The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-01 00:00:00

PATRIOTIC FUND

Sir J. PAKINGTON a•kcd the First Lord of the
Treasury whether he had any objection to lay upon the
table of the house copies of any despatches which had
been sent in acknowledgment of the loyal addresses,
votes of money to the Patriotic Fund, and other modes
in which the colonies and dependencies of the Brit'sh
Crown had assured her Majesty of their sympathy and
zealous co-opention in the war in which this country is
now engaged.
Sir G. GREY said there would not be the slightest
objection to produce them. He would take that oppor-
tunity of stating that addresses had been received from
Newfoundland and New Brunswick, one enclosing
1,6001., and the other 4,0001. (Cheers.)
POOR LAW.

Mr. GRANVILLE VERNON. wished to inquire
whether it is the intention of the President of the Poor
Law Board to assimilate the law in England and Wales
to that which exists in Ireland and Scotland, by intro-
ducing, in the course of the present session, a bill for
the purpose of making all mines rateable for the relief
of the poor.

Mr. i3AINES could not say that any specific measure
was in preparation.

THE BALLOT.
Mr. 11. BERKELEY wished to ask the First Lord
of the Treasury the following question :—The bribery
and corruption which prevailed at the last general elec-
tion having given rise to an act against bribery and un-
due influence, expiring at the end of the next session,
whether the Government contemplate a renewal of that
act ; and also, whether it be the intention of the noble
lord to permit the question of the ballot to be an open
question ti the members of his Government ?

- Lord PALMERSTON said it was probable that a
continuation bill would be brought in. With regard to
the last question, he could assure the hon. member that
no change was intended to take place in the arrange-
ment on that subject. (A laugh.)
NEWSPAPER STAMP.
Mr. COWAN wished to know from the Secretary to
the Treasury, if it was intended to proceed with the bill
for the repeal of the newspaper stamp to-morrow even-
ing ?

Mr. WILSON said the Army and Ordnance Esti-
mates stood for to-morrow night, and he was afraid they
would take up the whole of the sitting. However, if
anything should happen to prevent those estimates oc-
cupying the whole evening, the bill should be brought
on. It was of great importance that no time should
be lost in passing the bill, in order that the law might
take effect at the next quarter day.
THE VERNON GALLERY.
Lord EBRINGTON asked the First Minister if it
was the intention of the the Crown to purchase the
Vernon bollection.

Lord PALMERSTON replied that, in the present
state of the national finances, he could not undertake
to recommend Parliament to vote money for the pur-
chase of the collection.

PROMOTION IN THE ARMY.
Viscount GODERICH rose, pursuant to notice, to
move that an humble address be presented to her Ma-
jesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to
take into her consideration the present system of pro-
motion in her Majesty's army, under which non-com-
missioned officers rarely attain to the rank of commis-
sioned officer, and scarcely ever to that of field officer,
and humbly to recommend to her Majesty that it is in-
jurious to the public service, and unjust to the
private soldiedr in her Majesty's army. (Hear, hear.)
He regretted that a question of so much interest and
importance as this had not fallen into the hands of a
more experienced and influential member than himself ;
but, there was an impression in the public mind that
promotions in the army should be regulated by merit
alone, and hence the time had arrived when the purchase
system ought to be r„ formed, if not abolished altogether.
It was fraught with injustice, not only to the State
but to the army also, and he was sure the house would
Le doing an act of jnstice if it assented to his motion.
There was one aspect of the question on which lie ought
to touch particularly. The officers were drawn from a
particular class of the community—he meant the
wealthier class—and the privates were drawn from
the poorer c'asies ; and there existed, consequently,
a wide difference in the respective social condition
effectingrnat
of the officers and men, which rendered the step
from the ranks to the command very difficult. (Hear.)
To this aspect he proposed tc confine hie remarks. By
thewtle army
an alteration in the system of promotion, the
Govern would have commenced a useful reform of
system. The Government might m
eanc.CEl by the advancement Illence uy filling u in Co -
thb first instance the death vii-
tesement to them of meritorious sol-
diersbtunt2 would not at the same
from the ran
time be just er judiciou;s
The right hon. gentleman then went purchase in the army.
lad on to enlarge upon
the point of view from which henext
trposed to treat
this question. I-1 e showed that it was ex
private
ie to impossible as
a
ciruinstances at present were, that
sol-
der had no chance of ever reaching
a comissionel officer. There werewhorue
rare instances of distinguishedna Offi iteer isn rank o f
true
had risen from the ranks ; and he gave the Government
every credit for the arrangement which had lately been
proposed of affording the commander-in-chief the oppor-
tunity of rewarding distinguished services in the field on
the part of private soldiers by nominating them to coin-
missions, But this privilege ought to be niugh enlarged.