OUR INFANTRY. 101 



country. We must bear in mind that talented 

 officers are as little disposed to exchange a 

 life of indolence and pleasure for one of much 

 mental exertion, as are the rest of the profession 

 unless an adequate reward be held out. 



It might happen that no reports were received 

 for some years, the merit of which was so su- 

 perior to the rest as to deserve being placed in 

 the first class. The reports placed in the 

 second class, should display decisive merit, 

 though much less than one entitled to be placed 

 in the first. 



The third class should be for the reception 

 of reports not wholly without talent, but without 

 enough to be placed in the second class. To 

 the writers of these inferior reports further time 

 should be granted for further exertion ; but if, 

 after waiting a reasonable period, the reports 

 of these officers did not become sufficiently 

 improved for placing in the second class, the 

 writers should be informed that further reports 

 from them would be dispensed with. 



It will here be said that filling the staff situa- 

 tions with officers selected solely on account 

 of their talents, as displayed in their reports, 

 would deprive general officers of their present 



