The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, m0mj,.401 inn4-3;eire, FEBRUARY 20, 1860.

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''tad Hong Kong,

services, and the Commander-in-Chief is net likely
to incur so grave 4 responsibility. Not long since
we expressed our impartial opinion of the manner
in which the Duke of Cambridge has exercised his
patronage in this respect since his accession to the
command of the army. Notwithstanding some
three or four names that rather grate against
one ideas of gallant service, we believe
it tohavp been on the whole fair; and we are sure
that so great a blot: as the appointment of General
Grey to a colonelcy—so utter a denial of claims
arising from service in the field—will not be
allowed to tarnish his Royal Highness's adminis-
tration of high °Mee. _ _

We announced some weeks since that the Minis-
ter of War, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Trea-
sury, were in communication respecting a plan for
the reduction of cavalry commissions to infantry
prices, and the abolition of the stoppages for forage
now made from cavalry officers. The execution of
the plan was delayed by various impediments ; but
we believe we may state that it is now in a fair
way of being carried out, and will very shortly be
officially promulgated. Henceforward all cornets
appointed to the cavalry of the line will receive two
chargers for regimental purposes from the Govern-
ment, and these chargers will be maintained at the
public expense. The rate of purchase of commis-
sions will be precisely the same as in the infantry.
As regards officers now serving in the cavalry,
they will be allowed the full prices paid for their
commissions, and those who have not purchased
will be entitled to the usual allowance for their
service—at the rate of £lOO per annum—on selling
out. We trust this step may be the means of re-
cruiting the commissioned ranks of our cavalry re-
giments, and inducing young gentlemen to select
that once favourite but now disregarded branch of
the army. We fear, however, that other causes
tend to render the cavalry unpopular. _During the
last few years they have got harder work, fewer
honours, comparatively less remunerative pay than
the rest of the service. The preliminary examina-
tion has a very deterrent effect upon the candidates;
and the extravagant style of living in many regi-
ments upon their fathers. The expenses to be
complained of aro not generally speaking what are
called regimental expenses, but they arise very
often from causes which are nevertheless within the
power of a good commanding officer to remove ;
and we trust, as it has been found impossible to induce
rich men to enter dragoon regiments in sufficient
numbers, that the less wealthy class of gentlemen
to whom the door is now open will preserve the
efficiency and military prestige of that splendid
body, the British Cavalry.
Under the newly-recognised rule, as regards the
period of service on the Staff, a large number of
vacancies will take place on the Ist of April next.
Various rumours are afloat as to the successors of
those who are about to resign, but the arrange-
ments are not yet in a condition to allow of our
giving any authentic information respecting them.
Lord Seaton has returned to Ireland to wind up the
affairs of his office, and will leave on the Ist of
April ; but his successor is not yet selected. The
Adjutant-General Sir George Wetherall's period of
service expired in December, but he will remain at
the Horse Guards for some time longer, at least
until some measures of military administration are
settled, respecting which the want of his assistance
would form a serious difficulty.
The command of the Dublin aistrict will become
vacant on the Ist of April by the promotion of
Major-General Gascoigne to be Lieut.-General.

The ircrease to the Royal Artillery will be made
in the shape of two brigades, to be numbered the
15th and 16th respectively. The 15th Brigade will
consist of 56 officers, 112 non-commissionedofficers,
trumpeters, drummers, and 1,608 rank and file.
The 16th Brigade will number 53 officers, 80 non-
commissioned officers, &c., and 864 rank and file.
The :promotions consequent on this augmentation
will, in all probability, promote the Lieut.-Colonels,
down to Col. Kennedy, to be Colonels •, the Captains,
down to Brevet-Major Longden, to be Lieut.-Colo-
nels ; the Second Captains, down to Brevet-Major
Penn, to be First Captains ; and the Lieutenants,
down to Lieut. Philip H. Sandilands, to be Second
Captains.
An Assistant-Inspector of Volunteers will be
stationed at each of the following places, viz., York,
Birmingham, Canterbury, Plymouth, Winchester,
and Edinburgh.
By the lamented death of General Sir William
Napier, Lieut.-General Sir James Ferguson, Colo-
nel of the 43d Regiment, another of the gallant
band forming the old Light Division, becomes
a General ; Major-General Gascoigne, Colonel
of the 69th Regiment, a Lieut.-General ; Colonel
the Hon. A. Spencer, a Major-General ;
Colonel C. E. Michell, 54th Regiment, a Colonel;
and Major Bruce, Staff-Officer of Pensioners, a
Lieut.-Colonel in the Army.

The following regiments are to be increased by
100 men each, and fixed at a strength per regiment
of 46 officers, 81 non-commissioned officers, and
1,050 rank and file, making a total of all ranks of
1,177, viz.-9th Ist bat, 10th Ist bat, 11th Ist bat,
llth 2d bat, 12th 2d bat, 14th 2d bat, 15th Ist bat,
16th Ist bat, 16th 2d bat, 17th 2d bat, 18th 2d bat,
19th 2d bat, 20th 2d bat, 21st 2d bat, 22d Ist bat,
24th 2d hat, 25th 2d bat, 26th, 29th, 30th, 32d
Light Infantry, 36th, 45th, 47th, 55th, 58th, 60th
Rifles 4th bat, 76th, 78th, 84th, 86th, 96th, and
Rifle Brigade lst bat. The other battalions now
serving in India remain at 950 rank and file, with
the same number of officers, with the exception of
the 65th Regiment, which numbers 1,400 rank and
file.