The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-03 00:00:00

ARMY MEDICAL OFFICERS.

WHY HAVE THE MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE
ARMY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE ADVAN-
TAGES OF THE RECENT BREVET ?

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
" Flectere, si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo."

Sir,—This is a question more easily put than answered.
We cannot believe that our justly distinguished chief, :Sir
James Macgregor, has not urged our claims with his usual
" esprit de profession ;" but we have heard, that a Brevet
would remove to the shelf many of our TIME-honoured and
ancient brethren, who now occupy staff and cavalry situations ;
and (it has even been said, although we can scarcely believe it)
that the naval surgeons have put an obstacle in our way, by
pressing their claims to a similar promotion. Are the medical
officers of the army inferior to their brethren in civil life in
acquirements—or neglectful of their duties—or so well paid—
as to be unentitled to that advancement which they honestly
merit ? Is it to be supposed that the members of a liberal,
military profession, ranking among its members men of educa•
tion, many of whom have attained the highest literary distinc-
tion, can possibly remain silent under such manifest injustice,
or feel otherwise than indifferent to the maintenance of their
high professional character? A most appropriate opportunity
of effacing the slight cast upon the military medical profession
is about to present itself, namely, the anniversary of the Prin-
cess Victoria's birthday, who, we have reason to know, is de-
sirous of doing everything to promote the welfare and happi-
ness of the British nation, and, in au especial manner, the
views and interest of a loyal, highly distinguished, and merito-
rious class of public servants. We trust that the Editor of the
United Service Journal, and every other military periodical,
will endeavour to promote our views. And, relying entirely
on your liberality and sense of justice to advocate our cause,
I remain, wishing a continuance of your merited popularity
and widely-spread influence, your most obedient servant,
AN ASSISTANT SURGEON.
Dublin, April 26, 1837.

GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR

THE WEEK.

(From the Gardeners' Gazette.)
It is the misfortune that in giving directions from week to
week, much of our matter must be mere repetition of what we
have already written, yet there is some use in jogging the me-
mories of our younger brother cultivators.
MELoNs and CUCUMBERS in frames, must be taken great
care of, new lining to keep up the heat, occasional watering,
constant attention to giving air while the sun is out. Finish
hot-bed ridges for planting out under glasses, and lose no
time in planting out. Cucumbers for pickling may be sown
on the open ground. to remain there or deferred a week, and
brought onward in frames. Shade the plants which you put
out in the ridges, the first few days.
LETTUCE may be transplanted. Seed may be sown—the
white and green cos—the Brighton cos—the Silesian and
Imperial.
SPINACII—sown for succession or main crops ; thin that
sown last month, as soon as it is large enough.
TURRIPS, sow more, hoe those already up, and advancing.
PARSLEY, weed and clean—sow more, for it will be better
than that sown earlier.

CAULIFLOWERS under glass—uncover, the first thing in the
morning, and cover the last thing at night. Sow for a Mi-
chaelmas crop.
BRocoLl—Plant out the early sorts, especially the early pur-
ple ; sow purple and white for second crops.
CABBAGE of all kinds—plant out ; earth up those growing
fast.

PEAS—continue to sow, stick, and earth up.
RADisnEs and SALAD—SOW once a fortnight.
WALL. TREES—by syringing these with the garden pumps
—now so much improved by Read, Scott, Warner, and others,
the insects which are now appearing will be effectually subdued.
TREES planted this season should now be watered, not at the
stump, but all round, a foot at least.
CARNATIONS in pots must be regularly watered.
STOVE and GREENHOUSE PLANTS, which hare done bloom-
ing, or are beginning to grow, should be carefully examined,
and if pot bound shifted to a size larger pots.
Turn back to the directions for a few weeks, and do whate-
ver is undone. Weed and clean borders and clumps ; com-
plete without delay ail alterations.

Last evening an inquest was held at the sign of the
Ben Jonson, World's End, Stepney, on the body of Jane
Fairbrass, a girl of twelve years of age. Mrs. Fairbrass, the
stepmother of the deceased, stated that the last time she saw
her alive was on Friday night last. On that day the deceased
had taken some sheets and towels, and pawned them ; and, on
being charged with the offence, she acknowledged it, but re-
fused to deliver up the duplicates. On Friday night she went
to bed, as usual, and, about seven o'clock on the following
morning, witness called to her to get up, when she replied that
she was doing so. In a short time after she was missing, and
the next she heard of her was that she had been taken out of
the canal. The witness said that she had not threatened to
beat the deceased for pawning the articles, though she felt
naturally annoyed at it ; nor were there any threats held out
to her to witness's knowledge. Some time ago the deceased
asked her (witness) what death she considered the easiest ?
Witness replied she did not know, and that she considered any
sort of death most disagreeable ; upon which the deceased
observed she considered that drowning must be the most agree-
able of all deaths. On reading the account which recently
appeared in the Newspapers of a father suffocating his four
children, she observed that she should like to see a person
suffocated, so that she might be able to discover what effect it
would have upon them. She had also told her sister that if
anything was said to her she would soon put an end to herself
by drowning. Under all these circumstances she (witness)
had every reason to believe that the deceased had thrown her-
self into the water, as she had no business whatever near the
canal. Verdict, " Found Drowned."