The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-17 00:00:00

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the officers might be provided for in the reserve forces.
(Hear, hear.) However, when the question of retirement
came up for consideration, Parliament would have to
deal with the demands made upon them. (Hear, hear.)
If we abolished purchase we must accept the principle of
selection, and those that merit pointed to must be consi-
dered. We must not allow a system of pecuniary advan-
tage to prevail, and then the question came, were they
prepared to sacrifice this large sum of money--were they
prepared to look forward to the adoption of a principle
of selection, The Government had given their best con-
sideration to this matter. They believed that an unpaid
service was generally the dearest service, and they
believed that this system of trafficking and purchase in
this glorious profession should cease. (Cheers.) They
recommended to the House the abolition of
the purchase system, and the bill which
Proposed to carry this into effect would set'
forth that after a day to be named no pecuniary in. 1
terest should be taken for any commission, and that any
one at present holding a commission would in no way be
affected by these regulations. (Cheers.) It was proposed
to commute the commissions at present held, and a com-
mission would be appointed who would consider
the claims of officers. He explained in what manner this
resolution would be carried out in detail, and said that
as only those officers would sell their commissions, who
could find purchasers, it was necessary to fix some limit,
because if the consolidated fund had to pay the money,
they might all at once find a great diminution
take place in the officers of the army, and
some considerable diminution also in the con-
solidated fund. (Laughter.) They therefore fixed
this limit, that no greater number of officers were to be
allowed to leave during a year than the maximum number
of previous years. He believed that no case had been
omitted in the bill, and the compensations
would amount to from £7,600,000 at least, to
£8,400,000 • at most, but whereas it would be
a considerable item in the first few years it would
gradually dwindle down and become eventually a very
small charge, (Cheers.) The next important thing was
that the commission would begin without purchase, and
it became necessary to consider on whom they shey should
be bestowed. They proposed to give them in some of these
ways. Admission to Sandhurst should be given by
competitive examination, and those who there shewed
their ability should receive commissions. Subalterns of
militia regiments who had served for two years, and who
were qualified, should 'receive commissions in the
Line, and non-commissioned officers, as before,
should receive them. The rank of Cornet and
Ensign would be abolished, and it was recommended
to establish an order of cadets, who after certain training
could receive commissions if they liked the service, and,
if not, could le we. (Hear, hear.) University men and
the general public would have to pass a competitive ex-
amination. Then he came to promotion, which was a
difficult subject, and he thought it should go by
selection ; but of tuffs he was sure, that the direct
administration of patronage in the army should
never be placed in the hands of a political official.
(Loud cheers.) The responsibility now rested with the
Secretary of State, and he thought he ought not to be
relieved of it. (Hear.) If an improper appointment was
made, he should be responsible to the Crown and to the
country for it ; but he did not think the selection of indi-
viduals for promotion should be left with him. (Hear'
hear.) It should rest with a military officer, subject to
the approval of the Secretary of State. (Hear, hear.)
If care were not exercised, their spending a large sum
of money in abolishing one system of purchase would lay
the foundation for another, and therefore as a security
against that the law must be rigidly enforced. (Hear.)
The next consideration was that the successor should
never be known until the predecessor had left his place,
and the third was that wherever there was the
slightest suspicion of any improper dealing, the power of
selection should be vigorously exercised. (Hear.) The
next question was, What was to be the tenure of office of
the Commander-in-Chief and the Military Secretary ? He
regretted that personalities had been imported into the
discussion on that point out of doors—(hear)--and he
was persuaded that the House would avoid following
the eiample. The position of the officer Command-
ing-in-Chief must be looked upon as exceptional
as compared with that of other staff-officers, and the
Government thought therefore, that it would be unfair to
impose upon him the condition with regard to the limit of
time —(hear), but there was no reason why the Military
Secretary should be exempt from that condition more than
any other staff officer. The object being to secure exact-
ness and impartiality, the intention was that promotion in
that department should rest upon the selection of the
officer commanding-in-chief, subject to the approval of
the Secretary of State for War. He did not recommend
that plan to the House as one free from difficulty ; but he
earnestly recommended it as being, to the best of his
judgment, the one least beset with difficulties. He did not
see how they could contemplate any complete
organization of the regular army until they abolished
the system of purchase. The next question for tcon-
sideration was the position it was intended the
auxiliary forces should hold. The division of the country
into sub-districts under general officers had worked satis-
factorily, but he proposed to include a colonel of the
regular army on the staff for every one of the sub-districts
comprising between 15,000 and 20,000 men. With respect
to commissions in the auxiliary forces, he pro-
posed that they should no longer be given
by the lords lieutenants of counties, but should
in future emanate from the Queen. (Cheers.)
The auxiliary forces would therefore be placed together
with the regulars under one command. First commissions
in the Militia would be given by the Lords Lieutenants.
He hoped that the valuable principle of county
influence would not be lost. It was proposed
to localise the regiments, and that the depots
of a regiment should be quartered in the county
in which it was raised, and that the militia should be
trained with the regulars, and for a longer period than
they now are. With respect to the volunteer force, he
thought a more careful organisation was required to
render that force effective. It was proposed
not to allow one officer to hold two commis-
sions in the reserve forces, unless one of
them was of a purely honorary nature. Allow-
ance had been given to the Artillery Volunteers
who had attended at Shoeburyness, and he thought that
those who had read the reports of the officers of the Royal
Artillery on the volunteers' drill and training at Shoe-
buryness, could not but have been struck with the
value of the training they received at that camp. The
Government purpose to increase the allowances for camps
of instruction for artillery volunteers. He did not like
making many small rules for the volunteers, but power
should be given to the colonel in command to strike out from
all corps such members as in his opinion were not efficient.
(Hear, hear). It was also proposed to brigade troops
More than had heretofore been done, and the regular
militia and volunteer forces would be brigaded together ;
and whenever the volunteers were serving with the regu-
lar's they would be subject to the Annuity Act. Hitherto
the volunteers had been exempt from serving in
the militia, but as a volunteer was allowed to
leave his corps upon giving two weeks' notice,
he proposed to abolish this exemption. (Hear, hear.)
Re had only to say there was another question, that of
billeting, which had been before referred to in that House.
They did not know if it was likely in many counties or
Many localities:that anything could be made of it ; but he
had been told that, in some places, it was likely some
advantage would accrue. What they proposed
W 33 to enable any locality or localities that
liked to unite together to borrow money from the
Treasury, who would advance it at a reasonable rate for
the Purpose of providing accommodation. The Govern-
ment were on the best understanding with the authorities
of the different railways, but they thought it right to
tisert in the Bill, in case of emergency, that the Crown
should have power to possess itself of railway in the same
Manner as formerly they had power to possess themselves
of the telegraphs. So that the whole communication of
the country would at once be in the hands of the Govern-
Mont for military purposes. These were, he
bought, the principal parts of the bill which
should have the honour of introducing. There
Nyere some other questions upon which he should like
, Say a few words before he sat down. In the first
Place, some time ago he applied to his right hon.
friend at the head of the Government to authorise him
speaker) to say that the patronage of the Post Office,
Which
11116 h had a great number of outdoor employments suit-
411thee for pensioners of the army and men of
artaY reserve, should be extended to those
e 8". He was authorised to say that as
fa,
rtalna was consistent with the service of the Post Office de-
pa(Chee ent it was intended to act up pn his suggestions.
h ra') The year had been one of considerable interest
coMe as well as abroad. They had introduced in the
`"-6e of the year the 35 ton gun, which they believed was

