The Express.
London, England, 1855-07-11 00:00:00

(Stamped Id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

by those who could not be mistaken on the subject that the
popular jealousy in America was directed against the per-
manent retention in office of civil servants, upon the ground
that their appointment ought to rest upon political and
purely political grounds. He did not defend that principle.
In this country, each political party as it succeeded to power
took the permanent appointments of its predecessors in the
civil service, and thus contributed in the most effective
to the proper administration of the government.
No person would deplore mere than to should to see that
principle invaded. He merely referred to the example of
America to show what was the practice of that unquestion-
ably enlightened and popular form of government, and how
far it was from recogoiaMer the principles recommended by
the hon. gentleman. They had heard a great deal in recent
debates about the incompetence of government to manage its
swn aff.irs, of the ignorance of persons appointed to public
offices to discharge their duties, of the inefficiency of mato-
critic holders of pnblio functions, and of the importance of
following the maniple of the mercantile chows in the ad-
ministration of public affairs. Could any light be derived
from the example °Clairmont,' bodies with respect to the
appointment of their servants ? Did joint stock companies,
railway companies, dock companies, or any of the numerous
bodies organised for commercial and 'Remounts pursuits,
wader special acts of parliament, in different parts of the
country, in appointing their civil servants, resort to the
principle of competitive ezmninatioo, and not of discre-
tionary choioe ? (Hear, hear.) He =Let defy the mover
of this resolution to point out a single instance of these
enlightened bodies, guided by rothing but a tonsideratien
of their own interest and that of their shareholders, appoint-
ing their semelatier, manager., and the numerous ether
persons whom they employed, by • system such as he re-
commended. Did they not all inquire into the
character of tee persons recommend, d—(hear) —one did
I they not select those whom they thought would he the
fisest, precisely in the some manner in which public ser-
i vests were selected by the State ? But if the hon.
bet's principle was good fsr the civil servants of the crown,
he could not atop there ; be must apply it to the versus
employed by all municipal functionaries, by all magistrates,
by all public bodies exercising in different mano,rs a dele-
gated authority, but un authority of a public nature. If it
wan to be made a m ewer of public right, why should they
allow any person to mire forward as a candidate fur a mon-
positive examination for a clerkship in the Home-office or
i the Treasury, and debar him from beiog a competitor for
the office of clerk to the magistrates, governor of a county
prison, rierk toe board of guardians, town clerk to • map°.
I ration, or any of these numerous municipal and local offices
with which this country &hounded, and which he strongly
suspected were not lees in comber than the civil servants of
I the crown ? It the hon. member was consistent In his
principles—if ha really believed in their efficacy, and
thought that they could be safely acted on, ha was bound
to bring in • bill—not merely to propose an address to the
crown—applying the MU* principles to all the lota'
offices above referred to. With respect to the order in
council now under consideration, ho would call the atten-
tion of the house to this circumstance. It was admitted to
he a step in the right direction. It unquestionably secured,
if honestly and effectively acted upon, efficiency on the part
of every person appointed; and be could give the most
positive assurance to the house that in appointing the ex-
aminers, and in all the subsequent steps that had been
taken, the government had acted with perfect good faith,
end with a desire to reader the measure as efficient as
omelet°. (Hear) The plan that had been adopted, if it
did cot secure the best candidates, would, by means of the
examination for arts degrees, secure that every person should
have a certain amount of crept ition. Since the commissioners
had been in ethos they had granted certificates to 10 clerks''
and to 15 persons for subordinate situations ; and they bad re-
fused certificates to fire clerks and to four persons in sabot-
dini4e situations. They had thus granted 25 certificates,
and bad refused nine. That result had been accomplished
within a few weeks, and must satisfy the house that the
examination was not a mere form, but a substantial security
fur the limes" of tie candidates. (Hear, hear) The order
in council was so drawn that if any head of a department
come to select a certain number of persona as cindidates,
and to express his wish that the examiners should select the
beet out of those proposed, it would be competent to con-
duct an examination upon that plan of competition. The
order was drawn intentionally so as to give considerable
latitude in the execution of it; by its terms it was comes
tent to every head of a department to send 8 or 10, or .any
number of names to the examiners, with the request that
they would select one or two of the best ; and then
it was competent to him to appoint the persons
so selected. It did not go the length of throw-
ing open, without any discretion whatever, to the
world at large, the right of constituting themselves, without
soy qualification whatever, either pecuniary, intellectual, or
moral, candidates for admission to the polio service. The
order afforded, therefore, within its own terms, consideeable
