The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-06 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

A general order relative to the reorganisation of
the Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms has been issued
from the Horse Guards by command of the Duke
of Cambridge. Under the new regulations the pur-
chase of commissions is to cease, compensation to
existing interests being made from the reserve fund
by the Secretary of State for War. No officer who
may be appointed to the corps henceforth will be

allowed to sell his commission. Candidates for ap•
pointment to the corps must be officers of the army,
not under the rank of captain, with 20 years full
pay service. If on full pay they must, previous to
appointment, be placed on half-pay, if entitled to it
by the provisions of the Royal warrant. Captains
on retired full pay are to be eligible, also captains
having superior brevet rank. Candidates are not to
be above 50 years of age, nor under five feet six
inches in height. Officers who have sold out of the
army are ineligible. Any officer who may possess
the above qualifications, and is desirous of being a
candidate for appointment to the corps must address
his application to the military secretary.
It has been resolved to carry out some experi-
mental firing with the monster wrought-iron Hors-
fall gun, mounted near Southsea Castle, Portsmouth.
To accomplish this purpose a large party of Royal
Artillery are engaged in preparations to remove the
gun to a more suitable site for the intended experi-
ments than the one it stands on at present.
An order ha.s been received at Chatham from the
War Department, announcing that the Secretary
of State for War has decided on separating Graves-
end from the Medway district until the batteries
and other works of defence now in course of erec-
tion at Coalhouse Point and Shornmeade are com-
pleted. In accordance with these instructions Capt.
W. S. Stace has been appointed commanding Royal
Engineei pro tem. To expedite the progress of the
new fortifications he has received instructions to
correspond direct with the 'War-office.

A circular memorandum has been forwarded
from the Horse Guards to Chatham and the other
garrison towns inviting mechanics at present serv-
ing in the line to volunteer to the Royal Engineers.
The class of workmen required are carpenters,
smiths, masons, bricklayers, and plumbers, of good
character and fair education.

By direction of the Duke of Cambridge, Captain
H. Schaw, of the Royal Engineer establishment,
Chatham, has proceeded to Portsmouth to take the
necessary steps for la) ing down a telegraph line be-
tween Portsmouth and Gosport, which the Govern-
ment has decided on establishing, to facilitate the
works connected with the construction of the pro-
posed defences.

The next examination of candidates for admission
to the Royal Military College Sandhurst, is to com-
mence on the 17th inst., before Gen. Knollys, the
vice-president, and members of the Council of Mili-
tary Education, at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
The examination will extend to the 22d inst.

The candidates for appointment t' the Commis-
sariat come up for examination before the Council of
Military Education, at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea,
on the 17th inst. and two following days.
The examination of candidates to the Royal Mili-
tary Academy, Woolwich, to be held before the
Council of Military Education, is to commence on
the Ist proximo, and will continue daily (Sundays
excepted) up to Thursday, the 18th.
For a short period, at the close of the late finan•
cial year, and pending a decision of the finances for
1861-2, the operations in the Rifled Armstrong Ord-
nance Department at Woolwich, under the superin-
tendence of Mr. Anderson, were restricted solely to
completing the work already in hand, and, as no
new orders were received, a number of forgemen and
others; to the number of 250, were discharged from
the establishment. The factories have again as-
sumed their former activity, and are now turning
out a large number of the heavy kind of naval
guns—viz.,
already uns—viz., 100-pounders, upwards of 200 of which
have
passed proof and are now rea3y for
use. In addition
to the above 'number, five 100-
pounders were proved at the butt an Tuesday and
five yesterday; and of the smaller kinds for the army
20 25 pounders are turned out weekly. Mr. Whit-
worth, who has partially recovered from his late
severe indisposition, yesterday visited Wonirieh,

Arsenal, and entered into arrangements for an offi-
cial trial of his guns ; four 80-pounders are now
in the arsenal for that purpose, two of which were
manufactured by himself, and two in the royal gun
factories at Woolwich. The latter are now in course
of being sighted, after having satisfactorily passed
the Government proof.

