The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-24 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1855.

SMITH TESTIMONIAL FUND.
37, GBEAT GEOBOE•ST&EET, WESTMINSTER.
S r, • The superior advantages of screw propulsion being tulle de-
monstrated by its general adoption for the public service and for the
commercial operations of almost all maritime nations, a favourable
time appears to have arrived for inducing a public recognition of
the merit of its introduction.
Convinced thst screw navigation—whoever may he regarded as
its o:iginal inventor—must date its real commencement from the
successful tr;als and voya.;e+ of the" Archimedes" in 1839 and 1840 ;
and testing that all naval nations are indebted to the performances
of that ship, for the first practical development this great improve-
ment is the means of maritime enterprise; the following gentlemen,
personally cognisant of the facts connected with the progrt ss of the
system, are strongly impressed with the justice of the claim, of Mr.
Francis Pettit Smith, to whose talents a:.d untiring energy it is well
known the " Archimedes" owed boils her origin and success.
Th"y can also bear record tc the steady perseverance with which
that gentleman has continued to ttevote the bast years of h's life to
the purpose of eqablishing the meritsof the screw. And they know
that the national benefit thus conferred by his labours—which was
first so clearly confirmed by the performances of the Rattler in 1845,
then so strikingly illustrat d at the naval review of 1853, and which
is now so confidently relied on for success in actu,d war—has not
hitherto procured for him either public acknowledgment or pecuniary
reward.
they have therefore formed themsc Ives into a Provisional Commit-
tee, and have requested us most respectfully to solicit the honour of
your name, and the advantage of your influence and example, in sup-
port of an appeal to all classes and interest, fora genera. subscription
to present a suitable testimonial to Mr. Francis Pettit Smith, for his
prominent services in bringing into practice the system of screw
navigation..—We have the honour to be your obedt. servants,
EDWARD PELLEIV HALSTED llon. Sect.
JOIN SCOTT RUSSELL,

PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE.
James Allan, Esq., Managing Director of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company
Charles Atherton, Esq., Chief Engineer H.M. Dockyard, Woolwich
Joaeph eardmare, Esq., Manager of the General Steam Navigation
Compan 's Engine Works
H. Wollaston Illake,Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
Isam bard K. Brunel, Esq., F. 11.5., C.E.
Edward Chappell, Esq., Capt. R.N., Secretary to the Royal West

India, Mail. ompany
William Crispin, Capt. R.N., the Royal Yacht
John Utlay Ellis, Esq., Chairman of the General Screw•steam

:hipping Company
Joshua Fi Id, Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
John Fincharn, Esq., late Master Shipwright, H.M. Dockyard,

Portsmouth
Sir Richard Grant, Kt , Capt. R.N.
William H. Henderson, Capt. R.N., 0.13., Comptroller-General of

the Coast Guard
Edward Humphrys, Esq., late Chief Engineer H.M. Dockyard,

Woolwich -
McGregor Laird, Esq., Managing Director of the African Mail Com-

pany
Thomas Lloyd, Esq., Chief Engineer of H.M. Navy
Charles J. Mare, EFq., shipbuilder, London
Joseph Miller, Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
Robert Napier, Esq., Engineer, Glasgow
James .Nasruyth, Esq., Engineer, Manchester
John Penn, Esq., Engineer, Greenwich
George Rennie, Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
Joseph d'a Samuda, Esq., Engineer, London
Robert Stephenson, Esq., M.P., F.R.S., C.E.
Isaac Watts, Esq., Assistant-Surveyor H.M. Navy
Money Wigram, Esq., shipbuilder, London
Joseph Whitworth, Esq., Engineer, Manchester

TREASURES
Charles :Hanby, Esq., F.R.S., C.E., Secretary of the Institution of
Civil Engineers

HONORARY SECRETARIES.
E. P. Halsted, Capt., R.N., and J. Scott Hassell, Esq , F.R.S., Engi-
neer.

