The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-19 00:00:00

ROYAL CREMORNE GARDENS.

The season at these popular gardens commenced last
night. The beautiful weather and the promising an-
nouncements put forth by the spirited proprietor, Mr.
T. B. Simpson, raised the public expectations, which
were more than realised by the various entertainments
and the brilliant decorations provided for the visitors.
We need not, however, more particularly allude to the
improved appearance of Cremorne, as we gave some ac-
count of them on Saturday last.
The gardens opened at three, at which early hour the
spectators began to pour in, and soon the extensive
grounds presented a very animated appearance. The
season opened right loyally by the performance of the
National Anthem by M. Bcsisio's celebrated band.
This was followed by other instrumental performances,
and by a concert, in which it was evident that a
great addition of vocal talent bad bcea provided. The
programme was so long and varied that it is im-
possible for us to notice all the performances in detail ;
but the feats of Master Bond, the contortionist, are
worthy of espec'al mention, and the burlesque opera
scena, from "Lucia di Lammermoor," by a troupe of
real sable harmonists, was the finest "nigger" performance
we have ever witnessed, and excited shouts of laughter.
This was followed by a very excellent ballet pantomime,
arranged by M. Milano, entitled, "The Gipsey Girl ; or,
the Doctor in Love." The scenery by Mr. Dalby ; the
properties and costumes were of the first order ; and the
comic acting of Mr. Seymour, as a maid-of-all-work,
afforded infinite merriment. The leading dances were
performed by Miss Cusbnie, Miss Louise Leclercq, and
M. Milano, supported by a numerous and well-selected
corps de ballet. Before the evening had far advanced the
gardens were literally thronged, and when the illumina-
tions that have been added to the Chinese platform were
lighted up, the effect was surprisingly beautiful, and the
audience spontaneously gave a burst of applause. A
very effective pyrotechnic display took place at an earlier
hour than usual, after which the pleasures of the dance
were entered upon. Mr. Simpson has every reason to
be proud of the auspicious opening of the present season.

SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—a. railway accident,
which might have been attended with a serious loss of
life, occurred on the South Devon Railway on Saturday
morning. It appears that as the luggage train from
Exeter to Plymouth approached the Teignmouth station
at a moderate speed the pointsman, from some unex-
plained cause, turned the train into a dead siding which
is contiguous to the platform of the station. The result
was that the flagging of the platform was torn up, the
stone pillars which supported the iron roof were knocked
down, and the roof fell with a fearful crash across the
line, while the engine, tender, and first carriage of the
train were literally buried in the debris of the booking-
office. The driver and stoker, seeing the approaching
danger, jumped off the engine just in time to save their
lives. The amount of properly destroyed I:l64.)nging to
the South Devon Company is estimated at several thou-
sand pounds. Traffic on the line was impeded for up-
wards of four hours, and the morning mail from Exeter
to Plymouth reached the latter town four hours later
than its appointed time.

THE REPORT ON FOREIGN MILITARY

EDUCATION.

(From the Daily News.)
When we yesterday intimated that it was the
intention of Government to bitrke, if possible, the
report of Messrs. Lake, Yolland, and Smith on
Foreign Military Education, we were well aware
that we had good ground for what we stated. We
did not, however, calculate upon so' speedy and so
startling a prOof of the correctness of our informa-
tion, or the necessity for our warnings.. Sir De L.
Evans yesterday -evening rose -to express a hope
that there would be no further delay in 'placing
the report in question in the hands of members of
the House of Commons. A day or two before
the dissolution he had, ho said, been about to
move that a Copy of the report should be laid
cn the table, when he was informed " that
.it was already in print, and would be
'circulated immediately." He had learnt that
it had been since circulated among the Lords, but
it had net yet found its way into the Commons,
and he begged to know when its advent might be
looked for. Lord Palmerston's reply evinced
either the most profound ignorance. the result of
defective official cramming, or the most discreditable
desire to evade a plain question by an ambiguous
answer. A boardof military officerswith the Com-
mander-in-Chief at its head, was busily engaged,
said the noble viscount, in the incubation of a plan.
When matured, that plan would be brought before
the honourable house ; but the honourable, house
would hardly desire to have before them the mate-
rials out of which the plan was to be framed, espe-
cially when such materials mainly consisted of con-
fidential suggestions. Sir Do Lacy Evans; upon-
this,' suggeste I that there must have been some mis-
take The report having been circulated in the
other house, could hardly be considered confi-
dential. The indomitable viscount begged to state
in reply that he would inquire by whom it had
been circulated. It might have been. by private
parties ; at all events he knew nothing about it ;
the hon. member would perhaps get more definite
information, (4.7 c. Now, could Lord Decimns himself
have done better than this? Thus it is that a Prime

