The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-15 00:00:00

a whole series of illustrations all proving the remark-
able ingenuity with which practical minds turn to
account the researches of science, even for the con-
struction of toys. Rightly directed, the new stimu-
lus thus afforded to thought, to investigation, and
to that curiosity in action which is one of the roads
to knowledge, may prove of far more educational
value than the dull, meaningless, and frequently
abortive experiments which used to be considered
vastly instructive, and particularly suited to rear the
tender thought. In this work Dr. Paris was the
pioneer.

THE "EXAMINER" ON THE SIMLA COURT-MARTIAL.
—The telegraph has brought the decision of the
Simla court-martial. As yet unknown to the Bom-
bay forces when the last mail left, their inevitable
expression of surprise and indignation has not reached
us. We can easily conceive it. Sir William Mans-
field's young aide-de-camp has been acquitted of
the wave charge of embezzlement, and of making
profit out of the wine and mutton committed to his
charge. But for certain hasty expressions, and
especially for having refused to deliver up his sword
when asked to do so, long after his arrest, Lieut.
Jervis has been dismissed the service. It was quite
evident, from the passionate tone in which the Com-
mander-in-Chief gave his evidence, that he was
prepared to avenge himself on all who thwarted
him ; that the officers of the court-martial, if they
gave an acquittal, could expect no promotion from
Sir William Mansfield. Some of the members
of the court he even promoted during the trial,
to make sure of them. And yet in ordering the
aide-de-camp to be dismissed the service for one
or two hasty slight acts of insubordination,
they passed that sentence subject to the revision and
consideration of the Commander-in-Chief. Seeking
to acquit, they left Sir William Mansfield the credit
of doing this. But the Commander-in-Chief in India
knew no such feeling as generosity. Like Shylock,
he would have his pound of flesh, and he has taken
it in the shape of Lieut. Jervis's commission. There
is but one opinion on the subject throughout the army
and the press of India. And we should think there
could be no difference of opinion at home. There is
first of all the odious system of employing officers as
menial servants, making use of them as stewards,-
butchers, and butlers, and subjecting-them in the
performance of these duties to the lady of the house.
In an official document Sir W. Mansfield informed
his aides-de-camp that they must obey Lady Mans-
field and take her orders in certain household ar-
rangements. These things have to be stated in or-
der to be appreciated. The cost of the staff forms a
considerable item of English military expense. It
forms one of the reasons why the English army is so
much more costly than any other. When this ex-
pense goes to provide the mutton or clothe the car-
riage horse of an Indian Commander-in-Chief
surely it ought to be.looked to. After the system
comes the consideration of Sir William Mansfield's
personal conduct. On this subject we shall have
opportunities to reason, for the circumstances of the
court-martial cannot fail to come before Parliament.