The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-10 00:00:00

A GENERAL AND HIS STAFF.

In the " General Regulations and Orders for the
Army, 1844," we read:—" General officers in coin•
mend are ezpected to be extremely circumspect in
the recommendation of officers for staff appoint-

ments, and are responsible that the officers in hose
behalf they interest themselves are, by their pre-
vious personal services, u well as by their acquire-
ment■ and character, qualified to discharge with
advantage to the service the duties attached to the

station for which they are recommended." This is
the theory of staff appointments in the British
army—what is the practice? Let Major-General
BENTIMCK answer. He was asked, during his
examination by Mr. ROEBUCK'S Committee Oa
Thursday, in what manner he appointed the
officers of his staff ; and this was the an-
swer : The first aide-de-camp I appointed
on account of the abilities he displayed at Chobham.
The next was unknown to me, but he will an officer of
intelligence and activity, bring a good horseman, and
thoroughly trustworthy. Of nig third aide•de-camp
I kneso nothing, but I saw a good deal of him aboard
ship. The general has to receive his aides-de-camp at
hie table ; they must therefore be thoroughly trust-
worthy." Here, then, of three aides-de-camp, we
have one appointed for ability displayed at Chob-
ham—so far good. We have a second appointed
because he was a good horseman and thoroughly
trustworthy. " Thoroughly trustworthy " has an
imposing sound; but what does it mean ?
The only explanation afforded by General
BEMTINCK on this bead, is his statement that

aides-de-camp must be thoroughly trustworthy, be-
cause they are received at the General's table.
"'thoroughly trustworthy," therefore, appears to
mean " a good trencher companion." General
BENTINCK gave the appointment of second aide-de-
amp to • person " unknown to him," because he was
• good horseman, and • good trencher companion.
General BENTINCICS testimony to the competency of
his second aide-de-camp, reminds one of the testi-
mony of the sailor, in the court.martial scene in
" Black-eyed Susan." When naked what he knows of
William's "moral character," the honest tar replies,
"He plays the fiddle like an angel." As
to the third aidirde•camp, General BENTINCK
frankly admitted that he "knew nothing of him."
True, he added that he saw a good deal of the gen-
tleman on board ship, but he did not favour the com-
mittee with the results of his observations upon him.
Now, it must be kept in mind that few officers in the
army of the But remained a shorter time in the
Crimea than General Bzwrizeat, and that few, if any,
have been so well rewarded for any services he may
have performed there. Indeed, he would have been
more amply rewarded still had not the murmurs of
the army and the public become audible and me-
nacing. Can we wonder, then, at the condition to
which the army in the Crimea has been reduced when
we find staff appointments conferred, as if in wanton
contempt of the army regulations, after the fashion
described by General BEiTINCK ? and when we find
a man who can confer them in this manner holding
the high and responsible rank he does?—Daily News.

THE PARIS

THE OPENING.
(nom TDB SPIOIAL COll/ISPONDINT OP TED DAILY
1111W8.)

PARIS,Lam 7.
Various rumours have been fiyinN about Paris rela-
tive to the postponement of the Universal Exhibition
opening day. This postponement has been referred
to the supposed departure of the Emperor for the
Bast. The question was so important, that lat once
proceeded to bead-quarters, determined, if possible, to
inform your readers on authority whether the open-
ing day was postponed or not. I have sow the satis-
faction of communicating to them the fact, which I
have this day obtained from the Secretary
I.
the
Imperial Commission, that the opening day la fixed
" irrevocably " for the first of May ; and as it is now
generally known that the Emperor doss not intend
to proceed to Sebastopol, this opening day will have
the advantage* which the presence of a court Oyes
to such a ceremonial. The report of the sub-committees
is anxiously expected by the 6,000 candidates who
have been lately struck off the list of exhibitors in
France alone.

I MD also enabled, by the courtesy of the Imperial
Commissioners, to mend you the following circular,
which is about to be addreseed to the editors of all
foreign papers. The plan, as described, is an excel-
lent one, and augurs well for the spirit of liberality
by which the government will counterbalance the
bargaining tendencies of the company