The Express.
London, England, 1857-08-17 00:00:00

Pill VATS SiNESS.

• The Lords' amendments o ebe Leo oter sad Carlisle and
Ingkton Railway Bill were agreed to.
Sir JAMES GRA lIAM moved that a select committee be
appointed to inspect the Lords' Journals relative to the Mer-
sey Conservancy Bill which bee passed this house. The
right hon. beronet explained that the object of this bill was
to authorinc the transfer of certain dues from the town coun-
cil of Liverpool to the Dock Trust ; these dues
last year amounted to no less than 150,0001., and
the proposed trowder was the result of an arrange-
ment which had been entered into fur construct-
ing dock work; on both 'the Cheshire and Lanca-
shire side of the Mersey. A considerable debt had been cre-
ated on the security of the dues, and when the bill canoe before
the select committee of this house a juestion ammo as to how
much of this debt should be allocated to the Town Council.
The committee determined that the amount ahoald be
750,0001., but in the Lords this amount hod been
altered to 1,500,0001. Since then all the par-
ties to the bill hod met and determined U.e crept
the alteration rather than prolong their litigation for another
year. The decision of the Lords however, could not ho put
in force, and as it wan of the lest importance that no delay
should take place in the exterlition of the works on the Cheshire
aide, he now mode this motion with the view of following it
with another in the evening sitting for leave to introduce
the amended bill. The commerce of the port of Liverpool
was daily growing in its proportions, and the new te,rks to
be carried out under the Lill were absolutely necesairy for

ha accommodation. . --
Mr. J. EWART seconded the motion, and, after rome
remarks from Mr. HENLEY, it to.
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONI.IL CAUSES DILL.
The committee on this bill was than resumed, monism*
with clause 2fl.
Ile. DO WILL proposed en amendment leaving the re-
fusal of a divorce for consideration discretionary to the
court, whith was agreed to.
An amendment, proposed by Mr. IM RAM, was nega-
tived without a division and the clause ngreed to.
]Left sitting=]

PURCHASE OP COMMISSIONS IN THE ARMY•

This morning Was issued, in a large blue book of
500 page', the report of the commissioners apimintid to in-
quire into the system of purchase and wile of commissions in
the army, with evidence and appendix. The com-
missioners endeavour to chow that, if the pur-
chase system be abolished, it will become in-
dispensable, for the purpose of maintaining the ettitiency
of the British army, to adopt a new system of retirement
and promotion—viz., to make retirement after a died age or
period of service compulsory, and to give promotions by
selection. They endeavour further to show that compulsory

ement will be alone an inadoquate embatitule for the sale of

ummissions; but they consider that its partial adoption
would facilitate a measure which they propose for the Pekes

fon of

while they 4. not engem di/7

tutting the extorting system es regunla the purchase and
pale of commissions up to the rank of major inclusive. Tha
. _ .

commissioners recommend that hereafier the lieut.-voloneky
of a regiment should be an appointment made by the Kitelke
of the Commander-in-Chief flu:a All the majors in that pad
of the service, and that the period of holding this command
should for the future be linked, and that a time should be
fixed—eight er perhape ten years—as the longest duration of
snvb command. 015 sers,however, who relinqubli the command
of a regiment, after holding it for the prescribed time. most
not suffer any pecuniary leas from the change; the govern-
ment must also he prepared to purchase the lieutenant-
coloneley from any officer now holding the command
of a regiment whenever any one may be desirous
of selling his commission. The CoololiMiODeetS ata
them cautious in introducing the principle of se-
. .

lection "from en earnest define that its application shoild
be fairly tested by experience." They sunclit further, that
" promotion to the staff might be made the moons of dime-
toting military education, rewarding meritorious °fibers, and
obviating some of the hardships which must arise under the
purchase system." A course of training in the senior
department at Sandhurst might bo made an indirpensible
condition to the attainment of a staff appointment, and the
limitation of the time during which ottLere shall hold each
situations would render these appointments additionally ser-
viceable. "All there changes;' old the commissioners, "in-
asmuch as they introduce the principle of advancement by
selection, tend toward■ the atolition of the purchase system.
When experience shall have proved that officers appointed
to the command of regitnenta and to situations on the staff
have been chosen with duo regard to their profe.ional ac-
quirements, to their past service, and to their present fitness.
the distrust of the principle of selection will be lewen.d, and
one great obstacle to the change of system will be
removed." A system of periodical inspection by officers
specially appointed for the purpose, as is practised by the
French army, would probably be found, the commissioners