Minister, when bent on suppression, can speak of
a State paper which, as Mr. Sidney Herbert took
care to remind him, was "a report of certain
commissioners appointed by Government to in-
quire into the state of the army." Will the Hou4e
of Commons—will the country-submit to this sort of
thing ? Is the reform of the army—that r,4orm, in
the vigorous and effectual promotion of which the

whole community has so vital a stake—to be trifled
away by such official mystification as this ? The
Prime Minister assumes that the house and the

public can have no desire to acquaint themselves
with the :materials on which tbe plan for the
future education of officers is to ba based. In other

words he assumes that they can have no desire to

possess *he means of forming a judgment, whether
that plan is or is net adequate to its purpose, does or
does not come up to the mark of what other coun-
tries have achieved, and of what England ought to
insist upon having accomplished.
We do trust that upon this point a pressure of
public opinion will be braught to bear upon the
Minister, proportioned to the exigency of the occa-
sion and the importance of the object. The parti-
sans of Lord Palmerston glory in the fact, which
we are not concerned to deny, that he is an emi-

nentlypracticalstatesman. The only consideration

with hiin in bringing forward, or in refusing to
bring forward, any measure, is simply this : whe-
ther the majority of the public-demand it, and whe-
ther that which is proposed will pass. Lora Pal-

merston will not lead the cOuntry:--he will not sug-
gest anything ; but we believe, if be finds that the
feeling of the country and of the House of Com-
mons upon any matter is sufficiently strong, he will

acquiesce in that feeling and give it practical effect.
Assuredly such conduct as this implies no very lofty
conception of statesmanship. But, nevertheless,
amongst a free, enlightened, and self-governed
people, it has its advantages. In this country vox

vox Dei is a reality. In every cottmunity of
men the administrator learns that there are detects

in his administration by the complaints of tbose
who are subject to it—sometimes, no doubt, roughly
enough, as in Turkey, where a town in flames pro-
claims the necessity of reform. But in England,
where intelligence is so widely diffused—where the
press is free—where Parliament, besides the duty
of legislation, recognises the duty of discussion, the

Government is accustomed-to-receive authentic in-
t elligence,not only of defects to be reined•ei, but

of the.mode in which that result may be best at-
tained. Thus an English Prime Minister who, in-
stead of leading, waits to be led—who, instead of
suggeQting himself, will give practical effect to the
suggestions of others, has his value, and the Pal-
merston view of statesmanship become; reason-
able. At the same time it is obvious that if a

MieiAry acts -upon V;is theory, the public aud
the House of Commons have soriols duties cast

upon them. If the Prime Minister insists that he
is the mere servant of the country—the mere prac-
tical man who is to put into practical shape the

