The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-26 00:00:00

PROMOTION IN THE GUARDS.

The following letters have been addressed to the
editor of the Times :
Sir,—l shall feel much obliged by the insertion in
your columns of the following correspondence, the pub-
lication of which has been rendered necessary by the
gross misrepreßentations of Mr. Layard's speech at
Liverpool as reported in your paper.—l have the honour
to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
A. E. HARDIN-GE,
Lieutenant• Colonel, Coldstream Guards.
15, Great Stanhope-street, April 25.

(Copy No. I.
" 15, Great Stanhope-street, April p.
"My dear Wilson,—l have this instant read a speech of
Mr. Layard's, delivered at Liverpool, in which he evidently
alludes to you, introducing my name in the following
manner :-
" I will give you an instance of a friend of mine, a
gentleman who serve" throughout all those battle., awl dis-
tinguished himself most signally. He came overto th iscoun-
try sick and almost dead. There w,re two men above him, ,
officers in one of the Guards' regi.nents, who had never !
left England. They were inemhirs of high families, and
tbey were promoted without purchase; but my friend was
a poor man, and they ma -e him pay 3,0001. for bis com-
mission ; and why? Lord Hardinge's son was next to hit,
and got his coniniisiou without purchase. (Loud cries of
' Shame ! shame !') I say these things are scandalous.
" You are evidently the fried to whom Mr. Layard
alludes, and I am more openly declared to be the officer
who, as the son of the Commander-in-Chief, got my pro-
motion for nothing.
" I call up.ni you, therefore, as an officer conversant
with the rules of the service, to state whether the trans-
action can bearin the slight,,st degree the colour given it
by Mr. L
" Your decision to purchase was uninfluenced by any
but what appeart;sl your best interests the time, and
di l
not affect your chance of obtaining yoir step without pur-
chase by the accident of a death vacancy ; but you were
not prepared, like Dawkins and Strong, to allow a junior
(in their case Lard Dunkellin) to piss over your head, the
promotion coming in the word way.
, "Had you done so, I shoull have paid the 3,000/., taking
my place above you iu the regiment, and you would have
succeeded to the vacancy caused by the promotion of Co-
lonel the Hon. A. Upton to be a Major General.
"The mis-statement of Mr. Layard is so flagrant, by its
insinuations as well as by the perversion of its facts, that I
know you could not have been a party to it. Be so good
as to give ma an early answer, as you know that my ar-
rangements are made to return to the Crimea.—Yours
I truly, "A. E. HARDINGE."

(Copy No. 2.)
• "62, South Audley-street, April 23.
" My dear Hardinge,—l regret that you have been hurt
by an allusion made to my promotion by Mr. Layard at
Liverpool.
" I frankly own I have felt, and still feel, myself to have
been more really entitled to promotion without purchase
than other officers 'whom circumstances had detained at
home, and whose length of service did not equal mine ;
all Loy friends, civil and military Mr. Layard among them
-- coincided with me in this opinion.
" For my own part, I have always blamed the system of
these promotions, and am not disposed to censure heads of
departments, who, I believe, acted, as far as concerned me,
according to existing regulations.
"I would remark that I placed my name on the pur-
chase list when Dawkins and Strong withdrew theirs my
motive being the impossibility of obtaining my promotion
without purchase while two seniors were above me ; but,
had I imagined that Mackinnon's step would not have been
given me, I should have withdrawn my name from the
purchase list, taking the chance of Colonel Upton's retire-
ment from the regiment. Of course, I should have been
influenced in We wise by financial views.—Believe me,
yours very trurY, " C. TOWNS END WILSON.
"To Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Hartlinge."

