The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-14 00:00:00

PRUMOTIO.

rE RANKS.

A writer in a contemporary says :
Notwithstanding all that has been put forward
in the Times and elsewhere in regard to the promo-
tion of deserving non-commissioned officers and men
from the ranks, it seems almost incredible that of
the very large number of vacant commissions con-

sequent on the casualties in India since the com-

mencement of the Sepoy mutiny only two or three
have been given to men from the ranks.

Would there were in the East your " Own
Correspondent," to whom the soldier and the public
owe so much for his Crimean records, to paint in
his graphic style the indomitable pluck and the
patient endurance of terrible privations our gallant
soldiers have manifested ; to chronicle how they
marched and toiled and faced the foe ofttimes in
the course of the day ; how they sank wearied in
the swamps, and thinned and staggering from
wounds and disease ; how they braced up their
loins and pressed forward as the avengers of inno-
cent blood. Surely some, nay, many of these
humble heroes are deserving of promotion, as re-
presenting their gallant comrades. Who will deny
there are many Jack Steels in her Majesty's regi-
ments now serving in India ?

But, alas ! there is no one there to advocate the
cause of the poor soldiers, who—all due credit being►
allbwed to the officers for a faithful discharge of
their duties—have borne the burden and heat of
the day. Row grievously their claims have been
neglected the fact of their having been almost
entirely ignored in the Gazette will only too fully
prove.

- By referring to the Gazettes any one will see in
what way the vacancies have been disposed of. A
few have been granted to students of the Military
College. To such an appropriation within due
limits no One will object.
. _

As if to draw off attention from the alienation of
the vacancies from the ranks of the regiments,
others have been filled up by young officers from
other corps, in which the chances of speedy promo-
tion are not so great as in those serving in India.
But the great majority of vacancies lately oc-
curring in Queen's regiments oR the Indian
establishment have been given without purchase
to the generation of " gent," whose number is
legion. Vory gentlemanly youths are these, no
doubt—tolerably well read and crammed ; but still
youths requiring months of drill and years of ex-
perience and growth to fit them in capacity and
stamina for the duties and hardships of harrassing
field service under a burning.sun. Meanwhile the
duty must be done, and it is and will be virtually
performed for a long time to come by the non-com-
missioned ulcers, in lieu of whom they have been
promoted, and who will bear the brunt of the work
and exposure while the young ensigns are learning
the goose-step at Chatham. Not that it is implied
that in due time the young ensigns will be deficient
in gallantry and devotion. They are simply use-
less while they are wanted in the field, and their
work is done by others who deserve to enjoy the
honour and reward of the much-coveted rank.

No one will deny that vacancies in regiments
serving in the field should be filled up at once, and
few reasonable men will doubt they they ought to
be filled up,in great majority at least, by deafer-
ving soldiers on the spot,—men trained to war, of
sound constitution, good character, and possessing
a fair education. Of such there are many in India.
The better pay and position of the soldier in the
East, with the (too long deferred) hope of advance-
ments, attract many well educated and respectable
young men thither. An ensign can live on his pay
anywhere in the field, and can always, with proper
management, keep out of debt in India. So that
in no sense would promotion from the ranks be an
injury to the individual or to the ,service ; while
its denial to these gallant and enduring men is a
crying injustice against which they hope you will
wage war a l'outrance, and give the " authorities"
no peace until a fair share of the rewards is given
to those who bear the brunt of the toil, the dangers,
and the privations of war.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCHANGE.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended Jan. 14, 1858, made up from the Re.,
turns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in
England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter.
WHEAT I BARLEY I OATS I RYE BEANS I nes
47s 10d 36s 3d 22s 8d 33s 6d 398 3d 40s 5d
THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES.

WHEAT I BARLEY I OATS I RYE I BEANS I PIO
488 4d 36s 3d 22s 10c1 33s 3d 40s 2d 40s 4d
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.
Wheat, 83,674; barley, 86,563; oath, 9,514; rye, 29;
beaus, 3,433 ; peas, 845 quarters.