The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-05 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1854

A change at the Horse Guards ! And time
enough too--judging from the confusion which
has for some time past prevailed at head-quarters
in regard to the organisation of our military
forces, with especial reference to patronage and
promotion. A sudden intimation that Lord
HARDINGE has tendered his resignation as Com-
mander-in-Chief, or more correctly speaking as
Commanding-in-Chief ! They are always at these
official surprises—these Coalitionists. It was
only very recently that one-half of the isle was
'frighted from its propriety by Viscount PALMER-
STON'S tendered resignation of the Chief Secretary-
ship of the Home Department, and ten days
afterwards the other half by his equally abrupt
withdrawal of that resignation. Then, scarcely a
week more had elapsed when the West-end Clubs
were startled by the announcement that his Grace
the Duke of NORFOLK—hitherto believed by the
generality to have sacrificed enormously to gain
distinguished rank among the more successful
courtiers had suddenly resigned the Lord
High Stewardship of her MAJESTY'S Household.
Hardly have the majority of observers noted
this, perhaps, the strangest of these abrupt
official transformations, when they are hastily in-
formed that yet another has occurred—contrary
as of yore to general anticipation. " On dit" ill
this regard becomes the cuckoo-cry among the
Ministerial journalists. And so, now—zit is said
—that Lord HARDINGE has given in his resigna-
tion as Commander-in-Chief of the army—that
his Lordship is to be succeeded by Lord RAGLAN
—that General BROWN is forthwith to resume his
f*Jrm er appointment as Adjutant-General. This
is as it should be. The war department has hither-
to of late been trifled with overmuch. Court
patronage has heretofore at the Horse Guards had
rather more than enough consideration. The
General Commanding-in-Chief has been deemed by
many brothers-in-arms as a little just the
merest trifle, perhaps too obsequious and
complying. "MIS" has unbuckled for a while
his trusty sword, and taken up for once a goose-
quill, in the intensity of his soldierly indignation.
The Soldier, in fact, has once in a way travestied
the long since popular ballad—turning not upon
his sword, but upon his pen, and dropping not
a tear, but a little ink—in which, by the way,
the presence of gall has been rather more than
usually apparent. He has shown himself of late

* "The Lays of Modern Rome," p. 64. Chapman
and Hall. 1854.

" But right boys, or wrong,
Young or old, sick or strong,
I'm only a casual, pass me along."
The relieving (!) officers of the various metro-
politan unions—thus designated, we suppose, on
the lucus a non lucendo principle—appear to think
that the chief qualification for office consists in a
total repudiation of every feeling of humanity, ex-
emplified by a stern and unbending refusal of
every claim for assistance. No matter how urgent
may be that claim, or however strongly supported,
it must be resisted to the utmost ; and if the surly
official should at length be compelled to yield, it
will only be with an amount of grumbling on his
part, and of annoyance to the unfortunate shuttle-
cock pauper consigned to his tender mercies, as to
induce any persons who have a particle of self-
respect remaining, rather to die in their miserable
rooms than to seek the aid afforded so grudgingly,
and with so bad a grace. " Shall we take them
in 1" is seldom asked by any of these self-sufficient
functionaries. The inviolable rule is to reject
every application unless affording the prospect of
a tour to one of the subordinates, under a removal
order. Then, indeed, there might be a different
feeling. No matter the expense to the parish,
provided it furnishes an excuse for a pleasure ex-
cursion to some " parochal" BUMBLE who was
desirous of oombining the useful with the
agreeable, and of filling his pockets while getting
a little fresh air and blowing off the metropolitan
dust. As to the probable or possible consequences
to the unfortunate applicants, whose claims are so
summarily and decisively rejected, that is a ques-
tion of the most trivial importance. It is true,
that " an obstinate pauper" may occasionally take
it into his or her head to die, in order " to spite
the authorities," and that a troublesome Coroner
and anti-parochal Jury may ask impertinent
questions, and append derogatory observations to
their verdicts, but such circumstances are of rare
occurrence, and " hard words break no bones."
The censures of Juries are of but little moment,
when not attended by any personal annoyance or
inconvenience to the parties indicated. " Poputus
me sibilat, at milli plaudo," might be the motto
for each of these worthies. What signifies the
reprehension of the community while) they re-
ceive approbation and substantial reward from
" the few," under whose control and management
they are placed, and to whom they are looking
for promotion and increased salary.
On Friday night last, this acquired insensibility
of relieving officers received a powerful illustration.
A woman, named lirstror, was taken into custody
at eleven o'clock at night, charged with stealing a
duck in Leadenhall-market. The woman was
intoxicated, and said to be of bad character, but when
she stated to the Inspector on duty that she had four
children locked up in her room, immediate measures
were adopted to test the truth of the story.
Whatever might be the errors or crimes of the
parent, the children at least were innocent, and
they should not be suffered to perish because the
mother had been guilty of an act of petty pilfer-
ing, to which she had possibly been driven by dire
necessity. A police constable, WILLIAM CLAYTON,
529—a name worthy of honourable mention—was
despatched to ascertain the true state of the case.
On opening the room, the key of which had been
entrusted to his charge, he witnessed what he de-
scribed as a miserable scene of distress, and went
at once to the relieving officer of the Bethnal-
green Union. We shall take his own statement
as to what subsequently occurred :—" I told him"
(the relieving officer) said the policeman, " that I.
was directed by the Inspector to make known to
him that there were four children locked up in a
room, that the mother was in custody, and, by her
account, the father had deserted the family for