THE ASHBURNHAM BUSINESS.
IT is most unfortunate that the Horse Guards, just as it has in various ways won a golden opinion or two, should recklessly fly in the face of common sense—not to say common decency—in dis- pensing the Colonelcies of Regiments. We were unable to see any reason why the Earl of Lucan obtained the Colonelcy of the 8th Hussars ; but if there existed no reason for the appointment of Lord Lucan to the 8th Hussars, there exists less to warrant the appointment of Lord Cardigan to the Coloneloy of the 5th Dragoons, and of General Ashburnhaan, late of the Sutlej cam- paigns, late of China, late of Calcutta, to the Colonelcy of the 82d Foot. Lord Cardigan% " servicee " are world-famous. They are recorded in pamphlets, newspapers, volumes on the Crimean war, Gazettes ]tatraordinary. He always shone, whether as a regi- mental commander or as a brigadier, after his peculiar 'manner. General Ashburnham so handled his regiment on the Sutlej that few men know exactly what he-did with it ; they only know that it did not bear that relation to the enemy which was expected. General Ashburnham was sent by Lord Panmure to command the China expedition, and when that expedition was diverted to India General Ashburnham went to India. too, and then General Ash- burnham unexpectedly retired upon his "supports" in England; and when it was supposed that he was in India or China, some- body met him in Pall Mall.
What are his services? Where is the roll of glory or approved conduct which would be a warrant for the Commander-in-Chief ? Is he rewarded for victory on the Sntlej, for ability in voyaging from England to China, from China to Calcutta, and from Cal- cutta to Pall Mall ? Or is he rewarded because he was once in the Guards ?
Be it understood we do not blame General Ashburnham. He is as God made him. Our quarrel is with the Horse Guards, which seems determined to provoke the tempest that will de- stroy it as an institution.
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