The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-31 00:00:00

tration was handed ever to the QUEEN'S Govern_
ment as a matter of course, it was objected to on
the part of the East India Company's army—
that was the local army which, while they
owned allegiance to the QUEEN, yet considered
their obedience was due to the Company in whose
service they had enlisted. This objection was
right in one sense and wrong in the other ; for
they were bound to follow the fortunes of their
masters in the land of their adoption. But on the
other hand the soldiers reasoned that because their
masters had sold or yielded their power for a con-
sideration some consideration ought to be extended
to them. And so it ought in fairness and as a matter
even of policy, for the men had nobly acquitted
themselves in the recent rebellion and deserved
better of their country. They only required a small
fee as a token of acknowledgment for arduous ser-
vice well performed. But here red-tapism stepped
in with its wonted prestige, and having first refused
a paltry consideration it was beneath its dignity
to descend to common sense. Prejudice was
strengthened into obstinacy, and " bad blood" was
engendered among all parties. What was to be
done ? The fire was kindled, but it was far easier
to fan the flame than to extinguish it. Open
mutiny broke out in the ranks and public safety
counselled immediate pacification. Thus what
might have been settled for some thirty thousand
pounds at the utmost, will now cost the country
twenty times as much! The men carried their
point so far that they obtained their discharge by
way of compromise, with a free passage home into
the bargain. All this sad mistake might have beer
avoided by proper conciliation. But the pride of
the red-tapist overcame his sense of duty and pro-
voked resistance where it might and could have
promoted esteem and secured obedience.

But let us now endeavour to turn this evil into
a benefit. When these men return—possibly to
the number of ten thousand well-disciplined hardy
soldiers, perhaps as good, if not the best, in our
service—•let a fair bounty be tendered to join the
ranks of our army, after they have had furlough
enough to visit their friends and relatives. Some
may refuse, but many, very many, will join, and
each man will be worth two of those who now
volunteer, because the knowledge and experience
of the one will counterbalance the inefficiency of
the other twofold or more.
We should thus add to the national defence a
body of mature soldiers, who, being mixed up with
less disciplined men or young recruits, would prove
of incalculable benefit to the service.

Again, many of those who might hesitate to join
the regular army could be induced to enter into
the militia, or take promotion in the volunteers,
and thus infuse a spirit of discipline and emulation
highly conducive to our national organisation in
the day of danger as of duty.

It is with much pleasure that we direct the
attention of our readers to a letter on the proposed
improvement of the Serpentine, which will be
found in another part of our impression. It is
from Mr. GEORGE RENNIE, the original proposer
of the simple and efficacious plan we have so
strongly recommended on previous occasions. Mr.
RENNIE sets forth clearly and distinctly the
reasons in its favour, and we imagine that a perusal
of his scheme would convince any unprejudiced
person. One of his great arguments appeals
directly to the general humanity of the public, and
enlists on its side the sympathies of many who
might regard the question of economy, or expen-
diture, with indifference. By the adoption of Mr.
RENNIE'S plan the great risks at present incurred
by bathers and skaters would be entirely obviated,
while the Royal Humane Society would be enabled
to transfer their establishment to some localities
where risks were inevitable. He proposes to de-
posit at the bottom of the lake a sufficient quantity
of gravel to reduce the depth to four or five feet.
A very large portion of the area of the lake is not
so deep at present ; and, as the gravel can be
obtained in the immediate vicinity, the undertaking
is by no means formidable. " I feel assured,"
observes Mr. RENNIE, "that, omitting the unne-
cessary removal of the mud and the layer of con-
crete, the cost of obtaining full security for bathers
and skaters, with the relief to the Humane Society's
funds, could be obtained for a comparatively frac-
tional part of the sum now held out to terrify
Parliamentary economists from relieving them-
selves of a charge of what can only be looked upon
as showing a total disregard of human life." Even
were the cost, however, to amount to the sum
threatened, it would surely be wiser to expend a
little more, and complete the undertaking
satisfactorily and successfully, than to effect a
pitiful saving, which, like all half mea-
sures, will probably cost much more in the end.
Mr. HAWKSLEY'S method is open to serious ob-
jections and cannot afford us any security : for in
a few years we would be subjected to the same
annoyance and expense, while the plan whose
adoption we have so strenuously advocated will be
permanent in its good effects. The absurdity of
returning the filtered water into the same basin
with no protection againt the evils arising from
stagnant water must be apparent to the most casual
observer. We hope that Mr. RENNIE'S suggestions
may be carried out, and that the estimates he asks
for may be furnished. He is anxious that the
Humane Society should make a statement of the
number of deaths which have taken place in the
Serpentine since 1842 when the last report was
laid before Parliament on Mr. RENNIE'3 motion.
With this melancholy list he would desire an ac-
count of the charges incurred by the society in
preventing similar accidents. Mr. RENNIE tells us
that to the best of his recollection the expense of
building the receiving house on the banks of the
Serpentine was between £2,000 and £3,000, and the
annual expenditure from £1,500 to £2,000. Had
this method been adopted seventeen years ago,
when Mr. RENNIE brought forward tile subject in
the House of Commons, a considerable amount would
have been saved to the public, besides the far more
'important preservation of numerous lives. It is an
absurdity- to have a piece of ornamental water which
can answer no other good purpose, of such a
depth as to render it positively dangerous.
Every ornamental advantage can be attained
by comparatively shallow water, as may
readily be seen in St. James's-park, where the
alterations have for once been universally admitted
to be genuine improvements. The national claim
to inherent dominion over the sea does not certainly
extend to fresh water, which we seem to be totally
incapable of managing, from our noble river to an
ornamental pond. It reflects but little credit on a
nation which prides itself on its superiority in all
practical and scientific knowledge that we shou id
allow what ought to be a source of health and plea-
sure to become a positive nuisance. The fault lies
with the Government more than with the people,
who are only too little inclined to criticise the
public expenditure, and would raise no ( bjections
to a scheme whose advantages they would so soon
realise. Messrs. EASTON and Amos will no doubt
accept Mr. RE NNTE'S invitation to furnish the ne-
cessary estimates, which we are cert tin will be far
less than the £17,000 voted for Mr. lI.IwKsLEY's
scheme for contimting the nuisance. We hope
soon• to see this pretty spot restored to its old