exchanged, or in any way authorizing the purchase, or sale, or exchange for money of any such commissions;

"Our will and pleasure is

"That the undermentioned Articles of our Warrant of December 27, 1870, be cancelled accordingly :

"Articles 33 (paragraph a), 36 (paragraph a), so much of Article 40 as relates to regimental promotion, Articles 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 102, 109, 959, 961, 967, 968, 969, 970.

"And whereas it is expedient, pending a more complete revision of that section of our said Warrant of December 27, 1870, which now governs the promotion of combatant officers, to provide at once for certain necessary changes in respect of first appointments, regimental promotion, and exchanges;

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Our will and pleasure is

"That this Warrant be established and obeyed from November 1st in this present year, in respect of all matters herein contained, and that it be construed, administered, and interpreted with our said Warrant of December 27, 1870.

"I.-FIRST APPOINTMENTS.

"Sub-Lieutenants.

"1. A commission as sub-lieutenant in our army may be given:-(a) To a successful candidate at a competitive examination in general subjects to be held under such regulations as may be issued from time to time by our Secretary of State. (b) To a student from the University of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, London, Dublin, Edinburgh, St. Andrew's, Glasgow, Aberdeen, or the Queen's University, Ireland, who has passed "Responsions" at Oxford, the "Previous Examination" at Cambridge, or the corresponding examination at the other Universities-under such regulations with respect to the age and manner of selection of such candidates as may be issued from time to time by our Secretary of State. (c) To our cadets styled "Queen's Cadets," to those styled "Indian Cadets," and to our Pages of Honour. These cadets and pages of honour shall pass such a qualifying examination in general subjects as may be fixed from time to time by our Secretary of State. (d) To a non-commissioned officer who is recommended for promotion by our Commander-in-Chief, and who shall pass such a professional examination as may be fixed from time to time by our Secretary of State.

"2. Sub-lieutenants, in order to qualify for the rank of lieutenant, shall be required to serve satisfactorily for twelve months with one of our regiments, and after such service (except in the case of non-commissioned officers promoted to be sub-lieutenants) to go through such a course of study and to pass such a professional examination as may be fixed from time to time by our Secretary of State.

"3. Sub-lieutenants shall be removed from our service for moral or physical unfitness, or if they fail to pass satisfactorily through the prescribed course of study. They shall (except in the case of non-commissioned officers promoted to be sub-lieutenants) be required to pass the professional examination for the rank of lieutenant within three years, failing to do which they shall be removed from our service. Their time for retirement on full or half-pay shall be reckoned from the date of their commissions as lieutenants; and in fixing the date of such commissions, such portion of their service as sub-lieutenants may be allowed as their conduct and qualifications may merit, according to regulations to be issued from time to time by our Secretary of State.

"4. Sub-lieutenants appointed to a cavalry regiment who are not qualified for service in the Cavalry may be transferred to the Infantry.

"Appointment from the Militia.

"5. A commission as lieutenant in our army may be given to a lieutenant of one of our regiments of Militia, under such regulations as to age or otherwise as may be issued from time to time by our Secretary of State. The officer shall pass a professional examination similar to that which will be required of a sub-lieutenant of our army before he receives a commission as lieutenant.

"II.-PROMOTION. "Lieutenants.

"6. A sub-lieutenant in our army may receive a commission as lieutenant :(a) If he has been promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant from the rank of a noncommissioned officer-after a satisfactory service of not less than twelve months as a sub-lieutenant. (b) In the case of other sub-lieutenants after a satisfactory service of not less than twelve months with one of our regiments, and after having gone through a course of study and passed a professional examination, as laid down in Article 2.

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"10. Every promotion shall be made upon the recommendation of our Commander-in-Chief, with the approval of our Secretary of State.

"11. Succession to vacancies shall be regulated as follows:

(a) If a vacancy shall arise-(1) By the promotion of an officer to the rank of major-general, (2) by the death of an officer, (3) by an officer becoming supernumerary under Article 21, or (4) by an officer being promoted to fill a vacancy in another regiment or corps.-The promotions in the several ranks necessary to fill the vacancy shall, unless it shall be expedient that the vacancies be otherwise filled, be given to the senior qualified officer of each lower rank in the regiment or corps, except in the case of promotion to be lieutenant-colonel, in which case the vacancy shall be filled by a qualified officer to be selected by our Commander-in-Chief with the approval of our Secretary of State.