The following batteries of the Royal Artillery
have marched from head-quarters, Woolwich, pass-
ing through Kingston and Chertsey, Epsom,
Ewell, and Guildford, to Aldershott—namely)
Captain Paget's B battery, Royal Horse, and
Major Penn's, No. 4, 4th Brigade, on Monday;
and the mounted portion of Capt. Leslie's battery,
No. 6, of the 4th Brigade, and Capt. Saunders's I
battery, A equipment, Royal Horse Artillery, left
Woolwich yesterday, and are now on the march
also for Aldershott.

Major-General S. R. Wesley, Deputy Adjutant •
General of the corps of Royal Marines, yesterday
made his annual inspection of the Woolwich divi-
sion.

SPEECH OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA.

Those who can divert from the American crisis any
of their attention to the Continent will not fail to
recognize that, amid the lull of enforced peace, a
strange restlessness prevails. It is not merely that
Italy and Austria stand on opposite side of a
stream, ready for the struggle which they know
must one day come ; or that the Pope every time
he quits his palace looks out on quiet, determined
laces, in which he can read his doom. A fear
of change perplexes Monarchs even in regions where
no word is uttered against the Throne, and where
foreign enemies are kept at a distance by armies,
and fortresses, and powerful alliances, and the pa-
triotism of a generous people. The condition of
Germany, though it may not attract attention now,
is full of materials for future history. Many years
will hardly pass before it is proved how much the
nation has been affected by the events which have
so changed its neighbours. Up to the present time
it must be admitted that government in Germany
has received little benefit from the examples or
warnings of 1848 or 1859. To all outward appear-
ance, the rulers have been obstinate and the people
indifferent beyond what could have been expected
in a country where it is fashionable for Princes to
be philosophers and students revolutionists. But
we have the very best hopes in spite of this seem-
ing apathy.

It is as 'much a proof of independent thought to
resist the captivating example of foreign revolu-
tions as to rebel against the monotony of traditional
servitude. Germany has within the last two years
beheld a spectacle which has agitated her pro-
foundly, but which has not betrayed her into any
rash act of opposition or imitation. Italy, a coun-
try divided and misgoverned for petty objects,
something like the Fatherland, has found a bold
Sovereign to put himself at the head of those who
have for years been yearning after unity and inde-
pendence. A people never credited in later times
with the possession of energetic qualities, and con-
signed by the narrow judgment of the world to
the destiny of providing musicians and artists for
Europe, has shown that in courage, activity, fore-
sight, self-control, and all the virtues which make
nations great, it need not fear the rivalry of any in
Europe. The example of the Italian revolution has
affected Germany in a singular manner. First of
all the feeling was simply one of antipathy. The
Italians were attacking a German Sovereign with
the help of a Power which had one day been, and
was likely to be again, the great enemy of Germany.
The bitterness of the Courts against Victor Em-
manuel and his plotting Minister was equalled
by that of even the best informed and most
equable politicians of the middle class. But ani-
mosity soon became tempered with admiration, and
the Italian, from being an unprincipled and cowardly
rebel, was soon a brave and dangerous enemy, whom
it was necessary to guard against and to thwart,
but who could not be denied the possession of many
good qualities. The success of Garibaldi excited
the imagination of all classes, who could not but
compare the brilliant adventurer with the Legiti-
mist poltroons he had to deal with. Of late some-
thing not only of appreciation but of sympathy has
prevailed in regard to regenerated Italy. Of this
feeling the success of M. von Viucke's motion was
a proof, the Prussian Government being on this
occasion compelled to express an unwilling appro-
bation of Italian liberty. What the next steps may
be is concealed in the future. The success of Italy
—the union under one head of a country long, and
to all appearance hopelessly, divided—the elevation
to the rank of a sixth great Power of a bundle
of little priestridden monarchies, has already deeply
sunk into the minds of the German people.
" Granted that the Italians are enemies," say the
Liberals ; " it is right to learn even from an enemy.
If Italy can do all she has done, why may not Ger-
many do still more ? If 26 millions in one country
can form a Power which no State can disregard,
how high will be the destiny of 40 millions among
the most educated, and, as their colonies in America
show, the most energetic on the globe ?" In short,
the dream of the most intelligent and sanguine Ger-
mans is not to thwart but to rival the Italians. The
lesson taught by the success of the latter is that
their northern neighbours should go and do likewise.
The Germans sect heir fatherland exposed to military
monarchies on the east and west, and their most
cherished provinces lying open to the invader when-
ever
a pretext for war shall offer itself or be made.
Not federal fortresses, or federal armies, or comman-
ders elected by a federation will be of much avail
when that evil day shall come. While Italy has been
teaching them one lesson, the republic of the United
States has taught them another. The fable of the
fagots has been acted before their eyes. The little
slender sticks—the States of Italy—are bound now
tightly into a bundle which few would attempt to
break, while the huge logs of the Transatlantic
fabric are weak, because there is nothing to keep
them together.

