The troops are officered partly from the military schools and partly by promotion from the ranks. The proportions are established by law. One-third of the commissions are reserved for the military schools, and one-third left for the promotion from the ranks. The disposal of the remaining third part is left to the Emperor. The promotion is partly by seniority and partly by selection. The following regulations exist as to the length of service in each rank before promotion can be given, during a period of peace:-- A second Lieutenant can not be promoted to Lieutenant under 2 years’ service. A Lieutenant “ “ Captain “ 2 “ A Captain “ “ Major “ 4 “ A Major “ “ Lieut-Col. “ 3 “ A Lieutenant-Colonel “ “ Colonel “ 2 “ But in time of war these regulations are not in force. Up to the rank of captain, two-thirds of the promotion takes place according to seniority, and the other one-third by selection. From the rank of captain to that of major (_chef de bataillon ou d’escadron_) half of the promotion is by seniority and the other half by selection, and from major upwards, it is entirely by selection. The steps which lead to the selection are as follows:--The general officers appointed by the minister at war to make the annual inspections of the several divisions of the army of France, who are called inspectors-general, as soon as they have completed their tours of inspection, return to Paris and assemble together for the purpose of comparing their notes respecting the officers they have each seen, and thus prepare a list arranged in the order in which they recommend that the selection for promotion should be made. We were informed that the present minister of war almost invariably promoted the officers from the head of this list, or, in other words, followed the recommendation of the inspector-general. II. MILITARY SCHOOLS. The principal Military Schools at present existing in France are the following:-- 1. The Polytechnic School at Paris (_Ecole Impériale Polytechnique_,) preparatory to-- 2. The Artillery and Engineers School of Application at Metz (_Ecole Impériale d’Application de l’Artillerie et du Génie_.) 3. The Military School at St. Cyr (_Ecole Impériale Spéciale Militaire_,) for the Infantry and Cavalry, into which the Officers’ Department of the Cavalry School at Saumur has lately been absorbed. 4. The Staff School at Paris (_Ecole Impériale d’Application d’Etat Major_.) 5. The Military Orphan School (_Prytanée Impériale Militaire_) at La Flèche. 6. The Medical School (_Ecole Impériale de Médicine et de Pharmacie Militaires_.) recently established in connection with the Hospital of Val-de-Grâce. 7. The School of Musketry (_Ecole Normale de Tir_) at Vincennes, founded in 1842. 8. The Gymnastic School (_Ecole Normale de Gymnastique_) near Vincennes. 9. The Music School (_Gymnase Musical_.)