French army form : the principle was carried to an extreme degree. Nut e That in the opinion of this House a higher standard only was there a chief of the staff of the army generally, of professional instruction and more complete provision for but every general division bad his chief of the staff, it than hitherto deeme i requisite ought to bs established Now, he did not see why a general of division should not for the commissioned ranks of the army, but especially for be his own chief of the staff and communicate directly the staff; that this will be be o st ifi p oe r r o s mo d ted . by recourse to with his own quartermaster-general and adjutant-gene- competitive examination of staff,and by assurin e g m e l ti n c g our o ae c em a ent y s ral. He would only add that he was glad to find that themselves for the l the general subj et bad excited the att en ti on o f th e for proficiency and general fitness for advancement:" Government and that the house had pressed it on, BANK ACTS. though not unfairly in any way. He hoped, however, Mr. GREER, who had given notice of his intention that it would net be carried to such an exc l us i ve d egree to move an instruction to extend to the Select Committee on the as to lead to the idea Veat the practi ca l p ar t o f t h e pro - B in k A cts , directing themtheir inquiry to fession of an officer, which, after all, was the main thing the operation of any other Acts affecting the currency or to keep in view, was to be subordinate to general educe- banking which might be found to require their special tion. (Hear, hear.) co n sid era ti on , having risen to address the House. Colonel SYKES said, as an old soldier, the grea t The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated thing to be attained in the education of an officer was that the committee on the Bank Acts had that day that he should be competent for the work to w hi c h agreed to report to the House the evidence which they he was to be put. The aim and object of hi s e d uca ti on had taken, nd it was not their intention to sit again. Mr. GREER said, that be was about to state that as should be professional acquirement, and not th a t h e might became a literary coxcomb. The examinatio n t o the committee could not act upon this instruction during which he might be subjected should be as strictly p r o- the present session, he should withdraw his motion. fissional as possible, and, above all things, bona fide, for Mr. BUCHA.NAN asked whether it was intended otherwise it would be a mockery and a delusion. H a y- that the report of the committee should be published ? ing passed that examination—not for lit erar y acqu i re • The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the committee had agreed to uo resolution except to merits, but for professional knowledge— a man en t ere d the army, and the gallant member (Sir Da Lacy E vans ) inform the House that the inquiry was incomplete, and proposed that there should afterwards be a competitive to recommend the reappointment of the committee nex , examination previous to entering upon the staff. He session. (Colonel Sykes) thought that a very desirable arrange ment, because hitherto promotion to the staff, as was well known, had depended entirely on family or pecu niary interest, or both, and not upon the qualifications of the individual concerned. (Hear.) At the same time he thought such an examination should be general as to place, and not exclusively confined to aspirants in any particular locality. It was only f a i r th at of fi cers serv i ng with regiments in the colonies and other parts of the world should have equal opportunities afforded them with those at home, of submitting themselves to such examinations. In India they had a system of exemina lion somewhat analogous to the one proposed. It