Extract from the Report of Baron CHARLES DUPIN to the Academy
of Sciences, Paris, on the prizes awarded by the French Govern-
ment to M. DUPUT DE LOME, and M. Niorx, Officiers superieurs
du Genie Maritime, et Ingenieurs de la Marine delere Masse, and
M. Bourtoors, Captaine de Fregate, for the successful application
of steam and screw propulsion to sal big vessels of war:—
" En 1835, un fernier de Middlesex, M. Francis Pettit Smith, en-
cadre 11,r zontalement tine vis d'Archimede a l'arriere et dans la
partie la plus pincee de la carene ; cette vie est continue ; elle adeux
revolutions completes. L'auteur prend son brevet le 31 Mai, 1836."
Revenons au fermier Smith. Aussi pen savant dans le
principe que le barbier Arkwri,ht, it avait la meme perseverance et le
eme inci omp table courage. Ces deux qualites morales l'ont fait triom-
pher de tops les obstacles. M. Smith, pendant deux annees, essaye son
bateau stir la Tamise et stir le canal de Paddington. Dana ce canal,
par an accident heureux, une revoluton de sa vis d'Archimede est
brisee, et le navire marche plus vite qu'auparavant. C'est un trait
de lumiere, et l'on tinira par n'employer qu'une moitie, qu'un tiers,
et meme one moindre partie de revolution d'helice. Par ce moyen,
l'on pourra loger le propulseur dans une etroite ouverture verticale,
en avant du gouvernail, entre deux etarnbots.
D'essais en essais, M. Smith se hasarde a lutter contra les cliff'.
cultes de la mer. Avec un navire extremeinent petit, ii s'aventure
dana la Manche, et brave tut mer touicairs si dure, en essuyant des
temps mauvais ; son courage inspire une favour universelle.
" L'Amiraute d'Angleterre prend no vif interet a des essais tentes
si couragensement, et couronnes par le succes. Elle demande a M.
Smith un essai plus considerable, et la construction d'un navire a
helice de 200 tonneaux, avant de conclure a Padopi ion du nouveau
systemic. En consequence, l'Archimede, de 237 tonneaux, est con-
struit et mis ala mer. L'Amiraute se serait montree satisfaite, si
dans les experiences dcmandees, le batiment eut parcouru 5 muds
par heure ; it en pareourut pros du double. Malgre le vent et la
maree, it tie mit que vingt heures pour alter de Gravesend a Ports-
mouth.
" Convaincue par ces epreuves, l'Amiraute d'Angleterre accepte
I'helice pour ses propres 'twins. En 1441, elle fait commencer a
Sheerness son premier batiment a propulseur helicoide, le Rattler
du port de 888 tonneaux, batiment qu'on mit a la mer au printemps,
de 1843. On multipliat les experiences stir ce navire, et l'Amiraute,
completement edifice, ordonna de construire a la ibis, vingt bati-
ments de l'Etat, a propulseurs helicoides."

Letter from the Right Hon. the Earl of Minto, G.C.8., &c.
(First Lord of the Admiralty, 1835 to 1841 )
" Load, m, June 13, 1854.
"Dear Sir,—l have not a doubt that Mr. Smith may justly claim
the merit of having been the first to introduce the use of the screw
propeller ; and 't was owing to his success in its application that
shortly before I left the Admiralty I felt myself justified in ordering
the Rattler to be built, for the purpo.e of testing the comparative
advantages of the paddle and the screw.—Believe me, dear s'r, yours
faithfully, (Signed) " MIN TO.
"Charles A. Callwell, Esq.
" I can have no objectio whatever to your making any use of my
letter that c an bs serviceable to Mr. Smith."
Letter from the Right Hon. the Earl of Haddington, &c.,
(First Loll of the Admiralty, 1841 to 1846).
; yninghame, Pre-tooktric, N.B , August 24, 1851.
"ir,—lt is impo,sible for me to talc', upon myself to offer an
opinion as to which of the claimants Is to be attributed the merit of
the first invention of the screw propeller; but I believe that the
seeress of " the Archimedes," followed by the trial cf "the Rattler,"
(built under Lord Minto's Board), led to the adoption of the screw in
H M.'s Navy, and in the merchant service.
" It is aemittc(l, I believe, that to Mr. Pettit Smith belongs the
credi of the s iccess of "the Archimedes," conseque,tly he is en-
titled to be considered as the introducer of a most valuable Improve-
ment in steam navigation.
"Lie was employed generally under the Steam Depattment of the
Admiralty in my time, and I have every reason t) believe that his
services were found to be valuable.
But the professional names attached to the attestation you have
furnished me with, as well as those of the most eminent engineers,
are of 1-7,r greater value to Mr. Smith, than any testimony of mine
can possibly bo.—l have the honour to be, ;:ir, your obedient hum-
ble servant, (Signed) " ILIDDINGTOY.
"Captain Halsted, R.N.
" I enclose the answer to your letter, of which you may make
any use you may think fit."

SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Richard Abethell, Esq., master shipwright, H.M. Dockyard,
.£1 1
Portsmouth.... • • •
Jai Allan, Esq., managing director of the Peninsular and
Oriental Company, Leadenhall-street
W. C. Alston, Esq., Birmingham ...... •..• • . • ...... 25 0
Captain W. S. Andrews, North of Europe Steam Navigation
Company, 84, King Wlliiam•street
John George Appold, Esq., Wilson-street, Finsbury•square— 10 0
C. Atherton, Esq , chief engineer, H.M. Dockyard, Woolwich 10 0
Captain Horatio T. Austin, R.N., C. 11., Admiralty Inspector
of l'ac'z ets, Southampton ..
The Au- tralasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company, Moor-
g ate-street
Thomas Back, Esq., Military Department, East India House 1 1
Messrs. Bayley and Riley, 2, Cowper's-court .. •••••• • • . . 10 0
John Barrow, Esq., F.R.S., •.'. 0
George Beardmore, Esq., Deptford ~... • • ...• •••..• • • • • 1 0
Joseph Beardmore, Esq., manager of the General Steam
Navigation Company's engine works, Deptford ... •• •
Joseph Beardmore, Jun , Esq , Deptford .. • • ..... ...... .
••
William Beardmore, Esq., Deptford .. ••..•• • • • • ...... 2 0
Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, K.C.8., Admiralty •• • • 5 5
The Birmingham Tube Company, Birmingham .• ""25 0
Messrs. John Bourne awed Co., engineers, Greenock •••• . . . 50 0
William Boxall, Esq., lbeck-street, Cavendish-square .. • • 5 5
Messrs. Brownlow and Co., Hull ••• .. • ... ...... • ..... • 3 0
Peter Bruff, E,1., C.E., Ipswich .•.. • •• • • •• •
I. K. Brunel, Esq., F.R.S., C.E., Duke-street, Westminster 59 0
William Carpmael, Esq. C.E., Patent-office, Lincoln's inn 2l 0
William Catt, Esq., Brightonl .• ..• . .....
Captain E. Chapped, R.N., secretary of the Royal West
India Mail Company, Moorgate-street ••• • • ••. •
Henry Chatfield, Esq., master shipwright, lI.M. Dockyard,
Deptford .................. ••••••• • • • • • .. ........ •• • • 2 2
Jabez C urch, Esq., C.E., Chelmsford
D. K. Clark, Esq., C.E., Great North of Scotland Railway
Company, Aberdeen ...... ••• • •
Lieut. J. E. Comraerell, R.N ....... ..
Robert Cowen, Esq., Carlisle
Commander Peter Cracroft, R.N., H.M.S. St. Jean d'Aere • • 1 0
Capt. W. Crispin, R.N., the Roya, Yacht, Portsmouth. . 10 0
Messrs. Wm. Denny and Brothers, shipbuilders, Dumbarton 103 0
John Dinnen, Esq , inspector of steam machinery afloat, Ad-
miralty, Somerset-house .. ..
Messrs. Richard Durant and Co., Lloyd's.. •••• • • • • .... •• .. 10 10
Messrs C. and W. Earle, engineers, Gull .. •• . .
David Elder, Esq., em,ineer, Glasgow 2 2
James Elliott, Esq., C.E., Dymchurch, Kent .. • •
5 i
J. U. Ellis, chairman of the General Screw Steam Co., Ade-
laide-place, London-bridge • 10 10
Messrs. Allen Everitt and Son, Birmingham
Chas. Few, Esq , Henrietta-street, Covent-garden.. •• • •
J. Fincham, late master shipwright, H.M. Dockyard, Ports-
mouth •• •
Capt. John Ford. marine superintendent General Screw-steam
Shipping Company, Southampton
Capt. Robert Ford, Battersea
Joseph Freeman, Esq., Artillery-place, Finsbury
Charles Frodshaml '' Esq Strand.... - .... ........... • •
William Frauds, Esq., C E., Dartington, Devon ... 5 0
Messrs. Joseph Gee and Co., Hull
Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and a., Liver,,ool
Lionel Gishorne, Esq., C.,:., Duke•street, Adelphi
3, Connaught-place, 1 0
Vice—. dmiral Sir James Alexander Gordon, K.C.8., Gover-
nor of Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich.. ...
Captain Sir Richard Grant, Kt., R.N ,
Hyde-Park
William Green, Esq., R.N., harbour master, Lowestoft „„ „ 1 1
Capt. E. P. Halsted, R.N. (Hon. Sec.), United Service Club,
London .. • •
John Hawkshaw, Esq., C.1.'., Great George•street, West-
minster • .• • •
William Hartree. Esq., engineer, Lewisham ....... ... „•• 10 10
Captsia W. 11. Henderson, R.N.. C. 8., Comptroller General
of the Coaat Guard, Custom House •• • ........ ••• • • ..... 5 0
Messrs. J. , . Hoby and Co., Renfrew
Captain James Hosken ...... .. . . • • • • • • • • • •
.... 1
0
Messrs. Howard, Ravenhill, and Co., engineers, Rotherhithe 25 0
E. Humplirys, Esq., late chief engineer MM. Dockyard,
Woolwich, Deptford . ............... .. ...... ...... •• • • 10 0
Messrs. Humphrys, Tennant, and Dykes, engineers, Deptford 50 0
Captain Thomas Jackson, the Baron Osy steam-ship ...... 1 1
William Jackson, Esq., engineer, Leman•street 5 0
Jabez James, Esq., engineer, Blackfriars
W. S. Johnson, Esq., St. Martin's-lane.. • • ....... ...... •
J. Hodgson Jones, Esq., engineer, Pot's-corner, Westminster 1 1
Townsend Kirkwood, Esq., Llandilo,e Carmarthen 5 0
H. Reader Lack, Esq., Board of Trade 2 2
M`Gregor Laird, Esq., managing director of the African Mail
Company, Mincing-lane .••• • • • • ......
W. B. Lambert, Esq., engineer, General Screw Steam-Ship-
ping Company, Southampton
James Laming, Esq., Maida-hill West . ....... „.•
W. Langdon, Esq., engineer, London-street....
Thos. Lloyd, Esq., chief engineer of MM. Navy, Somerset
10 0
House..
James Luke, Esq.. shipwright, H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth 10 0
C. Manby, Esq., F.R.S., C.E., secretary of the Insttitution of
Civil Engineers (treasurer), Great George-street, West-
minster • . •
100 0
C. J. Mare, Esq., shipbuilder, Blackwall
Messr. Martin, Samuelson, and Co., engineers, Hull.. • • .... 3 0
Captain B. R. Matthews, the Great Britain steam-ship •• 2 0
John Matthew, Esq., engineer, Greenwich. : •.•• • • 10 10
Messrs. Maudslay, Sons, and Field, London
T. W. Miller, Esq., engineer, H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth. • 5 5
Messrs. Miller, Ravenhill, and Salkeld, engineers, Blackwall 100 0
G. Mills, Escl• •• ••
William Morgan,•Esq., engineer, Gloucester-terrace, Hyde-
park ........ ••••••" • • • • • • ••• • • ...... ......., ••• • • • 10 0
Napier, Esq:, engineer, Glasgew „ • • „
•• • • • • • • • •
•• .• • • 100 0
' -

