The Press.
London, England, 1855-02-17 00:00:00

THE KENNEDY CASE.

THE Ministerial crisis has led to the postpone-
ment of Sir JOHN SHELLEY'S motion respecting
the dismissal of Mr. KENNEDY from the office
of Woods and Forests. We stated some
months ago that that gentleman, who was
ignominiously ejected from his post by Mr.
GLADSTONE in May last, was the victim of a
conspiracy, the details of which, we trusted,
would in due time be laid before the public.
When this is done, as it must be, the public
will learn with indignation that proved ability
and zeal and lengthened services afford no
protection to any man against official corrup•
tion and intrigue. Politically we are opposed
to Mr. KENNEDY, who, by profession as well as
by family ties, is a Whig of the Russell school;
but we believe that he did his duty honestly
and fearlessly while he administered the busi
ness of the Woods and Forests, and, what is
more, we believe it wits on account of his ho-
nesty and his fearlessness that he was eventu
ally got rid of. If we area right in these
conclusions, it is essential to the ends of
justice that the intrigues by means of which
the removal of Mr. KENNEDY was effected
should be exposed and punished as they de-
serve. The country have a right to know why
$ public servant of uniwpeached character
should have been summarily dismissed, and
we confidently expect that, if Sir JOHN SHEL-
LEY succeeds in obtaining a committee of in-
quiry, disclosures will be made more disgrace-
ful to the late Coalition than any of the jobs
with which the names of Stosott, OlFLanzatv,
or Limey SEYMOUR are mixed up. We only
trust that the Honourable Member for West-
.
Punster will perform the task he has under-
taken with a due regard to its importance.
Every attempt will be made by the late Go-
vernment to stifle or evade an inquiry which
in its progress must compromise not one only,
but several of its leading members, and the pros-
pect of which, we have reason to believe, wan
a source of much discord in the lete Cabinet
rto the last moment of its existence. Sir JOHN
SHELLEY must, therefore, be on the alert
against surprises of every kind if he is in earnest
in this matter. He has to deal with expe-
rienced and unscrupulous opponents, who have
everything to fear from an exposure of the
truth. He may rest assured that every obstacle
will be thrown in the way of inquiry, even if
his motion for the appointment of a committee
is carried.' But, as an independent member
of the Legislature, we trust that he will do his
duty honestly and firmly, without regard to
persons or to consequences. Professing hi it-
self a Radical Reformer, he cannot render
more essential service to the cause of true
reform than by exposing to public reprobation
the systematic jobbing which still prevails in
the administration of the Royal forests.
The nature of Mr. KENNEDY'S complaints
against the late Government is told in a few
words. Some four years since he was requested
by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, at that time Premier,
to assume the post of Commissioner of Woods
and Forests, an office for which Mr. XENNUDY,
from his extensive agricultural experience,
was supposed to be especially qualified. The
offer was accepted, and the new Commissioner
lost no time in assuming the duties of his
office. He very soon discovered, however,
that he was not destined to repose on a bed
of roses. From the very first he was subjected
to a series of petty annoyances from his
subordinates in office ; while from his supe-
riors, to whom he naturally looked for support
and protection, he received not the smallest
aid in carrying out those improvements in the
management of the Royal forests which he
deemed necessary. On the contrary, he was
thwarted in every possible way by those whose
duty it was to render him every assistance in

SATURDAY,

their power. His plans were systematically
opposed ; his remonstrances no less sytemati-
cally disregarded. Suffice it to say, that from
the moment he accepted office there was a
determination, not of one, but of many
parties, to get rid of Mr. KENNEDY. Yet,
strange to say, in spite of the obstacles ho
encountered, both from above and from below,
he held his post for several years, with much
annoyance to himself, but with great ad-
vantage to the public. Mr. KENNEDY asserts
that the reforms introduced by him in the
management of the Royal forests during the
short period of his administration have effected
a clear saving of nearly 40,0001. a year. For
these services he has been re warded with dis-
missal and disgrace. A misunderstanding
which arose between him and ono of his sub-
ordinates, and in the course of which he had
expressed himself in language which, though
probably true, was not strictly official, was at
once seized upon by his enemies as a pretext
for getting rid of him. Without being afforded
an opportunity for explanation, without being
confronted with his accusers, he was forthwith
dismissed for an alleged breach of official
etiquette. It was true that Mr. KENNEDY had
done good service to the public ; but he had
trespassed against the rules of red tape, and
the vacancy created by his dismissal would
make way for a Peelite, and so Mr. GLADSTONE
ejected him without a hearing from a post
where his labours, notwithstanding the obsta-
cles thrown in his way, had proved of eminent
advantage to the country.
But the CUUANCELLOB of the EXCHEQUER
is mistaken if he supposes that conduct so
grossly unjust can be passed over in silence.
The details of this disgraceful affair must
come out; and when that time arrives, the
public will learn that a man who has served
them with fidelity and success has been basely
sacrificed simply because he performed his
duty with uncompromising honesty.