was known that no officer could boll a staff appointment until he had passed an examination, not merely as a linguist, but as an interpreter, and there were standing officers appointed in different parts of the country before whom candidates must appear to undergo such an exami nation before they could do staff duty or serve in any detached employment. He thought that some kindred Examination might take place with respect to staff appointments in general. It was not ahsolutely neces eary,that an individual should go into a college to learn the duties of a staff officer. Strategy, for in-tance, and all that kind of knowledge could be obtained without without going into a college for the express purpose of acquiring it. He entirely concurred in the suggestion that it was impolitic that there should be an indiscrimi GALWAY WRIT. Col. FRENCH then moved that a new writ be issued for the town of Galway, in room of Mr. O'Flaherty, unseated on petition. Mr. G. CLIVE moved, as an amendment, that an inquiry be made into the existence of corrupt practices during the last as well as former elections for Gal way. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL fur IRELAND was in favour of issuing a commission. --- I\ -- ir.WFIITESIDE asked whether it was true that the Mr. Bruwne reported to have taken an active part in the bribery professor in Galway CAlege, and if so, whether Givernrnent thought it was p ro p er t o con tinue that gentleman in the task of instructing the youth of Ireland in corrupt prlictices ? Lord PALMERSTON said that was one of the cir cumstances the commission would inquire into. After some fuitber discussion, the amendment was agreed to without a division. COUNTY MAYO. GO. FRENCH then moved a new writ for the county Mayo, in the room of Mr. Moore, unseated on peti- Mr. SCHOLEFIELD moved, as an amendment, that ac Attorney-General for Ireland be directed to prose cute the Rev. Peter Conway and the Rev. Luke Ryan for their interierence at the election, and that the issue of the writ he suspended during the present session. He road from the evidence taken befure the committee that these R,man Catholic priests had denounced the voters fur C o l. Higgins at the altar. He did not believe that the heads of the Roman Cltholio Church encouraged these altar denunciations. Tbie, he said, was not a case of Protestantism against Roman Catholicism, but a ques tion of freedom of election against priestly denunciation. Mr. MAGUIRE asked the house to listen to him while he endeavoured to defend his friend Mr. Moore. He contended that the H i g h Sheriff o f the county, w h o was the father of Col. Higgins, one of VI:: candidates, had ex - Ircised the grosse s t p arti a li ty in favour o f hi s son —instances of which he quoted to the amusement of the nate comr,e;,iii,e examination hcf re e t rig the army at all, hut, at the same time he theoght it def,ir ab!e that a certain number of c,:rnuti,3iors should from time to time le given as prizes to persons who wiAied to enter the army, and who were willing to com pete for them. (Hear, heir ) Lord A. CHURCHILL said that an cfiicer should be above all things a gentleman, if the men serving under him were to he expected to look up to him, nod cht;er fully and explicitly to carry out his orders on al ocea f,ims. (Hear.) Ho would do all in his power to forward the interests of able and deserriug men allying the non- commissioned officers desircus of rising in their profes sion, but he thought, as a class, they were not generally fitted for that ; and if they were taken out of their natural sphere tilt: men in V_le ranks would not look up o them in the same way they did to officers of a supe• i ior grade by birth and education. He thought, also, it house. After a good deal of discussion, LL.rd PALMERSTON 'aid he would