The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-09 00:00:00

DECEMBER 9, 1854

Corrtspoubtntt.

(IT must be tmderstood that the Pease is not identified with
the opinions of its Correspondents, though we insert no
oorumunication which does not appear in some way deserving
of publicity. The letters of our Correspondents are open to
reply. We require only that the language of fair discussion be
employed, and that due attention be paid to the facts stated.
We beg that no mention may be made of our " ability, in-
Mimics." &c., as we unhesitatingly strike our pen through
every allusion of the kind.]

COLONELS OF MILITIA.
TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."
Sir,—A great deal of discontent has been excited
in the militia by the manner in which the Govern-
ment have conducted the selection of those regi-
ments which were embodied during the past summer
and autumn. It is said that the political and social
influence of colonels and the lord lieutenants of
counties has had too much to do with the choice that
was made, and that little or no regard was paid to
the efficiency of a regiment, or its readiness to under-
take garrison duties.
One of the best tests of the truth of these asser-
tions is undoubtedly an examination of the Army List
to ascertain who are the colonels of the favoured
regiments. If we find that colonels of political in-
fluence are out of ail proportion in number to those
who have only their military merits to recommend
them, we may form a very just suspicion of the state
of the case.
There are in England and Wales 94 effective
regiments of militia. The colonels and lieutenant-
colonels of these regiments are as follows :—Peers,
18; members of the House of Commons, 17; not in
Parliament, 59. But, as rmany of the peers are
merely nominal colonels, we may transfer some of
their regiments to the non-parliamentary colonels,
and we shall have—Peers, 10 ; M.P.s, 17; not in
Parliament, 87 ; or, classing the regiments as parlia-
mentary and non-parliamentary, we shall have 27
parliamentary against 67 non-parliamentary, or two
and a half of the latter for every one of the former.
The number of regiments embodied up to last month
was eighteen. If these were chosen fairly from both
classes, we should have five parliamentary and thirteen
non parliamentary. But the facts are very different.
Only six regiments have been embodied whose colonels
were not in Parliament, and of these one was com-
manded by the eldest son of a peer. No less than
twelve regiments have been embodied whose colonels
were in Parliament.
The House of Commons is peculiarly fortunat'

Of the ten regiments commanded by peers three
were embodied, being nearly one-third of the num-
ber. Of seventeen regiments commanded by mem-
bers of the House of Commons as many as eight
were embodied, or nearly one half. Of the remain-
ing sixty-seven regiments only five, or one-thirteenth
part, were embodied.
Civilian colonels are not very fit to be chosen for
the honour of first embodiment. So thought the Go-
vernment, for out of twenty-three non-parliamentary
regiments with civilian colonels they did not select
one. Of the regiments commanded by civilian peers,
they took one. But of the seven regiments commanded
by civilian At.P.s, they embodied no less than four;
a larger proportion than fell to the lot of any other
class of militia colonels. It is for the Government
to exonerate themselves, if they can, from the suspi-
cions occasioned by this distribution of their militia
patronage. It must be remembered that, in choosing
inefficient or less efficient regiments for the first em
bodiment, they have inflicted a great loss upon the
really efficient regiments which were eager to serve.
Their officers will be thrown back in their chance of
obtaining commissions in the line, and the country is
deprived of the services of regiments which would
have been eager to volunteer in the present emer-
gency for colonial or for active service. I am, sir,
your obedient servant,
A MILITIA OFFICER.

RED-TAPISM OF THE WAR-OFFICE.
TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS."
Sir,—ln the present important yet calamitous war,
it is already sufficiently notorious and distressing
that more of our brave soldiers have perished from
the effects of climate and disease than from the mis-
siles of the enemy. The consolation which parents
may derive when a beloved child has heroically fallen
on the field of battle, is denied when death is occa-
sioned by dysentery, cholera, or exposure to incle•
ment weather. With due knowledge of the severity
of a Russian winter, the regiments stationed at
tlibraltar, Corfu, and Malta, are suddenly ordered to
the Crimea. These troops quitted England for a
warm climate, unprovided with clothing indispensa-
bly necessary for the exposed heights of 13alaklava,
and it is probable many will be sacrificed by this
abrupt removal before proper clothing can reach the
Crimea.
The War Department advertises its readiness to
forward to our soldiers packages delivered at a re•
ceptacle in London; but even this small accommo
dation is accompanied in practice, by conditions cal-

THE PRESS.