latitude in the execution of it; and it was intended, more-
over, that it should be carried into effect in an honest and
efficient manner. It was only established It the end of
May, and therefore had been scarcely in operation ala
weeks. Under these circumstances he would ask the house
weather, so soon after the issue of an order by her Majesty
in council, which was admitted to be dictated by proper
motives, to be a step in the right direction, and which could
not be denied to give a very considerable and • most im-
portant security fur the efficiency of the public service,
they thought it would be advisable or prudent to address
the crown to revoke that order, and to issue an-
other founded upon eotirely different and novel
principles? At nay rate, they ought to allow some
experience to be had of the effects of this order ; • session at
least ought to elapse, and then there would be some means
of lodging whether it had proved efficient. There was an-
other strong objection to the course proposed. The pretest
order in council was intended to improve the efficiency of
the • . It took the present method of appointment as
a basis, and attempted, consistent with what existed, to in
traduce regulation sod improvement. A change to that
extant was fairly within the limits of an order in council,
and might with propriety be carried into effect by the pre-
rogative of the crown. But when the bon. member asked
the house to assent to • principle altogether new, when be
proposed to disseise the mown of so vest a number of ap-
pointments, to give to the public at large a new right which
they bad never before enjoyed, and to introduce a system
fundamentally different from that which now existed—
the proper course would have been to introduce •
bill embodying the regulations which he proposed,
I which would thee have been deliberately consi-
' dered by the house, instead of calling upon
them in that sodden and unprepared manner to assent to •
resolution which involved an entirely new principle, and
which would lead to consequence' that it was difficult for
them in one debate to exhaust.
Mr. WILKINSON said he had hitherto declined to join
the Administrative Reform Association, thinking that the
government only had the power of carrying out their views.
He was in favour of the system proposed by Mr. Scully, and
should be glad to see the Goderich pledge" adopted by all
the members of that house. For his own part, he could say
that he had dar .coed the doors of the Secretary of
the Treasury. (Hear, hear.) He thought the Chancellor
of the Exchequer bad conjured up a great many giants for
the purpose of slaying them. He did not find anything in
the motion about a literary competition. The case of rail-
way servants had been referred to ; there could be no doubt
there was an examination in their cases. What was wanted
was the abolition of the system of patronage which bad been
so strongly complained of. (Hear, hear.) He had hoped
that the government would have accepted the resolution.
He still trusted that they would aim at extinguishing the
system of patronage.
Mr. LINDSAY, defeodiog the unites, entered into a de-
fence of his own statements sod conduct, impugning in the
course dins remarks the management of the government.
Sir C. WOOD replied to thew defensive statements
endeavouring to establish that the original accusation had
been eeeee mated or mit-stated.
Sir S. NORTIICOM supported the resolution, and Sir F.
Sainte opposed it.
Mr. GLADSTONE supported the resolution.
Mr. TITS (who was court interrupted by calls for a
division) denied that the movement in favour of adminis-
trative reform hal anything to do with party consideration',
or that it wse promoted in order to oust the present ministry.
The dates proved that; for the ministry oame Into
power on the 23rd February, and the first administrative
reform muting was not held until the 6th May. With
regard to the motion before the house, he would suggest to
the hon. member who proposed it that the best course which
could be punned would be to fall In with the suggestion
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. ("Oh," and "Divide.")
Lord PALMERSTON—I think it may be said as the
result of the discussion which has taken place that all
parties are agreed as to the object we ought to have is view,
that object being the filling of the different offices of the
government with fit and capable men. The differs:me be-
tween us arises only with regard to the mode is which that
object is to be socomplisbed. I must say that I think that a
great deal of smiles clamour has been raised with regard to
the effleiesey and conduct of those officers who. belong to
different public departments. It has been the fashion to
say that different departments have been filled by men in-
competent for the duties wb oh they have to perform. It
often happens that somebody goes into • public office
about some application wbieb is perfectly imishaimible
according to the rules of the office, and when he finds be
ascot obtain what be wants be goes away, and runs up and
'down the town decsiming about the clerks of the depart-
: runt. Though I think that we are all: agreed as to the
object In view, I must say that that object has been • little
forgotten by many who have discussed the subject, end
that arguments have been adduced which are not emends
those upon which the question ought to be derided. Mars
can be no doubt that it is of the utmost importance be the
poetic interest that the different departments should be
filled by competeot persons. But 1 cannot go aloug with
those who think that the main and principal reason for
that object is that members of parliament may be