"(b) If a vacancy shall arise from any other cause, it shall be filled by a qualified officer of our army, who shall be selected by our Commander-in-Chief with the approval of our Secretary of State.

"12. No selection shall be made in succession to any vacancy caused by the retirement of an officer until such retirement shall have been completed and shall have appeared in the London Gazette.

"13. Officers below the rank of field

officer shall not be recommended to us for promotion unless they shall have previously passed such professional examination as may be fixed from time to time by our Secretary of State. Officers serving with their regiments at distant foreign stations may be provisionally promoted to vacancies previous to passing such examination, but such promotion shall be cancelled should the officer fail in his examination. Captains now in our service may be appointed majors without examination if specially reported to and approved by our Commander-in-Chief as having proved their efficiency for the rank of major.

"14. Lieutenants shall be required to pass the professional examination for the rank of captain within five years from the date of their commission as lieutenants, failing to do which they shall be removed from our service, and may receive a sum not exceeding one year's pay; provided that in cases of exigencies our Secretary of State may enlarge the time allowed for their examination. Officers now in our service who received their first commissions before August 26, 1871, shall not be liable to the provisions of this Article.

"III. TENURE OF APPOINTMENTS OF MAJOR AND LIEUTENANT-COLONEL IN A REGIMENT.

"15. The appointment of major in a regiment or battalion shall, in the case of officers so appointed after the date of this Warrant, be held in the first instance for five years; the officer being eligible for re-appointment. If not re-appointed, he shall receive half-pay.

"16. The appointment of lieutenantcolonel of a regiment or battalion shall, in the case of officers so appointed after the date of this Warrant, be held in the first instance for five years, and may be renewed if it appear to our Commanderin-Chief, with the approval of our Secretary of State, that such renewal is desirable for the good of our service. If the officer be not re-appointed, he shall receive half-pay.

Colonial Corps, and officers (below the substantive rank of field-officer) in our Indian Staff Corps may exchange from one regiment or corps to another, and officers of equal substantive rank on full pay serving in brigades of Royal Artillery, in companies of Royal Engineers, or in regiments of more than one battalion may exchange from one brigade, company of Royal Engineers, or battalion to another, providing that the commanding officers of the officers exchanging certify that the desired exchange does not originate in any cause affecting the honour, character, or professional efficiency of the officers, and provided also that a certificate of a military medical officer be transmitted in each case, declaring that the officer is in a fit state to serve at the station where the corps, brigade, battalion, or company into which he applies to exchange is quartered. Each officer shall also declare that it is his

bona fide intention to join immediately and do duty in the corps, brigade, battalion, or company to which he proposes to exchange; and no officer shall be permitted to retire within six months of the date of his exchange, excepting in the case of illhealth or other emergency, which shall be specially considered.

"19. An officer so exchanging shall be permitted to defray all fair and reasonable expenses incurred through such exchange by the officer with whom he exchanges, provided that the sum to be paid be approved by our Commander-in-Chief before payment is made.

"20. An officer exchanging into a regiment shall be placed, for regimental seniority, below all officers holding the same regimental rank at the time of his exchange.

"VI. SUPERNUMERARY OFFICERS.

"21. An officer may be retained on the strength of his regiment or corps as a supernumerary—

"1st. In case of a reduction in the establishment of a regiment or corps when his retention is authorized by our Secretary of State;

2nd. If, in the case of a field-officer belonging to a regiment or battalion serving in India, he be appointed to a brigade command or to a Staff situation in that country tenable by a regimental officer for the usual period of five years;

"3rd. When appointed to be-(a) Assistant adjutant and quarter-master general if a substantive major; (b) Professor, instructor, or other officer on the establishment of our Royal Military College, Royal Military Academy, or Staff College; (c) Garrison instructor, deputy

assistant adjutant-general for musketry, captain instructor or lieutenant instructor of musketry; (d) Adjutant in a regiment or corps of our auxiliary forces; or to hold such other appointments as may be fixed from time to time by our Secretary of State with the approval of the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury.

"22. An officer supernumerary to the establishment of his regiment or corps shall retain his military position and be eligible for promotion precisely as if he had remained on the active list of such regiment or corps.