misted to cause undeserved misery and disappoint-
ment. Last week a family in the west of Ireland
received from a son at Malta a request for transmis-
sion by the next Government vessel articles of cloth-
ing, his wardrobe not being adapted for the atmo-
sphere and duties of a camp life in the Crimea, to
which his regiment was suddenly ordered. The re-
quest, as may be imagined, was instantly complied
with ; and the articles being carefully placed in a
suitable package, and to avoid delay on its route as
a parcel between Cork and London, a trusted domes-
tic was despatched with instructions to deliver it at
the office in London. On his arrival at the desig•
nated place, a well dressed official having measured
the box, declared that " it was an inch beyond the
regulation size, and that it could not. be forwarded."
The entreaties and remonstrances of the faithful
bearer being alike ineffectual, he with admirable pra-
deuce betook himself to a friend of his master's
family residing in London, an Irish M.P., supporting
the Ministry. This gentleman had an interview
with the Secretary at War, who gave an order for the
reception and transmission of the box.
There are numerous families having children in
the Crimea who cannot afford the expense, or might
not suppose it would be necessary to send a servant
in charge of a parcel for the East. Such persons
might fairly suppose that, by payment of the usual
charges for its conveyance by railway, its progress to
the seat of war was secured. It is however, evi-
dent that, under certain circumstances, the box would
be refused ; and for want of a Ministerial M.P. the
gallant soldier's life may perhaps be sacrificed by
such unworthy official absurdity. How are families
in remote parts of the kingdom, or brave fellows in
the trenches at Balaklava, to ascertain the exact
number of inches allowed for the box which is to
contain the flannel garments or blankets necessary
to preserve life in the inclement position in which
their country has required them to perform their
duty ?
When Parliament reassembles, there will, I hope,
be one at least of our representatives found suffi-
ciently humane and independent to inquire into
these proceedings with the view of preventing the
disastrous consequences that must result from a rigid
enforcement of such regulations. I am, sir, your
obedient servant, ANOIICUS.

TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."
Sir,—l enclose a sovereign, and request that as
long as it lasts you will send out five copies of the
PRESS weekly, for the use of " The Officers and Men
of the Bth Hussars," Balaklava.—Your obedient
servant, J. F. BAUMAN.
St. John's College, Cambridge.
[The copies of the Plass shall be forwarded as
desired.—Ed. Prem.]

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.
THE Prize Cattle Show of this year, though not con-
taining so great a number of either cattle, sheep, or
pigs (289) as have been exhibited in former years,
yet compensates in some measure for the alight
decrease in this year's entries by the great improve-
ment in the breed of the stock, and the gradual
discontinuance of the over-feeding system, which
was becoming a positive evil. Monsters of adipose
accumulation, were, it is true, still to be seen amongst
the animals exhibited, but they did not, as formerly,
obtain the prizes, their triumphs being reserved for
the public days, when the unlearned public in some
degree compensated by their admiration for the con-
tempt with which they were passed over by the
judges. The animals who this year obtained the
prizes were neither the largest nor the fattest, but
those which were distinguisned by symmetry of form,
solidity of flesh, and the possession of those " points "
which, when found in combination, form the breeder's

desideratum.
Among the agricultural implements there were
not many new inventions exhibited.
The principal novelty consisted of a self-holding
lever plough and general cultivator, invented by Mr.
Blaydon, and manufactured by Messrs. Plenty and
Pain of Newbury ; and this invention is one more step
towards the solution of that difficult problem, cul-
tivation of land by the application of steam-power.
Mary Wedlake, among her numerous implements,
showed an economical and effective machine for
cutting straw and bruising corn at the same time.
Messrs. Deane and Dray showed several effective
machines for winnowing and cleaning corn, from
1,2(X) to 2,400 bushels a day. Messrs. Cottam and
Hallam, among a large collection, exhibited a small
and exceedingly useful instrument for domestic
purposes, for mincing meat, herbs, fruits, and
other matters in general use for culinary purposes.
During the week the number of visitor; has been
above the average of former year; and the exhi-
bition may be considered to have been highly suc-
cessful.

i NEW METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.
THZ Metropolitan Cattle•roarket, which has been eon.
Wanted in Copenhagen-fields, Islington, under the Mile.

