The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-23 00:00:00

TO TilE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—The lamentable case at Hounslow having re-
vived the oft-repeated grievance of flogging, it may not
be mis-timed to offer a few remarks on this important
question. One thing is certain—without obedience
there is an end to power. " One Who Has Been
Nabbed" speaks of the sergeants in no very flattering
terms,
but my observations are based on long experience,
practical and theoretical. The mal-administration, not
the law, is the delinquent. Though military taetics
demand instant obedience, yet they have to do with
men capable of feeling, and of understanding right from

I e e
neesss.
iyay n i inducesn
a a l law
m
wrong.
Generally the non-commissioned officers are men of
little or no education, ill-tempered and ill-bred, con-
sequently ill- qualifie d to wield the power invested in
them, and the unfortunate men are but too often severely
dealt with by them when a judicious, temperate, and
firm system of treatment would get instant obedience
and respect. Why should not the sergeant consider
that he is commanding men, not beasts? True he has
to do with men whose animal passions preponderate, but
let him try the two-edged sword of reason and justice,
not the dagger of ill-temper and self-sufficiency, and
his men will obey without the necessity of enforcing
a law--a murderer mal-administered, but salutary when
justly applied. Query, might not our metropolitan police
courts advantageously use it to some of their younger
game ? There is in the soldier's condition much to ex-
cite commiseration ; he is a man of no education, thus
no resources off duty ; obliged by circumstances to mix
with his kind, where neither the softening influence of
hldainedr, of an
beste n
female society, nor the sociability of men better informed
seha to
ll 1
tthhraonwhiamvseeillf
ocvaenr
braerarca
eh k h.
ri
omo.ra
Ne
cMan is animal, moral, and intellectual—this treplicity
is essential to his existtmee. Let the
li it:lg hEtue
rnoepde b, et
on ehvi os l
de rut ct
ye , l
ae andd thTheo Bs
ervi tei
rs
eh soldier,
only be known in military theory. Let th? superior and
practised officer look well into the bearing of his under-
lings towards their men, and take the trouble to admo-
nish them in private when necessary, and we shall sel-
dom hear of rebellion against authority. Power is a
dangerous weapon in the bands of the uneducated world-
ling, and much temperate vigilance
__ is necessary on the
part of superiors. Sergeants and flogging seem in close
proximity, and so will continue till some such system be
adopted as above suggested by
A FATHER, PATRIOT, A AND THE
SOLDIER'S FRIEND.

Weil nesday the Parliamentary
as also of all apportionmests
1845, to the Ist of January,
TITHE COMMUTATION.-- • •
returns presented by the Tithe Commissioners were printed,
of all agreements and of all awards for the commutation of
tciutnhfiesrinceocinftirrommedthebylatthoefmjuly,
1846. The first branch of the return has reference to the
agreements confirmed by the Commissioners in the half-
yearagen to
re mentioned,be
paid inlieu
of
the amount of rent-charge
tithes. By the summary it
showing
appears that the compositions and rates amounted to
6,545/. 2s. 61d. ; rent-charges, 7,143/. 14s. 4d. ; increase of
rent-charges, 604/. 10s. 01(1. , decrease of rent-charges,
51. 18s. 211.; rent- charges for which compositions cannot
be ascertained, 656/. 16s. 5d.; rent-charges of the present
return, 7,800/. 10s. 9d.; rent-charges of former returns,
2,454,338/. 19s. 91d. ; total lent-charges, 2,462,139/. 10s. Old.
The result shows that the total increase in the present
return is 598/. Ils. 91t1., and in former returns 56,5421.55. ad.
making the total increase 57,1401. 17s. 31d. The second
branch contains a return of all awards for the commutation
of tithes which have been confirmed in the period specified,
specifying the amount of rent-charge awarded to be paid in
lieu of tithes, and showing whether the same be payable to
appropriators, impropriators, or clerical incumbents. The
total rent-charges of this part amount to 61,1961. Os. 11d.;
and of former returns, 1,088,282/. Bs. 4.0. making the total
rent-charges 1,149,4781. N. 30. The third part shows the
apportionments confirmed by the Tithe Commissioners in the
six months from July to January. The document extends
to 22 pages.