bution of appointments, and not necessarily even a member of the government, linked to and retiring with the others. Hear the pregnant remarks of Lord Grey on this head :

not be at a loss for his answer. But with regard to the army, it is more particularly necessary that this power should be exercised by the person responsible for its efficiency. Upon what does that efficiency mainly depend? If there is one thing more than another upon which it depends, it is upon the manner in which the patronage is exer

deserving officers, and sternly refuse promotion to the incompetent. It is upon the care and zeal with which this is done that it mainly depends whether your army is efficient, or the reverse. Let me also observe, that in every other department of the public service, you do trust the minister of the crown with patronage. I have already referred to the diplomatic service. The naval service is the same, and throughout the whole of the civil service, the different ranches are subject to the control of Her Majesty's Government. I don't deny that abuses may be committed in this way. I should be the last to deny that under every Government, and in every time, Parliament

"To my notion, the name of Commander-in-cised-(hear)-upon the care taken to advance Chief implies an officer who is in military command of troops, who is constantly at their head, and acting as their general. Now, I need not tell your lordships that the Commander-in-Chief in this country is never seen at the head of troops, unless, indeed, it be at a birthday parade, or a review in Hyde Park. Except at some state pageant of that kind, I say, the Commander-in-Chief never appears in command of troops; and his duties might be perfectly well performed without his ever putting a red coat on his back. He sits in his office at the Horse Guards, and upon him there devolves the duty of organizing and superintending the British army all over the world. It is a duty which, in every other country, is performed, ary interest and other improper motives have innot by a general commanding, but by a minister fluenced the appointments and promotions in the of war. In this country, the Commander-in- public service. Such abuses, I am afraid, have Chief is a minister of war, shorn of a great part existed, and while human nature is what it is I of his proper power and authority. He is minis- am afraid they will exist. I know no country, no ter of war, with very little power over the artil- form of government, in which they have been lery, with no authority in matters of expense, and avoided, and the greatest and most difficult probwith scarcely any as regards the provisioning, lem for the solution of a government is to secure clothing, and arming of the troops. He is minis- the appointment of the right men to situations in ter of war, deprived of all the essential parts of the public service. Upon the whole, however, his functions. I say, then, that the obvious re- admitting the abuses which have taken place in medy for the evil is to get rid of this department. the administration of patronage, I believe that Appoint a general to command the troops in Eng-placing it under the control of the responsible land, and, under the direction of the minister, to Minister of the Crown is the best security you undertake the important duty of watching over can obtain for the due discharge of this most imthe discipline and the training of the troops at portant duty. I know that a comparison has home, and of preparing them for service abroad sometimes been drawn between the distribution of when they were called upon. Let him be an offi- patronage in the Navy and in the Army. (Hear, cer who will train his troops in arms, not a min- hear.) I should be prepared for answer to take ister of war with a pen in his hands at the Horse issue upon that as a matter of fact. I deny that Guards; and as to duties of a different descrip- for the last sixty years the distribution of the pation which now belong to the Commander-in tronage of the Army, under the existing system, Chief, give them to a minister of war-no matter has, upon the whole, been more pure than that of what you call him-transfer to him the duties be- the Navy. The abuses may have been of a diflonging properly to a minister of war, and which ferent character. I admit that they have, in some now are performed by the Commander-in-Chief. respects, been of a different character. But if Among those duties I do not hesitate to say, you you will go into detail and scrutinize appointments, must include the patronage of the army. I know I will undertake to shew you that the public servhow strong is the prejudice which exists upon this ice has suffered more in the Army than it has subject; I know how many persons believe that in the Navy during the last sixty years from inyou cannot, without danger, place the patronage judicious appointments, made from improper moof the army under the control of a member of the tives. My Lords, I cannot help stating that, even civil government. But let me just point out how now, at this moment, in the Crimea, judging by the present system works. Can any minister be results, I cannot believe that the patronage of the justly made responsible for the conduct of a de- Army has been exercised with so much greater partment, if he is not allowed to choose the in- judgment and discretion than that of the Navy. struments he employs; if he is not intrusted with (Hear, hear.) This I know and I see a noble the means of rewarding those who do good and lord here present who can confirm the truth of faithful service? I would ask the noble earl, the what I am saying-this I know, that there is in Secretary of State for Foreign affairs, whether the Army at this moment great dissatisfaction at he would consent to be responsible for conducting the recent promotions for services (cheers); and I the foreign relations of this country, if he had no am told that it is the opinion of the Army-whe voice in the appointment of any member of the ther correctly or not I have not the means of diplomatic body, from the attaché up to the high- judging-that men who were not really under fire est minister acting under him-if he had no means of advancing those who did well, or of recalling those who did ill? (Hear, hear.) Would he consent to undertake the management of our foreign relations upon these terms? I think I can