the I:host powerful gun known in the world. (Cheers.)
They had altered our field artillery and introduced
a new 16 pound gun, which was the most
powerful field gun known, and they had just effected a
change in small arms, from the Snider to the Martini-
Henry rifle, which would make the future weapon of the
British army the best in existence. (Cheers.) In the
great events of the year the expedition to the Red River,
consequent upon a rebellion, had been lost sight of ; but
those who conducted it were not the less entitled to credit for
what they had done. This was a very difficult expedition.
It consisted of about 420 men of the British Army, and
750 Canadians acting in harmony. They had to journey
over 600 miles from Lake Superior, through forests which
had never been traversed before by military men, and met
with intervening obstacles of a most serious character,
both from land and water. The difficulties
were successfully overcome, and the troops having accom-
plished their object, returned immediately to Canada
without any loss. (Cheers.) Though his right hon. friend
(Sir H. Storks) had that night taken his seat, and would
in future much relieve him, he felt it due to the right hon.
baronet opposite (Sir J. Pakington) to observe that it was
he who instituted the department, and those who took
any part in supporting or promoting it would be glad to
hear how it had been found to work .under very difficult
circumstances. It was said that in the Red River expedi-
tion the amalgamation of the civil departments was put
upon its first practical trial with the happiest results. A
vast amount of correspondence had been saved through
it, and the administrative labour was greatly reduced,
increased facilities thereby being given to the commander
to attend to his military duties. (Cheers.) This was the
object with which the new department was established—
the amalgamation of offices to save work, and the
creation of individual responsibilities, instead of having a
confused mixture, which rendered it impossible, if anything
occurred to fasten the responsibiliiy upon anybody.
(Cheers.) He thought he had very imperfectly pointed
out the consequences of this bill. The Government called
upon the House in adopting their measure to make agreat
sacrifice, but if they made that sacrifice the objects which
they had in view were these :—The Government asked
for no increase of our standing army beyond
that which they obtained at the end of
the last session, but they asked them to raise the army
reserve as largely as they could by increasing the short
service system in the army. They desired to pass as
many men through the ranks of the regular army as could
be done, having regard to the- number of recruits
who were willing to join, and the length of time
it required to make them efficient soldiers. They wished
to increase the Militia, to better organise the Volunteer
force of the country, and provide for compulsory service in
case of emergency. They withdrew the power from the
Lords Lieuteuant, and placed it in the hands of a
general officer who was responsible to his department.
They provided for the increase of staff-colonels to have the
supervision of districts, the continuation and encourage-
ment of recruiting, and their aim was to
fuse together as much as they could the
regular and reserve forces by appointing regular officers
to the command of the reserve army,.and by giving sub-
alterns of the militia commands in the army. They
would brigade both branches together as much as
possible, and provide efficieht artillery. They also
took power for having the railways in their own hands
if it was necessary. In short, they proposed to
unite the whole force of the country into one
defensive army, with power to supplement it by
compulsion if considered desirable, all to be under
The command of a general officer in each district under
one commander-in-chief, who acted with the approval of
the Secretary of State. (Cheers.) They would thus
have the whole system under the control of
a responsible Minister of the Crown ; and he
thought if they considered these proposals faulty,
they would say the Government had not attempted
to glide over the affair, or to make superficial arrange-
ments. (Cheers.) They had done their best to
deal with the points which were at the very
bottom of the very foundation of the defen-
sive forces which would give perfect security for the
nation, not merely against actual danger, but
against that which was scarcely less tolerable
to the feelings, the spfrit, and the independence of Eng-
lishmen, namely, these perpetual panics which were
occurring. (The right hon. gentleman resumed his seat
amidst warm cheering, after having spoken two hours
and five minutes.)

THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S DOWRY.
I,lr. 'GLADSTONE purimant to notice, moved that the
sum of £30,000 be grained to Her Majesty for the dowry
of the Princess Louise.

Mr. P. TAYLOR, in opposing the ggant, protested that
he had not been moved to it by the departure from the
usual course in the case of this Royal marriage, which de-
parture, indeed, he decidedly approved, but he main-
tained, that it was inexpedient to increase the cost
of monarchical institutions. He denied that there was
any obligation when the Civil List was settled to under-
take these extraordinary provisions, and they ought to be
borne by the Civil List. This, too, was an unusual case,
and, as the Princess had thrown off the fetters of Royalty,
there was nothing left to gild.
Mr. DISRAELI pointed out to Mr. Taylor, who had in-
sinuated a comparison with the United States, that the
real Government there included Congressmen as well as
the President, and as they were paid it was, perhaps, even
more costly than ours. He did not altogether approve
the principle on which the Civil List was settled at the
commencement of the reign, thinking it would have
been better that every ten years or so there
should have been a new arrangement, but he exhorted the
House to carry out the spirit of the understanding
between the Crown and the people for the maintenance
of the dignity of the Throne in a becoming manner. A
choice of this sort, he pointed out, was in a manner ren-
dered necessary by the mediatisation of the German
Princes ; and, as additional reason why no opposi-
tion should be offered, he reminded members that
her Royal Highness would be the first Princess who had
married a member of the House of Commons.
Sir R. PEEL commented on what he declared to be
serious misrepresentations in the Prime Minister's speech
on Monday night, and, while disclaiming all desire to be
niggardly, he pointed out that the money voted for main-
taining the splendour of the Crown was in reality
not spent in that way. The duty of shewing
hospitality to foreigners, for instance, was left to the
Prince of Wales, and Sir Robert said he would vote to-
morrow for doubling the Prince's allowance on that
score. If the alliance had been, as usual, with a Royal
House, the grant would have been defensive, but he
disapproved the Princess marrying " the son of one of
Her Majesty's Ministers by the advice of Her Majesty's
Ministry."
Mr. Goldney said a few words which were inaudible in
the loud cries for a division, and after a brief reply from
Mr. Gladstone, who mentioned that her Majesty had con-
sulted her confidential advisers on the question of depart-
ing from the usual range of choice eighteen months ago,
long before this particular arrangement was made, the
committee divided. Only one member, Mr. Fawcett,
voted against the grant, Mr. Taylor and Sir C. Dilke
being the tellers on that side, and it was carried by the
extraordinary majority of 350 to 1.
THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S ANNUITY BILL.

The Princess Louise's Annuity Bill was read a second
time without opposition.

UNIVERSITY TESTS BILL.

The University Tests Bill was read a second time, Mr.
Hardy delivering a brief but emphatic protest against it
in its present shape.
JURIES ACT (1870) AMENDMENT BILL.
The Attorney-General's bill for repealing section 6 of
the Juries Act of last session was read a second time,
with the approval of Mr. Lopes, Mr. Cross, Mr. Hen-
ley, Mr. G. Gregory, and others ; but Mr. Alderman
Lusk seemed to think that only the lawyers objected to
this particular provision, and that because it prevented
litigation.

The House adjourned at twenty-five minutes to ten
o'clock.

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