The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-12 00:00:00

THE .SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1857

unfortunately, it should be rejected, it will be
almost impossible to obtain respectable and

solvent persons, to undertake the respon-
sible and too frequently thankless office.
Indeed, it is only wonderful that parties have
hitherto been found willing to do so, considering
the mode in which they have been treated by the
Court of Chancery. Lord CAMPBELL, during the
discussion, emphatically assured his brother Peers
that "no such iniquities were perpetrated in the
Courts of Common law." We cannot wonder at
the earnestness of the Lord Chief Justice of Eng-
land, in repudiating all connection with such
atrocities as those graphically described by Lord
ST. LEONARDS, and which clearly proved the im-
perative necessity of an adequate remedial mea-
sure. We have long thought, and explained the
vast benefits that would be derived from the
establishment of an executor and trustee
society, where persons of high status and
unexceptionable character, would, for a pro-
per remuneration, undertake the duties of the
office. They would be saved from the earnest
solicitations of the cestui que trusts, for whose
benefit the property was held, and who too fre-
quently look rather to present income than the
permanent security of the investment, and who
are disposed to regard a refusal to comply with
their requests as a grievous wrong, to be resented
in the most stringent manner practicable.
It is of course impossible, within the limits of
an article, to examine all the Suggestions of Lord
ST. LEONARDS. They seem, generally speaking,
sell calculated.:to accomplish the - purpose for
which they have been' framed, namely, that
of affording complete protection to honest
trustees. The best test that can be devised is
to ascertain whether the party derives, or: can
derive, any personal benefit from his management
of the funds. If such be the case, he should be
held not only civilly but criminally responsible.
If not, although he may be punished in pocket
for any default (not wilful) by which loss may
accrue to the parties beneficially interested, he
should not be subjected to vexatious proceedings,
too often instituted for the purposes of extortion.
The law in this respeot should apply to every
person acting in a fiduciary capacity. The rule
should be, severe punishment for every fraudulent
act, complete exemption for bona fide proceedings
intended to beaefitthe parties beneficially interested,
and, generally speaking, adopted at their special
instance and request. We hope and believe that
the two acts now before Parliament, will, with
judicious amendment, achieve these desiderata,
and, if so, the session of 1857 will not be altoge-
ther barren of results. But no time can be lost.
It would sadly disappoint the country if either of
these salutary measures should be included in the
annual " massacre of the Innocents," or emascu-
lated, through undue haste, at the last moment.

There is no subject of greater importance to
the welfare and security of the nation than the
efficient management of its military establish-
ments. It is not desirable tliat England should
maintain a very large body of troops in idleness
,like some continental countries. All that is re-
quired is, that the nucleus of an efficient army
should be kept up with well-trained soldiers and
skilful officers, prepared for any emergency that
may arise, and ready to impart instruction to the
raw recruit, who, in the hour of danger, may be
associated with them.
The existing system of promotion by purchase
is, however, altogether opposed to this principle.
Heretofore;-officers would not take the trouble of
studying even the mere rudiments of the profes-
•ion into which they entered, simply because they
derived no benefits therefrom, wealth being more
regarded than merit ih obtaining the promotion
to which all aspire. Henceforward all this erro-
neous system must be completely altered, and
the first step in tho right direction will be the
adoption of a sound and judicious system of mili-
tary education, and conferring the prizes of the
service on the deserving, rather than on those pos-
sessed of money, or having influential friends or
relatives.