(hear) at Inkermann, or Alma, or at Balaclava, and who have never undergone all the perils and the hardships of the trenches-that men of this kind have received the promotion which has been denied to most meritorious regimental officers.

It is

(Hear, hear.) I know not whether that allegation fused chaos of promotion according to wealth, be true, but I think it is a pregnant example of political connexion, and decaying age. the inconvenience of the existing system, that a system specially devised for advancing such an allegation and such complaints can be made, and that no man in this House can distinct-men of family affluence, and chiefly the old ly say, if the mistake has been made, who is resand superannuated among them. ponsible for it. Is it the Secretary of State for War, or is it the Commander-in-Chief? I think it would be one of the great advantages of the change I propose, that in these matters any future responsibility would be brought distinctly home to one individual, and thus this great power of promotion, upon the judicious use of which the whole efficiency of an army depends, would be exercised under that check and under that feeling of responsibility which would then be created. (Hear, hear.) When touching upon promotion, I cannot avoid mentioning one other subject. Look

at the medical staff and at the medical service. I believe there has been no branch of the service

which has been so completely withdrawn from the control of the civil government of the country as the army medical service; and, I ask, do the present state of that service, and the manner in which the duties have been performed, justify you in believing that that patronage has been so much more judiciously exercised than patronage in other branches of the service? I say, then, that you have failed in preventing those evils against which the measure was directed, by withdrawing the tronage of the army from the regular control of the country."

pa

It may be necessary briefly to state to our readers what the rule of promotion in the British army is. It has lately been slightly modified, and still more considerable modifications have been recommended by a commission which reported last year, (and whose advice may ultimately be carried into effect, if the indignation of the nation lasts long enough and proves serious enough to alarm and overpower the aristocratic opposition it is sure to meet with ;) but it is still mainly as follows:-Rarely, indeed, does a man rise from the ranks, or is a non-commissioned officer, however distinguished, rewarded These cases do occur by a commission. sometimes, especially of late and during war; but the result is, that the fortunate individual thus "kicked up stairs," find himself in a most uncomfortable position,—a plebeian thrown into the company of gentlemen and aristocrats-a poor man messing with the wealthy and extravagant. But passing over this, promotion, as a rule, goes by seniority in the service, corrected only by 2. The system of promotion and selection wealth. When a vacancy occurs by death, pursued in the British army must, beyond the ensign, lieutenant, captain, &c., next in all question, be held answerable for a large rank steps up as a matter of course. But portion of the disasters and disgraces which when a vacancy occurs, as most vacancies have befallen it on this and on previous oc- do, by promotion or by sale, the commission casions. No ministers are especially to goes to the next in rank who is able to purblame for this system; or rather all govern- chase it, i.e., who can pay down £500, £1000, ments and all political parties are equally to or £2000, as the case may be.* If the senior blame. All have endured it; all have de- candidate have not the money, he is passed fended it; all have administered it; all have over, whatever his merits or his length of profited by it. There are two rules which service, and his juniors are promoted over promotions may follow. They may be made his head; and as it often happens that the according to proved professional merit, or most experienced officer is the poorest, it according to that established rule of seniority may be that he sees boy after boy pass him which presupposes professional experience in the regiment and command him in the at least, if not talent. Both these modes field, to whom perhaps he himself had taught are defensible, though objections may apply the first rudiments of their profession. Now, to each. It may be said that the first plan when we remember that the sons of officers opens the door to favouritism, and the latter are generally poor men, and that poor men to incapacity. But both proceed upon an are precisely those who, knowing that they intelligible principle and offer special advan- have their own way to make in life, are most tages. The system pursued in the British likely to study and master their duties, we military service, however, follows neither of may easily conceive what the effect of such these rules. It combines all that is objection- a system must be on the professional comable in both of them, and adds much that is petency of the regimental officers. It is true objectionable besides. In fact, it is scarcely too much to say that it unites all the undesirable characteristics that could possibly be collected from every conceivable arrangement. Every rule-except that of promotion by merit-is followed; but every rule is broken through when a worse can be substituted in its place. The system is a con