relieved teem the trouble of corresponding with importu-
nate constituents who apply for places. No doubt it is es
mat inconvenience, and it is most likely that those who
are the most importunate arc generally those who are haat
qualified for the offices which they leek. (Heir, hear.)
hut this is an evil which hoe. members might relieve
' themselves frem by a little firmeess and di.cretion. Again,
we aro told that another reason why we ought to adopt
this principle of open competition is to avoid the evil
of long service in civil departments, arialog trots
the principle of seniority. It appears to me that that
e .il would very much increase by the institution of a eye-
teen of open competition. I ate supposing the' the' woe a
follow which it is said bythe proposere would be the
result of the system. We are told that the effect
of this open competition would be that all the
lower departments of Ma civil service would he
filled up by men of talent, If all the lower departments of
the offices be filled up with men of great telent, how could
the system of promotion be carried on otherwise than by
seniority; and that being so, how would those who are now
kept waiting be renewed ? WI en in a public class one or
two happen to bo clover beyond their fellows, of
course they would obtain rapid promotion, bat
when all are nearly equal in capacity, then it
is plain that every government would be driven more or lees
to the principle of eenior.ty. It is said again that the pre-
sent system of appoistment bs ulution creates greet die-
appointment. No doubt there are great numbers who pass
their lives in making applications for offices for which they
are not qualified. But what would be the extent of dump-
• pointment if every year young men who had tho talent
• were to come up t e Loudoa and be examined, in order to
• test their capabi:ity, after which they would wait for et
vacancy? I will venture to eay that under such a system
you will have a great deal more disappointment than
now exists, and it would be a disappointment
fostered by the course which you bad t shoe.
I quite agree with throe alio say that e xamination is the
real test of capacity. No doubt it is often only a test of
memory, but on the whole it is the beet teat of intellect end
acquirement. I do not ogres with the hen. member for
Oink, that a public examination would be an advau•sgeous
arrangement; far I agree with my right hon. friend the
Chancelliir of the Bache quer, that there would be so in-
terference and an intertuptios to an (lamination if there
was a great affluence of spectators; and that it would
disturb the operations of the minds of those
who were being sxnmined at a time when they
ought to have all their faculties concentrated,
and I thick they would be in an unfair jo Utica by the
presence of strangers; besides which, as the examination
would be conducted chiefly in writint, it would possess
but very little interest fur strangers. I would entreat the
house, therefore, for the promo at least, to be content with
the plea which has been recently adopted. I do cot say
that the principle of examination might not be prac-
tised in the case of the heads of departments, who, instead
of examining one candidate, might examine several, and
give the appointment to the ono found to he best
qualified. But I think that the principle of seise-
tien of candidates by the responsible bead of de-
partment ebould be retained, and if that was confirmed by
a proper examination es to the efficiency of individuals to•
be appointed, it would tend greatly to the efficiency of the
public service. There is one great difficulty in the way of
sehetion for which I see 110 re mede. Some persons have
argued that the higher offices in the public service should
be nuariatsly given to those who reach them by steps, and
other', again, say that those offices should be given to
pereena chosen from other wales of life, who by the exhi-
bition of certain quali:iet bare shown that they were fit to
be employed in those depiertments of the state. It is difficult,
indeed almost impossible, to take either the one or the other,
as the invariable rule. It is not very likely that, looking to
the disheartening slowness of promotion in the public offices
