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

any other country in the civilised world,
and iu any other department in the Bri-
tish service the mere attempt would be re-
garded as a high crime and misdemeanour. What
would be said if the qualification for the Judicial
Bench was the possession and readiness to hand
over some 20,0001. or 30,000/. ? Would
equal confidence then be reposed in the
justice and impartiality of the Learned Judges of
the land ? Far from it. It would naturally be
thought that the men who purchased would be
disposed to turn their opportunities to the best
advantage, and to seek the most speedy and
efficacious means of recouping themselves the
money that they had previously disbursed.
In the naval, engineer, and military departments,
as well as in the East India Company's service, the
practice is utterly ignored ; while in the "civil de-
partments" the offer of money for promotion would
be regarded as a total disqualification, if it did
not lead to the prosecution of the party by whom
it was tendered. Why, then, should it bo tole-
rated in a single branch. Similar effects would
in each case follow from similar causes. If it be
justifiable in one case, it should bo in all. If, on
the other hand, the system works well in the
army, why should it not be extended to all
branches of the public service ?
But it is not merely in relation to officers that
the matter must be regarded : we must also
consider its influence on the private soldiers. If
promotion were invariably bestowed on merit, if
any deserving man might hope to rise, a far bet-
ter class of recruits would come forward—men
sufficiently educated to hold the commissions they
might possibly earn, and who would have the
strongest motive to good conduct a motive
far more powerful than the "fear" of punishment.
Educate—don't flog the soldier. Once convince
him that the unexceptionable discharge of duty
will be properly recognised, and you at once dis-
pose of the vexata quccstio of military punishments.
The " cat " may be abolished, the military prison
and the black hole rarely resorted to—even extra
drills, or parading so many hours per diem, in
heavy marching order, will scarcely be wanting.
Love is always a more powerful instrument
than fear, and, as we have stated, the
hope of reward than the dread of punish-
ment. There are many RICHARD DOUBLEDICKS
in the British Army, and many more would enter
if it were once credited that unflinching bravery,
and invariable steadiness and good conduct,
would lead to the promotion of the party.
Even if the system of purchasing commis-
sions produced better officers than that of promo-
tion by merit, it should still be abolished for the
mke of the effect on the private soldier.

We earnestly invite attention to the letter
from " Medcits," which will be found in ano-
ther part of our impression. The gallant
officer, who writes from the camp before
Sebastopol, and who has, therefore, had the best
possible opportunities of forming an accurate
judgment on the subject, traces a considerable
portion of the mortality that has thinned
our ranks to four causes—namely,
Ist. "Insufficient shelter when off duty."
2d. "Irregularity in the rationing."

3d. " Want of clothing." And
4th. " Almost incessant duty and consequent