The mere threat was enough for the
lords. They had no wish to see their
order made cheap and ridiculous, a9
would have beeu the case had peera
become as plentiful as blackberries.
It used to be the custom in the Brit?
ish army for all officers' commissions
to be purchased. That is, an officer, In?
stead of getting into the army by
means of a competitive examination
and rising by merit, came straight
from school, without knowing anything
of the new duties he was about to as
Burne, and had a commission bought
for him. After that, instead of being
promoted as a reward for his services,
he used to buy each promotion.
If he had no money his chances ol
being promoted were about a thousand
to one. The result was that officers
who had grown gray In the service and
fought in many battles remained sub
ordinates all their lives, while the sons
of wealthy families who had not seer
a quarter of their service Jumped ovei
their heads by Laving their way pur
chased up for them to be colonels anc
generals.
Mr. Gladstone decided to do awaj
with this purchase system. Tho lordi
did not wish lt to be abolished. Con
seijuently, when Mr. Gladstone Intro
duced a bill to abolish purchase in th(
army the house of lords was not dla
posed to give it a kind reception.
They threw out the bill and imagine<
that they had won a glorious victory
But Mr. Gladstone found that Queel
Victoria had the power to abolish put
chase In the army by her own act 1
Bhe pleased. Ile Induced the queen t
do this by means of a royal warrant.