£450 to £1260

*The regulation price of commissions is as fol lows, according to the regiment:Ensign or Cornet, Lieutenant, Captain,. Major,

Lieutenant-Colonel,

700"

1785

1800"

3500

3200"

5350

4500 "

7250

that each young officer must now have sell out, they would have no inducement to served two or three years in his actual rank go out. An abolition of the system of purbefore he can be promoted to another, and chase, if it is not to be positively mischievmust also pass a formal examination to test ous, must be accompanied by a plan for his knowledge of his duties; but all that this comparatively early superannuation, and for can do is to exclude absolute and monstrous consequently more rapid promotion. The incapacity; and it does not always effect question is a difficult one; we are not inclined to pronounce upon it dogmatically, nor have we space to discuss it fully here.

this.

But there is another evil. Staff appoint

It is, however, right to remind our readers that this system of promotion according to a union of seniority and purchase, is honestly defended by many experienced men on ments, such as aides-de-camp, are much deplausible and intelligible grounds, as avoid- sired, both as bringing higher pay, lighter ing or mitigating evils that might be other- service, and pleasanter society than regiwise insurmountable. Promotion by seni- mental duty, and also as affording a better ority is defended on the ground-strong and chance of being mentioned in despatches. probably irresistible in a country like this, Fitly to discharge all their functions requires where representative institutions are so cher- great knowledge and unusual capacity. They ished and aristocratic predilections so uni- ought, therefore, beyond all question, to be versal-that promotion by merit would be reserved for officers of proved merit and certain to degenerate into promotion by well-earned distinction. As a rule, however, favour. Examinations are only imperfect they are habitually distributed to the immeand often deceptive proofs of capacity. Op-diate connexions or personal friends of the portunities, especially in time of peace, are General in command, or to those of the Minrarely afforded to young officers of display-ister who appointed him, or to those of some ing their fitness for advancement so clearly influential political person whose support or and so publicly as to leave no difficulty and friendship the General or the Minister desires no doubt about the matter. Opportunities to reward and secure. This is so universal of proving relative capacity must be still a custom that it is not invidious to mention rarer. If the Commander-in-chief is to judge for himself of the claims of each candidate for promotion, we know well enough that the candidate will be most successful who has the most powerful, persevering, and propinquitous friends to proclaim and faire valoir his merits. If the recommendation of the colonel of the regiment is to be taken, how probable is it that he will be influenced by the personal rather than the professional qualifications of the men with whom he lives in daily intercourse! And in either case, how much canvassing and possibly fawning. for favour, and how much certain jealousy and ill-will would the system give rise to in the interior of the regimental mess, where the officers, in place of being intimate and friendly associates would be transformed into competitors and rivals!

that Lord Raglan's personal staff includes three nephews at least. The effect of this gross abuse is that the young staff officers, though amiable and agreeable gentlemen enough, are often the most uneducated and inexperienced in the whole army, and utterly unfit for the important duties which may devolve upon them. The consequences to the army and the country we have seen in every campaign; and, if report speak truth, nowhere more signally or deplorably than in the Crimea.*

When we reach the higher grades of the service, promotion depends mainly on seniority, though partly also on political influence. When general officers are needed for high command, it is customary to select the oldest who has any reputation, and any

*Of the extent to which political feeling influences, or did influence, military employment and promotion, we have a notable example in the career of Sir de Lacy Evans, a noted Radical. This officer was in active service in 1807, forty-eight years ago. He was engaged during the whole Peninsular War, and was thrice wounded. He distinguished himself in every conceivable way, was five times mentioned 'with distinction in despatches in one year, (forty-four

