Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/24

 THE RATTLE OF BALACLAVA. CHAP. I. choice made by the Gov- ernment. value, that the neglect to apply it can hardly be deserving of pardon, or even, we would say, of indulgences Has # €liej .officer whose name is sub- mitted # done recent 'service in the field ? Has his ser.v-icQ ibeenjbnllijant ? .'.Has- he shown his prow- ess in action as a cavalry officer ? Has he in any rank, however humble, taken part in cavalry fights ? Is he of the age for a cavalry man ? Is he either under thirty-five, or else a man so fresh come from the performance of cavalry feats that the question of age may be waived ? If the minister finds that all these questions must be answered in the negative by a portion of the candidates, whilst others can answer affirmative- ly, it would surely appear to follow that he has already effected some progress towards a selection of the right names, because he can thenceforth confine his investigation to the merits of those officers who have served in the field, and elimin- ate those who have not. To our own countrymen, more especially, the principle might be expected to recommend itself, because it so happened that, notwithstanding the long duration of the peace which had been existing between the great Powers of Europe, England had a superb list of cavalry officers in the early prime of life who had done brilliant service in the field. Well, elimination proceeded — a choice was made ; but it was with an actually inverting effect that these operations took place. Incred- ible as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that, in nominating general officers for cavalry com