The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1E69

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

to -pass thrOllgh the "-notelfing ordeal— Or- Downing-
street. The reforms about to take place, however,
are by no means small ones. So sweeping will
they be that no further appointments of cornets
or ensigns are to take place until after the meet-
ing of Parliament. Among the rumoured alterations
are-1. That depot battalions will be struck out of
the estimates next year. 2. That thirty-three field
officers will be cut off. 3. That the ranks of Ensign
and Cornet will be altogether dispensed with.
There are renewed rumours of the abolition of the
purchase system, caused by the fact that a circular is
about to bo sent round to the commanding officers of
regiments requiring from them a return of the sums
they have paid for their steps up to their present
rank, inclusive.
In the Civil Service the Government is also at
work. A certain number of regimental pay-
masters are, it is said, to be appointed
to the Control Department.—lt may be added that
the Army and Navy Gazette announces the report of
the Indian Colonel Committee as in the press. "The
gist of the recommendations will be that the
local Indian rank of major-general should be
bestowed upon all colonels who may be superseded
by the promotion of junior colonels to the rank of
major-general. The Lords of the Admiralty have
issued an order which has caused much dissatisfac-
tion. They give notice that all official residences are
in future to be kept in general repair by the occupier.

country. In ShOlt, 11r. Trollopo argues as well rer
the foxhunter as Mr. Freeman argued for the fox.

Tint 44 GRAPHIC."

The new illustrated paper, the Graphic, brought
out its first number on Saturday. Some of the
engravings are exceedingly good; the portrait of
Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, is capital; and
the "Pope in Council" very clear, and well defined
for a group of portraits. The letter press also is ex-
cellent—chatty, gossipy, agreeable. The paper
ought to be a success. Anyway, it must stir up the
managers of the illustrated London News to produce
higher things. The lovers of engravings will doubt-
less be benefitted. if no one else is.

FOREIGN NOTES.

TrIE SULTAN AND TITO KHEDIVE.

According to the last accounts from Constantinople the
Turco-Egyptian difficulty seems to be in a fair way of
settlement. The latest despatch that was received from
Constantinople by the Havas Agency states that the
firman which Server Effendi has taken to Cairo is very
conciliatory on the question of loans, and this is a point
on which the Viceroy is roost susceptible. The Patrie
affirms that England, France, and Austria, instead of taking
a separate course, have united their efforts to promote
an amicable arrangement between the Sultan and the
Viceroy.

A SPECTACLE IN ST. PETER'S.

On Advent Sunday a magnificent ceremony took place
in St. Peter's. The opening of the ecclesiastical year plays
an important part in the Roman Ritual, and the Pope,
after Mass in the Sistine en that day, carries the Host to
the Pontine Chapel, and there leaves it on the High Altar.
This year the number of Bishops having a right to assist
in the ceremony was so great that it was transferred to St.
Peter's. The Roman Patriarch of Constantinople officiated at
Mass, which was celebrated at a portable altar erected in
front of the Confession of the Apostles, as no one but the
Pope can officiate at the High Altar. The Pope took his
place on the throne at the end of the apse. After Mass,
he received the consecrated Host, which he carried under
a dais of silver brocade, supported by eight Bishops. The
profession was formed, the whole body of cardinals,
bishops, patriarchs, and abbots following in the order of
their consecration. The spectacle is described by those
present as one of unusual splendour. Mitred prelates
from every country beneath the sun were gathered in St.
Peter's—Chaldeans, Coptios, and Armenians, mixing fra-
ternally with the Latin bishops, and appearing
as completely at home in the Basilica as in
their own far-off churches of Antioch, Ephesus,
or Trebizonde, and the long line of the procession
bad a most brilliant artistic effect. The ceremony con-
cluded with the placing of the Host on the High Altar, and
the chanting of the Litanies.