The best speakers on the Government side were Mr. Davison
and Mr. Whitbread, the former of whom stated that the extra prices now paid were growing every day larger, till a man who bought his way up in the Household Cavalry now paid £13,250, in ordinary Cavalry £12,000, in the Footguards £8,500, and in the infantry of the Line £8,000. If the system was not arrested now it would become unmanageable. The latter made some striking points, alleging, in particular, that seniority modified by selection is the Prussian system ; and asking whether, when purchase was abolished, the Army would have no attraction for gentlemen, whether we were so degenerated that the profession of arms was only liked on account of its social exclusiveness? He could not imagine that the abolition of barter would frighten the aristocracy away, and believed that the gold bar once away, the profession could be made much more attractive.
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