The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-06-20 00:00:00

-TifEBRITAS I PRES S.
LON DON,
WEDNESDAY, Jints O. ISM

There was a general promise of further economy
and retrenchment made in the House of Commons
on Monday evening by the CHANCILLOR of the
ERCHEatEII and the Marquis of LONDONDERRY,
but which was not to be curried into eff et until
the next Sepia') of Parliantent. The Ministers in
•offeiing this engagement to the House, did not
seem to be aware of the peso inconsistency that it
implied in tlitir conduct, for during the present
Sennett of Parliament, and at a moment whets the
distrebses and necessitits of tile country most parti-
cularly demanded every diminution of burdens that
could he conceded, the Ministers resisted every ap-
plication that was made fur diminishing the exma-
sagant estiniates of the public service, contending
most energetically that the estimates bad been
framed upon the lowest scale of expenditure that
was consistent with the dignity of the throne and

the safety of the country yet now the Ministers
voluutarity promise that in. the emitting year the
spirit of eetniumy shall be more closely pureutd,
and that such retrenchments shall be wade as will
establish public medic upon the high grounds that
were originally contemplated. If such reductions
can be effected next year, what difficulty exists in
the peeseut year to preveut the country from enjoy.
ing the advantage ♦f them at this moment, when
they are most required ? We can, however, appre-
eiiite some of the embarrawinents which envirots the
hlinisters its the execution of their offices, and can
feel how extremely difficult it isto close the mouths
of the shoal's of hungry applicants who beset them
with real or. imaginary claims upon their gratitude
and generosity, and how still snore embarrassing
they must feel it to deprive men of offices, or re-
duce their eateries, who have beets foe several years
in the daily performance of duties, and who, ac-
cording to the routine of office. begin perhaps to
look rather for elevation of rank or increase of
sa-
lary, and plead the very length of their services (no
bad plea too) against ant Inertly a removal. but
(vett a disappointment of their most sanguine hopes.
The difficulty of the removal or of the reduction of
salary must be increased proportionally by the ele-
vett(' rank of the parties. and to this circumstance
principally is to be attributed the partiality shown
a few years since in selecting for removal from
office, under the pretence of ecouomy, a vast num.
her of the lowest class of clerks iii the public •
offices, with salaries not exceeding WO/. a year,
while not one of the high and well-paid officers,
whose salaries far exceeded the scale of their
duties, wee deprived of his 'slice, or even suffered
amidst the general distress the reduction of a single
!shilling. Such coudact on the part of those who
made the selection was a want of justice, of firm-
ness, and even of listenuitity. '►he persons who
could least afford any reduction in their income
were deprived of every thing, while from those who
wallowed in !usury not one jut was abated of the
disgraceful rpleastiour of their appointosents.
'rise public were at that time deeply displeased
at thi► partiality and injartice, but the promises
made oft. Moseley night may perhaps now teach
them to hope that the Ministers have at length per-
ceived the necessity of exteuditig the spirit of re-
trenchment to the higher branches of the public
departmente, and there making each reductions as
will satisfy the justice of the case and afford some
relief to the people. The restoration of a metallic
currency to the country lifters materially the Aso-
lure value of settled annuities, and consequently
all those prisons in office whose salaries were in-
err•.red during the war in coeserpsence of the de-
preciated value of the circulating medium. ought
now in justice to the public be restored to their for.
tiler appointments. If the Ministers were to act
upon this principle, not only would the repeal, of
the husbandry !terse tax net be attended by any
inconveatence to the finances of the country. but it
might very saWy be followed by the repeal of the
Malt duty. or, if it should so phone Parliament, of
the tax upon salt. The gratitude of the country
would amply compensate to the Ministers for any
partial diminution which might take place in the
extent of their patronage, for assured of the respect
*nil confidence of the people, they need not in such
circumstances stoop to the unworthy arts of per.
chnsiog votes by promises and places us a means,
of retaining their seats in the Cabinet. Au Admi-
nistration that frets itself so far litimilisted as to
Karr the necessity of calls tillg the revel support of
hireling Senatties, can obeyer enjoy that independence
of action which becomes the Government of a great-
nation ; it mast truckle to the opinions of others,
stud instead of guiding the destiisies of the empire,
most be content to fellow the ineuleatt and narrow
views of a contemptible and eelliols faction.

The Paris Papers of Saiurday last have arrived.
The Indursing Orr extract:--
PAEAN, JUNE 16,
Ye.terday, Wore mass, the Klux wive a private
audiemer to the Cowal /leßaAiiiere-, Com-
mander of the ISt') military division. Io the mitre.
man) Ws bliejest, traamt tett butirresa with the Duke
of Richelieu.
't he rimy of the Germania Coufirderafiou.