It was believed at first that the Colonels would continue
their op- position, but a strong hint from Mr. Cardwell that he could stop the payment of extra-regulation money by putting the law in force had its effect, and on Thursday the Bill escaped through Com- mittee. In its novel form it abolishes Purchase, and deprives Lord-Lieutenants of their anomalous power of appointing officers in the Militia, and thus restores to the State the government of the Army, while it also enables Parliament to fix from year to year the number of the Militia, authorizes Government to insist on six months' continuous training as the condition of entering that force, and makes Volunteers when under training in the camps sub- ject to the Mutiny Act. All these are beneficial reforms, and will enable the Minister at War to exert the prerogative with effect, and, if needful, to bring in small Bills conferring powers to meet special contingencies.