(Copy No. 3.)
"15, Great Stanhope-street, Aprll 24.
Sir,—Your letter betrays such a disinclination to re-
move the unjust imputations conveyed in Mr. Layard's
speech that I am obliged to withdraw the expression of
my confi lent belief that you could have been no party to
them, and have no alternative than that of publishing, for
the information of my brother officers, the correspondence
that has passed between us.
"They are well acquainted with the regulations of the
service.. Possibly Mr. Layard may not, and t leave it with
them to decide whether I run in any way open to :the in-
ference to be drawn from Mr. LayartPs speech.
" I find no fault with him or any man for whatever
opinion he may entertain upon the system of promitiou
in the army.
" You knew its chances and disappointments, and, al-
though you admit the belief that the authorities in my
case acted according to existin, regulations, your state you
felt, and still feel, you were better entitled to promotion
without purchase than other officers whom circumstances
haul detained at home. The remark cannot apply to me.
Such promotions as you r.lluule to were in accordance with
the invariable rules of the service, and with this part of
your disappointment I have no concern. But you say Mr.
Layard coincides with you in the hardship of your case,
and by this assumption of a grievance evade any contra-
' diction of the charge that my interests were unfairly for-
warded by the iiaterference of the Commander-in-Chief to
the prejudice of a brother officer who was made to p..4y
3,0001. because I, Lord Hardinge's son, was next to him,
and would thus obtain my promotion without purchase !
" You say that your motive in scouting in your name for
purchase, after Dawkins and Strong had withdrawn theirs,
was the impossieility of obtainieg your promotion with-
mit purchase, and tliatdiad you imagined t h tit Lieutenant-
Colonel Mackiunon's step would not have been given to
you, you would have withdrawn your name from the pur-
chase list to take the chance of Colonel the Hon. A. Ul.
ton's retirement.
" Precedent has established the rule that in the ease of
the death of an officer serving abroad who has purchased
through his agents at home a step of rank, but who dies
before the fact of his promotion has reached the hew?.
quarters of his regiment, and therefore before he could
have exercised the functions of his superior commissiou,
the money is returned to the family, and the next officer
for purchase succeeds to the vacancy. It is obvious you
could have had no security whatever as to Colonel
A. Upton's decision whether he would retire from the ser-
vice or be promoted to be a Major-general.
" I should have expected from an officer of my regiment
whour I addiessed on such a subject a more frank explana-
tion than that contained in your letter, and, as you know
that neither I nor any'of my family would have exercised
any influence adverse to your interests, but do not make
that avowal, while the contrary is asserted by your friend,
Mr. Layard, I shall publish these letters, and am ready to
insert your reply to this communication.—l have the
honour, &c., " A. E. HARDINGE.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, Coldstream Guards."

(Copy No 4.)
..•__
"6->, South Audley-street, April 25.
" Sir,— Absence from home until late last night is my
apology for not replying earlier to your letter of the 24th
instant. .
" In a conversation with you on the 23d inst. I informed
you of my sentiments relative to promotion, and I imagined
yon left my house satisfied with the explanations then
given viva voce, and afterwards transmitted to you in writ-
ing. The tone of your last letter has therefore somewhat
surprised me.
"I repeat I have found no fault either with you or the
authorities ; for I am aware the promotions in question
were given according to established rule. Nevertheless,
you may, perhaps, admit that I have little cause to be
enimoure•i of a system from which, in the course i f 16
year' service, I have never derived any benefit. Do net
misunderstand me here—l merely risk a private, it may be
a selfish opinion, without insinuating a reflection on any
man.
" I may add, I wes not cognisant of any precedent in the
late Lie,ut.-Colonel MaAiiition's case before instructed
thereof on arrival i❑ England.
" With regard to Mr. Layard, I was absolutely ignorant
of what that gentleman intended to say at Liverpool; from
the Times alone Lgleaned an idea of his address. I need
scarcely remind you that Mr. Layard is a public man, form-
ing his own views without being influenced by any one ;
however, I shall take a❑ opportunity of informing him
that I do not accuse yourself or auy of your family of exer-
cising an influence adve.*se to ❑'y interest.
" I trust enough has bade sad to convince you how en-
tirely I disclaim the existence of kl hostile feeling towards
any person connected with you. —I have the honour to be,
your obedient servant,
"C. TOWNSEND WILSON.
" Lieut.:Colonel Hon. A. Hai dingo."

Linds•ky has questioned, in a letter
to you, a st.itement in,kle by me in a speech at Liverpool
with reg•trd to reept promotions in the regiment of Cold-
stream Guards. The following are the promotions to which
I reierred—made since the war :

Years' sery ce
C. -T. .
Newdigate l5 ~it to ditto.
Lord Dimkeiliu 9 by pureha,e. Alma.
W. Dawkins ll v.iih.,utpur. Alma.
C. W. Strong
C. T. NN ilson l6 by purchase West Indies, Alma,
Inkerwau.
Lord Bnrghersh (son
of Lord Westmor- 12 withoutpur. Staff.
find)
Hon. A. HardingE
(con of Lord Har- 11 ditto
dingo)
I did not state in my speech that the officers promoted
without purchase and without service were next above
Lieut.-Col. Wilson. Lieut.-Col. Lindsay has caret oily
avoided any allusion to Lieut.-Cols. Burdett and Newdi-
gate, to whom I did refer. Such coincidences as are fur-
nished by the above list are far too numerous and remark-
able to lead the public to ary other conclusion than that to
which I have come, and to which I still adhere, notwitb
sianding Lieut.-Col. Lindsay's letter, and an assurance
from Liuut.-Col. Wilson that he does not impute blame to
any one in the matter.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
A. H. LAYARD.
9, Little Ryder-street, April 25.

