Glasgow Courier. — 1857-12-24 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ETBAORDINART CHARGE OF ROBBING ;.—SUICIDE OF THE DEFENDANT.— n house on Tuesday, Mr Kilby, 2, t, Horselydown, waited upon the I stated that his brother, Mr Frederick Thursday last was charged in that .mpting to steal a sum of £16,171 s, • stockbroker, 3, Royal Exchange, rooms by the circumstances that he, ng, committed suicide by cutting Lord Mayor expressed the greatest an event should have occurred, and illy as the deceased stood completely all blame in the matter. Mr Kilby Ily admitted by his Lordship at the gradation of having been locked up in night had so wrought upon his mind, on could relieve him, and so he had om his thoughts in self-destruction.  be expected that the majority of ordinary regimental officers, however versed they might be in drill and the minutia) of discipline, should be fitted, without special training, for the routine of Staff duties. Hence they were placed in a false position, and many became exposed to aspersions which should have been cast upon the inefficiency of the regulations. This is now at an end. The Commander-in-Chief as sanctioned, with a spirit worthy of his antecedents, the institution of a complete reform in the education of Staff officers, and thrown open such appointments to all who may be able to qualify themselves for that honourable and responsible post. The question involved in this act is not at all connected with the general adoption of competitive examinations as a test of fitness for a soldier's life. It is plainly desirable—and late wars have proved it to be necessary—that the Staff should be alone composed of thorough soldiers, acquainted not merely with the ordinary regimental duties, but the highest branches of education. To attain this end has been the object of this reform. Ere a candidate can enter the Staff College at Sandhurst he must have seen three years' service. Certain restrictions guard against the admission of unworthy officers, and a fixed course of study is prescribed. Power is given to eject such students as, after a trial, shall be found deficient in parts; and, on the other hand, every encouragement is given to those more brilliant spirits who may outstrip their fellows in proficiency. With proper consideration it has been ordered that those who are already qualified, or may, either abroad or at home, become so outside the College, shall, on undergoing the usual examination, be eligible for appointment; and that it shall be in the power of the Executive to place on the Staff, without examination, officers of tried ability in the field.  Such are some of the leading features of a measure which will, we are confident, be highly beneficial in operation, and, by opening up a prospect of advancement as a reward for merit and apart from mere patronage, increase the prestige of the British army.  To acknowledge that errors exist in the system of Indian Government, and to approve of a wholesale demolition of that system. are very different things. No one will deny that there are serious defects in the constitution of the East India Company, but many will demur to the abolition, by a stroke of Cabinet power, of that ancient corporation. We believe the majority of the nation would view Nlitt, favour an amendment of some regulations which are, to say the least, cumbrous in the extreme; but most cogent reasons can be adduced against rash legislation with regard to direct Crown interference. This may be necessary, but in the outset such is not the point to be considered. In the first place, the real defects should be laid bare in order to ascertain whether they can be improved; and, in the next place, it should be ascertained that the proposed substitute for existing power shall be equal to its new responsibilities. We hold that until these positions arelully examined, it would be rash in the last degree to carry out the policy on which the Government seem to have determined.  This can scarcely be said to have originated in the moment of excitement; but are not Ministers taking advantage of the impressions caused by the mutiny, to do at a stroke what should be done only after calm deliberation ? True it is that Indian affairs have periodically been discussed in Parliament. The renewals of the Company's Charter have properly called forth warm and useful debates, and statesmen are quite au fait to the merits of the case ; but have not recent occurrences introduced new elements which at once expose the weak points of the present system, and indicate suitable remedies? Hitherto the evils which have necessarily crept into a scheme of government framed for other times, and no doubt too little adapted to altered circumstances, have been matters of opinion and statecraft; but the hurricane which has swept over the PPninsula has laid low those landmarks which were weak, and by the resistance of others has their strength been proved. By the uprooting of many abuses, and an unexpected change in the relations of rulers and ruled, has the way been wonderfully cleared for a sound consolidation of Britain's power in India.