The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 6.

Me. M. T. Banns, President of the Poor-law
Board, has withdrawn from the Ministry. Mr.
BAINII4 in a letter which he has addremed to his
Leeds constituents, states that his health is not suffi-
ciently robust to enable him to discharge the respon-
sible duties of President of the Poor-law Board, in
conjunction with the numerous and important duties
which devolve upon the parliamentary representa-
tive of a borough like Leeds. We infer, however,
that the state of Mr. BAINES'S health is not such as
need cause any serious apprehension to his
friends and admirers, from the fact that he
promise., now that be is unconnected with ofiles,
to devote himself with increased seal and
assiduity to his duties in the House of Commons. Is
other words, Mr. BAINES' though in good working
order, prefers at present the legislative to the admi
'gentiles sphere of swim Without presuming to
intrude into the confidence of the ez-Prsaident of the
Poor-law Board, we may he allowed to remark that
a seat in the Cabinet is at present vacant, that there
has been considerable delay in filling it up, and that
Mr. BAINES resigns at the very moment when every

one is expecting the announcement of the now
Cabinet Minister. In the recent discussions about
alleged differences of opinion in the Ministry on the
subject of the war Mr. Bantu's name has never been
mentioned. What his views with regard to that
essential question may be we have no means of
knowing. But it is no more than justice to say that
among our younger statesmen there is none who has
more honourably earned a high character for admi-
nistrative ability, or who gives fairer promise for the
future, than MATTHEW TALBOT BAINES. The coin-
cidence is probably entirely accidental, but it will
have been observed that in recent financial dis-
cussions Sir F. Batumi has expressed views on
several minor matters rather at variance with
those of Government. Rumour, too, ascribes to
a shrewd leading member of that section of the Whig
party to which Sir FRANCIS belongs expressions
unfavourable to the stability of the existing Minis-
terial arrangements. It would be sheer waste of
time to indulge in conjectures respecting what time
must soon meke clear to all. The public, however,
will keep a close watch on any nomination Lord
PALMERSTON may make to the Cabinet, and the
manner in which he fills up the three vacant
departments. His selection of a Cabinet Mi-
nister will recesearily be interpreted as an
expression of firmnees or weaknem in relation to the
war. The Poor-lad I;oard and the Board of Bealth
are departments that cannot for any length of time
be let vacant without great inconvenience to the
public, and in which firmness of character and admi-
nistrative talent are indispensable. As to the Poet-
office, it is most devoutly to be wished that Lord
PALMERSTON would re-consider his determination to
persist in keeping that a political office. To speak of
the Post-office in connexion with politics unavoidably

co:jtires up disagreeable reminiscences of violations
of the secrecy of private correspondence.

Is spite of himself, Lord HARDINGE has been 1
obiiged to look to merit and efficiency in the selection
of a Chief for our army in the Crimea. We have
reason to believe that should General SIMPSON'S

taring health oblige him to return home, he is to be
succeeded by Major-General MARKHAM, an officer of
great merit, who has lately joined the camp from
India. What will the advocates of seniority say to
this? In their estimation General Maainiam is but
a babe. He only entered the service in 1824—nine
years after Waterloo—and although belonging to the
Royal Army, has made a name for himself in India.
He is not more than 47 years of age, and consequently
eiout twenty years younger than the most juvenile
of the veterans we have hitherto been in the habit
of sending out to take charge of posts which
required men with energy of both mind and body. So
much for the force of public opinion, as well as foe the
pri.aaure from without which has lately been brought
to bear upon all military matters connected with this
country. _ . _

General MARKHAM entered the service in 1824 as an
mop in the 32nd Regiment. He obtained his lieu-
tenancy in 1825, and his captaincy in 1829. Whilst
serving as captain he accompanied hia regiment to Ca-
nada, and saw not a little active work there in 1836.37,
during the disturbances in that colony. In the latter
year he was severely wounded. A couple of years subtle-
Tautly he was promoted to be major, and in 1842 he
got the command of the 32nd Regiment as lieutenant-
colonel. In 1846 his corps was ordered to India, and
C tlonel bleitstust went with it to that country,where
it landed in the autumn of the year, and marched
forthwith to the north-west provinces, the frontier
of which was in a disturbed state. When the insur-
rection broke out in the Puojaub, and the fortress of
Haulms declared in tavour of the enemy, the 32nd

Regiment was ordered to the seat of war, and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel MARKHAM received the command of a
brigade of infantry. During the whole campaign be
distinguished himself by his energy, and by the
M. lit manner in which all his duties were pa-
formed. Fcr the Mx years he commanded lin
re E invent it was a pattern in camp and qualms
to the British army, and as a brigadier his repats-
toil was not behind what it had been when he was a
battalion lender. At the close of the campaign ne
received the well-merited rewards of being named ea
Aide-de-Camp to the QUEEN and a Companion of the
Bath—the former honour giving him the rank of full
oofonel in tho army. After a short period of leave
in England, Colonel MARKHAM rejoined his corps in
India, determined that no consideration of ease or
comfort should induce him to abandon the regiment
in which he had risen from the lowest to
the highest commissioned rank. He was not,
however, destined to do duty again with
Oise co-ps, for upon the death of Colonel
MOUNTAIN. the Adjutact-General of Quamen
troops is India, Colonel MARKHAM was selected t•
suected him. Alter serving but a short time in thin
very responsible post, the Royal Warrant of last oe-
tuber gave the COMMANDER-IX-CHIEF the right of
selecting for promotion to the rank of Major-Genemil
any Colonel, irrespective of his standing in the sew
vice, whose professional character stood high enough
to merit mach ',choice. The very first officer thus dis-
tinguished was Col. MARKHAM, who was at the same
time nominated to command a division of the Bengal
army. When, however, the English public and the
English press began to canvass every freak nomination
to the staff of the Crimean army, orders were sent
ant to General Me.gn to join the head-gearters

1,