On the other hand, if purchase were abolished, and the rule of seniority were rigidly followed, promotion would be slower, and you would encounter a fearful aggravation of what is now felt to be the greatest mischief in our present military system-namely,, the advanced age of the officers in the higher ranks. By purchase a man may oc- years since,) and was lieutenant-colonel after Watercasionally now become general and often foe. From 1815 to 1836, he was shelved, both as to colonel while in the prime of life. If you abolished this system, not only would the higher officers always be very old men, but men would remain in the army to a much later period than now. Not being able to

service and promotion. He was then appointed to the command of the Spanish legion, and was made colonel the year after. It was not till after fortyvision in the Crimea, where he shewed himself the seven years service that he became general of diablest commander of the day,

III. Not only the system of promotion in our army, but the whole principle of its organization as far as the officers are concerned, is in fault. A large proportion of the young men who obtain commissions enter the army rather as they would choose a club, than as they would choose a profession; and they undergo no special training, and are expected to show no special aptitude for the functions they are to perform.

aristocratic connexion. The Duke of Wel-fore them, without regard to age or connexlington considered it but just to do so, till ion, must abide the merited and certain conthe liberality of the country provided some sequences. other way of rewarding veterans. The plan, therefore, when you need a commander for the most important critical and onerous duties,-on whom are to depend the salvation of an army and the honour of a country,is to select invariably a man whose physical powers certainly, and whose mental vigour probably are on the decline. You appoint a man who cannot, save by miracle, supply the requirements of the hour. You place upon a grey-haired veteran a weighty func- Nearly every family in the upper ranks, tion which it is scarcely possible he should and great numbers among the wealthier of discharge, under which he will probably the middle classes, send at least one son into sink, and by failing in which he will probably the army. The most studious and quiet is tarnish the well-won laurels of his previous selected for the Church; the most mischievcareer. You act cruelly to the man him- ous, idle, and adventurous is sent to serve self, sinfully to the army you place under his Her Majesty. He may be an impracticable command. dunce; he may be an incorrigible dawdler; As matters are arranged in our army this he may hate alike all learning and all resfolly and wrong can hardly be avoided; for traint; he may be the despair alike of pa a man can scarcely ever become a general rents and preceptors; he may have reaped officer till he is sixty. Napoleon and Wel nothing but disgrace at college, and sown lington both ended their career in the same nothing but wild oats since he left it;-but battle, and at the same age, forty-six. It he is still fit to wear the livery of the Crown. was the opinion of both that at the age of Indeed he is fit for nothing else. He has forty-five a general should think of withdraw- not talent for the bar; he has not steadiness ing from active command. The French for the Church; he has no taste for medicine, generals who won the great battles of the and no money for commerce; there is, last war were generally under forty; most therefore, nothing left for him but the mili of those now in command are not forty-five. tary service; and we readily admit that it is Under Lamoricière the average age of the possible enough he might, under proper generals serving in Algeria was only forty- management, and with the stimulus of a three. General Canrobert is forty-six, and wholesome system, become in time an enerGeneral Bosquet forty-two. The ages of getic and useful officer. But unluckily the our lieutenant-generals range from sixty to chances are, that he does not look to the eighty. army as a profession at which he is to work, Surely we have had warning enough on in which he is to rise, by which he is to live. this head. The appointments of General His commission insures him a comfortable Elphinstone in Affghanistan, and General social position; he does not regard it as a Godwin in Burmah ought to have been the solemn obligation to perform certain most last of their kind. It is of no use to point important duties. On the contrary, his to Cathcart and Evans here, and to Radetsky whole ingenuity and all the influence of his abroad, as proofs that the oldest men may friends are unceasingly exerted to exonerate also be the ablest. You have no right to him as much as possible from its duties. If argue from exceptions, and the nation will there is war, of course he is generally anxnot tolerate having the ruin of its armies ious for active employment, because employdefended by special pleading. The recom- ment then brings excitement, adventure, posmendation of the Military Commission we sible fame, and probable promotion. But have already referred to must be carried in time of peace, he gets leave of absence out. Men must be induced to retire in time, whenever he can, and when he cannot, he and make way for younger hands and lightens the tedium of a garrison life by the younger brains. Those who have worked pleasures of miscellaneous society. hard in their profession must be able to become generals while in their prime ;* and Ministers who do not select according to the best of their judgment out of the men be

* "We are kept back till we are worn out," said Sir De Lacy Evans.