think, a beneficial nurtsure nuy scheme of promo-

tics by aelection is extensively Mired:cod in the English
array, there should be a general confident*, observe the com-
missioners, that the power of selection will not be misused.
" The military appointments made during lets years, as well
in this country NO in the Crimea, have not tended to satidy
the army with the mode on which the principle of selection
has been applied."
The report is signed by the Duke of Somerset,
Lord Stanley, the Right llonoumblo Sidney Her-
bert, Sir 1)e Lacy Evans, Sir Harry D. done!, and
Mr. George Corr Glyn. There is , statement, however, an-
nexed to the report, in which Sir 1)0 Lacy Hesse observed
that he concurs in the recommendations as far as they go,

but "Lathe evidence adduced Lae strengthened the conviction
which he previously held on this subject, and as hebelieves that
some additional measures; may, with adnntage to tbe public, be
adopted, having for object a more early terutination of the
system of sok and purchase of commissions in the army than
is provided for iu this report—be will feel it bin ditty to trans-
mit es soon so practicable to the office of the rommiution
represen'ation of Ma humble opinions to this effect."
The following are the witnesses who were examined by
the commissioners ; we give them in the order of their ex-

amination .—kfojor-General Sir Chitties Yotke, Lieut.-
Colonel Tolland, P. Mclrill, Esq., General R. J.
H. Vivian, C. Ilarnmersley, Esq., Major-General
Dupuis, and Lieut-Culonel Bingham ; Sir B. Hawes,
J. Roberts, Esq., H. J. Higgins, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel
Claremont, General Sir George Brown, Colonel Chas. Stuart,
Sir Duncan :Macdougall, Sir Richard Aires,, Colonel Stet*
Lieutenant-General Sir Do Lacy Evans., Colonel Lord West,
General Sir James Simpson, Colonel Wesley, Major-
General Sir James Scarlett, Colonel Prank*, Lieutenant-
General Sir Colin Campbell, Brigodier-General Spencer,
Lord Panrurtre, Major-General Sir H. Barnard, Copt. Dian
Pherson, Earl Grey, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cora-
' bridge, and Sir Charles Trevelyon. A scheme for the aboli-
tion of purchase and for the substitution of another system
of army promotion and retirement was submitted
to the commissioners by Sir C. Trovelyan, the

assistant secretary of the treasury, sod this scheme is printed
in the appendix to the report, together with the financial
statements adduced in its support. The general principle d
this scheme is borrowed from the French military system.
qualified, however, by the adoption of regulations which have
of late years been partially introduced inte our own civil
service.

The ministerial whitebait dinner at Greenwich is
postponed to Wednesday next. It is atilt expected that the
tion of parliament may take place upon the appointed
prorogation
mely, Saturday neat, the fled But when we look
at the delay. in the debates up en the Divorce Bill, we fair
that the eeeeion may be prolonged half a week, or even en
entire week, longer.-06,rerar of yesterday.
The beautiful manor of Holcombe Rogue, which
for reverld generations was in the family of Mime, has bean
purchased by the Bev. W. Mayer, of Tiverton, fur 85,0001.—
Bristol Adrertistr.
MIL RUSKIN IN TILE NORTII.—Among our rid-
tore this week, Pays the birernefir Courier, was Mr. Rusk*
the accomplished and popular author, who reaided for some
days at the Union Hotel. On Monday IR. Ituakin drove
to the Fall of I.,yerA, and expreseed himself highly retifted
with the scenery of Loch Nee/. Two excellent 'agliot
artists, Mr. Juxeuni and Mr. S. Read, have alas been
engaged sketching some of the picturesque taidscapes la tile
neighbourhood.
MR. SMITII O'BRIEN.—On Saturday last, W.
Smith O'Brien, Beg., entertained Lie uumerous tenantry
Cahermoyle. A moat substantial repaid was provided--bas
mutton. pastries, wine, and the native, with fleggons of ales
About 150 dined. The entertainment was entirely of a stead
character. Mr. O'Brien introduced his eldest son, Mr. FA-
ward O'Brien, to Lie tenantry, and that distinguiehedyoung
gentleman addregerd them very feelingly and affectionately.la
After the repeat followed athletic sport. and dancing.
dancing.
which the fair portion of the retries displayed much tadesed
grace, and all the members of Mra. tiriin'e family joined.
A blazing bonfire Hung its enlivening rays around. The
tenants ere a very superior clan; they enjoeed thenterlrsr
greatly, and, after a most delightful day's eaterts.ismeals
Faro cheer. for Mrs. O'Brien and her family, who cordial
al:Vs the merriment, and all departed for their Newlin
This I. as it should be, slut webvii that othil
landlords will follow the example of this good wise, sod be.
se they ought to Le, fathers to their tenants.—Liweeirk Pow.
CRYSTAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING JIAT.
SATI'III/411', Act. 15.—Admieetons as neyesent, 1001 A
diary by woos tickets, 1,785; total, 12.034.