schemes of those whom he governs—if he renounces
the higher office of ponting out defects and laying
bare secret abuses, then it becomes the imperative
duty of the people and the people's representatives
to make themselves heard, to demonstrate with over-
whelming power the necessity and the practicability
of such measures as they may deem essential t > the
public service, and to insist that those measures
shall be carried into effect. This is no mere ima-
gination. It is a reality, and Lord Palmerstoe's
own conduct gives it proof. Is it credible that his
lordship would ever have taken upon himself to in-
augurate the Civil Service Commission, by which
the iniquities of patronage have been so much di-
minished—to set on Lot the competitive examina-
tion for admission into the Artillery and Engineers
—to advise the Queen to summon Sir John M'Neill
to a seat at the Council Board—to decorate Colo-
nel Tulloch with the badge of a K.C. B.—to pro-
mise a new Reform Bill even next sess on—to pro-
pose an alteration of oaths as a Government
measure—in short, to make a single change which
he has made, unless he had convinced himself—
on some occasions, perhaps, somewhate late in the
day—that he must either yield to the public
demand or abandon power ? When a man has few
convictions it is difficult for him to do violence
to them. Wewill not say whether this observation
does or does not apply to the Premier, but we
must certainly do him the justice to remark that
the result of the changes which the public have
driven him to accept have amply justified their
summons to surrender and his readiness to give
way. The only conclusion is, that the same policy
which the public have hitherto found so successful
must still be pursued.
These remarks apply with especial effect to this
question of Army Reform. No truce must be
given to the Premier till this report is produced.
It is of vital importance that the members of the
house should be in possession of the facts, and these
facts are contained in the report and the other do-
cuments moved for by Sir De Lacy Evans on Fri-
day last. Indeed, we desire nothing mote than
that the first 40 pages of the report itself should be
carefully pursued. Upon that we are prepared to
rest the case for an improved military education.
It is a remarkable fact that whilst no single voice
has been raised in Parliament, or in the press,
against the changes advocated, there is an over-
whelming array of names in their favour.
Sir De Lacy Evans, one of the ablest and most
experienced of the military men of the day ; Mr.
S. Herbert, formerly Secretary-at-War ; and Sir
W F. Williams of Kars, are one and all committed,
both by speech and writing, to the same cause.
Mr. Palk, an independent county member, made a
deliberate promise, this very year, to advocate the
subject ; and we doubt not that the courageous
logic of Mr. Roebuck and of Lord Stanley, and the
earnest fair-mindedness and purity of intention of
Lord Goderich and of Mr. Adderley, will not be
wanting to urge the subject upon the Government.
It may also fairly be anticipated that the Duke of
Newcastle will lend his aid in the House of Lords
to the furtherance of the same cause. But, further,
this is not a mere professional question—it affect;
other interests besides those of the army ; it is, in
fact, a great branch of the general subject of edu-
cation. In this respect it deserves the support of
all those who profess their belief in the benefits of
education, and who have spent their lives in advo-
cating its diffusion. To Lord J. Russell, theref
we appeal as one of the most illustrious of these advo-
cates ; and we trust that, when the subject conave
to be discussed, he will be found in his place to
give his personal weight to the arguments in favour
of an improved Army Education. As this is no
professional question, neither is it a party question.
This discussion affects more things than the army,
and its results will be felt when party_ distinctions
are forgotten. It is in truth, a question the right
decision of which has an important bearing
on the
welfare and the glory of the whole empire.
In a subject so wide it is of infinite importance
that public attention should be concentrated on oenor two salient points. Whether attempts should e
made at once to carry into effect a complete scheme
of Military Education it is perhaps difficult to say.
At all events it is absolid essential
eIY that th

should be a Staff School—a place of education where
those officers who are to be on the Staff shall be edu-
-1 cated. Secondly, it is es=entialthat no officer who has
not passed through this school, or who has not by ex-
amination shown himself superior to the students in
this school, shall obtain a Staff appointment. Lastly
it is essential, for the purpose of conducting
this examination, that there should be an indepen-
dent Board who may determine, without the fear
or favour of the Horse-Guards or of the War-office,
the comparative merits of the candidates and their
claims to appointments, so that after an officer has
expended his time, his energies, and h's money
upon his education, he may not be disappointed of
employment and promotion. In a word, staff
officers must be educated men, and their coMpa-
rative merits and claims to be employed must be
de' ermined by an independent Board of Examiners
d a competitive examination. Without these
essentials -any scheme of army reform must be a
sham ; the Turkish system of persecuting educated
officers will continue to he—as in fact it now is—
part of the English system and the same di,asters
and extravagance which have hitherto attended
our military operations will attend them in future.
The money required for this great reform is a mere
bagatelle. The Chancellor of the Exchequer need
feel no alarm ; the real struggle will be whether
the blight of wealth and aristocratic monopoly
shall stilt he allowed to tarnish the glory of the
British army.