The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-05 00:00:00

THE ARMY PURCHASE SYLTEIII:

As the existing practice of buying and selling
commissions in the army is likely to be considered
during the coming parliamentary session, the fol-
lowing illustrations of its working are not without
interest:—

The Gazette of December 20 informed us of the
following arrangement :—" Coldstream
Lieutenant and Captain and Brevet-Major Lord
Bingham to be captain and lieutenant-colonel, by
purchase, vice Burdett, who retires."
In Hart's Army List is told that "Lord Bingham
served the Eastern campaign of 1854-5 as aide-de-
camp to the Earl of Lucan, including battles of
Alma, Balaklava, And Inkermann," Lieut.-Colonel
Burdett " served in the Crimea from December,
1854, and was at the fall of Sebastopol (medal and
clasp)." This officer did not buy the grade which
he has just seld.
The London Gazette, of Nov. 29, announced :
" Coldstream Guards—Lieutenant and Captain and
Brevet-Major Goodlake to "be captain and lieute-
nant-colonel, by purchase, vice Newdigate, who re-
tires."
Re-opening Bart's Army list, we find that Good- '
lake, the buyer, " served the Eastern campaign of
1854-5, and was present at the battles of Alma,
Balaklava, Inkermann, and Tchernaya." He is de-
corated with the Victoria Cross for his bravery.
Newdigate, the seller, on the contrary, does not
appear to have served against the enemy. It is cer-
tain, however, he did not purchase his lieutenant-
colonelcy—the step which he has disposed of to
Goodlake.
Here, then, we have two recent instances of offi-
cers who have seen little or nothing of war selling
what they did not buy to officers who have seen
comparatively much of war, Such is the " pur-
chase" system. Gentlemen with " good luck," who
remain quietly at home, may put a few thousand
pounds into their pockets by selling what the pub-
lic has freely given them to soldiers who have risked
their lives in the service of their country.
It would be interesting to know if the bargains
were done at regulation par, or at the conventional
premium, about which the Horse Guards prudes
affect to know nothing.—Daily News.

THE BO jT ACCIDENT AT LIVERPOOL.

An inquest was held before the borough coroner
of Liverpool on Monday on the body of Edward
Butler, one of the unfortunate men who lost their
lives by the boat accident on the Mersey on Friday
afternoon.
Wm. Williams deposed—l am a rigger, and re-
side in Worfield-street. The deceased, whose name
was Edward Butler, was also a rigger. He was 55
years old. He and I were well acquainted ; we had
been working together for years. Last Friday morn-
ing the deceased, I, and ten other riggers, and a lad,
went over to the Birkenhead Dock to the ship Grand
Trianon. We left the Birkenhead Dock about one
o'clock, a little before high water. We took the
ship abreast of Rock Ferry, in the river, and came
to an anchor. Between three and four o'clock we
left the ship in Thomas Mackay's boat. He had been
inattendance on the ship all day. The wind was about
southwest, blowing fresh, and the tide about an
hour or an hour and a half's ebb. The boat came'
to the port aide of the ship, and I think about 30
men got into her. Some of the men complained
there were too many on board. I heard Thomas
Mackay, the owner of the boat, say " She will carry
30 men." She is certainly a fine boat; there is no
mistake about that. We were making for the Cockle
Hole, between the Brunswick Dock and the Coburg
Dock. She went along very nicely until we got
on the edge of Pluckington Bank, where there is
always a ripple of sea at that state of the wind and
tide. When we got there the boat shipped three
seas right in over her bows. She filled with water,
and sank right under us. We all jumped out of
the boat into the water. I was picked up by a boat
that put off to our assistance. The captain of the
Grand Trianon, who was on the boat with us, was
picked up by the same boat I was. I did not see
the deceased again until I saw and recognised him
lying dead in his own house in 10 Court, Grafton-
street, on Saturday. The boat was under her fore-
sail. There was no one pulling at the oars, because
we had a fair wind. The back set of the river from
the Brunswick Dock wall made a head sea as we
got on the edge of the Pluckington Bank.
The Coroner (to Williams)—How many do you
think it was prudent to have in the boat ? The
owner says she would carry as many as were in ;
what is your opinion P
Williams—She would carry thirty well enough in
smooth water.

There was no danger till you came to Pluelting
ton Bank ?—No; there was no danger till we got
there, where there is always a ripple of sea.
I have heard that if you had all remained still
*ll would have been safe ?—There was not a single
man moved.

Do you consider that the captain (of the Grand
Trianon) was at all to blame in the matter ? Had
he any control at all ? Could you have remained
or go, as ycn chose, or were you under his control ?
—He was no more then than any.of ourselves. We
could do what we pleased.
Richard Miller, a shipwright, living at 67, Hill-
street, who witnessed the accident whilst standing
on the Coburg Dock pier, deposed that the rebound
of the water from the wall drove it over the boat,
and she went floating down the river. The boat
appeared to have been skilfully handled. He as-
sisted in saving one man with a life-buoy.
Edward Varley, police-officer 431, deposed to
finding the body of the deceased about half-past
eight o'clock, on the sands of Pluckington Bank,
where it had been left high and dry by the tide.
A verdict of " Accidental death" was returned.