The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-28 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1858.

The House of Commons has very properly de-
cided against giving a monopoly to Sandhurst, or
rescinding the salutary rule for regulating the
admissions to Woolwich, by means whereof com-
missions in the scientific branches of the service
might be obtained by open competition. This is
a heavy blow and great discouragement to the
Horse Guards' clique, and to Lord PANMIIRE, who
harmonised with their projects for exclusion to
all but the favoured classes who could secure a
recommendation at head-quarters. The desire
for patronage prevailed over the interests of the
community. So long as the chances of obtaining
a commission were restricted to the pupils of a
single seminary, to which admission could only
be obtained through the authorities, it was
obvious that a great educational stimulant
was withdrawn from all our public establishments,
and also what in many instances is no less
important, the vast field of private instruction.
Why should young men educated at the Univer-
sities of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, London, or
Durham—the Queen's Colleges in Ireland, Eton,
Harrow, Rugby, or Winchester—or at well-regu-
lated private schools, be placed under a ban ; why
should those who had studied with assiduity and
effect under parents or tutors be tabooed ? The
object should be to procure the best men, at all
events, for the scientific corps. We have witnessed
the results achieved by Sir COLIN CAMPBELL and
other Generals in India through the use of heavy
ordnance. We may have exceedingly useful offi-
cers in the line who had not attained high educa-
tional proficiency ; but, as was well remarked by
Lord ADOLPHUS VANE TEMPEST, there could not
be too high a test for officers of the Staff, the
Engineers, or the Artillery. On their ability
and scientific knowledge the safety of
an entire army might depend, and we
have experience of the manner in which
the lives of our soldiers may be economised by
their efficiency. Now, if all the competitors be
taken from a single academy, that efficiency will
be greatly impaired. Lads speedily discover that
with very little exertion they can maintain a cer-
tain position in their class that would ensure
them a place among the first three-fifths, or one-
half of the number. They would then have but
little motive for exertion. But when they had to
contest with unknown candidates, prepared in the
best establishments of the country, they would
feel the necessity of
applying themselves with
indefatigable diligence to the prescribed curricu-
lums of study, in order to obtain the enviable
prize, which would also carry with it a much
higher distinction than if the contemplated re-
strictions had come into operation. It is some-
thing to win a high place from all the ambitious
youth of the United Kingdom, but far less to do
so from those of one establishment, however raori_

torious.
Besides, it was, to say the least of it, very de_
airable that such a spur to exertion should be
maintained throughout the whole country. A
master who was so fortunate as to have a youth
of high capacity, who might fairly enter such a
contest would spare no pains to prepare him for
the competition, which in case of success, would
reflect the highest credit, as well on the teacher