The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-23 00:00:00

thinksthat all youngmen on attainingtheirfullgrowth credit of their market to know that it has had to'
ought to be incorporated in the military service of ask for time to complete its payments. Another
the country, and thoroughly drilled. He would signal of a scanty Treasury is found in the
allow three years for this c ,mpulsory service, so that at Government decision to retain the caution money
two or three and twenty it would be completed, and of the newspapers until January next, giving
the military education the citizen had received would interest for it. It will be remembered that the obli-
make him in many ways a more valuable member gation to deposit this caution money, strictly enforced
of the State. Some youths intended for especially under the empire, was abolished by the Republic,
scholastic professions might be allowed one but it has not been convenient to the Treasury to
year's service instead of three. The country should reimburse the proprietors, so they retain it as a loan.
be divided into regimental districts regardless of
PRUSSIA AND THE POPE.
The ir°l
counties, so that the youths could go through theirNord Deutsche
between e All
igel netn e Zeituat ngplbnd thelislies
term in the neighbourhood of their own homes. thecorrespondence
weeiCount
Bismarck
Ambassadors in Rome and Florence on the question
Each district should furnish a battalion of twelve
of the occupation of Rome. On the 7th
companies, four of whom should form a depot re-
maining in the district, and a militia battalion and a of last October the Pope addressed, through
volunteerbattalion,the three battalions being under th Count Armin
in-
command of one colonel, and the officers interchange- quiry to Armin, the Ambassador, an
Versailles as to whether the
able between the three. The next thing would be King's Government would use its influence at Flo-
to instruct our officers by independent manoeuvres, rence, so that in the event of the Pope leaving Rome
not on cut-and-dried Aldershott field-days, but left he might do so with full honours. Count Bismarck
to the individual inclination of the officers, and at once replied in the affirmative, and stated that an
criticised only by the general in command. intervening telegram had been sent to Flo-
THE CIViL SERVICE COMMISSION. recce at the same time that his message
The Home Civil Service is at last, it seems, to be was forwarded to Rome. The Count
thrown open to the public in earnest, and thirty intimated to Count Brassier, the Ambassador
second-class assistantships of excise are to be com- at Florence, that his Majesty King William
peted for next month. The successful candi- was convinced that Vie Italian Government would
dates will become outdoor officers of Inland Revenue respect the freedom and dignity of the Pope, even
with the proJpect of rising to be supervisors should be be compelled to change his resi-
and collectors. There are besides some technical dence, and desired his Excellency to ex-
clerkships under the Board of Works, with a salary press these views. He considered it due
rising from £l5O to £3OO, to be competed for, and to the North German Catholics to maintain the
also a clerkship in the Board of Works Office, and
dignity and independence of the Head of the Catho-
writerships in other departments. It is sug. lie Church. The Italian Government responded to
Bested that to make the reform at all this appeal by declaring that there was no doubt of
its intention to maintain the dignity and indepen-
comprehensive or satisfactory, there must be a
thorough readjustment of the rates of pay, and the dence of the Pope.
terms of service in the several departments. With- THE BELGIAN CATHOLICS.
out this, candidates will not know what they are The clerical journals of Belgium have announced
trying to get, and the value of the open that a great manifestation in favour of the temporal
competition will be materially diminished by its power of the Pope will take place at Brussels on the
capricious results. As the standard of examination 2nd of February, to which all Belgian Catholics are
is uniform, so should also be the terms of service, invited. The ceremony will include, among .other
and this Parliament must see to. things, a procession to the church df St.
Gudule, and a public meeting. A. communication
from Brussels to the Petrie of Bruges, declares that
all faithful Catholics will make it a point of honour
to take part in the affair. Time indignation which
honest minds feel at the serious spoliations of the
King of Italy has, it is added, increased of late, and
it is generally wished that some opportunity
should be afforded for its display.. This manifesta-
tion is to be called a " national pilgrimage." The
Independence Beige remarks on this affair that the
course pursued, by the clerical journals, which pro-
fess neutrality, is very inconsistent, and asks what
they would say if the Belgian Government were to
permit a similar manifestation to take place in favour
of Germany or France.

ASPHALTE.

The asphalte pavement has answered so well in
Cheapside that some of the leading London
Clubs decide to have asphalte laid down, if
possible, before their palaces. These clubs have in-
vited the vestry of their parish to hold a conference
on the subject, and, strange to say, the local authori-
ties have accepted the invitation, and nominated a
committee. So there is a shadow of a hope that
asphalte, which has been employed in Paris for
years, will actually be laid down in more than one
London street. But it would be too sanguine to
expect that this unlooked for progress will
go further. Every London vestry decides
upon the pavement within its own district; and the
idea of many vestries adopting a great improvement
is too idle to be entertained fur a moment. The
system of dividing the government of London
amongst numerous local boards, each one of
which has to be consulted in turn, has the simple re-
sult of utter stagnation.

FORCES OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE.
According to a correspon lent of the limes, Turkey
can now rank as one of the leading naval Powers
of Europe, at least as far as regards the number of
her ships. The Turks are first-rate sailors, though
the Turkish navy has not acquired sufficient practice.
Both officers and men would be the better for seeing
more active service. Efforts towards improvement
have been made, and English instructors are
engaged for the naval school at Halki. It
is the general opinion that the Turkish
fleet-would prove formidable in war if it were pro-
perly officered ; but in this important respect it is so
deficient that the Government would i❑ all proba-
bility be compelled to engage foreign officers in the
event of a war. Steps, too, have been taken to
increase the efficiercy of the army. The Alin ster of
War has prepared a new scheme for re-organising
the forces. The number of the active army is fixed
at a strength of 150,000 i❑ time of peace and in
war can be raised immediately to 210,000. These
joined to the reserve forces would form a total of
700,000 availaLle for war, The Turkish infantry, if
well led, might reckon amont; tlle finest troops in the
world. They are armed for the most part with con-
verted Snider% The Government are well supplied
with modern instruments of war, and are adding to
their stock.