vote for the amendment to prosecute tilt) priests and suspend the writ till the question of their guilt was determined, which, he thought, would b', not to punish, but to pro tect the electors of Mayo. The discussion degenerated, as usual in such cases, into a question of personalities between the Attor , ,ey- Gen-ral for Ireland and Lord Claud Hamilton, who im peached the learned gentleman's impartiality. On a division, the motion to issue the writ was re jected by a majority of 153 to 29. Before the vote could be taken on the amendment Dr. BRADY moved that the house do now adjourn, which was negatived by a majority of 149 to 16. The question to prosecute the priests was then put and carried with without a division. The issue of the writ was suspended during the pre.; Bert session by a majority of 128 to 21. In answer to Mr. SPOONER, Lord PALMERSTON said the Government had re ()rived no further telegraphic or other information from India. The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the house adjourned. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS—JULY 28. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. Older for Committee read ; motion made, and question propose I, "That, Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair. Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " nit" to the end of the question, in order to add the words "this house will, upon this day three months, resolve itself into the said committee,"—ingtead thereof —question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question."—The house divided Ayes, 98; Noes, 73. AYES-93. Anderson, Sir J. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Monsell, W. Baring, T. Foley, J. Morris, D. Bass, T. F,,ley, H. B Napier, Sir C. Staxter, W. Forster, C. Nisbet, Robert Beach, W. Fortescue, F. Norreys, Sir D. Berkeley, Hon. II Fortescue, C. Owen, Sir J. Bethel!, Sir R. Freestun, Col. Paget, Lord C. • Black, Adam Gaskell, J. • Philipps, JL Brady, J. Glyn, G. Powell, F. Brand, H. Gordon, L. Pryse, E. Brown, W. Greer, S. Pritchard, J. Bruce, Lord E. Grenfell, C. Palle-, C. Buller, J. W. Grey, Sir G. Russell, H. Caird, James Grey, R, Russell, Sir W. Calcutt, H. Griffith, C. Spooner, R. Castlerosse, Viscount Gurney, S. Stapleton, J. Clay, James Hall, Sir B. Steuart, Andrew Clifford, C. C. Herbert, H. Stuart, Ldrd J. Coningham, W. Holland, E. Stuart, Colonel Cowper, W. F. llorsfall, T. B. Sullivan. Michael Cotterell, Sir 11. Ingram, H. Tancred, H. Cross, R. . Jervoise, Sir J. Thompson, ten. Davey, R. Langston, J. IL Thornely, T. Dodson, J. Langton, H. G. Tollem ache, Fred. Dunbar, Sir W. Levinge, Sir R. Trelawny, Sir J. Duncan, Viscount . Lewis, Sir G. C. Villiers, C. Dunlop, A. Mackie, J. Warburton, G. Ebrington, Viscount Marsh, M. Warre, J. Elton, Sir A. Marshall, W. Williams, Sir W Ennis, John Martin, C. Wilson, J. Evans, T. W. Martin, P. Worsley, Lord Fagan, W. Massey, W. TELLERS. Ferguson, Sir R. Melgund, Viscount Hayter, W. Fitzgerald, J. Mon ereiff, J. Mulgrave, Earl NOES-73. Adderley, C. Gard, R. Noel, G. Arbuthnott, Gen. Gladstone, W. North, Col. J. Bailey, C. Gray, Captain Ossuiston, Lord Bernard, W. Hackblock, W. Palk, L. Beecroft, G. Hadfield, G. Palmer, Captain Bentinck, G. Hamilton, Lord C. 'Pechell, Sir G. Biggs, J. Hankey, T. Pilkington, J. Blackburn, Peter Hardy, G. Platt, James Boldero, Col. H. G. Harr s, J. Schneider, H. Bralges, Sir B. Heathcote, Sir W. Scott, Capt, Buller, -ir J. Henley, J. Smith, A. Butler, C. Ilildyard, R. C. Taylor, Col. Carden, Sir R. W. Hope, A. Trefusis, C. Close M. Hopwood, John Verner, Sir W. Cole, II A. Hornbv, W. Vivian, 11. H. Collins, P. Jackson, W. Westhead, J. Cox William Jolliffe, Sir W. White, J. Darner, L. Kershaw, J. Whitmore, H. Denison, W. H. Lennax, Loid U. Willcox, B. Dillwyn, L. Locke, John Williams, W. Dud, J. W. Lygon, Hon. F. Wise, J. Buncombe, T. Macartney, G. Egerton, W. Montgomery, Sir G. Farquhar, Sir M. Mowbray, J. R. Finlay, A. Napier, J. Fitztlerald, W. R. S. Newdegate, C. TELLEIIO. Knight, F. Ayrton, A. