The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-18 00:00:00

was declined. We trust, indeed, that we are giving
up the absurdity of an immense and costly army, in
the most unavailable and unimprovable form, spread in
small detachments over half a hundred colonies.
But, passing from the political considerations involved
in the reinforcement of Canada, there remains the larger
question, how are we to apply to our army the lessons
of recent experience ? Many people, of that sort that
prophesy ill, and are too often right, will tell us that
nothing will be done, and that everything will go on as
it did before. It may be so, but we are still sanguine
enough to hope for better things. As the army is to
suffer no very considerable reduction for the present,
and will be kept at a respectable strength till the cold fit
comes over the British people, something must be done
at once to justify an immense and costly armament. We
have now an army, and it would be a thousand pities
not to take the opportunityfor those improvements which
it has been continually objected the scale of the army did
not admit of. For the present, at least, we shall have two
large bodies of men in camps of exercise, as they may be
called, at Aldershott and Curragh. In them the soldier
of the line ought to be taught every art that experience
has shown to be useful in war—that is, so far as time,
opportunity, and the capacity of the soldier will allow.
A camp ought to be a great military school. Every sol-
dier, indeed, may not be able to learn everything, for
there must still be subdivision of labour in an army, as
in a town or a village. But each regiment ought to he
independent of labourers, tradesmen, and artisans. It
ought to comprehend in its ranks as many navvies, car-
penters, masons, blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers,
saddlers, butchers, cooks, and bakers as possible. Fcr
this purpose it ought, even in the neighbourhood of
towns, to provide for itself as much as can be done, even
when nothing is gained but practice. It is always to be
expected that war will be in an enemy's country, and
provision must be made for that contingency. But in
an enemy's country an army must always expect to find
itself surrounded by deserts and ruins, and driven to
provide r all its own wants as well as it can. In
this emergency there is sure to be such a demand
for labourers and handicraftsmen for the depots,
and other general purposes of the army, that each regi-
ment will be ill off if it has not time to spare. Of coarse
the soldiers, who are always needy, will be only too
gladly to work if they are paid for extra work. It will
be worth while to pay them handsomely, for a skilled
soldier is evidently worth two of the unskilled men who
rotted like sheep in the Crimea, with scarcely an idea of
helping themselves. We repeat, that if we are to main-
tam a large army it will be necessary to do something
for the money it will cost. The British public will have
to be convinced that if it pays annually five or ten mil-
lions more than it has hitherto done for the national de-
fences, those defences are much more efficient than they
have been. Among other things, every camp ought to
have a proper proportion of cavalry, artillery, and en-
gineers; and no pains or cost should be spared to bring
the cannon, the mortar, and the rifle up to the latest
improvement, and give the men a close familiarity with
their weapons.

Among other proposals for the reform of the army, it is
said that a mixed commissioriof officers and civilians will
soon be appointed to inquire into the system of purchase.
The names mentioned—the Duke of Somerset, Mr.
Ellice, 117 r. S. Herbert, Lord Stanley, Sir De Lacy
Evans, Sir H. Bentinck, Colonel Wetherell, and an en-
gineer hfficer—are certainly entitled to respect. They are
-aid to have a leaning in favour of purchase, as the only
eiearei of checking the influence of rank and power, and
giving the middle cia"ses a chance in the army. With-
out purchase, it is argued, the aristocracy will monopo-
lise the service, with now and then a promotion from the
ranks ; but as' a set-off against purchase, and to qualify
the ir fluence of money, there is a great wish to carry
,he test of examination as far as possible. How far this
can be done, and how high in the scale of promotion,
we do not hear guessed, but the argument of setting
it against purchase, if consistently carried out,
must go very high. Hard work, however, is
as good a test as examination, and as efficient
a counterpoise to the influence of wealth. Keep
soldiers always at work and make the camp a
perpetual rehearsal of the campaign, and we shall
-ear less of idle young men entering the army merely
for the name, the society, the uniform, and the trifling
occupation. The class of do-nothings, know-nothings,
and good-for-nothings would soon be driven away if they
..vere compelled to go through a few years' camp service
almost as hard as the Crimea, except for the privations.
It this is done at once, and the British people become
satisfied that the army is an efficient institution, and
what it professes to be, they will be quite ready to keep
the army at its present standard ; but they certainly will
not like to pay twice as much as before for an army
simply twice as large, and just as likely, after all its
costly trainings, to fall into the wretched state of help-
lessness daily described at Chelsea when ordered upon
active service.—Times.

MARKET NEWS.—;This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.

To-day's market was very moderately supplied with all
kinds of wheat of home produce, nevertheless the demand
for that grain ruled very inactive, at ➢ionday's decline in
tae quotations. The general quality of the samples was
good.
Foreign wheat, the imports of which amount to 6,720
quarters, moved off heavily, and the quotations were,
almost nominal.

We had a good demand for both English and foreign
barley;tit very full prices. Malt ruled steady, at late rates.
The show of oats was large, and the oat trade was very
dull, at barely previous rates.
Beans, peas, and flour moved off heavily, at the late de•
cdno in value.

ARRIVALS TRH! WERE.
Wheat. f Barley. Malt. Oats. ' Flow.
'2 tnglish .. ,2io •` 1,453 7,730 170 I. 1,150
Irish •—• 160 7,070 1
Foreign
i aka

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.
To-day's market was well supplied with most kinds of
beast., yet the demand for them ruled steady, at Monday's
improvement in the quotations. The show of sheep was
moderate, and the mutton trade was tolerably firm, at full
prices. We had a very dull market for lambs, at a decline
in value of per Sibs—the too figure being is per Sibs.
From the Isle of Wight, only IA came ••o hand. Ctives
were in short supply, and very moderate request, at Mon-
,lay's currency. In pigs scarcely any transactions took
place.
filch cows were heavy, at from 131. to 191. 5s each,
including their small calf.