IMPORTATION OF RIIINOCEROSES:—The ship Defence,
Captain Pearson, just arrived in this port from Calcutta,
has brought "with it the novel import of two young
rhinoceroses. The animals are male and female, and are
fine healthy specimen.:, with the distinctive horns just
beginning to sprout. Tile female, which is the larger of
the two, measures in length from the end of the snout
to the tail 9 ft. 7 in. ; she is 8 ft. 11 in. in girth, by a
height of 4 ft. 5 in. The male, from snout to tad, mea-
sures 7 ft. 4 in. ; his girth is 8 ft. 10 in., and his height
3 ft. 9 in. They were caught in the wilds t- f Assam,
and from their docility and fine healthy condition they
are considered very valuable. The rhinoceros being now
a very scarce animal, it is of rare occurrence that a male
and female of the species are to be met with together.—
Liverpool Standard.
[..A.DVERTISEMENT.I-11olloway's Ointment and Pills,
extraordinary remedies for the cure of bad Legs.—Ex-
tract of a letter from John Anthony, residing near
Llandovery, dated March 16, 1855, to Professor Hollo-
way Sir, I suffered for 10 years with a bad leg,
parently a white swelling, which caused me to keep my
bed for two years ; from an injury alt,trwsr!,, it formed
into a Worn d, 16 Loll,l WOlrt.. LACY), out ; I
11,A, !")1;f, 1,1:•!:y :.101111 net ‘!nre my
; l :tea hal-TY ZA, say that your °it-Awe:lt-. awl pills
effectually healed the wound in about 6110 month."--
Sold by all vendors of medicine, and at Profess;ir Hol-
loway's establishments,
litidowlane, Now Yak,
244, %Mind, London, and 80,

SPOT TI

rG INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET 11IRST SPRING MEETING.

WEDNESDAY.

Selling Handicap Swetepstakes of 10 sovs each ; for 3-
yr-odds. The winnor to be soil for 200 sovs, if de-
manded, Ste. First half of Ab. M. (3 furlongs 215
yards.) 4 subs.
Mr. E. It. Clark's Priestcraft, by Cowl, Bst 71b
(Bartholomew) 1
Captain Lane's Thesoly, Bst 41b (J. Mann) 2
Mr. Adkins' Fearless, Bst
Duke of Rutland's Harry of Hereford, 84 71b
(Flat row.) 4
Betting-5 to 4 ag,it Priestcraft, 3to 1 agst Harry of
Hereford, 4 to 1 agst Fearless.
Won by half a length ; a neck between the second and
third ; anti three-quart ere of a length between the third
and tcurt i.

The Quern's Plate of 100 guineas, for mares ; 4-yr•olds,
Eiqt 910 ; 5-vr-ohb,, .9 t 81b ; 6 yr-olds and aged, lOzt.

R. C. (3 miles 4 fur. 139 y.'s.) '
Mr. atiey's Black Byran, by K.! ight Of the Whistle,
5 yrs . (S Steggle-) 1
Col. Dickson's Testy, 4 yrs '(.l. Mann) 2
Limt Exeter's Nicotine, 5 yrs (IsLirinan) 3
Miss Allan, Folly o' the Day, and Miss Bolton al-0
ri.n. . , __. ... . . _ . .

