The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-20 00:00:00

lUPERIAL PARLIAHENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tins DAY.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at 20 miuutes past 12.

LIBEL BILL.

Sir C. O'LOGHLEN moved the house go into committee
ou this bill, and in doing so assured Mr. Newdegate that
there was nothing adverse to Protestantism in the bill,
and under such circumstances he hoped the hon. gentle-
man would withdrew his opposition to the bill.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said he opposed the bill on general
grounds, and not upon any religious feeling. He was
quite satisfied with Lord Campbell's Act, and so, he
thought, was the country and the persons affected by
the present measure. The law made the publisher
of auy newspaper responsible for any libel it might
contain, which he thought a wise provision. He
had no desire to curtail the freedom of the press. Ile
wished to leave the onus of libel where it now rested,
and not to shift it to the speaker, who might be
inaccurately reported. He considered the bill
one for the propagation of sland3r, and therefore he ob-
jected to going into committee.

➢lr. ROEBUCK thought the bill ought to be allowed to
go into committee, where the objections to it could be
thoroughly discussed. 11i.. thought it was of the
utmost importance that the public should be ac-
quaititea wtth all that had passed at a public
meeting, and not a portion of it. The reporters were,
on ler Om present lam, prohibited from reporting anything
that „.„, libellous, “n 1, in the event of their doing so,
their employers sujecol. Ike thought the present law re-
quired amendment, and therefore he should vote for going
into committee.

Mr. T. CaI.:ABE:ZS oppa;ei tho bill. It was a pure
sophism to say that a full nTort of all niee:iugs would
propagate the truth, as according to his notion it dependtd
on what tho truth was that was spoken. The bill would
bcuelit none but the lovers of scandal, and therefore he
should oppose its going into committee.
Mr. NE A.TE supported tho bill. It was duo he thought
that power should bo given to reporters to represent facts.
Ho had soon reports of meetings which conveyed quite a
different complexion to that which actually took plow..

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL supported the bill, be-
cause it gave the power to the person who believed him-
solf injured of contradicting the statement, and it still
made the newspaper editors who carelessly and
recklessly published a libel responsible for any
act of that nature, and also liable to make compensa-
tion for the injury inflicted. Where reporters were ad-
mitted to any meeting, it was highly necessary that they
should have the power of reporting the whole truth. He
thought the advantages preponderated over the disadvan-
tages in the bill, and therefore he should give it his sup-
port. (Hear, hear.)

• Mr. WHALLEY opposed the bill, and said the per-
severance of the hon. member for Clare was duo to the
influence of Jesuitism.

Mr. Sergeant ARMSTRON( thought the third clause
gave sufficieut protection to all parties, and as the bill
would prevent slander he should vote for going into com-
mittee.

Mi. GOLERIDGE objected to the bill, because it made
very important alterations in the law which he considered
altogether unnecessary, the law being now quite suffi-
ciently merciful to the publisher of false charges on any
party. Public statements on the public acts of public men
were -alrealy privileged statements. It was only when
the private acts of private men were attacked that the law
was at all stringent. Why should a private, inno-
cent, harmless man be, dragged out of his privacy
by the publication of a slander in a news-
paper. Wily should the publication of personal
slander uttered at a quasi-public meeting or a send-public
meeting have an exceptional protection. He felt that the
third clans.) gave the remedy to the wrong person. The
hen. member for Sheffield said that truth was a great
argument, but the fact was the hon. member confounded
truth with accuracy. Truth they al: worshipped,
but he did not think that an accurate report
and a slander was what was required. Thinking the bill
made an alteration iu the wrong direction, he should vete i
against going into committee.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND thought
the bill altogether unnecessary.
After a discussion, in which Viscount Amberley, Mr.
Lawson, Mr. Dillwyn, and Mr. C. Buxton took part, the
house divided, when there appeared—
Fur going into committee ... 108
Against 38

