Everybody knows that on the death of Kleber, General Menou succeeded in the command; and that Egypt, saved by the _selection_ of Kleber, was lost by the _seniority_ of Menou.
Napoleon formed rules for promotion, both for peace and war, based on merit.

His peace regulations were much the same as the system of 1795; his field regulations, however, from the circumstances of the times, were almost the only ones used.

The following extract from the _Reglement de Campagne_ of 1809, (title XX.,) gives the spirit of this system:--"The next day after an action the generals of brigade will present to the generals of division the names of all such as have distinguished themselves in a particular manner; the generals of division will immediately report these to the commander-in-chief, and also the names of the generals and superior officers whose conduct has contributed most to secure success, so that the general-in-chief may immediately inform his majesty." On the restoration of the Bourbons there were also restored many of the ancient privileges and claims of rank by the officers of the _maison militaire du roi,_ and court favoritism was substituted for merit and service.

But the revolution of 1830 produced a different order of things.

"The laws now regulate military promotion; the king can appoint or promote only in conformity to legal prescriptions; and even in the exercise of this prerogative, he is wise enough to restrain himself by certain fixed rules, which protect him from intrigues, and from the obsessions of persons of influence, and of party politicians." Would that the same could always be said of the executive of this country in making appointments and promotions in the army.
The existing laws and regulations of the French service differ slightly for different corps, but the general rule is as follows: No one can be appointed to the grade of officer in the army who has not graduated at one of the military schools, or has not served at least two years as a sub-officer in a _corps d'armee_.