Retrenchment by decreasing the army dead weight, through buying out and forming re tired colonelcies from regimental funds alone.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 318, 16 June 1849, Page 3 (Supplement)

Retrenchment by decreasing the army dead weight, through buying out and forming re tired colonelcies from regimental funds alone.

To the Editor of the Obrervcr. Sir : There is an old proverb that " Many a mickle makes a muckle." This holds good iv the reduction of taxalion. In ihe present fltate of the country it be:

hovei the Government to diminish even a trifling expenditure wherever they can find or make an honest opportunity. I believe that one particular saving to the country can easily be efficted by the subjoined plan, which originated years tince with an experienced military man, one of rank too high to be himself touched by the measure. The plan chiefly applies to lieut.colonels in command of regiments, and to their widows and children, 1. In the EDglish army the ensign — except in certain cases — purchases his commission, and the four subsequent steps of lieutenant, captain, major, and lieutenant-colonel can be likewise purchased. But a lieutenant-colonel cannot purchase a colonelcy. He must wait his turn for the brevet, say ten years ; he (hen bi'comfs " full colonel," and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred goes upon half -pay histantcr. 2. Your non-professional readers should be informed that lieutenant-colonels have the actual command of regiments; the colonel of any regiment is seldom, very seldom with it. The colonel is either— as in veiy rate cases — what is termed a full colonel, or as is mostly the case— some general offirer to whom a regiment is j" given." Thus Field Marshal Prince Albert is cobnel of one regiment, of Guards, and the " Iron Duke" of another. The lieutenant-colonel does the work and slays with the regiment. Full colonels are rarely in command of regimf tits. 3. The half-piy list bears about 200 to 220 full colnne/s. This is a "deadweight' 1 it is not wished to increase. 4. Ttie proposed plan affects not these colonels, neither does it affect general officers ; but it affects each lieutenant-colonel serving in a regiment, and majors down to ensigns, and gentlemen who have lodged their money for ensigncies at Cox and Greenwood's, or else where. 5. Tae present plan affects also the widows and children of emplojed lieutenunt- colonels ns will be seen. Ey employed I mean serving with their regiment. 6. When promoted to a full colonelcy the late lieu-tenant-colonel gets his half-pay, and if he dies, bis widow and children in nearly every case have a pension or allowance from Government. It is proposed to abolish these time payments by '• buying off" the present lieutenant colonels while in command of their regiments. 7. The plan is to work thus: The gentleman who had lodged his money for an ensigncy pay* that mone the senior ensign buys his lieutenancy, the lieutenant his company, and captain his majority, the major his lioutenant-coloncy. All still remain in the regiment in their new and higher rank, but the purchase-money for all these steps is to be given to the retiring lieut.colonel (say six thousand pounds), who in consideraton of such purcbase-money not only gui s the regt. but the army, forfeits all claim to half-pay, and moreover his widow and children are not to have any claim on the coun ry whatever. His own name however, it to be plec din the army list as a colonel ; he may be termed co onel in society, and wear hit uniform and orders ; but no more pay or pension or employment or promotion. 8. A lieutenant colonel on half-pay is of course excluded from thii> pian. The junior officeis of regiments must (where they approve of the plau) club together, and persuade their lieutenant-colocel to retire. But many a 1 eutenant. colonel would jump at the chance unsolicited. Something of this sort has occurred in the Indian army. 9. Most lieutennnt-coloneli are well advanced in years, and would (having death daily before their eyes) gladly accept the nominal rank of full colonel, coupled w ih the glittering temptation of five or «ix thousand pi uuds down, rather than continue at a few hnndrtds per Minum in the regiment With th it mans of money bifoiethem, visions ef Australia Felix, Biid of Wool, of Gold on fleece, and land, and Burra Burra mines; and a jrovision for hungry sons, &«., would float in their " mind's eye." With five or six thousand pounds at their age they could >c better their families more easily than out of their full pay, which an indigestible Parisian goffre might in a tingle night transfer without warning to the pouch of the major below them. Death vncaneifs occur, when least expected, in peace as well as in war. 10. But it will be snid the country gains litlle by this plan s nee for every lieutenant colonel bought out, a new lieutenant-colonel (i. c. the promoted major) will be brought in, whom the countiy must pay. This at first seems a po*er. Yet tbe country will at le^t have this advantage, viz , that of younger officers filling thehigher ranks in regiments, instead of old men, BnJ consequently in time, as the plan works, we shall have younger generals (" a consummation devoutly to be w'lhed'') — generals perchance, who, instead of requiring a " chosen servant to conduct their stepi," or lift them to a «addle, may. with the activity of Slievenamon Dobeny, vault unaided over four or five horses' backs. 11. But I am of opinion that if the plan be but tried even our Humes and Cobdens would soon admit they could discover a rapid decrease in the pensions to officers' widows and children. I think the plan could not but insure a u rowing decrease. Calculating chances as in life ft-surance, it appears to promise a great *aveing to the country. As to purchasing the several steps there can be no difficulty ; and inter alia it is asserted by the favouiers of this measure, that no less than £200,000 are now in the bauds of otic army agent for the purchase of commissions ! Unlock this, even if it bs destined to be diffused at the antipodes. 12. In conclusion, let me say the War Office has been communicated witli on the above plan. Public department!, however, move rather slowly— by and bye nous verrons. In what I have ttated above, I have not confined myself to the plan of the officer who originated the question. The real point in his plan was, and is, that the officers of a regiment (the lieutenant-colonel included), should each pay his quota, so that a lieut.colonel might buy a colonelcy, the colonel of whom he buys it quitting the army altogether, and his widow and children abandoning all claim on the country ; but tl c Leutemn -co onel so becoming ccbnel by purchase is to cont n ue in that rank and in the army, and then in his turn to hecome a general. Thus an officer of each grade in a regiment would get bin step ; ths lieutenant colonel would leave tbe regiment to become a colonel, a colonel would leave the army altogether, and thus the country would possess much younger officers in high grades than it now does.— l am Sir, your obedient servant and constant reader, William Knight. Temple, December 20, 1848.