Majority ... 70
The house then went into committee ou the bill.
On clause
Mr SANDFORD moved an amendment. The clause
was that no editor should be open to au action fur libel fur
publishing a correct report of the proceedings of a public
meeting; he moved the substitution of the word "speeches"
for "proceedings."
A discussion ensued, but the amendment was agreed to,
Mr. WLalley only saying "No."
Claitse 2 was agreed ti.
On clause 3 being proposed,
Sir R. COLLIER moved its omission. He was afraid
that whilst they were inteut on securing the liberty
of the Press, they were going to limit the freedom of
debate. At present a man was not liable for the effect of
words ho uttered, unless there were imputed criminal
offence. By the clause as it now stood everything that,
was written was actionable if it tended to bring a man
into ridicule and contempt ; and if they were to agree to
such a proposal as that it could not but tail to restrict the
freedom of debate.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he was responsible
for the drawing up of the clause. It was quite true it
altered the law of slander to some extent, and the effect
of the clause would only be to cause people to relied upon
the character of authors before they made assertions which
were scandalous or untrue. If one person went to a meet-
ing, made a charge which was unjustifiable, and ref ueed
to Apologise, then he was open to au actisa for libel. He
did not see much objection to that.
Sir C. O'LOGHLEN said the proposed change was
entirely consistent with the opinion of Lord Lyndhurst
and other men of the highest eminence, although it did
not go so far as their recorded opinions. He did not think
the alteration made was at all dangerous or objectionable
on solid grounds.
Mr. T. CHAMBERS opposed the clause. It was not
in the present instance a case of robbing Peter to pay
Paul, but robbing Peter to make an unuecessury present
to Paul. The clause, as it stood, would exempt a person
who had undoubtedly committed an offenc3 for the pur-
pose of making another liable who bad not really done

SO.
Mr. WHALLEY again described the bill as one alto-
gether opposed to Protestantism.
Mr. K. HUGESSEN thought the clause would restrict
discussion, and work so badly that ho felt it his duty to
foto against it.
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE thought tho bill a most dan-
gerous and uncalled for one, and therefore he should give
it all the opposition in his power.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he should give his
vow in favour of the clause.
Ur. l'OnFiA thought it goio too far to make a
s n edits

I of a newspaper open to an action for libel for report-
ing the speech of a person who was turning
another into ridicule. Members of the house had
often been guilty of attempting to do the same thing. lie
was in favour of getting a slander in black and white
rather than letting it float about after it had been spoken,
but not reported, at a public meeting.
After some further discussion the house divided on the
question that the clause be postponed, when there
appeared—

Ayes B9
Noes

Majority
—35
The clause was then postponed and the chairman re-
ported progrese.
The Entail Amendment (Scotland) Bill was read a se-
cond time.
The Mines As essment Bill was ordered to be reprinted
with amendments.
The committee on the Sunday Trading Bill was post-
poned until the 23d of June.
The Courts (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Bill was read a
third thee and passel.
The Consolidated Fund (1:17,000,000) Dill paned
through committee.
The house then adjournvd.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENIxG.
SALE AND I.I3IICIIASE OF COMUISSIONS.

Mr. TUEVEI,YAN then rose to call the at-
tontion of the house to the present system of
sale and purchase of cJittni,ssions in the army.
lie condemned the system es being one that en-
tirely pre,lu led any man of inelit, who unfortunately was
without the possession of iutlaeuee, front getting that
which was his reward for long service. Without a men
had a long purse he was not at all likely to make much
progress in the way of peornotion, because if he had nut
the means of purchasing the commissions as they
became saleable, many youug men belonging to licit
families purchased the commissions and thus walked over
the heads of many experienced officers, although they
only entered the army in many instances for pure phstime.
(Hear, hear.) The system
,was a very bat one, and the
sooner it was abolished the better it would he for the
efficiency of her Majesty's• service. As a proof that
the abolition of purchase would result iu good,
he need only point to the Artillery and Engineers,
which stood deservedly high in estimation, and
in both of which purchase was unknown. The hon. gen-
tlemau concluded by moving the following resolutions :-
1. That the purchase and sale of military commissions be
discontinued after a date to bo fixed for that purpose.
2. That front the same date every officer on full
pay be credited with the then existing value of his
commissions, taking into consideration the regulation
and the extra regulation prices. 3. That the sum so
credited be paid by the Government to any officer re-
tiring from the service at any time subsequent to
the above-mentioned date under circumstances which
would previously have enabled him to sell his commissions.
4. That a portion of the sum so credited be paid to any
officer promoted to be effective Major General. 5. That
after the above-mentioned date the regimental pro-
motion up to the rank of captain be made accord-
ing to a combined system of seniority and selec-
tion, and above that rank by selection. 6. That.
suitable conditions of retirement be provided at the
expense of the State for officers of every rank. 7.
That a fixed proportion of the vacant commissions in each
regiment be filled by the pro,motion of qualified non-com-
missioned officers.

