The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-06 00:00:00

THE NBW ARMY WARRANT.

The report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to re-
vise the Warrant of 18.54, as regards promotion in the higher
ranks of the army, was published yesterday. It is elabo-
rate, clear, and comprehensive, entering fully and fairly
into all the complaints which have been urged of the unequal
operation of the previous warrant. At present, time pre-
vents our doing more than epitomising the recommenda-
tions, which are to the following effect :
First, with regard to the past operation of the warrant,
especially in the case of colonels and lieut.-colonels passed
over by their juniors, the commissioners recognise many
benefits conferred by the system of selection for the rank of
maj 'r-general, and of promotion to that of colonel, because
of a certain period spent in discharging the practical duties
of lieut.-colonel ; but they admit that injustice to indi-
viduals was inflicted, which they propose to remedy tkus:-
1. By making the officers promoted to be major-gene-
rals for distinguished service, supernumerary to the fixed
establishment, until the period at which they would come
upon that establishment by seniority, thus leaving the
stream of promotion entirely unchecked among the colonels,
while giving to the selected officers every advantage of
position which they now hold as a consequence of their
distinguished conduct.

2. The advancement to the rank of colenel of all lieut.-
colonels commissioned as such prior to the 20th of June,
1854, the commissions to be antedated to the 28th of Nov.,
1854, and the colonels thus promoted to take their position
as colonels according to their previous seniority as lieut.-
colonels. The number of officers who have been passed over,
but who will he reinsta'ed by this prevision, is 115.
flaying removed these two inequalities as regards the
past, the commissioners in the next place provide for the
future by recommending several important modifications
of the warrant of 1854, which are as follow :-
1. The increase of the fixed establishment of general
tifliers of the Guards and the line from 231 to 260. The
new establishment to consist of 50 generals, 80 lieutenant
generals, and 130 major-generals.
2. Making the qualification for future advancement to the
rank of colonel five years' command of a regiment instead
of three, as at present, ordinary leave of absence not to be
deducted from the period. Majors and brevet-lieutenant-
colonels in command, in the absence of the lieutenant-
colonel, to be also entitled to the rank after five years so
spent, and majors and brevet-lieutenant-colonels, having
detached commands equal in respensibility and extent to
that of lieutenant-colonel, to be considered as qualified in
the same manner at the discretion of the Commander-in-

Chief, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.
3. Officers promoted to the rank of brevet lieutenant-
colonel, for distinguished services in the field, to be made
colonels after eight years, instead of six years, as at present.
4. Six years service as field officer to continue as an in-
dispensable condition of promotion to the rank end pay of
major-general.
5. The removal of an officer from regimental command at
the age of 60.
6. Lieutenant-colonels on the retired full pay to receive
not merely their pay of 17s. a-day, as at present, but their
additional command money of 3s. a-day, thus making the
retiring allowance equal to the real full pay, as its name

7. Brevet rank to be converted into substantive rank
very sparingly, and only for very distinguished service, and
promotion out of turn to the rank of major-gen., to be
given only for extraordinary services. Officers now having
brevet rank, and having the right to acquire substantive
rank, to have the option of retaining their present regi-
mental position, but with the pay of regimental officers of
the higher rank. The brevet-major's pay would thus be
increased from 13s. 7d. to 163. per day, and the brevet
lieut.-col. from 163. to I7s.
The commissioners advert to the relative positions 'of the
Guards and the Line, and speak of the complaints, on the
part of the former, as to their taking two years longer (on
an average) to attain the rank of colonel than officers of the
line. The captains And lieutenant-colonels of the Guards
commissioned prior to June, 18,54, are to be promoted along
with the other lieutenant-colonels of the same standing ;
but, as regards the future, the commissioners leave the
position of the Guards an open question, remarking that
ihe warrant of 1854 has not yet been sufficiently long in
operation to enable them to come to a decision as to its
working in that particular respect, and that " the compara-
tive slowness of promotion in the Guards is, in part at
least, attributable to circumstances advantageous to the
officers of these regiments."
The report, to which several memoranda are added in the
shape of an Appendix, is signed " Sidney Herbert, George
(the Duke of Cambridge), Newcastle, Grey, pannlure,
Rokeby, Edward Ellice J. Yorke Scarlett, W. P.
J. M. F. Smith, 11. K. Storks, and He m y Williams,'

MELANCHOLY AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT BRIGHTON.
—A melancholy accident terminating in death, took place on
the race course, on Tuesday evening, the night betore the
races. Two young men were out together for a ride on the
Downs, and one them, Mr. James Flockton, stopping at the
Old Ship Hotel
.while attempting to leap his horse over
the railings enclosing the course, was thrown off and
precipitated to the ground, his horse's feet having caught
the railing. The horse fell upon the rider and most seriously
injured him. A fly was immediately sent for, and he was
conveyed, without delay, to the Sussex County Hospital.
Every assistance that medical skill could render was
afforded, but although he lingered through the night, he
did not recover, death ensuing on Wednesday.—Brighton
Gazette.