The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

THE CASE OP THE OFFICERS OF THE

INDIAN ARMY.

Under the old furlough regulations an officer was
permitted to go to Europe for three, or even five
years, without prejudice to his rank in the service,
the promotion to the superior grades not being
affected by absence. The only penalty was loss of
service for retiring pensions if the leave exceeded
the regulated period, which (under the new furlough
regulations) was reduced to two years in 20, or
three in 25 years of actual service. By her Majes-
ty's warrant, dated the 13th of January, 1860, the
new rank of surgeon-major was conferred upon
officers of the Indian army after a period of 20
years' service, and this was reckoned from date
of commission by the Indian Government, and a
large number of promotions made. Subsequently,
however, an ordnr was received from the Secretary
of State for India, and published by the Governor-
General and Viceroy, on the 26th December, 1860,
ruling that in future no time passed out of India
will be allowed to qualify for the rank of surgeon-
major, beyond the proportion of furlough which is
now or may be allowed to reckon as service for
retiring pension. In consequence of this order
being made retrospective from the date of its re-
ceipt in India, a new system of promotion was sud-
denly introduced into the Indian medical service,
and several officers who were entitled to promotion
were set aside, and the juniors, who had not suf-
fered from ill-health, and required a lengthened
absence on medical certificate, were promoted in their
stead. Several memorials have been forwarded to
the Secretary of State with the strong support of
the heads of the department at the various pre-
sidencies, bat without avail. The supercession is
still being carried on, and old officers of upwards
of 20 years' service have now the anomalous posi-
tion of retrograding in the service, and in some in-
stances (that of Dr. Shaw, and others of the Bombay
medical service) a surgeon of upwards of eight years'
standing is superseded by officers who have only held
that rank for a few months in the Madras presidency.
In this way the seniority principle, which was one
of the most cherished privileges of the Indian ser-
vice, has been entirely set aside, and the position to
which officers had attained by many weary years of
toil in a hostile climate has been summarily taken
from them. All officers of her Majesty's British
service attain the rank of surgeon-major after 20
years' service from date of commission, and thus their
less fortunate brethren of the Indian army must, as
a general rule, be superseded by them. Another
grievance which is keenly felt is that, while some
old officers are thus being deprived of their proper
position in the service, others have been promoted
(as Drs. Carnegy, Glasse, and peas, of the Bombay
service) who have been on leave for ten, eight, and
six years, and thus the whole service is thrown into
confusion, and a general feeling of distrust exists as
to what may yet be in store. The late Lord Dal-
housie, Sir James Outram, and other distinguished
statesmen have borne testimony to the high deserts
of the Indian medical service, and it is an unwise
policy which has created the universal feeling of
discontent which now prevails among this valuable
class of her Majesty's servants.

DUBLIN, Friday Morning.—The Government
have just made two legal appointments. Mr. Johnson has
been removed from the Chairmanship of the county of
Longford to that of the West Riding of the county of Cork,
and Mr. Loftus Bland has been appointed to the Chairman-
ship of Longford. Mr. Drummond died yesterday morning
at his residence in this city, aged 82. He has left the sum
of £20,000 to endow a school for the orphan daughters of
soldiers. Ho will be interred on Monday next, the coffin
to be borne by soldiers, and the boys of the Royal Hiber-
nian School attending.
BOOKSELLERS' PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.—Yes-
terday the annual meeting of the members of this institu-
tion was held at No. 66, Old Bailey—Mr. Edmund Hodg-
son in the chair. It appeared from the statement of ac-
counts and report that the income of the past year amounted
to—From donations and subscriptions, £530 4s; interest
from Commissioners for Reduction of National Debt, £875
8s 105; total, £1,405 12s 10d. The disbursements—ln
relief, £1,150 7s 4d ; other expenses, £97 5s 3d ; total
£1,247 12s 7d. Balance at bankers' and committee, £509
12s Bd. Invested with Commissioners of National Debt,
£23,009 17s 45. Tho total amount distributed in relief
since the formation of the institution was £11,780 12s 55
the total amount raised for the Institution and Retreat
being upwards of £50,000. The report stated the satisfac-
tory progress of the institution, the value and influence of
which have long since been acknowledged in the trade.
The institution has sustained the loss by death of one of its
vice-presidents, Mr. Charles Tilt, on which event his
daughter has presented £lOO to the institution. A great
loss had also been sustained by the death of Mr. Baldock.
Mr. Sharp, through ill health, had retired from the board.
' Mr. Butterworth moved the adoption of the report, which
was seconded by Mr. Stewart and agreed to. The officers
for they ear ensuing were then nominated, and a vote of
thanks having been passed to the officers of the past year)
and to the chairman; the proceedings terminated.

