The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-24 00:00:00

into the whole question. (Hear.) The Government did
not intend to take any steps for the entire abolition of the
system of purchase in the army. It could not be so dealt
with as some proposed, without the expenditure of large
sums by way of compensation. (Hear.) Therefore the
Government entertained no such intention as the noble lord
appeared to suppose. The question was whether it was not
necessary to provide some remedy for admitted evils of the
system. (Hear.) One of these evils was the practice of
receiving and paying large sums for commissions above the
regulation prices. This practice was general if not uni-
versal ; but it was in direct contravention of the law. An
Act of Parliament existed denouncing penalties against it,
the offender being liable to be cashiered. That act was
called to the attention of officers by the army regulations,
and had very lately been acted upon by an indictment in
the Queen's Bench, on which the parties had been convicted
and imprisoned. Therefore the officers who followed this
practice well knew it was illegal and illegitimate. Now that
was not a system which could be considered satisfactory.
And though successive Commanders-in-Chief knew of the
practice they had only seemed to acquiesce in it, net because
approving of it, but because unable to discover the
parties really implicated in any particular transactions.
The evil existed, however, and ought to be eradicated. It
had been stigmatised as " ruinous" and " mischievous" by
the highest military authorities. An order had lately,been
issued from the Horse Guards reducing the price of cavalry
commissions, and this had some effect. The question was
one of very great importance. There had taken place lately,
in the system of promotion in the army, certain changes, the
effect of which was that, whereas before the warrant of
1854, there existed a system of promotion by brevet, under
which an officer slowly, but surely, went on step by step.
That was altered, and there were now no means of getting
the higher ranks except by serving in certain ranks, regi-
mental or staff. The question to be considered wa3 whether
the plan proposed by the commission was deserving of ap-
proval. The person whose duty it was to appoint a com-
manding officer should have the largest field for selection ;
and it was of the greatest importance that if an officer was
unfit to be promoted the Commander-in-Chief should have
the power of passing over him and appointing a more fit
officer. The Government was fully convinced of the ne-
cessity of proceeding with the utmost caution and delibera-
tion in making the proposed change. He believed, how-
ever, that by this step, instead of dimir ishing, they could
add to the efficiency of the army, and remove what ap-
peared to him to be at present a g: eat blot and scandal upon
the army. (Hear.)
The Earl of LUCAN hoped that the Government would
consider well before they adopted a step which he believed
would be fatal to theßritish army. He frankly admitted
that the present system of purchase, where a large sum in
excess of the regulation price was paid, was in itself an evil ;
but he believed that that evil might he very much dimi-
nished without altogether abolishing the system. Setting
aside the money which was paid in excess, no objection
could fairly be made to the system, for the purchase money
might be regarded in the light of guarantee, since the officer
on retiring got back the money, and it was for the Com-
mander-in-Chief to appoint his successor. He believed
that the system of purchase had worked admirably, and
that none other had worked so well. There were no regi-
ments in the world superior to the English; and, although
in foreign regiments the officers might be more scientific,
yet for fidelity and bravely no officers could excel
or equal those of the British army. Marshal
Canrobert, on his return from the Crimea, where he had
ample opportunities of judging, said that there was no
soldier in Europe braver than the English soldier, except the
English officer. It was intended, nevertheless, to tamer
with this system, which had answered so admirably: Cana to
propose that the system of purchase should be abolished in
respect to officers of a higher grade than majors. He had
Feed with great attention the evidenceupon which the report
was founded, and he could not recollect a single opinion ex-
pressed by any witness of note recommending this change.
He should like to ask the noble earl whether he or his chief
bad considered the difficulties of working out the new sys-
tem, which he believed to be impracticable. The noble earl
then proceeded to point out the unfair advantages whichthe
Artillery and Guards would enjoy over the cavalry and line
regiments, if the proposed change was carried out. If 'a
major was passed over,by the Commander-in •Chief, it would
reflect so seriously upon his character that it would be im-
possible for him to continue in the army. Upon what prin-
ciple was the Commander-in-Chief to make bis selection,
and how was he to ascertain the qualities of the officer to be
appointed ? The noble duke the Commander-in-Chief had
told the commission that the plan was impracticable, and
the result would be that he would be obliged to revert to that
objectionable system of appointment by seniority. It was
the object of the commission to show that improper officers
had been appointed to the command of regiments, and he
was certainly surprised to find how few instances had been
established. The commission appeared in their recommen •
; dations to have borrowed from the French army, but with
only au imperfect knowledge of what the system was. The
chef-de-bataillon had opportunities of displaying bis
bilities as a commander, and it was easy for the Commanaer-
in-Chief to form an estimate of his capacity for the command
of a regiment; but the case was different with a major in
the English army, who had no opportunities of showing his
capabilities to command aregiment. Upon the general ques-
tion of pm chase in the army, it was notorious that the evil
of slow promotion was so great in the artillery that the offi •
core had actually proposed the introduction of the system of
purchase into that branch of the service. He trusted that
the Govehunent would well consider before they adopted
the proposals of the commission, and abolished the system
of purchase.
