The Sun. — 1846-08-05 (London, England)

MUNDEN. Of the flagrant abuse lavished again upon the late Prime Minister, of the platitudes uttered again upon the burdens of agriculture, the necessities of a protective system, the selfish machinations of the cotton lords, and so on, through the whole catalogue of protectionist logic, we shall say nothing, because we have already said more upon those subets than they really deserved. We are gratified that this banquet has taken place, and trust that many others of a similar character will follow— first, because they cannot possibly do any harm; and, secondly, because they stimulate trade among a few bakers and butchers, and afford one evening's employment at least to a few destitute fiddlers. During the course of Lord GORGE BENTINCK'S memorable speech, on the 4th of August, eighteen hundred and forty-six, he uttered one great and indisputable truth. "It is scud," observed the Noble Lord, " that we (the protectionists) have disgusted the people of England!" Lord GEORGE BENTINCK is both a wit and a philosopher; he has condensed an eternal truth into seven words.  The debate on Monday evening, on Captain LAYARD'S motion, was remarkable fur the unanimous feeling that existed, on all sides of the House, for the necessity of some alteration in the plans by which our military affairs are regulated and carried on. The able and convincing speech of the Gallant Member, on introducing his motion to the House, most clearly demonstrated the existence of abuses of the most serious description. When so great a dislike to the service is created in the mind of the soldier that he will, unhesitatingly, accuse -himself of the most serious crimes, and prefer even transportation itself---a punishment the most weighty and formidable that can be inflicted for any crime, with the exception of capital offences—when in too many instances he will have recourse even to mutilation or self-murder, in order that he may escape from the stringent severity of its discipline—there must be something radically wrong in the management, which demands the most careful consideration, the most anxious attention, to be given to any suggestions for its amelioration. Captain LAYARD appears to have maturely weighed the various points, and to have brought his military experience, and a cool, reflecting, well-disciplined mind, to their consideration. He thinks that the enlistment should be for a limited period, for ten years, and that if the soldier has acted worthily during the time, he should receive his pay for six months after his term, and that if he re-enlisted within a certain period, say two years, and served eleven years longer, he should be entitled to the old rate of pension, namely 10d. a day if in a sound state of health, and ls. if reported unfit fur service by proper medical authority, and that if he served on, his pension should be still further raised. We cordially approve of the suggestion. If adopted, it will afford, at least to the soldier, a prospect of being one day released from his irksome duties, and being restored to his rights and privileges as a British subject—a hope that will cheer and sustain him, that will enable him still to struggle on during the residue of his term ; it will go some way towards inducing a better class of recruits to tender their services, and remove the temptation to desertion which has hitherto unfortunately been so prevalent in the army. The human mind is naturally buoyant, and while a fair hope presents itself of an improvement of condition at a future time, however remote, wily preserve its elasticity, and undergo any present hardships and privations • it is the total absence of that hope that induces to the a feeling r of recklessness and despair, most injurious individual and to the service to -which e belongs, leads to the most horrible scenes, the most eaa whlinch and harrowing punishments. But much must be doneg for the soldier besides limiting the period of his compulsory service; he must be educated, his comforts must be attended to, a cheerful employment an amusement must be provided for his leisure hours. The condition of the soldier, in place of being worse and more irksome than that of the labouring man, must be so far raised above it as to afford the strongest inducement to the sons of small farmers or tradesmen readily to enter themselves, and to regard their discharge as a serious misfcrtune, instead of a blessing to be looked forward to with the most pleasing anticipations. It may be said that such changes would be productive of much expense to the nation. We do not believe that such would be the cape; op Os contrary, we xe satisfied that the addi.