and the little interesting nature of the cecupatione in which
they must be employed in government offices you
would get many such men as have been described for the
higher offices in the public service. If you could get them
they would be the best persons to employ. But if you give
a monopoly of the higher departments to those alreauy In
the public service you would ant be always able to find men
'Muhl' for the situations. It should he borne in mind
when considering the best method of tempting young men
of abilities to enter the public service, that it is inseparable
from the nature of the business transacted there t-at they
should pass years of their lives is occupations which give
them no opportunity of developing ability, but rather damp
and paralyse mental exertion,and them a young man if he has
the qualities necessary for he higher dInCtP, Is likely to
leave the service before long, end take to other occupations
in civil life, where fame, torte:le, and eminence may be
more easily obtained. As regards the present motion, 1 may
say that it is the anxious entre of the government so to
arrange the examinations for the public service as to secure
the beet persons for the service of the state ; and I hop*
the houie will give the recent arrangement the fair trial
which it has not yet had, and if next year it should be
frond not to have succeeded, it will be for any u ember
of the house who thinks it has failed to suggest another
mplan. I hope, therefore, that the howe will agree to the
otion of my right hon. friend Me Cheacellor of the Ex-
chequer.
Mr. V. SCULLY replied. •
The house then divided—
Ayes
Noes
The previous question was accordingly carried. The
announcement of the numbers was loudly cheered by the
minority.
CALL OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. ROEBUCK, at near a quarter to one o'clock, but in
very full house, next rue to move, pursuant to notice,
that the house be celled over on Tuesday nest. He
said, I shall have to crave the indulgence of the house
for albeit time, but I will promise to be as brief as passible.
The motion of which I have given notice, fur a call of the
house, is one that I think must recommend itself to every
hon. member who considers with me that the question I
prorate* to bring under the notice of the house on Tuesday
nest is one of great importance. (Hear, beer.) It is one
which concerns the present administration, a large body of
political men, and the army of this country. It is the in-
terest as well as the wish of Oh country that its army
should be watched over and eared for, and a committee of
this house was appointed to ascertain how that duty had
been performed by those to whom it was entrusted, They
were condemn( d by the committee so appointed, and I went
to ascertain whether the house concurs in the report of that
committee. A mare impatient question could not be put,
and therefore I move that this house be called over on
Tuesday next.
Lord W. PAULETT would not oppose the motion, bat
feared that it would be ineffectual in securing au attend-
ant*.
Lord SEYMOUR did not think that the object of the
hon. and learned member would be effected by the motion,
if successful, while it would put the house to great inconve-
nience. (Hear, hear.) There was a large number of mem-
bers in town, while thou who were not, were engaged on
militia, assize, and other important business. Besides, the
notice was exceedingly short. It was usual to give
at least ten days' notice of a call. Tnee, when
a call took place, what usually happened ? Mem-
bers came down and answered to their names,
but there was nothing to compel them to wait for
a &Thins. Besides, the bin. end learned member's me-
tion might lead to an adjourned debate, and, in eddition,
there was another motion of went of coefidence f r Friday,
the debate on which would, most probably, be adjourned
deo. Under 'lithe circumstances he would suggest to the
hon. and learned member to withdraw his motion, seeing
that so large a body of members were in town, and that
those who were absent could not return without much in-
convenience.
Mr. HADFIELD supported the motion, and urged that
the private affairs of members should not be held as justi-
fying their absence from the house in a time of national