B-ttiiig-7 to 4 agst Miss Allen, 4 to 1 each agst,
Bisek Swi-n and Testy.
Won by a
Hai..heap Plat- of 501., tor 3-yr olds and upwarils
Cesarewt c- Coursi- (2 mil, - 2 hir 28 yot•). '
Mr. Kenyon's Sidi tg, by the Ligl • B lA, 3 yrs,
6s. 6-1) (Quii,ton) 1
Mr. T. V. Turner's bla, 5 yrs, 7s Sib (Aftei-f,) 2
Tile betti,ig op-ned at 5 to '2 on Elytila, but at the
chose only 5 t') 4 'aid..
Siding made all this, running, and won by thrte-quiir-
ters of a length.
Renewal of the Sweopstakes of 50 sous. etch, for 3-1.
olds ; colts. S t 711); 84t 211), lint en ;azeil if,
the 2.000 Guineas nr 1,000 Guineas Stakt.s. Toose
stallions or out, of mare- tiat never bred a sinner al-
lowed 411) ; only one allowance. A.F. (1 mile. 2 fur.
73 yds.) 7 stile. -
Duke of Bedford's Triton, by Weatherbit, 8-t 71b
(Pettit) 1
Mr. Bryan's The POor Player, by St. Le-,n (404)
Bst 31b
Lord Exeter's Nutriment (41h),, B<t 31b --(Norman) 3
Mr. Mare's High Priest (41h), 'Bst 3117 (E. Sharp) 4
Betting-6 to 4 agst Triton, 2to 1 agst Poor Player.
Won by a length. Three lengths between the second
and third.
Plate of 501., for 3-yr-olds' 7st 71b ; 4-yr-olds, Bst 121 k ;
5-yr-olds and upwards,, 9st 31b. Mares and geldings
allowed 31h. The winner to be sold fir 200 sot's, if
demanded. &c. Allowances, if entered to be sold for
less. :D.M. (7 futrlongs 201 yar ls.)
Mr. Adltin,' Fearles m, byFt:,ugh-a-Billagb, 3 yrs (40/.1
sst lUb (Fordham) 1
Mr.G.Dreae's Vu;cati. 3 yrs, (tool.), 6st,6lb (1-T.Bray) 2
CaptAiu Lane's Guy Illanutrisig, aged, (401.), 7st 71b
(J. Mann) 3
—Economy, Diminutive, had

The following also ran
Hoy day.
lta►uey weighed for Met rylgonk, 4 yr 3 (401.), 7st 21b,
and ti►e number was put up, bat the horse did not go to
the post. _

Brtting►--6 to 4 acct Guy Mannering, 7 to 2 agst,
Heyday, 5 to 1 agst 7-ar.ess.
Fearless made air. the rannirg, a❑d won by two
lengths ; the same qirrance between the second and
third. The winner was chimed ly Mr. G. Drewe.
Sweepstakes of 50
,soVB,:each„.h. ft., f,r 'three-yr-olds ;

83t 71b ; fiilieH, 8.4 t 3ii► ; those by stallions or
out of mares that never .bred a winner„ allowed 31b.
Only one allowance. D.M. ' (7 fur. 201 yards.) 4
subs.

Mr. Nei ill's c. by •Paragoo”, out of Sneer (31h), Bmt
41b

Sweepstakes of 50 soya each, h. ft., for three-yr-olds ;
colts, Bst 71b ; Bst 31h ; those by stallions or
out of mares that never. bred a winner, allowied 31b.
Only one allowance. D.M. (7 fur. 201 yards.) 3
subs.

Duke of Bedford's Pugnator, by Weatherbit (31b),
Bst 41b (Pettit) walked over.
Sweepstakes of 50 soya each, for three•yr-old colts, 8-t
71b. D.M. (7 fur. 201 yds.) 5 ,übs.

Mr. Cotnbe's Tumbler, Erother to Trnuncer, B,t 71b.
(Bartholomew)_ walked over
The Cap was not challenged for.

BETTING UP TO Co'CLOCK r.m.

ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS.
7to 4 agst Habena (taken)
5 to 2 agst Clotilde
4to I agst Mosquito (offered)
CHESTER CUP.
16 to 1 agst Naln►b (taken)
25 to 1 agst Ireland's Eye (taken).

In the morning 6 to 1 was taken to upwards of
2,0001. about Lord of .the Isks, and 10 to 1 to 2001
about Dirk Hattertick, finr the Derby.
Until neatly 2 n'cl,ek, the tine appointed for the first
race, paying and receiving wa. the chief business at-
tended to, but until after the town settling on Saturday
next at Tattersalr4 we shall not, for obvious rea•tnrt,
attempt to "report progress." It howei,r, beyond
a doubt that on the side of Lord of the I-les the aggre-
gate winnings are immense ; atid, per contra, the losses
00 the side of St. Hubert are immense.
The heath this afternoon presented a striking contrast
to its thronged and animated appearance on the previous
:lay. The attendance of 'company was small, the racing
unimportant, and.the weather cluudy and very cold.