The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-01 00:00:00

house ?

Mr. HUNT said the report bad not been laid on the
ly-,..ause the accounts were taken up to the end of
the financial year, which ended on the Ist of May. He
hoped to lie able to lay the report on the table in the course
of a fow days.

THE IRISH AND SCOTCH REFORM BILLS.
Mr. STACPOLE asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer when the Irish Reform Bill would be introduced ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not
think there was any difference cf importance between
the Scotch and the Irish reform hills. It was
necessary that some progress should be made
with the English reform bill before either of
the two bills referred to wero introduced. He thought it
better that he should explain the nature of the bills when
he made his general statement, rather than anevier ques-
tions relative to the provisions of the two bills.
With respect to the question of the hon. gentleman
(Mr. Oliphant), he was quite sure that there were
no compound householders in Scotland, but he did not
think that country was to be oondoled with under those
circumstances. (Hoar, hear, and laughter.)

TAE LUXEMBURG QUESTION.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked the Secretary of State for Fo-
reign
Affairs whether any suggestion that this country
should enter into any guarantee for securing the future
political neutrality of Luxemburg had been made to, or
entertained by, her Majesty's Government during the late
communications on the subject.
Lord STANLEY said a great many suggestions, prac-
tical and unpractical, wise and foolish, had been addressed
to him, but all arrangements for the political future of
that country would be matter for the consideration of the
conference, which he hoped would assemble at an early
day. It was not his duty to anticipate what would then
be discussed. England was one of the parties to the
treaty of 1836 with respect to Luxemburg, and it was
being a party to that treaty that had led to this country
being invited to take part in the conference.

DISTRESS IN GALWAY.
Mr. GREGORY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether any report had reached him as to the probability
of serious distress in the western part of Galway during
the summer ; and whether he had ordered any inquiry on
this subject?
Lord NA AS said he bad only received one letter on the
subject, which he had referred to the Poor-Law Com-
missioners, who had intimated to him that they would
make inquiry into the statements contained in the com-
munication.

--________
IRISH LAW APPOINTMENTS.
Lord DUNKELLIN asked Mr. Attorney-General for
Ireland whether, with regard to the vacant mastership of
the Court of Exchequer, it was intended to adopt the re-
commendation of the Royal Commission on the Courts of
Common Law and Equity, who in their second report
stated that one master was sufficient for the three law

courts.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland said no de-
finite determination had yet been come to. The matter
was still under consideration.
FIRE INSURANCE.
Mr. S HERI DAN asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
if he could fix a day for the consideration of the bill with
reference to the national debt, because he had an amend
ment he intended to move with respect to the fire insur-

ance duty.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
impossible to bring the bill on on Thursday next. He
would, however, bring it for Ward at the earliest day pos-
sible, and he would promise the hon member ha should
have ample notice previous to its being done.
THE FACTORIES BILL.
In reply to Mr. BRIGHT,
Mr. WALPOLE said he would state on Friday next
the course he intended to adopt with respect to the Fac-
tories Bill.
THE PURCHASE SYSTEM IN THE ARMY.
Mr. TREVELYAN rose to call the attention of the
house to the system of purchasing commissions in the
Army. He said the matter was one of the greatest impor- '
tance, and it was necessary that the person who undertook
the duty should be very young, because the subject was
one that would require great attention, and more than
likely it was ono that would eventually wear him
out as it had already done Lord Clyde, who was
ono of the most uncompromising enemies of the purchase
system iu the army, aad General Sir De Lacy Evans.
The present system in practice was ono that required
thorough reformation, because as matters now stood it was
not skill and intelligence that qualified for a command in
the army but money. (Hear, hear.) The purchase
system was indefensible in practice, aul he thought
national safety required that it should be altogether
abolished. Every man when he entered a profession
he considered, should be enabled to live by his call-
ing, but such was not the case in the army.
When young mon entered the army certain deductions
were made, which rendered his pay altogether inadequate
to meet the ordinary expenses, and, without he had the
good fortune to belong to a wealthy family, he stood very
little chance of being able to rise in hisprofession. Accord
ing to the present system it mattered ♦ery little whether
he had intelligence or not, because if a man depended
on his intellect, he would certainly be in a worse
position when he got promotion. Wealthy fami-
lies found it convenient to put their junior
members into the army, and when once there have
ing ample means to fall back on promotion would n.,t only
be easy but rapid. There was no purchase iu the navy,
the Indian service, and other branches of the public
service, and he was utterly at a loss to know why pur-
chas) should be required in the army. It cer-
tainly was not because the military service was
unpopular. Quito the contrary ; because no pro-
fession held out such inducements for achiev-
ing honour and dtstinction. The system at present
in existence was wrong in every sense. Under the pre-
Bent arrangements what was the position of a really
brave but comparatively poor man ? Why if an opportunity
presented itself of obtaining higher grade in the service
he was quite incapable of embracing it, because he was
not possessed of the means of purchasing the com-
mission, a younger man stepped in with the regulation
price, and thus passed over the head of the experienced
and able soldier. It was said that by purchase promotion
became more rapid, but he was of opinion that if a judicious
system of retirement was adopted that would do as much
as the system of purchasing commissions in the army
tends greatly to diminish the efficiency of our military
force.
Colonel SYKES seconded the motion, as he considered
the purchase system was mischievous, imprudent, and
impolitic.
Captain STANLEY supported the motion, remarking
that he had no fear that the post of honour and gentle-
manly feeling would be endangered by promotion from
the ranks. He hoped that the right hon. baronet the
Secretary for War would take the matter into his serious
consideration, because it was one that required great care
in carrying it into operation on account of the difficulties
that now lay in the way.
Colonel Nontrn and Captain Nuomser-GnEvrtex opposed
the motion.

After a few words from Sir H. VERNEY,

Major JERVIS gave it as his opinion that the question
was exclusively of a financial character, and said that, if
Parliament was willing to vote the funds necessary to
carry out the change proposed, he for one would be quite
ready to vote for doing away with the system of purchase
altogether.
Sir J. PAKINGTON admitted that there were great
and serious anomalies in the purchase system, but re-
minded the house that the British army had achieved
under it a degree of renown which made it second to
none in the world. It would, ho thought, be impossible
to put an and to the present system without a greater con-
currence of public opinion in favour of the change than
had yet been elicited,but without that expression of opinion
it would be vain to expect that the public would consent
to the expense which it would entail. The present sys-
tem—anomalous as it was—had received the sanction of
the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Richmond, and
other eminent authorities, as also that of the Royal Com-
mission of 1810 ; and it ought not, he thought, to be
abolished without due consideration. The right hon.
gentleman added that he hoped to be able in a short time
to lay on the table the report of the Commission on Mili-
tary Organisation, of which Lord Strathriairn was the
chairman, and that it would contain many important
r
which he apprehended ought to be
considered in connection with • any scheme fur mak-
ing the service more efficient. Ile hoped the hon.
mild not, under
member w these cireutnstancos: press the
motion to a division.

The Marquis of HARTINGTON also joined in this
recomm,ndation, and expressed his opinion that the feeling
of the public was not ripe for so important a change as
that suggested. He also thought the house ought to know
the nature of the system which was to be substituted for
that which now existed, and also the cost which the
country would be called upon to pay.
Mr. TREVELYAN having replied,
The house divided, and the motion was rejected by 116
to 73.

Mr. R. MILLS obtained leave to bring in a bill to
rep .%1 tho sevoral acts granting and regulating the
appropriation of £20,300 from the consolidated feud for
tho ecclesiastical establishments in the West Indies,
excepting so far as to continue their allowances to the