Mr. Stanhope, the Secretary for War, made an excellent though
optimistic speech on the Army, at Hammersmith, on Friday week. He avoided the subject of Head-quarters, but maintained that while officers of all arms had greatly im- proved, the men were no worse than of 'old. The Army of 101,000 men employed in India and the Colonies was in splendid order, the men being, in particular, decidedly older than they used to be; while in the Home Army of 103,000 men, only 30,000 were under twenty years of age. If that army, however, were employed in the field, 66,000 Reserve men, all mature and fully trained, would at once be added to its ranks. That system of young men with the colours and mature men in the Reserve, was the universal system of the Continent, and worked here perfectly well, the men, when summoned, arriving so regularly that the Reserve is, in fact, in the first line of the Regular Army. The number of recruits was ample, though there had been some difficulty about the Artillery, in which trained men are required, and he doubted if higher wages would attract a better class. The truth was, that we must engage unskilled lads, for skilled workmen of twenty-one had settled to work, and would not leave it. If we offered the highest rate, and the men would not come, we should have taken a long step in the direction of a conscription. It is all most convincing ; but we do not see yet why, if it is true, so many skilled officers should complain, or why the regiments at home should be left so dependent on the Reserve. Mr. Stanhope, we may remark in passing, is obviously of opinion that a Minister of War such as we recommend, with the heads of departments as his Council, would have too much to do ; but why should he be more overworked than the similar officer at the Admiralty ?
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