"23. A supernumerary officer under Article 21, on being promoted to a lieutenant-colonelcy or majority in a regiment or corps, shall join the regiment or corps to which he may be promoted.

"24. A supernumerary officer who completes the term of service fixed for his appointment, or resigns it on satisfactory grounds, shall rejoin his regiment as supernumerary in his rank, except in the case of a substantive major, who shall receive half-pay until absorbed, retaining his regimental position.

"25. A supernumerary officer who resigns his appointment on unsatisfactory grounds, or is displaced therefrom for misconduct or incapacity, unless he be removed from our army, shall receive a reduced rate of half-pay of such amount and for such period as our Secretary of State may decide, taking into consideration the length and character of the services rendered by the officer.

"26. If a supernumerary officer shall die, be promoted, or retire, or if any officer of the rank in which there is a supernumerary officer waiting absorption under Article 23 shall die, be promoted, or retire, no promotion shall take place in succession to such vacancy.

"27. Cases of reduction of establishment shall be specially considered, and such arrangements made for the gradual absorption of supernumerary officers as may be approved by the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury.

"VII.—PROVISIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

"28. Cornets and ensigns in our army appointed before the 26th day of August, 1871, and cornets and ensigns in our army appointed after such date who passed from our Royal Military College on the A list may be promoted at once to the rank of lieutenant. No greater number of lieutenants than that allowed by the establishment which may be fixed for the year shall receive lieutenant's pay, and no officer shall receive such pay until he shall have passed the examination required

by the existing regulations for the rank of lieutenant.

"29. Other cornets and ensigns in our army appointed after the 26th day of August, 1871, candidates who have passed the examination for direct commissions before the date of this our Warrant, candidates for commissions in the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards who are nominated to fill the vacancies which occur in such regiments previous to the date of the first competitive examination for sublieutenancies and who pass a qualifying examination, and candidates from the Universities now on the list of our Commander-in-Chief may receive commissions as sub-lieutenants.

The following explanatory memorandum accompanies the Royal Warrant :"The scope of the present Warrant is confined to making those changes which are rendered immediately necessary by the abolition of Purchase, and it therefore deals only with the subjects of first appointments, regimental promotion in the Cavalry and Infantry of the Line, and exchanges.

"2. Questions affecting the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards are under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and the promotions which have heretofore carried superior army rank are for the time to be suspended.

"3. The Regulations which are required for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the Warrant are either published along with it or are in course of preparation, and will be issued shortly.

4. In the meantime, the following explanatory statement has been drawn up for general information.

"5. Commissions as lieutenants will be given to all cornets and ensigns appointed before the 26th of August, 1871, and to cornets and ensigns appointed since that date from the A list at Sandhurst, their commissions to date from the 1st of November.

"6. Commissions as sub-lieutenant will be given to

appointed after the 26th of August, 1871, the rank of cornet and ensign being abolished.

"(b) Candidates who have passed the examination for direct commissions, in their turn as vacancies occur.

"(c) Candidates for commissions in the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards who are nominated to fill the vacancies which occur in those regiments before the date of the first competitive examination for sub-lieutenancies, and who pass a qualifying examination.

"(d) Candidates from the Universities now on the Commander-in-Chief's list.

"7. Sub-Lieutenants will be attached for a year to regiments at home. They will then be required to go through a course of instruction, and on passing a practical professional examination, be commissioned to regiments as lieutenants. They will be under strict discipline, and will be liable to be removed for unfitness, either moral or physical, and for misconduct. Those unsuited to the Cavalry may be transferred to the Infantry.

"8. In dating their commissions they will be allowed a portion, not exceeding one year, of their services as sub-lieutenants; the time allowed being determined by the class of certificate they receive after their year's regimental training, their conduct while under instruction, and their position at the final examination. Their service for retirement will reckon from the date of their commissions as lieutenants.

"9. Candidates who have passed the examination for direct commissions, and have also passed satisfactorily through a year's course of study at the Royal Military College before being appointed to be sub-lieutenants, and Sandhurst cadets from the B list will be commissioned to regiments as lieutenants on serving satisfactority for twelve months with a regiment as sub-lieutenants.

