The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-01 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1856.

So, after all, the German Legion is to be dis-
banded. The project of a select body guard of
foreign mercenaries of the favoured race has been
relactantly abandoned. But still they are not
sent off empty-handed. " The Prince's Pets"
have received solid advantages not bestowed on
the mere English, and it now appears that they
are to obtain further benefits, which those who
have borne the brunt of the conflict would ear-
nestly, but fruitlessly, desire. Those who have
scarcely smelt powder, certainly none fired in
anger, have been better treated than veterans who
proudly bear war medals with four clasps on their
stalwart breasts, and who endured with
invincible fortitude all the privations and
fatigues that cost the lives of so many
of their valiant brethren, and permitted but a
small pr:plrtlon of the original number to return
to their native land. The former were merely
"playing at soldiers." An agreeable trip to the
Mediterranean was their most onerous duty, and
while the British soldiers were braving death in
the trenches, or rushing boldly to " the imminent
deadly breach," they were enjoying themselves at
the wine shops of Malta or Corfu.
The same good fortune, or rather unblushing
" nepotism," was manifested from the very begin-
ning of their career. It would seem as if, ac-
cording to official estimation, one German was
worth four Englishmen, for the bounty he ac-
tually received was quadruple that which any
native of the United Kingdom could obtain. The
men, when enlisted, were equipped in the most
efficient manner. An Enfield Rifle was placed in
every hand, and all other camp or fighting requisites
were supplied with profuse liberality. They were
stationed first at Shorncliffe, then up the Medi-
terranean, having neither to endure hardships nor
to encounter fatigue or danger either from the
enemy or from sickly stations. On their return
they were again quartered in the most eligible
localities, until their insolent treatment of British
soldiers—men who could exhibit war medals,
which they could not show—provoked the retalia-
tion, which proved that they were likely to come
off second best in the affrays which were rendered
of daily occurrence.

On discharge the Germans received a clear
year's pay, besides a free passage to their re-
spective homes or to some British colony selected
by themselves; while our own militia were turned
off, in many instances, naked and penniless, with-
out receiving the full amount of the bounty that
bad been promised at the time of their enlistment.
Even the privates of the Land Transport Corps—
one of the most efficient and valuable bodies of
men in the British service, who had worked hard
in the Crimea—were discharged with a paltry
pound each, while the Germans received from
181. to 231.

But, as if there was not sufficient encourage-
ment for the fortunate mercenaries, it appears
that all who wish to volunteer—and we suspect
few will reject the offer—are to be sent out to
form a military colony at the Cape, where each
man will receive a free grant of land, so as to
render him perfectly independent and comfortable
for the remainder of his life. The married men
will be allowed to take out their wives and fami-
lies, and the single have full permission to marry
where and when they think proper.
Now, it way be all very well to obtain military
colonists, who shall oppose an organised force to
the aggressions of dangerous and restless neigh-
bours. But why, we ask, are we to found a
German colony with English money ?
Why are
we to send out men who owe no allegiance to the
throne of Great Britain, and who,
theyhlil
hare obtained all they can hope to obtain: will be