On Monday General Peel made another attack upon Govern- ment
for the changes recently made in the War Office. He was, however, feebly supported, and the vote was passed. The absurd system, therefore, under which, if a vacancy occurred in one department the promotion was given to a clerk from another, may be considered abolished. We are heartily glad of the de- cision, for the reform involved a principle much more important than itself, namely, the right of a department to dictate to its Parliamentary chiefs. There has been too much of this lately, and if the country does not watch encroachments it may find itself governed, as India is, by a compact corporation, which con- -eiders itself entitled to rule, instead of serving the population which pays its wages. The army is already a great club, and the civil service will very soon be another.
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