The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-13 00:00:00

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

The house having gone into Committee of Supply
on the Civil Service Estimates,

Mr. WiLsos prefaced the first vote by a general
explanation of the causes which had led to so large
an augmentation in the gross amount of this branch
of expenditure. Between 1852 and 1856 the amount
voted under this head had increased from 4,400,0001.
to 0,724,000/. In accounting for this excess, Mr.
Wilson remarked that to a considerable extent it
was rather apparent than real, having been occa-
sioned by the transfer of a large number of items
from the Consolidated Fund, and other appropriations
to the annual votes. Of the total augmentation no
less than 1,436,0001. was thus explained away,
leaving only about 880,0001. to be otherwise ac-
counted for. He then adverted in succession to the
several items which had lately exhibited an increase,
detailing the causes and vindicating the policy which
had led to an enhancement within the last four years
of 394.0001. upon education, science, and art; of
180,0001. for harbours of refuge ; of 242,0001. for
printing and stationary; of 114,0001. on prisons and
convict establishments , and of 81,000/. on public
buildings. Passing on to the estimates for the current
year, the hon. member stated that a further excess was
presented amounted to 598,0001., respecting which
he entered into detailed explanations, enlarging
especially upon the fact that of the total increase
no less than 341,0001. had been occasioned by Acts
and resolutions of Parliament itself, passed in some
measure against the wish of the Government, with
regard to the county constabulary and the county
courts. Of the residue by far tht larger proportion—
namely, 138,0001.—had arisen under the head of
education. Every increase had, he maintained, re.
ceived the deliberate approval of ilte Moues of

SATU RDAY,

Commons, although he inferred that a better sYstem
might be adopted in discussing the several heads of
expenditure.
A prolonged and somewhat confused discussion
ensued, in the course of which many objections were
urged against the shape in which the estimates were
presented, as well as the forms regulating amend-
ments upon votes in supply. At midnight the chair-
man was ordered to report progress, not a single
vote having been passed.
The Joint-stock Companies Act Amendment Bill
was read a third time and passed.
The Sound Dues Bill was passed through com-
mittee.

The house adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock.

Obituarg.

MR. DOUGLAS JERROLD, Wit and author, died very
suddenly on Tue.day last, at his residence at Kul-
burn, in his fifty-fifth year. Long-standing disease
of the valves of the heart and pulmonary congestion
were the causes of death.

MR. ROBERT HOLMEB, one of the most eminent

members of the Iri.h bar of the days of Grattan, has
died at his residence in London, at the advanced age
of ninety five years. Mr. Holmes was called to the
bar in 1795, and died, as he began, the wearer of
a stuff gown, having refused for political reasons to
accept the promotions to which his great capacities
entitled him.
THE HON. AND REV. FREDERICK PLEYDELL Bou-
VERIE, /11. A., canon residentiary of the cathedral
church of Salisbury, and prebendary of the prebend
of Netherbury in Ecclesia, anciently founded in the
same cathedral, died rather suddenly at the rectory-
house, Pewsey, on Saturday morning last, the 6th
instant. The deceased gentleman, who was fourth

son of the late Earl of Radnor, was burn ou the 16th
November, 1783.

THE CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION COMMIS-
SIONERS appointed to inquire into the operation of the
Superannuation Act have presented their report to
the Treasury, and it has been issued in a bluebook.
They recommend that retiring allowances should be
continued on the same principle as heretofore. That
the salaries of the civil servants should be really
what they nominally purport to be, without abate-
ment from that amount. That the deductions
established by the Act of 18:34 should therefore
cease in all cases to which they have been applied,
and that those salaries which have been subjected
to deductions should be raised to their nominal
amount. That the age at which retiring allowances
may be granted shall commence at sixty, instead of
sixty-five, and that retirement from the service shall
be compulsory at the latter age. There is a new
scale of retiring allowances recommended by the
Commissioners, which is slightly mflre liberal than
that now in force. The periodical augmentati of
the allowance for length of service takes place by an
equal annual increment, commencing at ten years,
instead of, as at present, by a greater rise for every
additional seven years.

DR. PELHAM, BISHOP OF NORWICH, was consecrated
at Marylebone Church on Thursday, by the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishops of
London, Manchester, Gloucester, Bristol, and Ripon.
LORD LYONS laid tho foundation-stone of a new
dock at Malta on the Ist June, in the presence of a
brilliant assemblage of naval and military officers
and the residents of the island.

THE POPE had a narrow escape at Ancona the
other day. After attending mass in the cathedral,
and while taking off his robes, a fire suddenly broke
out in the sacristy. Fortunately the firemen at-
tached to the cathedral were on the spot, and the
flames were shortly got under.
RUSSIAN OFFICERS are at this moment travelling
over Europe in great numbers, and it is well known
that. they have been invited to send in to their
superior officers on their return an account of all
they have seen on their travels. These reports,
white contributing considerable stores of information,
will at the same time furnish a tolerable criterion of
the capacity of each individual officer.
THE UNITED STATES' S'REW CORVETTE Niagara
has been an object of much interest since anchoring
at Portsmouth. She has been inspected by numbers
of critical professional and amateur naval architects,
and naval men of all ranks, who are unanimous upon
one point,—her uncommon ugliness. It is not true
that she is unable to carry her portion of the Atlantic
telegraph.
ALDERMAN SIDNEY, at the court on Tuesday, gave
notice that at the next court he would move that
brokers be admitted without the form of " hedging.'

A CASE OF STABBING is reported at Weymouth.
Two men, Newton and White, quprrelled about a
girl, when Newton stabbed White four times with
a clasp-knife. White died in sixty hours? a$
Newton ilfts been committed for triol,

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