The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-12 00:00:00

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5 67

powers, but that they should have the powers of the
Council to be appointed. By this expedient many
difficulties would be avoided, and there would be &
body competent to advise, the Minister.
Lord STANLEY thought it would be premature to
accept this amendment, as the committee had not
settled for how long a period the appointments of
members of Council were to be held, and the mem-
bers of the Court of Directors could not be asked to
accept these appointments, without telling them
whether they were to be held for life, or a term of
years, or at pleasure.
The amendment was negatived.
A discussion of considerable length arose upon the
latter part of the resolution, that the Council consist
of not less than twelve nor more than eighteen
members, which ended in the word " less" being
omitted, and in that state the resolution was left,
the chairman being then ordered to report progress.
The Clerks of Petty Sessions (Ireland\ Bill was
withdrawn.
Certain bills were forwarded a stage.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL obtained leave to bring
in a Bill to Amend the Copyhold Acts.
The house, after some further business, adjourned
at a quarter past one o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS—TUESDAY.
The Stamp Duty on Passports Bill was read a third
time.

Lord LTMELTON asked if the Government intended
to carry any further the system of competitive
examinations for appointments in the Civil Service.
He detailed the steps taken by the House of Com-
mons on the subject, by resolution and an Address
to the Crown ; in practice, he thought, the Govern-
ment had rather restricted the operation of the
system, of which, on the whole, the results had been
good.

The Earl of DERBY stated that in the Treasury,
the Board of Trade, and the Customs no appoint-
ment had been made to the junior class of clerks,
except on examination. The principle was quite
novel, and he would express no opinion adverse to
it. But it was a system the Government must
watch with great attention, as in many cases persons
who had gained in the examination afterwards
proved utterly incapable. He cited three cases in .
which cadets who passed the military examination
turned out unfit for the service ; one gentleman, it
was discovered, could not be taught to ride, the
second objected to the drill, and the third refuse&
to live at Woolwich. Some superior men did not
come out of an examination so well as others with
inferior qualifications, and he thought the system
should be extended with exceeding circumspection.
For some years it must be an experiment only, and,
though it was easy to extend it, it would be very
difficult to restrict it again should it be found un-
successful.

Earl GRANVILLE believed the system was workivg
very well. Cases of failure like those mentioned
would be just as likely to occur under the old mode
of making the appointments.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH objected to the ex-
amination for the Indian service that it had given
appointments to persons of inferior position, who,
on arriving in India, appeared to think they bad
done all that could be required of them in passing
the examination. He had, however, requested
Lord Canning to send home a full report of the com-
parative merits of the persons appointed under the
new and old systems, that the result might be ascer-
tained. If persons of inferior character were sent out
to conduct the government of India, no improvement
in the form of that government would compensate for
the mischief.

Earl GREY was glad to hear the Government in.
tended to proceed with caution in this matter, for
be thought it impossible, under the system of ex-
amination, to prevent appointments becoming the
reward of successful " cramming." This objection
was not felt in the first period of the working of the
system. "Cramming" was a practice that would
grow up by degrees. To future efficiency nothing
could be more fatal, as it forced the memory at the
expense of the judgment and other higher faculties.
He believed such examinations had been deteriora-
ting to the public service of France and other conti-
nental nations. If the House of Commons decided
important questions, not by bill, but hastily-voted
resolutions, it must be prepared to find its votes re-
main a dead letter.

Lord WODEHOUSE spoke in favour of the system of
liamination.

Lord REDESDAIX. thought for military appointments
physical qualifications might well form part
examination ; if the cadets took a competitive
across country, and obtained marks for the skill
which they did it, there would be no after lack

scscomplisninent. This point required pore
Pop OM it bad yet received.

system of
mintments
part of the
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skill with
lack of the
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