1163

tion of Mr. J. B. Bunning, the City architect, is fast
approaching to such a state of completion as will admit of
its being opened for use. The works are of a very exten-
sive nature. The site of the market proper is an equal.
sided rectangle, having a fall from the west corner to the
south, east, and north corners, and includes an area of
about fifteen acres, of which one acre is appropriatd to the
pig-market, and an equal area to the calf-markeet. The
banking-houses, twelve in number, are placed in the
centre of the market, and out of the centre of these will
rise a lofty clock-tower, which is just now beginning to
show itself above the roofs of the banking-houses. The
Electric Telegraph Company will have a station in the
building. Accommodation is provided in the market for
34,980 sheep, in 1,749 pens (with a reserved space for
considerable extension), and 13481 fr.et of rail for the
tieing of 0,918 bullocks. The pig and calf markets are
placed on the west side of the quadrangle, affording
accommodation for 1,425 calves and 900 pigs, and raised
sufficiently high to allow of the pigs and calves walking
from the level of their respective standings into the carts.
Roofs, sul.ported on iron columns, and projecting so as to
shelter the carts which may be standing in the road passing
from north to south, are being placed over these markets.
Water-posts are fixed about twenty-seven yards apart, and,
by means of a leather hose and jet, will afford facilities for
thoroughly cleansing the market and lairs. North of the
• market two taverns are erected, between which will be
placed a fountain. On the east side some private slaughter-
houses are built, and on the west two public slaughter
houses, in which 01X) bullocks can be killed weekly. South
of the public slaughter-houses a meat-market is being con-
structed. On the south side of the New-road, a cattle sta-
tion will be formed in connection with the North London
Railway. Houses have already grown up around the mar-
ket. The cost of the works now going on will be about
300,0001.

MR. BULL'S SOMNAMBULIST—ABBY DEA N.
(From Dickens's Household Words.)
AN extremely difficult case of somnambulism, occurring
in the family of that respected gentleman Mr. Bull, and
at the present timeideveloping itself without any mitigation
of its apparently hopeless symptoms, will furnish the sub-
ect of the present paper. Apart from its curious psycho-
logical interest, it is worth investigation, as having caused
and still causing Mr. Bull great anxiety of mind when he
falls into low spirits. I may observe, as one of the medical
attendants of the family, that this is not very often the
case, all things considered: Mr. Bull being of a sanguine
temperament, good-natured to a fault, and highly confident
in the strength of his constitution. This confidence, 1
regret to add, makes him too frequently neglect himself
when there is an urgent necessity for his being careful.
The patient in whom are manifested the distressing
symptoms of somnambulism I shall describe is an old
woman—Mrs. Abigail Dean. The recognised abbreviation
of her almost obsolete Christian name is used for brevity's
sake in Mr. Bull's family, and she is always known in the
house as Abby Dean. By that name I shall call her, there.
fore, in recording her symptoms.
As if everything about this old woman were destined to
be strange and exceptional, it is remarkable that, although
Abby Dean is at the head of the Upper Servants' Hall, and
occupies the post of housekeeper in Mr. Bull's family,
nobody has the least confidence in her, and even Mr.
Bull himself has not the slightest idea how she got
into the situation. When pressed upon the subject, as
I have sometimes taken the liberty of pressing him, he
scratches his head, stares, and is unable to give any other
explanation than " Well ! There she is. That's all I
know." On these occasions he is so exceedingly discon-
certed and ashamed that I have forborne to point out to
him the absurdity of his taking her without a character,
or ever haying supposed (as I assume he must have sup-
posed) that such a superannuated person could be worth
her wages.
The following extracts from my notes of the case will.
describe her in her normal condition : " Abby Dean,
Phlegmatic temperament. Bilious habit. Circulation.
very sluggish. Speech, drowsy, indistinct, and conftmed
Senses, feeble. Memory, short. Pulse, very languid. A
remarkably slow goer. At all times a heavy sleeper, and
difficult to awaken. When awekened,peevish. Earlier in
life had fits, and was much contorted--firston one side and
then on the other."
It was within a few weeks of her inexplicable appear-
ance at the head of Mr. Bull's &wily, that this ancient
female fell into a state of somnambulism. Mr. Bull
observed her--I quote his own words—" eternally mooning
about the House, ' and putting some questions to her, and
finding that her replies were mere gibberish, sent for me.
I found her on a bench in the Upper Servants' Hall,
evidently fast asleep (though her eyelids were open), and
breathing stentoriously. After shaking her for some time
with Mr. Bull's assistance, I inquired, " Do you know who
you are r She replied, " Lord Abby Dean, to be sure
I said, "Do you know where you are ?" She answered
with a sort of fretful defiance, " At the head of Mr. Bull's
establishment." I put the question, "Do you know what
you have to do there 7' Her reply was " Yes; nothing."
Mr. Bull then interposed, and informed, me, with some
heat, that this waste utmost satisfaction he had been able
to elicit " from the confounded old woman," since she first
brought her boxes into the family mansion.
She was smartly blistered, daily, for a considerable time.
Mustard poultices were freely applied ; caustic was
used as a counter irritant ; setons were inserted in her
neck ; and sbe was trotted about, and poked, and pinched,
almost unremittingly, by certain servants very zealous in
their attachment to Mr, Bull. I regret to state that under
this treatment, sharply continued at intervals from that
period to the present, she has become worse instead of
better. She has now subsided into a state of constant and
confirmed somnambulism, from which there is no human
hope of her recovery.