§ MR. H. A. BRUCEasked the Clerk of the Ordnance whether the cadetships to be granted in July were to be disposed of by nomination, or whether any system will be adopted by which they will be rendered attainable by young men of ability, unaided by interest?
§ MR. MONSELLsaid that the system which had prevailed for many years at Woolwich with regard to the appointment of cadets had been excusively that of nomination. Within the last few days, however, upon the reconsideration of the civil departments of the army, he directed the attention of the Secretary for War, in the first place, to the necessity of appointing a considerable number of additional cadets at Woolwich; and, in the next place, the expediency of altering the system by which they had hitherto been selected. It was utterly impossible, the want being so urgent, to make any permanent arrangement 1191 for the appointment of cadets, but a plan had been adopted which, at all events, was a considerable improvement on the old system. The Secretary for War was about to address a letter to the heads of all the chief educational establishments in England, Ireland, and Scotland, requesting them to nominate a certain number of young gentlemen who were anxious to enter the royal artillery or engineers, and willing to undergo an examination at Woolwich for that purpose. From the number thus nominated the Secretary for War would select from 100 to 120 of the best qualified, and these again would be reduced to thirty-five, by a public examination held at Woolwich. That examination would not be special or professional, but would be directed generally to ascertain the capacity and attainments of the young men; and he thought that in that way they would procure a large number of well educated and efficient officers for Her Majesty's service.