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL-JULY 28. The few millers and dealers at our Corn Exchange th,. 16 morning were earnest buy ers o f w h ea t f or t h e passing 0"; gumption, and made a f a i r b us i ness a t th e full pr i ce s 01 Tuesday last. In some instances an advance of 2d to 3 1 per bushel for red wheat. Flour a dragging gale, en prices unimproved. Indian corn dull of sale, but cl" tr tions unchang e d. O a t s, b ar l ey, b eans, and peas were tar altered in value. HULL- JULY 28. A small attendance at our market to-day, and the/ has been only a small show of wheat. There was sont disposition to buy on th e par t o f millers, but on the who le the business don e was on l y small. Foreign firm, but fr , buyers. Spring corn a retail business, and no alteration in value. Wheat, English red, 62s to 63s ; white 64s to 665; 0 0 6 28s to 30s ; barley, 40s to 46s ; Indian corn, 40s ; linsee d i cakes, Hull, 10112 s 6d to 101 15s ; ditto, foreign, 8/ to 15s ; rape cakes, 6155. to 617 s 6(1; guano, 81. to 131. 109 t bones, 147 s 6d.; flour, 30s to 325; tares, 30s to 403. LEEDS, JULY 28. We are fairly supplied with wheat. Holders are in demanding within is per qr. of last Friday's rates, b at millers requi re a grea t er re d uc ti on; t h e result i s till t scarcely any business is transacted. Ba.rl.:y l umina" Beans fully as dear. Other articles unaltered. We co n. tinue to have very favourable weather. Average prices of grain—Wheat, 65s --d ; barley, -4 Od ; oats, 31s —d ; beans, 46s —d ; peas, 403 6'' rye, --s. 01. NEWCASTLE—JULY 28. A small supply of farmers' wheat, which wag cleared tb at is to 2s per quarter advance on Saturday's rates. Sou 4 country and foreign in b e tt er d eman d, an d i s more moue/ obtained. Other articles unchanged. COURSE OF EXCHANGE.--YESTERDAIC ;m5terdam............ 11 17% Gibraltar ...••••• •• •• •• no Ditto, three months ..12 Leghorn .. •. • ..... •• •• 29 ,"5 Rotterdam .• •• •• •• •• •• 12 Genoa .. 25 ' ..-, Antwerp • • • • • • •• • • • • • • 25 42% 1 alilan .. • • •• • • •• .. •• Brussels •••••••• J • • • • • 25 42% ! Venice •••a•••• • • • • • • ' 4 -- 2 1 i Bamburgh •• •• •• •• •• • • 13 8% Naples .• •• •• •• •••• .• • Aitona •• •••••••••• •• • . • • Palermo •• • . Plris ........ .• • • .... 25 27% Messina ... 1 2 3, Ditto, three months 25 62% Lisboa .. Marseilles .••—•• • • .• • • 25 65 'Oporto ••••••••• • • • •• • • b 2.21 Bourdeaux .• •••••• • • •• • • Rio Janeiro ..... ....... Vi ankfort-on-Maine •• .• 119% Buenos Ayres .... -..• Berlin .. ............ •• • • New York,6o days' sight -- Vienna .......... ••—•• 10 Pi Philadelphia .......... Irloote. • •• •••••• •• •.•• 10 32 PRIC r - —,s oZ, E 9 OF BIILIION, rxs n Cetersburg 36% Foreign Gold in Bars £3 17 f, 14cdri.1 ......... 48j. Portugal Gold Coin OO a " C Adis • • ...... 49% M ex i can D o ll ars 0 0 B ‘rcelona New Dollars 0 0 v. Silver in bars The suspension was announced yesterday of the boll ° of Mr. J. P. Ginstiniani, a Greek merchant, witb .4 ol !; gageinents estimated at f rom 250 , 0001 . to 300,0001. ili, business was pri nc ip t ll y wit h C onstantinople and r Arc; and he was la rge ly engage d d ur i ng the RuQsiart war I t , supplying stea m -v essse l i t o t h e T ur k is h G overnm e° , In the ccurs e o f th e a ft ernoon statements were c ite j lated that the cx;sting difficulties would be remelt' before the end of the day, but these were not fulfille• . [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Du Barry's delicious Revalenta Areb ie :. Food invariably restores health, without medicine, incol ll /;„ thence, or expense, as it saves fifty times its cost. 7" other remedies, and remov e s i n di ge sti on (d ys pePst: flatulency, constipation, nervous, bilious, and liver co plaints, cough, asthiha, consumption, and debit' l We extract a few out of 50,000 t es ti mon i a l s of oil; which had resisted all medicines. C ure N o. 4,2oB.