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believe that the marble bust of Diana "fell down from" the planet "Jupiter" or "from heaven" seems to me to be perfectly puerile.
In conclusion, I beg leave most respectfully to remind your Honourable House, that we are already within the final period at the time of the end predicted in sacred prophecy, during which there shall be wars more terrible than the World has ever before seen; of which the Franco-Prussian war, with an army of four hundred thousand men on the loosing side, has already afforded an example; with accessaries achieving what the Psalmist's words might figuratively have foretold; engines of war, which have "shot forth hailstones and coals of fire"; mitrailleuses shooting forth a storm of bullets as thick as hail, and live shrapnel shells: and, therefore, that the present system in the army of superseding highly valuable officers, colonels of regiments and of great experience, merely because the requirements of the service have not for some time called them into so-called active service, though full of energy and zeal, and carrying out every thing under their command to perfection, is utterly inconsistent with the exigencies of the situation!
I will suggest, and with certain confidence in its necessity, that, wherever, according to the present system, the colonel of a regiment would soon be superseded and the junior colonel take his place, the colonel, if willing, should be retained in the command of his regiment; and that the said junior colonel should be put in command of a new regiment, to be raised at once and to be added to the service!
Furthermore I will suggest, that wherever an energetic and experienced colonel has been so superseded under the present law, and be willing, he should be reinstated in his former command; but with such rank and pay as the expediency of the case may require: and that a new regiment should be immediately raised, and be placed under the command of the junior officer who had superseded him.
I have the honour to be.
Your obedient and very humble Servant,
THOMAS BERNEY,
Bracon Ash.