Capt. VI VIAN denied that the present purchase system
was muney against merit. Ile moved, as an amendment,
" That purchase above the rank of captain in the
cavalry and the infantry of the line be abolished,
and the reduction of the number of regi-
mental commissioned ranks to three, viz.: —Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, Captain, and Lieutenant." The amount
of money required to carry out the proposal of
the hon. member would amount to no less a sum than
£7,126,03U. Quoting from Mr. O'Dowd's pamphlet, he
showed, putting the regulation value of the commissions
at £7,126,030, and the extra price paid at £5,019,000, and
allowing 20 per cent. for casualties, that it would cost
£10,000,000, spread over 20 years, to buy up the vested
interests of the army, and in addition to the first expense
there must be a perpetul addition to the cost of retiring
allowances of at least £1,000,000 a year. Admitting, how-
ever, that the system Nuts overgrown and was weakened
by abuses, Captain Vivian propounded a plan of his own
(which he moved as an amendment), by which purchase
is abolished above the rank of captain (as is the practice in
the Brigade of Guards), the abolition of the ranks of major,
cornet, and ensign, so that an officer will only have one
step to buy—from lieutenant to captain—and the institu-
tion of a course of practical professional training as a ne_
cessary preliminary to a commission in the purchase corps.
He advocated also a considerable reduction in the number
of regimental officers.

The original resolutions were supported by 31r1
O'REILLY and Colonel SYKES, and opposed by Colone
NORTH.

General PEEL, not defending the origin or the anoma-
lies of the purchase system, pointed out that in all walks
of life—in the Church and the Bar, for instance—money
gave great advantages to its possessors over their com-
petitors, and that the system had taken its first rise iu the
niggardliness of Parliament. To do justice to all officers
who would be affected by the abolition of purchase, con-
siderably uloro than £10,000,000 would be required. Up
to the present time the supply of officers had always ex-
ceeded the demand ; he objected strongly to a change that
would entirely alter the character of our officers and ex-
.

elude mon of property front the army. The non-purchasing
officers, Lo maintained, gained more than any others from
the system by the constant and quick promotion which it
secured. But he &so objected to Mr. Trovelyan's mode of
abolishing purchase. Pro,notion by seniority would pro-
duce stagnation, while promotion by selection must create
jealousies and suspicious of unfairness. If the Commander-
in-Chief were empowered to promote any officer he chose
to the command of a regiment, he must also have power
to remove commanding officers without a court-martial,
and the inevitable result would be the inundation of the
house with complaints and memorials. The last resolu-
tion would introduce two different classes of officers into
the army, one possessing a highly scientific education ; the
other, merely practical and professional, and must lead to
general confusion.

Mr. GRENFELL objected to both the plans before the
house, but, thinking this an inopportune moment for pro-
nouncing an opinion, he proposed to move the " previous
question."

General HERBERT argued in favour of the purchase
system as the most economical means of quickening pro-
motion, but consented to its abolition if the country would
provide a fair system of retirement.
Sir H. VERNEY looked for a solution from short terms
of service and improved military education.
Colonel LOYD LINDSAY argued strongly in favour
of the purchase system, which was as emphatically con-
demned by Mr. Otway.

