The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-07 00:00:00

22 REGENT-STREET, LONDON.
31APPIN BEOTILIJI6 1W emdotment to
2lmperial Majesty Napoleon HL), SILTAI, appointment
Iffeetro-
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andarde timm
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OM SMITE LIM 00.%
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TO CORRESPONDENTS.
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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7.

CAPTAIN ROBERTSON has been directed to return
to his duty by an order signed by Adjutant
HARILAN, one of his bitterest enemies, and amid
the cheers of the soldiers of his troop ; but what
is to become of Colonel BENTINCL and Colonel
Beewiraree 4 As Colonel of the 4th Dragoon
Guards, Colonel RENTINCE accused Captain
Roan:nos of cowardice and wilful falsehood, and
Colonel Beewrotree, as Deputy Adjutant-General
of the Forces in Ireland, not only maintained the
truth of these gross accusations by his own evi-
dence, but acted as counsel in the prosecution
of Captain Roessner; before the Court-martial.
It is not our province to defend the conduct of
the accused, but it is abundantly clear that
the attack made upon that officer has
egregiously failed. Of the position in which
Colonel Barrriscs and Colonel Baowxaioo now
stand after the decided evidence they gave, the
public can judge for itself. A difference of opi-
nion might well exist as to whether or not Captain
Reese:nos did or did not do enough to vindicate
his character ; but it is difficult to suppose that
if the Court-martial bad really accepted the state-
ment of the two Colonels, it could have hesitated
to convict Captain ROBERTSON of a wilful false-
hood in saying that he sent in his papers by reason
of intimidation. Even the Court-martial declared
that Captain ROBERTSON had been intimidated ;
and that declaration is indorsed by the Com-
MAN DER •IN-CHIEV. It appears, therefore, that the
Colonel in actual command of a regiment and the
Deputy Adjutant-General, who is more or less
responsible for the discipline of the Army, have
been found engaged in an attempt to drive an officer
out of the service by the grommet intimidation.
Even if the inconveniences of having Captain
ROBERTSON thrust back upon the hands of Colonel
Burnet:sr were lees than they are, it is obviously
impossible that Colonel Ilsrtnrox, or his friend
Colonel Beevrwarcio, can be suffered any longer to
encumber the QUEEN'S service. This is not like a
case of civil law, in which the jury are irrespon-
sible and in which the verdict may be wrong. A
Court-martial is completely under the control of
the COMMANDER-IN-CHILI'. If it acts partially
it is rebuked, and the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF a re-
sponsible for the rebuke which is administered.
Now, in this case, the sentence against Captain
ROBERTSON has been reversed. Instead of being
cashiered, he has been directed to return to his
duty. If his defence or the evidence
adduced in support of it had been disbelieved by
the Coussasnie-IN-Csisr, the sentence pro-
nounced by the Court-martial would probably
have been carried into effect. It must be assumed,
therefore, that the Duke of CAMBRIDOE, foresee-
ing all the consequences involved in the reversal
of the sentence against Captain Roezarsow, deli-
berately adopted them, and is prepared to deal
with Colonel Berrince and Colonel Bees/wane
accordingly. Upon what grounds the COMIANDEB-
m-Clurs still delays to act it is impossible to con-
jecture ; but as in many other instances, he has,
perhaps, no grounds at all.
Although the question of abolishing purchase
in the Ainay seems to have fallen asleep, the case
of Colonel BENTINCK furnishes a singular illus-
tration of its effects. It may be admitted that if
purchase is abolished it must be replaced to some
degree by the system of selection ; and it must also
be admitted that the Horse Guards have proved
themselves so powerful in jobbery and so
shameless in the exercise of patronage that
the public fear to entrust them with more
extensive powers. Bad as the system of pur-
chase is, which enables an utterly incompetent
man to command a regiment because he possesses a
certain sum of money, it is in some respects superior
to a system of selection which places Sir RICHARD
Alan' in the position of Quartermaster• General of
the Army, and General WINDIUM as a General of
Division in India. But the misfortune is that the
present system of promotion in the Army involves
not only the evils of purchase, but the evils of
selection also. The fact of having spent large
sums of money in purchasing commissions estab-
lishes in the eye of the Horse Guards a sort of
claim for high command, whilst in cane like the
4th Dragoon Guards, in which the Colonel has
proved incompetent, the country is driven to rely
upon the selecting power of the Comsawnes-nt-
Cam,. The COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, indeed, has de-
clared that he feels himself incompetent to apply
the principle of selection generally. He cannot
trust himself, be says, to select from all the
Majors in the Army the men best fitted
to command a regiment. The hap-hazard
system of purchase, therefore, must be
allowed to provide Colonels. It is admitted
by the Duke of CAMBIUMS himself that
this system has the effect of placing many men at
the head of regiments who are utterly incompe-
tent ; but his Royal Highness is too weak to pre-
vent any such inconvenience. This weakness,
however, must have its practical limits. There
are scandals which are intolerable. It is to be
hoped that the conduct of Colonel RENTING% H to
furnish one illustration. If this officer is to con-
tinue to command the 4th Dragoon Guards, the
sooner the regiment is disbanded the better. In
private life no two men would continue in