The Duke of SOMERSET asked why the noble lord-
(Lord Panmure) had appointed the commission, if he was
confident in his own mind that the system of purchase was
good, and that it would be most ruinous to destroy it ? The
noble lord, as the representative of the Government, ought
not to have appointed the commission, and whyin theworld
did he do so ? (Hear, and laughter.) His object must have
been to shelve the question. He (the Duke of Somerset)
was prepared to support the decision at which the commis-
sion had arrived. (Hear.) The commander of a regiment
had a most important trust to discharge. The issue of a battle
might depend upon him. The mortality in the Crimea had
been found to depend very much upon the efficiency of the
commanders of the respective regiments, and it was most ab-
surd to appoint an officer merely because he was possessed of
sufficient money to purchase the command. The Com-
mander-in-Chief had ample means of knowing the acquire-
ments of every officer, and who was the one best suited to be
appointed. Surely there was no difficulty in passing over
an officer, as the answer to any objection would be easy,
that, without disparagement to the claims of the officer who
was passed over, the claims of another seemed to be prefer-
able. The question, in fast, resolved itself into this—
whether the interests of the public or those of the officers
were to be consulted. He allowed there were difficulties in
carrying out the system ; he was not prepared to suggest a
remedy in every case, but he was quite convinced that the
wider the field of selection the better it would be for the
army and the country. By keeping up the system of pur -
chase to a certain point, the great desideratum of having
young officers in the lower ranks would be obtained, white
the principle of selection would keep the higher grades of
the army in an efficient condition. There were no armies in
the world in which the higher ranks of the army were filled
up by purchase. He would not go into the general subject,
but would content himself with saying that although there
might be difficulties in carrying out the proposed system,
yet he was satisfied that it would be such an improve-
ment upon the present system, that the difficulties of the
change should be well considered, with a view to their
removal and the introduction of a better system into the
army.
Earl GREY agreed with the noble duke that the task of
selecting commanding officers was a most important one,
and that they ought not to be appointed merely because
they possessed a certain amount of money. But he was
quite convinced that the practical working of the proposed
system would be this, that, except in very rare cases, the
appointments would be by seniority. This was the opinion
expressed by the illustrious Commander-in-Chief—(hear,
hear)—and he did not believe it would be found that a
superior class of offices would be appointed. On the con-
trary, he believed that the present system gave to the Com-
mander .in-Chief the opportunity of passing over inefficient
officers, by recommending such as were unfit for promotion
to sell out. (near, hear.) He knew that this plan had
been adopted, and he believed that it was still the pi actice
of his Royal Highness the present Commander-in-Chief.
The political advantages of the present system appeared to
be enormous. It placed men of position and standing, who
in later life were to occupy important offices in the State,
under the salutary influence of military command. (Hear,
hear.) It had also the effect of preventing the army from
being exclusive, and this vet/. materially destroyed the
danger which naturally attached to a largo standing army.
(Hear, hear.)
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE said that, in the position
which he occupied, it would be most indelicate on his part
to enter into any arguments, because his opinions were
well known, and had been given to the commission over
which the noble duke (Duke of Somerset) had presided. He
regretted to say that he had not changed the opinion which
he then entertained ; and ho would merely add that what-
evera might be decided upon, he could assure the noble duke
he
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Viscount HARDINGE believed that to abolish the
system of purchase would be most injurious. He had for-
merly entertained the opinion that the principle of selec-
tion was preferable, buabving read the evidence of his
Royal Highness awl thew) le earl his former opinions had
,
complained of the attack which had
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been made upon him by the noble duke, who had charged
him with deliberately issuing the commiesion for the pur-
His only answer to that
pose of shelving the question.
charge was this, that he repudiated the attack with all the
feelings with which a gentleman should repudiate a charge
upon his personal honour. Ho was not satisfied that the pre-
sent system was all that could be desired, and he was desi-
rous to see if some change for the better could not be intro-
duced. He confessed that he was not satisfied with the re-
sult of the deliberations of the commission.
The Duke of SOMERSET said he did not intend to say
iything which could affect the personal character of the
hie earl.
The bill was then read a second time.
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter to nine o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The foll•wing bills were read a third time and passed :
Oisley and Hayfield Railway ; London and North Western
Railway and Saint Helens Canal and Railway Companies ;
and Oswestry and Newtown Railway (Branch Railway,
Bre.)
The Wigan Water Bill was considered and ordered for
third reading.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The USHER OF THE BLACK ROD summoned the house
to the bar of the House of Lords, to hear the Royal assent
given by commission to several bills, for which see Lords'
report. The Speaker, accompanied by some members, then
proceeded to the House of Lords.
CHURCH RATES.
A considerable portion of the evening was occupied in
hearing petitions for and against the abolition of church-
ries.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
On the motion of Mr. RICARDO, leave of absence was
given to Mr. Alderman Copeland, on the ground of domes
tic affliction.

NORWI CH ELECTION.
Mr. T. DTJNCOM BE moved that Mr. Speaker do issue
his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new
writ for the Cleating of two citizens to serve in this present
Parliament for the city of Norwich, in the room of Henry
VVilliana William Schneider, Coutts K Esq., and the Right Honourable
eppel, commonly called Viscount Bury, whose elections have been determined to be void.