exigency.
Mr. 13. WORTLBY appealed to the hon. and learned
member to withdraw his motion ; adding that thus were
enough of members in town to discuss a r. uestion of

impo tines.
Mr. ROEBUCK—I am sorry to give the how" this
trouble, but I think I show some very good reasons
for my motion. First of all, in reply to the noble lord the
member for Totness, I have to say that in a treatise on the
rights and privileges of this house it is laid doers that the
time for • call should be from one day to 'ix week", bat
that was the rule when communications were not so rapid.
N..w that we have the rail and the electric telegraph, I
think that seven days is quite sufficient. I shall now state
candidly my reason for making tnis motion. It has bee.
stated to me more than once that attempt' have
been made—l won't say by whom, although the
house well knew by whom—attempts have been
made to induce members to leave town, and there-
fore .1 take my stand on the ancient stages of the
house by moving for a tall. It was the only detente I had
against the artifices used to deprive me of the means of
testing the wishes of this house. And when lam veld that
it is nonecessarily harassing ,embers, and at the same time
likely to be anavailieg. I think that there is something
contradictory in the statement. If members are only
brought to the house, I am sure the importance of the
motion will induce them to remain; while, en the
other hand, if they are induced to leave town,
the question will be robbed of its due support, and the
country will "offer in an equal proportion. It is not
therefore to give annoyance to bon. members, but to obtain
a sufficient discussion on a great question that I make this
motion, end I beseech the house to take the conatitutionel
means of eafeeedng a fall attendance.
The house divided—
Ayes lot
Noss 133-25
The motion wu therefore lest. The result of the division
was received with sem. cheering.
The beam roes at • quarter peat 1.

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TO CORRISPONDENTB.
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MON WATIII AT LONDON BRIDOZ.
TED Ob. ki ... Alterasca. ho.
Towsamow—Kerabg Oh. Ilia Animas. Ob. Ms.

LONDON, W.EDNIBD4Y, JULY 11.

Yin =DAS, we learn from a telegraphic despatch,
dated the 9th inst., Newel Samna intended to
epee a heavy fire re the Redan—with what par-
pose is Rot stated, bat in all probability as prelimi-
nary to another assault. That the renewed assault
will be enceessfal there can be no earthly doubt. It
Is giving the Cesestandes of the Allied Forces in the
Crimea credit for no more than average prudence to
amass that the want of concert—the precipitation
tt some quarters, and the delay in others—which
trastrated the last attempt, will be remedied. Nor
eta it be too much to expect that a sulkiest number of
troops will on this occasion be employed by the English.
lucre being the case, the witness tone and tenor of
neat private letters from the Boglish army waviness
as t►at our countrymen in the Crimea are in a mood
to wash and trample down any resistance that mere
knows skill and power can offer to them. There
would be no nee in giving publicity at present to the
Utters we rake to. They are evidently written under
s penman sense of indignation at the mismanage.
meat by which so many valuable lives had been
emorllised, and humiliation at the reverse which had
befallen the British arms on a day consecrated in
oar annals to victory. The gallant writers of
Shea letters would at this moment be more
pained than any other persons by the re-
production of the terms in which, in their burning
exasperation, they expressed themselves with regard
to the brave and venerable dead. They will find
heir fitting place in a history of this war as charac•
Wink expressions of a passing ebullition of feeling,
bat now is not the time to dwell upon them.

Enough that they convince no that a terrible retri-
bution will be inflicted to avenge imaginary die-

grace. But while we thus confidently look forward
to an assured victory, we cannot but shudder at the

Thoughts of the price at which it will most probably
be purchased. The resistance of the Russians to the
coming assault will neither be less skilful nor less
obstinate than their resistance to the last.

The victory, though certain, cannot but be dearly
taught. Aed while we are labouring under this im-
pression, the question will intrude itself, could not
the object of the war be attained more certainly by

omeasures less prodigal of life P
We will not dogmatics on the subject, but there are
000siderations bearing upon it which cannot be over-
looked. The very highest military authorities of the
day have repeatedly expressed a decided conviction
that Sebastopol cannot be taken until the whole

Ottleie of items./ has been completely Invested.
If this be the cases every assault made before the
investment is complete can only be regarded as a

wanton wuta of life. Then, again, the question

inwents itself,—Will the capture of Beliastopol
alone *aloe to compel Ramis to accept of peace on