"10. There are now a large number of supernumerary officers, and also a large number of candidates who have passed for commissions.

"11. The absorption of supernumerary officers will probably be completed, and the candidates who have passed for commissions have received their appointments in about two years from the present time, and personal appointments in the army will then only be given as follows:

"(a) To successful candidates at a competitive examination.

"(b) To non-commissioned officers recommended for promotion by the FieldMarshal Commanding-in-Chief.

"(c) To candidates from the Univer

"(d) To Queen's Cadets, India Cadets, and Pages of Honour.

"(e.) To lieutenants of Militia.

"12. The competitive examination will be carried out by the Civil Service Commissioners; the standard of qualification being that recommended by the Royal Commission on Military Education. Ample notice will be given of the first examination, and there will be no advantage in any application being made for admission to be examined before the publication of such notice.

"13. Non-commissioned officers, on being selected for promotion, will pass an examination in certain professional subjects; and then, after twelve months' satisfactory service as sub-lieutenants, will receive commissions as lieutenants.

"14. A certain number of sub-lieutenancies a year will be allotted to candidates who have passed the University examination specified in the Regulations. If they also pass the examination for the degree of B.A. they will be allowed two years' extension of the limit of age. University candidates will be required to give at least six months' notice of their desire to be admitted into the army. If in any year there should be more candidates than appointments, the requisite number will be chosen by competition between the candidates ; after their appointment they will go through the same course as other sub-lieutenants.

"15. There will be no vacancies for two years for any candidates from the Universities, whose names are not now on the Commander-in-Chief's list.

"16. Queen's and Indian Cadets and Queen's Pages will be required to pass a qualifying examination, which for the present will be the same as that recommended by the Royal Commission on Military Education. The nominations will remain as heretofore. When appointed, cadets and pages will go through the same course as other sub-lieutenants.

"17. First appointments as subalterns in the Militia will be made on the recommendation of the Lieutenants of counties. Candidates, before receiving their commissions as lieutenants in the Militia, will be required to pass a qualifying examination in general subjects equal to the standard fixed as necessary for a candidate for a sub-lieutenancy. They will next be required to be attached to a regiment of the Line for three months, or such time as may be necessary to teach them their drill. After serving with their Militia regiments for two annual trainings, they will be eligible for the appointment of lieutenants in the army. order to obtain such an appointment they

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must be recommended by the commanding officer of their Militia regiment, his recommendation being confirmed by the General Officer commanding the district, and they will be required to pass an examination in professional subjects of the same kind as that which will be required of a sub-lieutenant before he receives his commission as lieutenant.

"18. The limits of age, except for noncommissioned officers, will be fixed at from 17 to 20 for sub-lieutenants, the limit being raised to 22 in the case of candidates who have passed their examination for the degree of B.A. at the Universities, and from 19 to 22 for the lieutenants from the Militia.

"19. So far as it is possible to calculate beforehand, the vacancies on the present establishment of officers in the army will provide for about 200 admissions a year by competition, and for one commission a year for each Militia regiment of ten companies, and for the smaller regiments in proportion, besides the number allowed for candidates from the Universities, noncommissioned officers, &c.

"20. In addition to the examinations hitherto required from regimental officers, those who are promoted to the rank of captain after the 1st November will, before being promoted to the rank of major, be required to pass a professional examination.

"21. The necessary alterations in the Queen's Regulations with respect to this and other examinations will be made public as soon as possible.

"22. Adjutancies of the Auxiliary Forces will in future be filled by half-pay officers or by officers belonging to regiments, who will be made supernumerary to their regiments while so serving. The appointments will be held in the first instance for a term of five years; but if their service prove unsatisfactory, they will be liable to be sent back to their regiments, or put upon a reduced rate of half-pay under Article 25 of the Warrant at any time, if satisfactory, they will be eligible for re-appointment after the expiration of their first period.

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"23. It is not intended to interpose any obstacle in the way of exchanges between officers on full pay which are made to suit the reasonable convenience of officers. It is therefore provided that an officer wishing to exchange shall be permitted to defray the fair and reasonable expenses of the officer with whom he exchanges, provided the sum to be paid is approved by the Commander-in-Chief. Precautions have been taken, in the Queen's Regulations for the army, to guard against any abuse of such arrangements. "EDWARD CARDWELL."