What-, in these circumstances, might not be done
by an able Sovereign at Berlin ? Germany is long-
ing and striving after unity in her own timid
manner, debating, like Hamlet, every eventuality,
and conjuring up all the difficulties 'which stand
between the hope and its satisfaction. A strong
wish and a weak will are the best opportunity for a
leader. Such a Prince as Frederick the Great might
make himself master of Germany before half of its
eight-and-thirty Sovereigns had recovered presence
of mind enough to protest. With Napoleon sup-
posed to be looking with fixed eyes upon the Rhine,
a bold King of Prussia might mediatize his neigh-
bours wholesale, amid approbation from every side,
and even from his own conscience. All that Ger-
many wants is that the Prussian Court should rise
to the level of its mission, and turn its primacy into
a really controlling power. But how does Berlin
understand its opportunities? Let the histories which
have been lately narrated in these columns answer.
The energies which might win the leadership of
Germany are devoted either to exciting sedition in
one of the provinces of a neighbouring State, or to
the enforcement of minute regulations in every walk
of Prussian life. While they can meddle, Prussian
functionaries care not to command. When even
the mere cessation from mischievous interference
would attract the goodwill of Germany, they
cannot refrain from worrying, and prying, and
scolding as they have done for the last fifty years.
But these are not the worst signs. Unhappily,
there is among the governing body, and particularly
those connected with the army, an intolerance and
vindictiveness which could not have been exceeded
under the worst of those despotisms which have
just passed away in Italy. The duel between Gen.
Manteuffel and M. Twesten is a proof of this feel-
ing, and the affair, coming so soon after the Patzke
and Zedlitz exposures, has naturally caused much
curiosity and indignation. We have nothing to say
personally against Gen. Manteuffel, who seems to
have fought fairly enough, and who, if the Kreuz
Zeitung is. to be believed, did not send the challenge.
But that he, as the Chief of the Military Cabinet,
should call upon the author of a pamphlet to apolo-
gise because the latter had criticised his military
; skill and acquirements, shows the spirit of Prussian
administration even in the present day ; and we can
hardly imagine that a duel was not understood by
M. Twesten to be the only alternative should he
decline to retract his statements. The parties
met, and M. Twesten was wounded in the arm.
Gen. Manteuffel, on returning to Berlin, had an
an interview with the King, and since that time
continues to transact business as usual, though it is
officially announced that he is to be brought to a
court-martial. Such affairs as these, coming one
after the other, are enough to chill any sym-
pathy which Germany generally might learn to
feel for Prussian superintendence. The State which
has it in its power to be the nucleus of Germany is
occupied with petty foreign quarrels, police squab-
bles, railway outrages, and military duels, when it
should be studying to give the great nation of which
it forms part the benefits of unity at home, and a
position in Europe which the most powerful' would
be bound to respect. How much of this arises from
the personal character of the King it is difficult
and invidious to say. It may, however, be observed
that his Majesty is more suited to superintend the
details of administration than to guide the helm
of general policy. The Prussian Sovereigns have
hod something or a family likeness, but it is strange
that the qualities which raised them to celebrity in
the last century either do not exist, ox have taken
' less eminent and useful form ;r; ear own time.
The late King was, like Fr,,cteriel; the Great, am-
bitious of German 04Ketuacy. and addicted to lite-
rary divel-14';,-,a, hP let the German Empire slip
.
Avoa 41110' and neither learning nor philosophy'