The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-12 00:00:00

IL,O.\DOS, FRIDAY, V. 1:2, .180.

Anything comparable to the absurd anti-climax
which has but just now occurred in regard to the
Holborn Viaduct, it would be impossible to look for
in the history of any great public work undertaken
in any other capital of Christendom. The Sovereign
publicly inaugurates the Viaduct, which has just
been completed—and the very day after that grand
flourishing of trumpets over the event, the massive
granite pillars upo❑ which the Viaduct has been built
are found to have already visibly, appreciably, un-
deniably, to some extent—it i 3 a matter comparatively
of small moment to what extent—collapsed, cracked,
and crumbled. We are perfectly aware that it has been
officially announced—the announcement is given by us
in another portion of our impression of this evening, as
conveyed to us by the Town Clerk—we are perfectly
aware, we say, that it has been already officially
announced that the Viaduct is perfectly safe, and £0
forth. The intimation is so far welcome that it is
calculated to reassure the publice wind. And we
doubt not, of course, for one single instant, but that
the statement is made in perfectly gool faith in every
syllable of it. Granting all this, however, there still
remains the undeniable and indisputable fact that
the granite pillars have cracked, have collapsed,
have crumbled and splintered, within twenty-four
hours from the date of the Viaduct's inauguratio❑ !
Comparatively slight, all this may be, but at any
rate there it is to be seen at this moment by any one
who lists. The superincumbent weight, plus the traffic,
is evidently, or has evidently been, up to this point,
over-much, as contrasted with the solidity either of
the supports or of the foundations. That it is
so is obvious. Had it not been so, the huge granite
pillars of the Viaduct would not, could not by any
possibility, have crumbled, collapsed, cracked, and
splintered—as, in point of fact, they have, visibly.
Builders, engineers, architects, contractors may settle
or apportion the blame amongst themselves—but, as
for the Viaduct itself, it has beyond all dispute
settled itself within a few hours from the date of
its being opened. Mull of Ross granite is sufficiently
solid, and compact, and durable to resist pressure,
if that pressure only be equally distributed, and unitt s
the superincumbent structure which that granite sus •
tain sis out of all reasonable proportion. The par denial s
as to what has occurred are so entirely removed from
the reach of contradiction that it is a satisfaction to
know there will be a searching investigation insti-
tuted as to the cause of this astounding miscalcula-
tion on the part of some one. That there has been
a miscalculation somewhere, and of course by some
one, we take to be beyond the chance of denial.

THE report of the Royal Commission on Military
Education chews that even the army—that most
inert of institutions—has not escaped the reforming
contagion of the age. This. elaborate document is
interesting both as a broad and enlightened scheme of
training for our future defenders, and as a useful
contribution to the general problem of education.
The existing system of military instruction was long
ago found wanting ; the work of the Commission was
not so much to discover defects as to devise remedies,
and this it has done without stint or prejudice
The plan now at work has proved bad both in
respect of the conditions upon which the aspirant
could gain admission to the army, and in respect of
his training and promotion after the preliminary
step had been passed. At present a young man may
become an army officer in various ways. Ile may
rise from the ranks—a performance which is not very
common, and which involves no special education.
He may purchase a direct commission, to obtain
which he must pass one examination in fiQ,
I subjects, chosen from mathematics, classics,
and science. These candidates at once commence
learning their military duties in the regiments
or garrisons. But for a certain proportion of
aspirants a higher training is provideo. All
candidates for admission to the A I.'l
a half—after passingcry or
Engineer Corps must spend two years- and
a preliminary test—at the
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where
they receive a special education, the most proficien
beaming engineers if they choose, the less advance
receiving artillery commissions. Lastly, the Royal
Military College at Sandhurst is maintained for the'