The Pall Mall Gazette, which cannot endure any changes in
the War Office not suggested by itself, hints that the Spectator was wrong in praising General Balfour. It does not deny that he and Sir H. Storks have saved the country a million in stores, but says his reduction in the number of iron bedsteads caused the State a large expenditure. Very possibly,—we know nothing of the incident ; but we do know that the million was saved, and would buy a good many bedsteads. Again, the Pall Mall Gazette sago, "We hear Anglo-Indians are extremely sceptical as to the General's connection with the reductions after the mutiny, which followed naturally on the cessation of active warfare." Well, there are stupid Anglo-Indians, as there are stupid Londoners ; but at all events, Lord Canning, Sir B. Frere, Sir R. Napier, Mr. S. Laing, Sir C. Beadon, Lord Elgin, and Lord Halifax, people of competent capacity and accurate knowledge, all con- curred in writing and circulating their belief that without General Balfour's energy, knowledge, and ability those reductions would not have been carried out. The controversy does not matter much, except as a new illustration of English jealousy of Indian service.
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