Per Sibs to sink the offair
s. d. s. d.l

a. d. A 4.

Literlorßeasts....3 2to 3 4 ,PrimeSouthdown 5 0 5 4
iec4nd quality.... 3 6 3 10,Large erse. calves 4 2 5 0
prime large oxen 4 0 1 4 Prime small do 5 2 5 8
Prime Scots, &e. 4 6 4 SiLarge hogs
Inferior Sheep ...3 8 4 GSmall porkers
,econd quality ...4 2 4 61Suckling calves 22 tl 29 0
crse.-wlled.4 9l 4 10;Quarter old pig 321 ::7
Lamb, 6s Od to 7a Od.
TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SCPIPLY.
1,112 ileasts.• .......... ..... . . 40
Sheep and lambs .• 3060 Sheep
:;alves

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.
We had a fair demand for each kind of meat, as
lows _ _ _

Per Sibs by the eareame.

s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
ieef, inferior 2 8 210 ( Mutton Inferior 3 2 3 6
)0., middling 3 0 3 2/ Do., middling ..... 3 3 4
Do. prime large 3 t 3 6. Do., prime 4 2 4 4
70 , do. small ....3 8 4 2 1 Veal 310 5 0
Pork., large 3 2 3 10 I small
Pork, sma
40 4 8

Lamb, 5s 2i to Cs 4d.

BOROUGH HOP.

There is a slightly improved demand for most kinds of
hops, and prices generally are well supported. This week's
imports are 24 bales from Hambro', and 18 from Rotter-
dam.
Mid and East Kent pockets, 4/ Os to 6/ Os per cwt ;
Weald of Keats, 3/10s to 5/ Os. ; Sussex, 3/ Os to 4/ ltis.

COLONIAL.
TEA. —Tho market fur Common Congou has been dull,
but greens have been in rather better demand, at firm
prices. There are large public sales advertised. Conaraoa
Congou realised 9d. per lb.
Suumt.—The business done in this article has been con-
siderably diminished, and prices for both colonial and
foreign descriptions have receded 6d to 1s per cwt; later,
however, a rather better tone was exhibited in the market,
and prices ruled firmer. Colonial, low to firm brown,
realised 3s 6
ord to good yellow, 398 tid to
white, Me 6d per cwt. In the Reinedl fine
to
ne
395;
42s 61; grainy, 4N to 45s ; low to good grocery, 39s to
43s 6d. Java,6
Market there has been rather more inquiry for exporta-
tion; home dealers, however, show great caution ha making
purcbsges. Brown lumps have realised 523 per cwt.
cow/E.—There has been an increased demand for
Ceylon, both native and plantation, and full rates have
readily been obtained for the superior descriptions. Plaa-
tation, fine ord to low mid, 58s 6d to 61s ; mid, 625 to 64s ;
low mil to mid greyish, 60s to 625. Native, 51s to 545.
Mocha has been much inquired for, at high rates; good
yellow sold at 74s toT6s 6d per cwt.
Cocoa.- -This. article has been extremely heavy, and
priers have declined Is to Is per cwt on late rates. Trini-
dad low to mid grey sold for 42s to 431 Gd per cwt.
RICE —A better demand has been experienced, and sirs
veral large parcels have changed hands by private con•
tract at full rates. White Bengal 9s 61 to 10s Gd, mid to
tine 9s Gd to 12s 6d, and low heated Ss 6d per cwt.
RuM.—The market has shown a firm appearance, and a
fair business has been done at full rates. Jamaica 36-per
cent. overproof realised 3s to 5s per gallon, Demerara 2s
to 2s sd, Leewards 28 to 28 211, and East ludia 2s to 2s Zd -
per proof gallon.
SNCES.—Pepper bas been dull of sale, white Penang
brought 7;id to 'lid, Singapore Mid 71d, Sumatra black
54d per lb. Nutmegs were cheaper, viz., fine 2s 2d t 4
3s 2d. Mace is dull of sale ; dark to mid, is 11d to '26 71
per lb. Ginger, good and fine, brought 1008 to 1200, sad
wormy 45s to 48s per cwt. Pimento rules firm ; good
mid realised 4id to 4id per lb.
COCHINEAL.—The recent unexpected )arge arrivals Kara
in some measure checked sales, and prices ruled rather
lower. Teneriffe silvers, 3s 10d to 35 11d; blanks, 421
to 4 2d ; Honduras silvers, 3s 10d to 3s 1Id; Atexieux
blacks, 4s ld to 48 2d per lb.
SALTPETRE.—The market has been firm for the low
qualities, but the high terms demanded have checked
TALLOW.—The trade has been limited, and prices him
declined to, spot, 47s to 47s 3d, and last three month ok in
Gd per cwt.
GREEN FRUIT.--A. good demand exists for all kinds.
The shipment of oranges from the Azores may be consi-
dered closed, and the stock on hand being small prices are
likely to improve. Two cargoes sold by Kftling and Haut
at public sale went at a similar figure obtained last week.
Spanish nuts are cleared from importers, and an advance
of is per barrel is established,

The Archbishop of Canterbury inteside to more os
Monday that the Lord Chanceliol'a Murat Dilgleitta
Bill be read that day six moLthe,