Lord ELCHO denied that the system was preju-
dicial to indiyiduals or to the public interest ; on the
contrary, it secured both against the stagnation of
promotion and the jobbery and favouritism which must
bo the results of systems of seniority or selection. To the
promotion of non-commissioned officers within reasonable
limits he dii not object, though he doubted whether they
themselves greatly desired it ; but he pointed out that
they might be very advantageously promoted to such posts
as paymasters, quartermasters, officers of the Transport
Corps, and the like ; and the clerkships in the War-ofilee
and the Horsepnards,ought to be filled by retired soldiers.
No authority, he remarked, had been cited in favour of the
change, while all the civil and military authorities—com-
missioned officers, both purchasing and non-purchasing,
non-commissioned officers and privates—were all against
it, and he calculated that the hobby would cost the country
not less than £20,000,000.
Sir J. PAKINGTON admitted that the system of pur-
chase was full of serious anomalies, and would nut now be
resorted to if we were seeking to establish a system of
promotion for the first time. At the same time he pointed
out serious fallacies in the objections urged against it
For instance, all the talk about the advantage which it
gave to the rich over the poor, for the non-purchasing
officer benefited by it more than any by the quick promo-
tion which it caused. So, too, it was a delusion to sup-
pose that another effect was to officer the army entirely
from the aristocracy, as any one might see by a glance at the
Army List or Gazette. To the promotion of non-commis-
sioned officers from the ranks iu a definite proportion he was
strongly opposed. The present system of promotion from
the ranks could not be improved on'; but in most cases
this promotion was an unwelcome boon, and Lord Elcho's
suggestion as to the employment of retired soldiers as
clerks had been carried out to a considerable extent in the
War-office. Touching on the difficulties of retirement,
Sir John maintained that the example of the French army
which had been referred to was one to be avoided,.aud he
mentioned that, though not prepared to take up Mr.
Childers' costly plea of retirement for the non-pure
corps, ho hoped before the close of the sessien to produce
a plan which would be satisfactory to all parties. -Admit-
ting ttlat Captain Vivian's scheme had been sanctioned by
andhigh a
half authority—though
and
w o
millions—he it
present moment. tswuepepnorat it millionthe
After some few words in reply from Mr. TREVELYAN,
d amendment were
formid-
able, the motion and Captain Vivian
objection of expense was ddco rids tab;
who adinitttd that the
both withdrawn.
Some orders of the day were forwarded a stages
d at 20 minutes after 1 o'clock:
house it:ljourue
th

Mr. P. Cones BENEFIT.—To-morrow evening
the director of Weston's Music Hall, Holborn, takes his
benefit, on which occasion he will receive the support of
all his brother and sister professionals of merit and talent.
We are prevented from giving a catalogue of the names of
those who have volunteered their service, but had Mr.
Corri's benefit extended over a whole week enough
novtlty and talent was at his disposal to furnish six in-
stead of one programme. Mr. Corri is a general favourite
and we have no doubt he will receive that recognition oE
his services he so richly deserves.

THE TEA DUTY IS REDUCED —.//ornintan's Pure Tea is
sold Bd. per pound Cheaper. This interesting fact will, when,
fully known, even further increase the demand fot these
Choice, long-approved Tes3. They are not gold toast 4;44
071111/ in PackftSi 44%1 " Burg" 149aCICii•

'IItIT OF

JOURNALS.

The Times is very angry with the Queen for going off
to Scotland at a time in which her presence in London is
so much needed as now. It is now necessary for Ministers
to communicate with the sovereign. Mr. Disraeli is 63
years of age, and, though mentally energetic, it would be
too much to ask him to rush to the Highlands at limited
mail speed and return within forty-eight hours. So her
Majesty must be communicated with by messenger, if at
ell ; and, however the communication is made, there must
be an inconvenient lapse of time before the answer is re-
ceived. Mr. Disraeli should have been able to make
some statement to the House of Commons last evening ;
but for this he was not prepared. In answer to Mr.
Dalglish, he announced that be would state to the
House on Thursday the course the Government intended
to take with reference to the Scotch Deform Bill. What-
ever may be the determination arrived at, whatever new

iliiiieulty any new vote of the House may bring upon a

Minister, it is impossible that he can have the opportu
pity of advising her Majesty personally on the subject,
and so far the efficient transaction of public business must
he hindered. The Times thinks, therefore, that it was
an act of culpable neglect on the part of the Minister
not to inform the Queen that the political prospects
of her Government were so doubtful as to demand her
presence at or near the seat of the Legislature. The
Queen has always shown herself ready to fulfil her con-
stitutional duties, and no one can doubt that, had the case
been fully laid before her, she would willingly have re-
mained at Windsor at a period of such paramount im-
portance. Either by chance or through a traditional
practice of the Royal House, a crisis has generally found
the sovereign at some distance from the capital. But
in all such cases the first person in the realm has
been readily accessible. In the old days a carriage
and post horses, in more modern times a special train,
soon placed the chiefs of the Ministry in the presence of
their sovereign, to whom they were able to communicate
by word of mouth their deliberate decision, and of whom
they were able personally to ask a renewal of confidence
or the highest exercise of the royal prerogative in the
dissolution of Parliament. It would be a questionable
innovation if this usage were abandoned, and we
were to come to resignations by telegraph, and
correspondence by messenger, instead of royal councils.
No one can say what misunderstandings and what consti-
tutional derangements may be the result of such an incom-
plete transaction of the highest business. The matter,
indeed, does not need argument. The sovereign is an
essential part of the Legislature, as much as the Lords or
the Commons, and when Parliament is eummoned for the
despatch of business it is but reasonable that the sovereign
should be at hand.