—Eig_,s years' dyspepsia, nervousness, debilit y, w i th cramps, s paswi , and nausea, have been effectually removed by Du Bal , delicious food in a very sh or t time.--Rev. John W. FlaT e o Ridlington Rectory, No r f o lk . F rom the Dowager Counte_ of Castlestuart.—Cure 52 ,6 1 2.—Rosstrevor, County of Don Ireland, 9th December, 1854.—The Dowager Countese ° Castlestuart feels inducd, in the interest of suffering hlu n o i li nity, to state that Du Barry's excellent RevalentaArabica r ° „ has cured her, after all medicines had failed, of indigesti",.' bile, great nervousnessand irritability of many years' standii;7 o This food deserves the confidence of all suffierers, and mg' ci, considered a blessing. Inquiries will be cheerfully answer e f Supported by testimonials from the celebrated Professore ° Chemistry, Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. Ilarfel! Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzer ; Dr. Ingrat; Lord Stua r t d e D ec i es; th e D owager Countess of Cast,'lo Stuart; Major-Gen. Thomas Ki ng , an d many o th er res p e cts " et persons, whose health has b een res t ore d b y it , a ft er a ll otiL . means of cure had f a il e d. S u it a bl y pac k e d w i t h f u ll l u b structions. In canisters, 11b, 2s. 9d. ; 21b, 4s. 6d. ; 51 ; lis; 12lb, 21s. Th e 121 b can i s t ers are sent carriage fre e' on receipt of Poit-Oftlee order.--Barry Du Barry, & Co'' 77, Regent-street, Lond on . I MPORTANT C AUTION against t he : fearful clangers of spurious imit a ti ons : —Th e Vi ce- Ch an cel lor Sir William Pa ge W oo d grante d an Injunction on ti',." 10th March, 1854, aga i ns t Alf red Hooper Nevill, for imitatille 'Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food T HS. OF A SON. On the 27th inst., at Charlton, Kent, the wife of Captsi ° Henry Townshend Boultbee, Royal Artillery. On the 27th inst., the wife of Joseph Clarke, Esq., 13 ' Stratford-place. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 28th inst., at Bromley, Kent, the wifo of T. Scudamore, Esq. On the 26th inst., at Prince's-street, Cavendish-square, tbo wife of James Utten Easson, Esq. MARRIED. On the 24th inst., at Si. George's, Hanover-square, Wil t i o . Hope Vere, Esq., of Crai g i e H a ll and Blackwood, LB., Lady Mary Boyle, sister of the Earl of Cork and Orrery. d . ''n the 25th inst., a t St . J ohn ' s, Paddington Capt. Ed W i t , B. Prescott, 33d R eg t. , thi rd son of Frederick J. Presc° Esq., of 13, Oxfo r d- square, to Sophia Victoria, the youeglt daughter of William Cox, Esq., of 20, Glocester-cresce n Hyde-park, DIED. On the 27th inst., at Vine Cottage, Hyde, Kingsbury, 3ft. Edward Oldfield, aged 57. On the 28th inst., Mr. Thomas Edward Death, of Cambe r well, formerly of the city, aged 70. tbe On the 27th inst., at 10, St. John's- woo d-p ar k, Emma, - wife of Mr. Joseph Hood. • vf On the 26th in , t., at Armiston, Mrs. Eli za H u nter, wid ow of the late Rev. James Nicol, minister of Leslie. tb° Oa the 24th inst., at Orton Hall, Westmoreland, .3,:ne, wife of W. F. Hamilton, Esq., Major Royal Renfrew 'Wi lt ' and late of 79th Highlanders. late On the 4th inst., Robert A. Strange, fifth son of the Sir Thomas A. Strange, formerly Chief Justice of MAO-, aged 35. _ LONDON : Printed and Pubthhed by MURDO YOUt CI ; of No, 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office , ' y 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the S avo y, in the cou nt., of l'lliddlczex, Wednesday, July 29, 1857. 2 , t( 2