Ilea terms as will justify the relinquishment of '
farther hostilities by the Allies P The lose of that '
fortress will doubtless be mortifying to the pride ef
She Russian Government ; it will doubtless weaken
She hold which that Government has upon the gabs
and imagination of its subjects; bet will it so far
weaken Russia as to disenable her to prosecute her
clans of aggrandisement at the expense of bet neigh.
boars, and to compel her finally to forego them P
The object of the war in which we are now engaged
de to ensure the integrity and independenee of the
Ottoman Empire. But, while the Allinson pressing
Russia hard within her own dominions in the Crimes
Ire leans, both from Russian and other emcee, that
Rassian army is threatening the Anatolian frontier
et Turkey. The advanced posts of the Turks to-
wnie Han have been withdrawn, and their army
ossesetrated around Enierouns ; and the Russian oom-
weeder in that quarter threatens an aggressive
march against the retreating army. The Turkish
army in Anatolia was, at the dose of last year's cam-
reign, in a condition bordering dingy upon utter
diserpaintion. General WILLIAMS, we are told, is
doing his best to re-organise it, but what soldier
ci any note has he to back his efforts?
While we are winning the pun in the Crimea
we may be losing it in Anatolia, and making at best
a drawn battle of the campaign of 1855. This might
have been prevented had the hardy tribes of the
Casson been stimulated to rise against the Amiens,
and been supported by the Allies. An opportunity of
doing this was offered when the Russians, panic

atrieies by oar eneemeees in the Straits of liertoh
and the Bea of Asti, destroyed and abandoned
Anapa and their other remaining &rumens in Gr.

assail. But the Allied Expedition was withdrawn
immediately after these events, without say effort
Oaring made to establish communications with

the weireassians who flocked to the shore to
greet their liberators, or with the more remote moan:
tan tribes over whom SCITAMYL is understood to
cumin a paramount influence. The cossequenos is
that the Russian troops, withdrawn from the Circas-
sian garrisons, have been sent to augment the Rus-
sian army on the frontier of Anatolia; and that the
Orousians in and around Anaps are threatened and
held is check by the Cossacks of the Black Sea. In-
tent upon the very problematical enterprise of at-
tempting to capture Sebastopol without oompletely
investing it, the Allied Commanders have neglected
an easy opportunity of finding the Russians work to
do in another quarter, and of thus diminishing the
domes that Russia can spare to ant against them in the
Crimes.

There is another circumstance that ought not to
be overlooked. A report reached London a few days
ago, which has not indeed been confirmed, but
neither has it been contradicted. The report to
which we allude was to the effect that hostilities
between the Turks and Rosettes were on the eve
of being rammed on the Bessarabian frontier. If
this be true, an opportunity may soon be offered of
testing Austrian good faith, which some statesmen
still affect to rely upon. Will the Austrians:my in
the Principalities permit the Turks to set freely
against the Remises? or will they again throw im-
pedimenta in the way of each a movement 11
Ia the event of the Turks meeting with a

sepals% sad their being followed by the Russians
woes the Danube or the Prath, will the Aastriaas
oesspel the latter to remain within their owls frontier f
Is other words, will Austria keep her fair promises to
the Porte? or will she practically slain the Prima-
panties es her own ? or will she play booty sad halve
them with the Madam

Am. the party journals throughout the land decry
Mr. Romanies modem, and try to cutlets alarm by
esserting, that should Mr. Roam= mends the
Meuse to pen his resolution, there VW be seek/ ter
Ns Qum. the Ma" eat the eleeloy M Lei

DIEVE and his followers. Is oar political infancy this
bugbear might have drives us to sower 'rider the
Whig assess far protection; bat in the political mato-
rity that her been suddenly famed on us by the reve-
lation that oar pretended nurses are little better than
impostors, and that we must help minelves and
help them or starve, the oarklinrof Asia and party
tenor is beard only with mirth or indignation. A
DEBBY Administration woald be a calamity for the

country, we admit ; bat it would be a far greater
calamity to allow Ministerial delinquency to pass,
aneoudemned. The one would be a little
surface irritation, got rid of in a week or
two, increasing the general health ; the other
would be a fatal disease sore to bring on dissolution.
Not to brand Ministerial delinquency is to make it
the permanent rule of Government, and to enthrone
incapacity. No Administration, however held' or
mischievous—and the more feeble or mischievous the
shorter time it would live—could be a tithe so loin-
claw as allowing every Administration to be formed
under a conviction that whatever it might do no pu-
nishment could ever fall on it. Nature has wisely
appropriated punishment to wrong-doing, and to gua-
rantee impunity for Ministerial delinquency is a vain
attempt to rover.. her decrees, NUM to be followed by
additional and greater evils. The public is aware of
this, and is not to be tempted into submission to all
the evils of permanent misrule by being threatened
with the ghost of defunct Toryism.