Betting-3 to 1 agst Hailstorm, 4to 1 agst Watchfire,
9 to 2 agat the Brahmin, 100 to 15 agat Cheffonier.
The favourite was the first to make play (after a couple of
false starts), having The Brahmin and Cheffonier in close
attendance up to the bend, 'where the favourite and Cheffo-
nier both fell back beaten. Watchfire, Bernice, and Why
Not then took second, third, and fourth places. Imme-
diately after this Watehfire, with the Brahmin, drew:away
from the others, increasing their lead every stride, when
the former, after a close finish, won by a head ; Bernice
was two lengths behind The Brahmin, and Why Not
ahead behind Bernice; Queen of Trumps and the favourite
fifth and sixth ; Garrison Beauty and Charles Fox the two
last.

The Great North of England Steeplechase of 10 sous each,
with 100 added ; winners extra; the second to save his
stake. About three miles and a half. 29 subs., three of
whom paid 3 soya each ft.

Mr. Pratt's Romeo, aged, 9st 61b (J. Kendall) I
Mr. G. Jackson's Black Rose, aged, 9st 61b.. F. Loton 2
Mr. Payne's Northern Light, 5 , yrs, 9st 121
(Mr. Goodman) 3
The following also ran:—Sunflower, Wee Nell, Suther-
land, Huntsman, Duhallow, Canteen, and Nelly.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Romeo, sto 1 agst Huntsman, 6to
1 agst Northern Light, 7 to 1 agst Duhallow, 10 to 1 each
agst:Nelly and Sutherland, 100 :to 8 each agst Sunflower
and Wee Nell, 100 to 6 agst Black Rose.
As soon as the flag fell the lot got away in good order,
but had not proceeded far when Sunflower took the com-
mand, with Northern Light and Duhallow next in com-
mand, Romeo, Huntsman, and Black rose next. At the
first fence (hurdles) Northern Light nearly came down on
his head, but Mr. Goodman quickly steadied him, and he
came on to the water jump third; Canteen, following the
grey's example, hit the hurdles and rolled over on his side,
throwing Meany, and breaking away galloped across the
course. After this they charged the water jump, which all
got well over, and entered the meadow in the following
order, viz., Sunflower, with a lead of half-a-dozen lengths ; ,
Duhallow second ; Northern Light third ; Romeo, Hunts-
man, Black Rose, Wee Nell, and Sutherland, with Nelly,
a long way behind, last. On rounding the extreme turning
flag Black Rose put on the steam, and, running through
her horses, soon had a strong lead, which she maintained
over each succeeding fence, and, when crossing the road on
to the course, close to the Blue Bells, she was at least a
hundred yards ahead of Sunflower, who was a dozen lengths
in advance of the " grey ;" Romeo was fourth ; Wee Nell,
Sutherland, and Huntsman, nearly abreast, next, with
Duhallow a long way behind, bringing up the rear, Mr.
Land's horse having met with a mishap along the back,
thereby losing many lengths. After this Black Rose kept
sailing away, entering the straight the second time, nearly
twice as far ahead as when she came on to the course. The
positions of the others were unchanged, the lot charging
the water jump nearly in Indian file, all getting well over
that obstacle, and likewise the stiff fence out of the
course, where Wee Nell improved her position, but not
for long, as the pace was too great for her, and she
quickly fell again into the rear. On jumping the fence
into the course the.last time, Black Rose was still leading ;
but the pace began to tell on her, and at every stride
she appeared to be coming back to her horses, and when
the hurdles going into the straight were cleared, both
Romeo and the Northern Light were up with her, and be-
fore they had gone far along the straight. the two had passed
her, Northern Light having a slight lead, but it was evident
that Romeo had the race in hand ; for immediately after
landing over the last hurdles, he drew away from the grey,
and won easily by four lengths. Mr. Goodman eased
Northern Light when he found he was beat, and Black Rose
being persevered with to the end secured the second money
by half a length ; Northern Light beating Sunflower by
four lengths ; Wee Nell was fifth, Sutherland sixth ; Hunts-
man walked in, and did not pass the post, Lansplugh get-
ting off him before entering the paddock ; the Grand Na-
tional winner having broken down (off fore leg) very badly ;
Duhallow and Nelly were both stopped on the far side of
the course, and walked home by a nearer cut.
The Selling Steeplechase and the Juvenile Selling Stakes
did not fill.