The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-02 00:00:00

admitted can be transferred to Woolwieh, and, therefore, in order
to supply the vacancies in the ArtMery and Engineers, it will probably
be necessary to hold two, or even perhaps three, more of the public
competitive examinations. Front that time, however, it may be ex-
pected that open examinations will cease, and be replaced by the com-
petition of candidates who have been nominated by the Commander-
in-Chief. The advocates of open competition, however, need feel
no uneasiness, for it has been found that the high rate of contri-
bution required of cadets at Woolwich (1251. per annum) has provided
sufficiently for their social status, and we are sure that the sole differ-
enee will be that the candidate, instead of, as at present, " informing
" the Secretary of State that he is coming forward at the next exaini-
" Lion," will, through his parents, " request the permission " of the
Commander-in-Chief to compete, the answer in both cases being " that
" his name is noted." In conclusion, we heartily congratulate his
Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief and the Council of Military
Education on the way in which they have inaugurated their labours;
and we cannot but entertain a confident hope that their endeavours in
the good cause of the reform of army education will be crowned with
success.

The lamented death of Mr. Justice MOORE, following so closely on
the decease of Mr. Justice JACKSON, has placed two Irish judeships at
Lord PALMERSTON'S disposal, and, as a probable consequence, will give
him the nomination of two new Law Officers of the Crown. It is likely
that the Attorney-General for Ireland will accept the puisne judeship,
which, according to prescriptive right, will be offered to him. It would
be strange, indeed, did he aspire to anything higher. He is by univer-
sal consent regarded as one of the most fortunate men in his profes-
sion. Though a painstaking mercantile lawyer of some repute, he
was never a foremost man. His talents are of an inferior order, and
he is neither au elegant scholar nor an accomplished advocate. It is
likely that it would have been his fate to have addressed the Bench all
his life instead of the Bar, had it not happened to suit Lord ABERDEEN'S
purpose to fall in with the Sadleir conspiracy. Speculation is rife as
to the chances of Mr. CHRISTIAN accepting a judgeship at common
law. An equity lawyer of high ability, with a private
character above reproach, no one would grudge hint any
reasonable promotion. His friends say that he will not
lose this opportunity of escaping from the cares and fatigues of an
onerous branch of the profession, which have already shaken his
health. In that event it is probable he will be placed in the
Common Pleas, and that Mr. FerzouasLo will fill the seat occu-
pied by Mr. Justice MOORE. Then will come the question who are
to be Attorney-General and Solicitor-Geneed. IVe believe we
shall be correct in assuming that Mr. BREWSTER will b 3 Attorney-
General. He held that office under Sir R. PEEL and Lord ABERDEEN,
resigning it when the latter Minister was overthrown. Mr. BREWSTER
has the advantage of being a Protestant whose convictions do not
render him hostile to the pretensions of the Roman Catholic party.
He was once a stanch Conservative, but a change has come o'er the
spirit of his dream, and he is now perhaps Inure a Whig than any-
thing else. He is, however, a man of indubitable ability,
taking a first rank in the Irish Bar ; and his appointment would,
therefore, be unobjectionable, viewed as the act of a Whig
Government. The difficulty, we imagine, will be to adjust
the rival claims of the many aspirants to the office of
Solicitor-General. Mr. DEASY, M.P. for Cork, and Mr. Ser-
geant O'BRIEN, M.P. for Limerick, both Roman Catholics, are spoken
of by their friends and themselves as the coming men. The former
is much the superior man ; but the latter is most in favour with the
Roman Catholic party, being the more bigoted of the two. Then Mr.
I. Burr, M.P. for Youghal, and a Protestant, is also named for the dis-
tinction. He is a recent convert to Palmerstonism ; and, if we are not
misinformed, lied a short time ago a pleasant trip to \lenta in a quasi
diplomatic capacity. He is not a man, however, whose appointment
would reflect credit upon Lord PALMERSTON, although we should
prefer it to that of the others we have mentioned, and on this ground.
Law Officers of the Crown have by custom a claim to seats on the
Bench as they fall due; and we really think, as there will be five
judges of the Roman Catholic persuasion out of twelve, it would be a
subject of grave concern that another member of that creed should be
placed in a position where it is very probable he would have to wait
but a short time in expectation of a seat on the Bench. Mr. MARTLEY'S
name is also mentioned as one of those who would be likely to be
offered a judgeship, should it be declined by Mr. FITZGERALD or Mr.
CHRISTIAN. He is Commissioner of the Encumbered Estates Court, a
sound lawyer, and an amiable man. His promotion would give offence
to none but those whom it disappointed of personal preferment. It is
high time Lord PaLmEas-roN should bethink himself of what are certain
to he the results of a systematic jobbing of high legal appointments. To
pack the Bench, after the example of JAMES I 1., as is recorded in 111,1
CAULAY'S "History of England," would be only the prelude of disaster
to the country. The law would cease to be respected, and the admi-
nistration of justice would become a mockery and a disgrace. The
Roman Catholics' claims were conceded in 1829, but if they are to
continue to monopolise all the patronage of the Crown, independent
of their merit, and apart from their qualifications, an "Emancipation
Act" will become necessary for the Protestants of Ireland. It is they
who will be'compelled to demand toleration at the hands of the State.