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1 correction by allanraymond - Show corrections

LATEST NEWS BY THE MAIL.

TWO COURTLY CRIMINALS.

A late English paper speaks ont in these terms :-There are certain offences which, however severly punished, can never be forgotten or forgiven. The friends of ex- Colonel Valentine Baker, and of his Serene Highness Prince Leiningen, would do well to bear this in mind. The former was

convicted of a most brutal, ruffianly, and dastardly attack upon a helpless young lady, who nearly lost her life in endeavour- ing to escape from the libidinous advances

and attacks of her fellow traveller. The

latter, who is an admiral in the English navy, has been shelved for years through the circumstance of having, when in command of the Queen's yacht, displayed the utmost imbecility and incapacity by running down, in a calm sea and clear weather, a sailing schooner, sinking her, and drowning three persons on board. Now we contend that these offences, however different their natnre and however severely they have been dealt with, should for ever prevent either of the two offenders from again holding prominent public positions, lt would nevertheless appear that the injudi- cious friends of ex-Colonel Baker prepared

ovations for him on his arrival at Dover and

Charing-cross Station, London. Small, but well organized, groups of persons were placed in conspicious positions, and cheered lustily. Possibly they received so much per head for the job, and in all likelihood at a similior price they would have shown equal enthusiasm had the devil himself stepped out of the steamboat or train. Several shouted " Well done, old Baker !" but they refrained from telling us whether their approval applied to the ex-Colonel's attack on Miss Dickinson in the railway carriage or the terrible defeat he ex- perienced at the hands of the Arabs through   his own military bungling. Mr. Valentine Baker would certainly act discretly in checking the misplaced enthusiasm of his friends, for any attempt to obtain re- storation to the rank he once held in the   British army will be strenuously opposed in the House of Commons, and cause dis- closures to be made which may not redound to the ex-colonel's credit. As regards Prince Leiningen, who is closely related to the Queen, it is well-known she has never ceased from endeavouring to get him again employed in his profession. He belongs to the happy family of Germans who, in some way or other, prey upon the pockets  

of the British tax-payer. Although his lubberly seamanship led to the loss of human life, still Court influence has - apparently prevailed in his favour, and in

the TIMES on Monday we are told that the prince will shortly supersede Admiral Rice in the naval command at the Nore. Even apart from the lamentable occurrence in the Solent, the appointment is a scandalous piece of favouritism, as the fortunate

German has never in the least distinguished himself, whilst there are many English admirals who will be passed over and shunted out of the way to make room for this foreigner. We protest against the whitewashing or restoration of any in-

dividual who has been convicted of and imprisoned for the commission of on odious and abominable offence to that rank in the

service from which he was so righteously and ignominiously expelled ; and likewise against the appointment of an officer through whose blundering and incapacity human life was sacrificed, to a post of high honour and great responsibility.  

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