The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 20, 1858.

arranged. The architect is Mr. Owen Jones, so well
known by his courts at the Crystal Palace and his
numerous works on ornamental art. There can be
no question that the music-hall he has produced far
exceeds in beauty any that at present exist ; whether
it excels as much in its acoustic properties and
adaptation to musical purposes, we must wait till
Thursday next to ascertain. A concert of sacred
music, under the direction of Mr. Benedict, is an-
nounced for the inauguration; many of the best
artists at present in London are engaged. The per-
formance is stated to be under the highest patron-
age ; and from the interest everywhere expressed, we
may safely predict that the strength of the building,
at any rate, will be pretty severely tested.
WE understand that his Royal Highness the Prince
Consort has been graciously pleased to signify his
intention of honouring with his presence the concert
for the benefit of the Middlesex Hospital, which will
take place at the new St. James's-hall on Thursday
next, 25th March, 18503.

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE ARMY.
AT the dinner on Monday of the Hospital for
Diseases of the Chest, the Duke of Cambridge pre-
sided, and, in proposing " The Army and Navy,"
made a few remarks upon the friendly rela-
tions which exist between himself and Sir Colin
Campbell. The Duke then referred to a subject
which has recently attracted much attention—the

sanitary condition of the army. His Royal Highness
remarked that he had been told that a want of atten-
tion on the part of the Horse Guards was the cause
of all the discomfort and inconvenience to which the
troops of England bad been exposed. It was a very
simple thing to make a statement, but he hoped it
was needless for him to say that anything more
incorrect, he would not use a harsher term, could
not be made by mortal man. If there was anything
which attracted his attention from hour to hour, from
day to day, and from month to month, it was the
deep interest he took in all that related to the per
manent advantage and well-being of the British sol-
dier. He took every opportunity, whenever his more
pressing duties allowed him to leave London for a
few hours, to visit the various barracks and hospitals
throughout the country. When he returned from
those visits be found that many things were wanting
which it became his duty to represent to the Govern-
ment, and he did represent them accordingly. But
what was the result? He did not hold the parse-
strings of the nation. Though he might represent a
certain stale of facts, and although those facts were
admitted, he was met by the answer, " Very true ; it
is very desirable to do what you say, but we have no
money." He (the Duke of Cambridge) could not
coin money, and if it was the feeling of the country
that much should be done—and he assured them
that much ought to be done—it was for the country
to give the money, or otherwise the desire to improve
the condition of the army could not be carried out.
He felt very strongly on this point, and as be had
not bad an earlier opportunity of giving utterance to
his sentiments on the subject, he hoped that those
who now heard him would excuse him if he inter-
posed remarks which were not strictly in keeping
with meetings of this description. All he could now
say was that the very barrack improvements which
had been introduced into the army had curtailed the
barrack accommodation. Libraries and reading-
rooms had been introduced, but it was a great mis-
take to think that they bad been added to, for, in
truth, they had been taken out of, the barrack
accommodation. This had been (lane because it was
apparently cheaper to do it in that way than in any
other. This h%d been done to meet the feeling of
the age, and in some respects it had curtailed the
accommodation of the men. He was quite sure that
what he said would be believed at once ; but it was
remarkable that it should be supposed that he of all
men in the world should not take an interest in this
subject. Following the example of his illustrious
father, be could say that, altogether irrespective of
his military office, be had from the earliest times
endeavoured to the best of his ability to support all
the institutions of the country which bore upon hos-
pitals and other establishments of the kind. He
therefore felt regret that any one should think that,
irrespective of the high office he had the honour to
hold, he could be neglectful of so important a por-
tion of bis duties, and that he of all men should be
the one to blame in this matter. He did not wish
to throw blame in any particular quarter, bat all he
would say was that be had done his utmost to repre-
sent these things, and that he should continue to do
so. He was confident that the excellent feeling of
the country elicited on this point would eventually
lead to the remedy of those evils, and that all that
was required for the welfare of the soldier would be
done, thanks to the good feeling and liberality of the
people of England.