The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-16 00:00:00

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.

THE Administrative Reformers mustered numerously
in Drury-lane Theatre on Wednesday evening, the
chiefs of the new association having convened a
meeting for the special purpose of hearing speeches
from Mr. Layard, Mr. Lindsey, and Mr. Tite. all
three M.Ps. The proceedings, which were ordered
to conclude at ten, commenced at seven o'clock, with
an address from the chairman, Mr. Morley, who also
read letters expressing sympathy with the movement
from Sir W. Clay, Mr. Heywood, M.P., the Rev. S.
G. Osborne, and Mr. Charles Dickens.
Mr. LAYARD made the speech of the night, in which
he indicated the course which he proposed to follow
in Parliament, and touched upon the principal topics
that would naturally constitute the leading features
of his arguments in support of his motion in the
House of Commons. Among other subjects Mr.
Layard denounced the " peace party" as un-English
•nd dangerous 1-`

571

He ridiculed the evidence before the Sebastopol com-
mittee, saying that nearly every, fault was attributed to the
system or to poor Mr. Ward, who died many months ago.
Referring to Miss Nightingale, he pointed out how every
improvement of the administrative system had conic from
private suggestions—while Cabinet Ministers were amus-
ing themselves in the country, deriving their information
of the war entirely from the public papers. Lord Hard •
inge took credit for introducing the Millie rifle, but every
army in Europe adopted it before ours. Government kept
back despatches at one time with the excuse of concealing
the cypher; but when anything turned up in favour of
the Goverment they sent it to the papers. Did not our
late successes, he asked, afford an argument in favour of
the society? After a long period of inactivity, a new and
vigorous man was appointed to the command of the
French army. t" Hear, hear," and cheers.) What fol-
lowed? His name was scarcely mentioned in the
united camps than success followed. The fact of the
right man having been appointed encouraged the
troops, and success followed, and would follow if things •
went on on the same principles. (Great cheering.)
After claiming for the association a definite object, Mr.
Layard referred to his own parliamentary campaign. He
had made a first attack on the army—a kind of Balsklava
charge—in which, though he had got a hard blow, he had
yet done some mischief to the enemy. He did not think
such an ebullition of temper should have been caused by
his alight mistake. But his experience of the House of
Commons had shown him that you may be guilty of as
many wilful inaccuracies as you like with a party, but be-
ware how you make a mistake if you stand alone. If you
did, up jumped a number of indignant colonels, who say
that they are surprised at the impudence of any one who
presumed to touch the army ; and the Earl of Derby, in
this instance, forgetful of the youthful impetuosity which
gained for him the name of the " Prince Rupert of Debate,"
did him (Mr. Layard; the honour to say that he had no
connection with him. Then Sir John Pakington rose and
delivered to him a long Quarter Sessions lecture Iln the
impropriety of asserting that Sir James Graham had been
guilty of saying what was not correct. ( Laughter and
cheers.) And Lord Palmerston treated him with derision,
and seemed inclined to trample him under foot. Mr.
Layard then denounced " the purchase-system," and ridi-
culed the new reforms in the civil service, especially the
consolidation of the Ordnance and War departments, and
pointed to the appointment of Mr. Howell and Mr.
Ramsay, as instances of political and family favoritism. He
would advise the society to have inquiries made as to how
the business in each office of the Government was carried
on. Men were put into those offices merely on political
grounds ; they were over-filled with inefficient men, and
inquiries should be made whether the number of persons
in the civil service could not be reduced, and the work at
the same time be well and better done. He thought that
the officials in the civil service were under-paid, and if
proper reduction in their numbers were made , those who
were retained would be better paid. 'The liberal party in
this country had made a great mistake in pressing for re-
duction in salaries of public functionaries, for the result
had been that it was not the large salaries of the greater
offices which had been reduced, but those of the little
offices, filled by hard-working men. (Hear, hear.) He
would say put down everything in the shape of a sinecure,
but it was an injustice and a cruelty not to pay well those
who did the work. (Hear, hear.) There were 60,000
persons connected with the civil service in all its branches,
all of whom were under political influence. He was told
that, in the terms of his motion, he had made somewhat
of a mistake, and that instead of saying that " the house
viewed with deep concern the state of the nation," he
ought to have said that " the nation viewed with deep con-
cern the state of the house." (Laughter and cheers.)
Although such terms as had been suggested might have
been rather out of order, and might have called down the
Speaker's mace upon his head—(latightert—yet he
thought they would beat have expressed the feeling of the
country. (Cheers.) The people were beginning to have
less faith in the House of Commons. They saw in it a
mere struggle of parties. The association might have to
go further than they anticipated. If they could obtain
such reforms as were most needed, they would not go
beyond; but he believed that the association was prepared
to go—he, for one, certainly was—as far as might be ne-
cessary for the attainment of the object. (Cheers.) Let
every large town in which a committee was organised call
upon its representatives, in the words cf Lord Goderich,
"not to darken the doors of Mr. Harm." ( Hear, hear.)
The speaker attacked the Government for being mainly
composed of lords and honourables, and went on to may
that he did not mean to attack the aristocracy. He then
blamed Lord Palmerston for " jesting," and c.mcluded by
quoting from Shakapeare the well-known lines com-
mencing
Who will go about to cozen fortune.

Mr. LINDSAY and Mr. TITE afterwards spoke, and
the meeting separated with an understanding that
another gathering would he held on that day fortnight.

Her Majesty gave the last drawing-room of the
season on Thursday, at St. James's Palace. A
second state concert is announced for Wednesday
next, and a levee for the 27th inst.
A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office
on Saturday last.
The report that the Empress Eugenie was in an
interesting condition is corroborated by the circum-
stance that a few days ago Dr. Locock was tele-
graphed for, and immediately proceeded tit- She
French capital.
King Leopold has received an autograph letter
from the King of Portugal, announcing the intention
of his Majesty to visit Brussels with the Duke of
Oporto en leaving Paris.