The Post declares that the " moribund" House was not
sufficiently heroic to deal with Mr. Trevelyan's motion
abolishing purchase in the army. nut although the feel-
ing of the House was against the abolition of purchase, it
was admitted by Sir John Pakington and others that if
they had to construct a system de novo, purchase could
hot be admitted as the governing principle of the scheme,
and so far they allowed that that principle was not intrinsi-
cally a good one ; but the practical consideration affecting
their present view of the matter is that " le jeu ne vaut pas
L. chandelle," and that from seven to twenty mil-
lions---for these were the limits assigned—was too
high a pr.`.^•e to pay for that which many believed to be
a doubtful advantage, and which more still considered
was just the reverse. The reason for this great range of
price to be paid in the event of abolition of purchase
that some have reckoned in the capitalised value of the
retiring pensions which would be absolutely necessary to
create a flow of promotion, while others omitted this item.
It was admitted on all hands that in the event of
the abolition of purchase the country would he bound in
equity to repay to officers retiring all the money they
had paid even above regulation prices, for that although
the Queen's regulations for the army prohibit abso-
lutely such fancy prices being paid, still the custom has
been winked at, and all but recoghised by the authorities.,
It has been admitted that the principle of purchase is
unsound, and when we can better afford the vast sacrifice
necessary for its abolition—perhaps in the coming and
reformed Palliament—it will be time enough to change a
system which, if confessedly not the best, or even, as we
believe, vicious in principle, is one under which we have
managed to maintain our prestige and integrity for over
two hundred years.

The Herald complains that Mr. Trevelyan, if his speech
may be taken as an indication, wishesto set up the French
system in England. When Mr. Trevelyan and those
friends of his who are not ashamed of the name of Radical
have succeeded in establishing in this country French in-
stitutions ; when they give us universal suffrage and the
social equality, or rather the shadow of it, which French-
men regard as the great conquest of the revolution ;
when they make the State not only supreme in the
smallest questions, but a meddler in them ; when
they establish the conscription in the place of volun-
tary enlistment, and give the people of England the
habits, the traditions, and the passions of the people of
France, they may allege the example of France as a con-
clusive argument against the purchase system. The Herald
hopes that the English army will never be officered by
men of the stamp of French officers ; but we can assure
him that, with all our respect for the military qualities of
French officers, and all our conviction of the evils of the
purchase system, we would rather keep that system and
the present class and stamp of officers in the British army
than imitate the French example.