Reduction of the Ahmy.— Last week we stater! that there was a probabi'ity that a reduction in the army, to the extent of ten thousand men, would b proposed in the eitimstes to be submitted to Parlia- , meat in the ensuing session. We arc informed that the contempluti d arrangement will be carried out in the following manner, viz i — Three regiments of 1000 men each, who, having been sent to India, will no longer remain a charge upon the B itish establishment s 3000. Seven regiments of 1000 men each, to be rei duced to 750 — 1750. Thirty-six regiments, of B^o men o ach, to be reduced to 750—1800. Fourteen dc-

pots, of 460 men each, to be reduced to 230—3220. One depot, of 400 men, to be reduced to 170—230. Total, 10,000,— News of the World, February 4. A Scene at Marrast's Soiree.— An aristocratic young dandy, one of the most exclusive of tht present fashionable lions in Paris, who, as he declares, was present at Mamst's reception merely from curiosity, was invited by the mistress of the house to take his place at an ecarie table, where was already seated a gentleman waiting for a partner. The lion obe\ed with s o-nful compliance, and took the chair oppoiit« to the stranger, who was already beginning to shuffle and sort the cards with an agreeable anticipation of amusement, after long expectation. No sooner, however, was the daivly seated when he started with amazement on beholding in his partner the visage which will sometimes strike terror into the bo<*om of the bravest of mankindj—the tailor to whom a long hill is owing. The latter, however, as willing as the dandy to avoid recognition, merely bowed in answer to the stare of surprise of which he was the object, and raid quietly, as he drew his purse from his pockef, " What are our stakes ?" " The coat on my hack," replied the impu- j dent dandy, without moving a muscle. Tbe tailor was a man of honour, and rather enjoyed the joke than otherwise. He played for the coat and loil, and the dandy walked away rather embarrassed at the novrl position in which he stood as wearer of a coat which was really paid for. — Galignani's Messenger. Annexation op Cuba to the United States. — The annexation of Cuba to the United Statri is a point absolutely set led in the purpose of a certain party in the latter country. They look upon it umply as a question of time and opportunity ; and if our politicians think the matter too absurd to deserve their grave consideration, they will find, at no very dht n period, that Cuba, like lexai, California, and New Mexico, has added another star and another stripe to the American banner.— -Anti'Slavery Reporter.