The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-18 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The President of the Republic has written the
following letter to the mayor of Chauny (Aisne) :
" Monsieur le Maire,—When the invitation which
had been given me was renewed by your Municipal
Council, I regretted that I could not give a positive
answer. I now feel a still more lively regret at being
obliged to send a refusal. I should set the greatest
value on being present at Chauny for the inauguration
of the railroad, as much on account of the cordial
appeal of its inhabitants as on account of M. Odilon
Barrot, for whom I have long felt a sincere friendship
and a high esteem. I should have liked, in the midst
of those of whom he is the adopted representative, at all
times to have given to him, as well as to you, a striking
proof of my sentiments. You will comprehend the im-
perious necessity which serves as my excuse. Have the
goodness to make this known to your honourable col-
leagues, to whom, with my thanks, offer, as well as to
yourself, the assurance of my high consideration.
(Signed) "Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE."

GOOD SERVICE PENSION, &e.
Neither the admiral's good-service nor the appoint-
ment to Devonport Dockyard has yet been given
away. For the former it is not difficult to find a
deserving candidate, but from the numerous claimants
it is not easy to make a selection. We agree with a
professional contemporary in thinking that it would
be more just, and " it would give more satisfaction to
the service, if the admirals' good-service pensions
' were, as a general rule, bestowed by seniority. We
'
would not, however, have it conferred upon rich
officers, such as Sir Charles Ogle, Sir John West,
and others, nor upon officers who have not served as
commanders, captains, or admirals. To the rich men
of the service honorary distinctions should be awarded
as a ;compensation for the pension, and the pension
should pass to the next eligible." Taking officers by
selection, the names that suggest themselves promi-
nently are Admirals Sir Graham Hamond, Bart., Sir
F. W. Austen, Vice-Admirals Sir E. D. King, Sir
S. Pym, and Sir C. Richardson. The first-named
has served twenty-eight years on full pay, but
independently of what he has gained as prize money
and the profits of the South American command, Sir
Graham is, we understand, a rich man, notwithstand-
ing he shared so little of the 5,000,000 dollars he cap-
tured in 1804-5. The pension of 3001. a year can be
no object to the gallant baronet; but an increase of
honorary distinction, such as the grand cross of the
Bath, would, perhaps, be deemed preferable. The
second officer named, Sir F. Austen, has served 27
years on full pay. The tbird, Sir Edward King, has
served 25 years on full pay. The fourth, Sir Samuel
Pym, has served 30 years on full pay; and the fifth,
Sir C. Richardson, served for 30 years exclusively
during the war.
It is still strongly reported that the successor to
Sir John Louis will be a captain, in order to carry
out the expressed opinions of the Select Committee on
the Navy Estimates.

On this appointment the authority above referred
to says :—" Descending to the captains' list, we have
too extensive a field for speculation to hope to name
the lucky individual whose aspirations for genuine
hard work are likely to meet with success ; but if,
as it should be, the appointment were secured to an
officer for five years, ' during pleasure' as Sir J.
Graham rendered it, allowing him to progress
in his grades of rank, we think there would
be little difficulty in finding half-a•dozen good
superintendents out of the first 70 captains on the list;
and, indeed, we know of none more eligible by age,
experience, energy, habits of command, and business
and incessant application, than the distinguished
officer who now holds the appointment of Captain
Superintendent of Plymouth Hospital—a place most
unsuited to his active turn of mind. If we go further
down the list, we may also meet with eligible officers
wbo would make excellent superintendents—Captains
A. L. Corry, Bruce, Margaye, Hon. H. J. Rous,
Hon. 8.. S. Dundas, &c."
The most junior of the above-named officers, how-
ever, will become a flag officer in less than five years,
and for a less term than five years certain the appoint-
ment should not be made. It is, therefore, most
likely, if Captain Toup Nicolas (who has served afloat,
in war and peace, nearly 30 years), or Lord John
Hay, or any other of the senior captains should be ap-
pointed, they will be allowed to succeed to their flag
rank as their turn comes for promotion, or, like Sir
James Gordon at Greenwich, they will continue to be
captain whilst holding the appointment, with the right
of assuming their proper place on the II ig ship when
the five years have expired.—Morning Herald.