The petty staffs of regiments, squadrons, &c., consisting of an adjutant, sergeant-major, &c., are especially organized by the commandants of the regiments, &c., and have no connection whatever with the general staff of an army. Of course, then, they are not embraced in the present discussion. The subordinate officers of the staff of an army, in time of war, are charged with important and responsible duties connected with the execution of the orders of their respective chiefs. But in time of peace, they are too apt to degenerate into fourth-rate clerks of the Adjutant-general's department, and mere military dandies, employing their time in discussing the most unimportant and really contemptible points of military etiquette, or criticising the letters and dispatches of superior officers, to see whether the wording of the report or the folding of the letter exactly corresponds to the particular regulation applicable to the case. Such was the character given to the first staff of Wellington, and a similar class of men composed the staff of the army of Italy when it was abolished by Napoleon and a new one formed in its place. There are also some officers of this stamp in our own service, but they are regarded by the army with universal contempt. The staff of our army requires a new and different organization, and should be considerably enlarged. The following is the composition of a regularly organized general staff in the French service, for an army of forty or fifty thousand men divided into two _corps d'armee_ and a reserve. 1st. The marshal (or general) commanding-in-chief; and one colonel or lieutenant-colonel, one major, three captains and three subalterns, as aides-de-camp. 2d. A lieutenant-general as chief-of-staff, with the title of _major-general_, assisted by one colonel or lieutenant-colonel, three majors, five captains, and one subaltern, as aides-de-camp. 3d. Three lieutenant-generals, commanding the _corps d'armee_ and reserve. Each of these will be assisted by aides in the same way as the _major-general_, and each will also have his regularly-organized staff of _corps d'armee_, with a general of division or general of brigade as chief. 4th. Six or nine generals commanding divisions, each having his own distinct and separately organized staff. In the French army, the staff of an officer commanding a division is composed of one colonel, two majors, three captains, and six subalterns. 5th. Twelve or more generals of brigade, each having one captain, and one subaltern for aides. 6th. There is also attached to the staff of the general-in-chief of the army, the commandants of artillery and engineers, with several subordinates, inspector-generals, and the ranking officers of each of the administrative departments, with their assistants. The generals select their aides and assistants from the staff corps, or from either of the four arms of service. The troops of these arms may be distributed as follows: