The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

TWO "OUT-OF-DOORS MINDS."

In

MAY 16, 1857.

The business and desire of the Conservative party is to root out
and bring to light the innumerable defects which have entered into
the very vitals of the Administration of the Public Service, and by fully
discussing them while the party is in opposition they aim at fami-
liarising the public with the details of the system objected to, that
hurried legislation to meet a general cry from without may be avoided.
Last week we adverted to the want of proper control over the expendi-
ture of public moneys. Since then the committee on public moneys has
been reappointed ; and more, no doubt, can be elicited by the evidence
of practical men employed in the large departments if allowed to state
their views freely and unreservedly on the question whether there is by
law any effective control over the public expenditure. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
a member of the committee, has recently published a pamphlet upon
this question. He states that the result of the evidence is that " there
" is no efficient audit by competent auditors through the Audit Board,"
and that the powers of the Comptroller-General of the Exchequer are
nullified by a system in the Pay-office which eludes all control, and
is not sanctioned by the law. Well may the Administrative Reformers
view the whole system of public-moneys control and audit as a sham.
We stated last week that it was quite evident the control over the
receipts and issues of Exchequer moneys must not be left solely in the
hands of the Treasury, however competent the individual may be who
is for the time being at tho head of the finance branch of the Treasury.
He must always be the instrument of the Finance Minister, and may have
to cook accounts at his bidding. No, we have already stated that this busi-
ness must be brought more immediately under the supervision of the
House of Commons. Neither the Exchequer-office nor Audit-office, as at
present constituted, are admitted to be satisfactory, but we believe it pos-
sible to blend these offices and introduce wore modern forms of business
into the proceedings of the new offices by creating a practical as well as
moral control over the transactions of public accountants so as to
operate as an influence over the Treasury, not by interfering with the
executive or the administrative business of the country, but by a
system of bringing promptly before the House of Commons all ques•
tions which may appear to he at variance with the intentions of Parlia-
ment. Mr. DISRAELI has stated it as his opinion that the functions of
the Audit Board should be enlarged, and although it may be desirable
to alter the system of Exchequer credits, it is to be hoped that the
principle of Exchequer control will not be abandoned.

The twelfth page of the Times yesterday morning presented a
shocking array of crime. Side by side were the details of three mur-
ders above the average horror and atrocity of such offences, and two
of which certainly seem to have resulted from most culpable negli-
gence on the part of certain persons concerned. In the first instance,
a man named BLACKWELL, who was known to be deranged, whose
removal to a lunatic asylum had been determined on, and whose mad-
ness was supposed to be of a violent and dangerous character, is
placed under the care of one person, who is actually sent to sleep with
him, without any other precautions being used, or any assistance being
at hand. The result may readily be conceived. The already excited
mind of the lunatic, irritated probably by the appearance of restraint,
is worked into a frenzy. He conceives his bedfellow to be " a devil,"
and strikes him to the earth, and cuts his throat, in the conviction
that he is performing a religious duty. His unfortunate victim had
not died without a struggle, and had ordinary vigilance been exercised
would probably have escaped alive. The next case is that of MARY
Ass HADLEY, murdered at Canterbury by a young man whom she had
discarded. Latterly his demeanour had become very threatening, and
it was known that he carried pistols. The mother of the poor girl,
alarmed at his language and pertinacious attempts to gain an interview
with her daughter, went to the station-house and declared that she be-
lieved her daughter's life to be in danger. A policeman was sent with
her, though for what purpose is not very intelligible They met Fox, who
pulled something suspicious looking out of his pocket, but satisfied
the policeman by telling him it was a cigar case ! The mother said to
the policeman that she gave him in charge ; but instead of doing as he
was bid, this functionary merely observed—" You be off; and if you're
" here again we'll take you." He was off ; and the next thing heard of
him was that he had pulled out a couple of pistols, and shot his late
sweetheart dead. The girl was not to blame, for she kept out of the
murderer's way, and gave him as little provocation as was consistent
with breaking off their engagement. Her mother had taken every
precaution in her power. But the official guardian of life and property,
when called on to perform his duty, evaded either the responsibility
or the trouble, and merely told the excited man to "be off." This
was, probably, all that he desired ; and the subsequent accomplishment
of his vengeance was rapid and certain. The conduct of the police
generally in these sort of affairs is unhappily exceedingly capricious ;
they are frequently a great deal too t'orward, and quite as often too
backward. In the present instance, owing to a neglect of duty, ono
human being, and in all probability two, will have been prematurely
hurried into eternity.

"Tho counterfeit presentiment of two brothers."--Ifs
ROBERT (meeting Frederic in the Park).—Ha! Fred, how d'ye do,
old fellow? I haven't seen you these thousand years.
FREDERIC.—It is a long time, at all events—Friday, the twenty-
fourth ultimo, at 3 15 p.m., was, I think, and speaking without refe-
rence to documents, the date. I hope you are very well.
ROBERT --First•rate. Toils of office off my shoulders, you know,
SO I feel much lighter. Andras you are in the same pickle, why you can
sympathise with me.
FRI6DERIC.—You have your seat in Parliament.

• •
MAY 16, 1857.
---
The business and desit
and bring to light the inn
the very vitals of the Admin
discussing them while the
liarising the public with th
hurried legislation to meet
Last week we adverted to LI
tare of public moneys. Sine
been reappointed ; and mor
of practical men employed i
their views freely and unres
law any effective control over
a member of the committee
this question. He states th
" is no efficient audit by con
and that the powers of the
nullified by a system in th
is not sanctioned by the law
view the whole system of pt
We stated last week that i
receipts and issues of Excite
hands of the Treasury, howe
is for the time being at tho
He must always be the instil
to cook accounts at his biddii
ness must be brought more
House of Commons. Neithe
present constituted, are adm
Bible to blend these offices an
into the proceedings of the r
moral control over the tra
operate as an influence over
executive or the administr
system of bringing prompt],
tions which may appear to 1
anent. Mr. DISRAELI has st
the Audit Board should be
to alter the system of Exi
principle of Exchequer cont
The twelfth page of t
shocking array of crime. f
ders above the average hen
of which certainly seem to
gence on the part of certain
a man named BLACKWELL,
removal to a lunatic asylum
ness was supposed to be
placed under the care of or
him, without any other preci
at hand. The result may
mind of the lunatic, irritate
is worked into a frenzy. F
and strikes him to the eat
that he is performing a re
not died without a struggle,
would probably have escap
ANN HADLEY, murdered at 1
discarded. Latterly his den
it was known that he earn
alarmed at his language and
with her daughter, went to 1
lieved her (laughter's life to
her, though for what purpos(
pulled something suspicion
the policeman by telling hir
the policeman that she gave
was bid, this functionary mt
" here again we'll take you.'
him was that he had pulled
sweetheart dead. The girl
murderer's way, and gave l
with breaking off their en
precaution in her power. B
when called on to perform
or the trouble, and merely
was, probably, all that he clef
of his vengeance was rapid
generally in these sort of a
they are frequently a great
backward. In the present
human being, and in all pi
hurried into eternity.
TWO "OUT_
"Tho counterfeit 11
ROBERT (meeting Frederi
old fellow ? I haven't seen
FREDERIC.—It is a long
fourth ultimo, at 3 15 p.m.
rence to documents, the dat
ROBERT —First•rate.
so I feel much lighter. Ant*
sympathise with me.
FRLDERIC.—You have y