We are rejoiced to find that the veteran Mem-
ber for Westminster has taken up the important
*subject in a proper spirit. He has given notice of
motion for the 30th inst., on which day he will
propose the following resolutions
1. That as the numerical strength of the British
army available for European war is far less than that of
any other great power, and as our government have for
many years neglected the education of the commissioned
ranks of the service, while other governments have
been devoting to this object large annual sums and very
great attention, it is the opinion of this house, that a
higher standard of professional instruction than of late
deemed requisite ought to be established for our officers
generally, but especially for those of the staff.
"2. That this cannot be effectively accomplished in
this country, where powerful influences obstruct the best
intentions of those invested with patronage, without
having recourse to the principle of competitive exarni!
nation, in conformity with the recommendation ‘of her
Majesty'sse
Education, recorded in their reports recently
is 3. That the candidates nominated by the com-
mander-in-chief mente
nta Commissioners on Civil and Military appoint-
presented ta Parliament.
for commissions in the line, be therefore
subject to the condition of competitive examination pre-
viously to their being appointed to commissions, and
that officers of a sufficient term of regimental service, de-
sirous of qualifying themselves for the staff, in the senior
department of instruction or staff school, should rece'.ve
their admissions and final certificates on the same prin-
ciple.
" 4. That commissioners, consisting of an equal num-
ber of military officers and civilians, should be nominated
by the Secretary of State for the purpose of superintend-
ing these examinations, and that the educational esta-
blishments for the line and staff be under the direction
of the Secretary of State, who is responsible to Parliament
for the administration of the army, and who is already
charged with the control of the existing schools and exa-
minations for the artillery,,engineers, and the non-com-
missioned officers.and privates of the army."
Alf must concur in the titith-arid justice of the
first proposition " that a higher standard of pro-
fessional instruction than of late deemed requisite,
ought to be established for our officers generally,
but especially for those of the staff." An English
force should never again, by any possibility, be
liable to the reproach, that it is "an army of
lions, led by donkeys." We have had too much
of " playing at Soldiers." Those who profess to
be animated by military ardour should devote
their time to the attainment of the qualifications
befitting a good officer. It is not as "lady
killers" that they are required. Something more
is wanting than to strut about in fine clothes,
to vote the service "a bore," and talk of their
intention of "selling out" at any trivial annoy
ance to which they may be subjected. A man
must study hard for other professions : why
should the military one be the solo exception to
the general rule ? There has already been un-
questionably a great improvement. We no longer
meet young men like the model Ensign of the
olden time boasting of their ignorance, and de-
claring that--
By G— I don't value them this pinch of snuff."
"Your Noveds, and Ocaers, and Blutarchs are stuff ;

They must now have some education—must not
breakPuiscuot'shead," or evince a profound dis-
regard of the rules of orthography; nay; more, they
must have some knowledge of a language beside
their mother tongue, and be capable of working
an ordinary sum in arithmetic. But these aie
by no means enough ; and there is nothing to
ensure any amount of study after the first step
has been achieved—the commission, as cornet
or ensign, duly signed.

The remaining resolutions apply to the mode
in which this improved education is to be tested,

hood, chicanery, perjury, forgery, are the weapons,
~fr3nsive and defensive, of the people of the Lower
Gauges."
And this is the race we are now about to endea-
vour at last to rule justly ! It will be an effort
of extraordinary difficulty without doubt. But,
Courage !—we may trust all to the goodness of the
Cause and the genius of the Constitution.

" THE OLD, OLD STORY."

Summer moonbeams softly playing,
Fight the woods of Castle Keep ;
And there I see a maiden straying,

Where the darkest shadows creep.
She is listening—meekly, purely,
To the wooer at her side ;
'Tis the " old, old story," surely,
Running on like time and tide.
Maiden fair, oh ! have a care ;
Vows are many—truth is rare.

He is courtly, she is simple ;
Lordly doublet speaks his lot;
She is wearing hood and 'wimple—
His the castle, hers the cot.
Sweeter far she deems his whisper
Than the night-bird's dulcet trill ;
She is smiling—he beguiling—
'Tis the "old, old story" still.
Maiden fair, oh ! have a care ;
Vows are many—truth is rare.

The autumn sun is quickly going
Behind the woods of Castle Keep :
The air is chill—the night wind blowing,
Arid there I see a maiden weep.
Her cheeks are white—her brow is aching—
The " old, old story", sad and brief ;
Of heart betrayed, and left, nigh breaking,
' In mute despair and lonely grief.
Itaidens lair, oh I have a care ;
Vows are many—truth is rare.

CORUP CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, Thursday.—The Queen went to-day to
honour the Ascot Races with her presence. Her Majesty
and the royal party left the Castle at half•past 12 o'clock
in eleven open carriages and four, with numerous out-
r►ders in scarlet liveries.

lier Majesty and Prince Albert were accompanied by
the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Cambridge, and
Prince Frederic William of Prussia, and a number of
other distinguished personages.
Prince Albert, Prince Frederic William of Prussia,
the Prince of Leiningen, and the gentlemen of the royal
household, appeared in the Windsor uniform.
Viscount Palmerston rode on horseback from the
Castle to the racecourse.

The Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and the
Master of the Household, preceded her Majesty to the
royal stand.
Her Majesty returned to the Castle at 20 minutes
past six o'clock.
The Queen gave a grand dinner to a party of between
seventy and eighty, in St. George's Hall.
The banquet was served on the service of gold plate,
and the table was brilliantly lit by numerous candelabra
of silver gilt filled with wax lights, the magnificent St.
Geoige candelabrum forming the centre ornament of the
plateau, and being placed opposite to her Majesty's
seat. Buffets were erected at each end of the hall, on
which were displayed a variety of the most beautiful and
valuable shields, salvers, statuettes, tankards, and cups
of the royal collection, illuminated by wax lights in
golden sconces.