The Daily News observes that the battle of Lords and
Commons in Victoria was suddenly interrupted three
weeks before the last overland mail from Melbourne ;
but when the steamer sailed the war seemed as far as
ever from coming to an end. The Governor's Ministers,
strong in the support of the Assembly and the country,
were surprised early in March by the communication of
a despatch from the Duke of Buckingham to the Gover-
nor, forbidding him to recommend the inclusion of
the Darling grant in the Appropriation Act. This
interference the local Ministers immediately re-
sented. They were ready to fight the local Council,
tut not the Council and the Colonial Office together.
Moreover, the duke's interventign had the appearance of
a breach of faith. Net long before the Colonial-Office
Sad written out that " the controversy must be locally
decicialz" but now it was interposing again. Under these
circumstances, they recommended the Governor to publish
the duke's last despatch, so that the people might see how
matters stood ; they declared that the interference of the
Crown in a matter so entirely within the discretion
of the Assembly as the form of a bill of supply
threatened the existence of responsible government, and
begged leave respectfully to inform his Excellency at
once that they would take no course, nor submit to
any condition inconsistent with the decision of
the people expressed at the general election. The resigna-
tion of the Colonial, Ministers was accepted by Sir Manners
Sutton on the 13th of March, and at the latest packet
date, the 31st of March, all attempts to form a new
Ministry had failed. The time seems to have come for
Looking beyond the pedantries of this ever-recurring ques-
tion. The Colonial Office either does too much for the
colony or too little. If the Victorians were plainly told
by us that happiness is the only object of
legislation that has an intrinsic value ; that with the'
advantage of good laws a people, although not possessed-
of political power, may yet enjoy a great deal of
happiness ; and that we were ready to enact for them
better laws than they can make for themselves, it is con-
ceivable that many of them might be disposed to exchange
their present constitutional system for a paternal govern-
ment. But at present we play with the colonist-di We
give them what we call " responsible government " as a
great boon, and then hinder its free working by imposing
restrictions on the Governor, whom we do not permit
either to follow the advice of his Ministers or act accord-
ing to his own judgment. The system cannot last.
In dealing with the same subject, the Standard remarks
that one has only to consider what would be the effect of
a contrary course to perceive that the Duke of Bucking.
ham was justified in his despatch of the Ist of January
—in fact, that he had no other alternative. Allowing that
there was nothing primd facie so objectionable in the
Darling grant as that Sir Henry Manners Sutton ought
to have resisted its initiation, and the Governor was not
supposed to know beforehand that its initiation was in-
tended to coerce the Legislative Council, there could not
be the same pretext for ignorance after the rejection of
the Appropriation Bill, with its obnoxious appendage
the reasons given for that rejection by the Council, and
the language held in regard to their act by the Governor's
responsible advisers. To require the Governor a second
time to recommend the Darling grant, and to assent to
the manner of its introduction insisted upon by the
Ministry, would have been at once to sanction all the fur-
ther violence which Mr. Maculloch and his colleagues
might be tempted to undertake against the Constitution.
It would have involved the Governor in all the subsequent
proceedings of his Ministers, and would have compelled
him at least to hz:s a silent and passive spectator in a series
of assaults upon the Queen's law and the written Consti-
tution of Victoria, which is :a part of that law.

THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH.—The following
story was told by Dr. William Arnot, at a soiree in Sir
11. W. Moncreiff's church in Edinburgh the other
evening :—"Dr. Macleod and Dr. Watson were in the
West Highlands together, on a tour, ere leaving for India.
While crossing a loch in a boat, in company with a num-
ber of passengers, a storm came on. One of the passen-
gers was heard to say, `The two ministers should begin to
pray, or we'll a' be drooned.' Na, na,' said the boatman,
' the little ane can pray if he likes, but the big ane
mass
tale an oar."

GIBRALTAR CONVICT ESTABLISHMENT.

The report of the Gibraltar convict establishment for
the year 1867 shews a marked decrease in the number of
consequent on the ticket-of•leave system. On the Ist
January there were 390 convicts in the establishment, 4
fresh ones were received during the year, while on the
31st December last only 180 prisoners were confined. This
leaves 214 to be accounted for, and 186 are set down as
having been sent home to be discharged on license, 6 as
having died, and 22 as having been discharged on the
spot. The general conduct of the superior officers has
been good, but among the subordinates there are many of
whom the comptroller does not express a favourable
opinion. Four assistant-warders had been dismissed during
the year for drunkenness and the like. The conduct of
the prisoners has been good. There were no escapes,
assaults, or suicides, and the report so far is satis•
factory. With regard to employment, a table
accompanies the report, showing that £9,290 worth
of labour had been performed by the prisoners, at
the rate of £4O 14s. per man per annum. On
the other hand, the expenses of the establishment far
exceed this, amounting to £16,851, or £55 9s. per man.
'Lie rev. canon's report as to the religious state of the
prisoners is satisfactory, and he fiods that the magazines
(Good Words, Quiver, Leisure Hour, and Sunday at Home)
and the library books are read with avidity. Of the 180
present December 31st, 8 could neither read nor write, 59
imperfectly, 61 fairly, and 52 well. The medical report is
also favourable. The only matter worth mentioning is
the occurrence of severe chest affections among the pri-
soners, caused by a change too early of the winter's
clothing. For the future this matter is to be left to the
discretion of the medical officer. .