He can

not live by his profession, at least in its lower grades. It is notorious that no officer lives upon his pay, till he becomes captain at the least. Till then he must spend £100 a year, as a general rule, out of his own or his father's private fortune. He does not commonly look to making his way up by hard work, by

real merit, by slow degrees. He has bought this can be obtained at Woolwich. But in, and he probably intends to sell out as even here it is too notorious that proficiency soon as he reaches a certain rank. He has in the requisite attainments and proofs of no great motive to diligent study of his pro- the requisite qualities do not ensure, or do fession; for, supposing that he knows suffi- not solely and specially ensure promotion. cient to pass, (and a very little has been Favour there, as elsewhere, reigns nearly hitherto sufficient,) he is well aware that his supreme-except that actual ignorance and rise will depend not upon his knowledge or incapacity are excluded. In all the rest of his talents, but on money, connexion, acci- the army, in the Guards and in the Line; it dent, or seniority. He does not throw his is beyond question that no intellectual enwhole soul into his calling, as one by which dowments or acquirements are indispensable, he is to stand or fall, by which he is to fail and a great proportion of our young officers or to succeed in life. If he finds himself com- are principally influenced in the choice of fortable he will continue in the profession, the profession. by the promise which it and gradually live up to a decent income and a fair rank: if he is not comfortable, or if he gets tired, or if promotion does not come fast enough, he will retire upon half-pay, and enjoy social life upon a moderate income. It is not with feelings of this sort that professional efficiency can be secured, or professional success commanded.

holds out to them of exemption from all mental labour; while their parents and guardians are guided by the consideration, or the supposition, that nowhere else can scanty capacity and small acquirements so readily pass muster.

To a certain extent and only to a certain extent is this last belief well founded. In But there are many to whom this descrip- ordinary times a very small amount of tion does not apply-poor men, ambitious brain is adequate to enable a young man men, officers' sons, men with a real avoca- to discharge without discredit the daily tion for their work. These, and even the functions of a subaltern. But it is not so in idlers might be made effective officers, were the higher grades of the service, to which it they really educated for their profession. is presumed the subaltern hopes in time to But real professional education is a thing un- rise; and it is not so even in the lower known in this country, except in the medical grades in periods of war, and in perilous and naval service. The clergyman has no contingencies. In active service, circumtheological education; the barrister no legal stances may any hour occur in which on the education; the officers no military educution. knowledge, judgment, and vigilance of a They are all left to pick up the requisite know-lieutenant or a cornet may depend the preledge and practice as they can, after they have entered the profession, or to scramble on without it as they may. There is nothing to prevent a man from accepting a cure of souls with scarcely the rudiments of real biblical or theological acquirements. There is nothing to prevent a barrister from receiving a brief, who has scarcely opened a law book, and could not draw a pleading or an indictment. There is nothing to prevent an officer being an aide-de-camp, or in case of accident to his superior, leading a troop or commanding a company, who has really learned nothing of soldiership except the goose-step and the drill. A few of the young men go to Sandhurst; but the instruction there is believed to be worse than useless, and regimental colonels would receive a subaltern from any school rather than that. A certain examination must now be passed by all candidates for a commission; but it is one for which any save actual dunces can be crammed in three months, and several young men are "plucked" repeatedly before they pass even this easy ordeal.

vention of a surprise, the discomfiture of a foe, the safety of a regiment, the comfort and welfare of a troop or company. Moreover circumstances may any hour occur in campaigning inwhich capacity and information may enable a subaltern not only to distinguish himself, but to render most valuable service to his country. In such circumstances, it is imperative that every young officer should be competent to do his duty. Of such circumstances it is most desirable, that every young officer should be able to. take advantage. We have no desire that all who choose the army as their profession should be of studious habits, or should even give proof of the usual amount of literary acquirement expected of educated gentlemen. We are well aware that those most fond of active sports, and most averse to sedentary habits, will often make the best soldiers. We know that book learning is no test of military capacity; and that hundreds who abhor mathematics, and find the utmost difficulty in mastering a foreign language, may have within them the moral and menThe exceptions to this rule are the corps tal gifts, however hidden and untrained, of artillery and engineers. For these ser. which will qualify them admirably to lead a vices a scientific training is necessary; and regiment or to command an army. We