The confidential paper issued from the Horse Guards must have
fallen like something far worse than a bombshell amidst the gallant gentlemen to whom it is addressed. The efforts made by many military reformers to modify the system of purchase have been so far successful, as to establish a conviction amongst leading military statesmen that it must be modified to allow op- portunities at once for promotion by merit, and for enforcing cer- tain standards of military education in the Army. Although ap- parently not prepared to take upon himself the full responsibility of carrying out any measure so thoroughgoing, the Commander- in-Chief has more than once formally expressed his desire that opportunity should be afforded for officers who wish to undergo examination for the purposes of promotion, especially to the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant. In many corps the order to this effect has been suffered to lie, as a dead letter ; and where ex- aminations have taken place, they have some times been conducted in a slovenly manner, the commanding officers having failed to note either the deficiencies of those who are under their care, or to report upon the means taken to carry out the Commander-in- Chief' s order. In the new mission he recalls them to their duty, accompanying his memento by one of the severest reprimands which any body of men claiming to be accounted gentlemen have received from a Minister of State. The moral courage which dictated the order at least equals the immoral courage which rendered it necessary, and we fully anticipate that the higher in- fluence will prevail.
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