R. - -••••- -
JarnesKasmyth, Esq., engineer, Patricroft, Manchester .. • • 10 0
Commander Matthew S. Nolloth, R.N., H.M.S. Frolic •• •• 1 0
Admir.-.1 Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., Eaton-place... 2O 0
James Oldham, Esq., C• 14•• Hull'• •• ••••.• • •• • • ....... . 1 0
William Paine, Esq., cashier of Greenwich Hospital, Green-
-1'44 • • ••—k• ••

nor of Greenw:ch Hospital „ ,„ 3 0
Rear-Admiral Sir William E. Par
William Parsons, Esq ,Leicester Parry, Kt., lieutenant-gover-
nor
. , 2 2
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company •• 100 0
Messrs. John Penn and Son. engineers, Greenwich .. • lOO 0
John Diston Powles, Esq., Wimpole-street 5 0
Edward J. Powell, Esq., Hydrographic Department, Ad-
miralty
Captain William Ramsay, R.N., H.M S. Hogue
Messrs. G. Rennie and Co , engineers, Holland-street, Black-
friars ..............
.................. 2l 0
William Rigby, Esq., Glasgow
Major F. C. Rohl), E 1.C.5., Reaulien House, Southsca ... • 10 0
J. Scott Russell, Esq., F.R.s., C.E: (lion. Sec.) Great
George,treet, Westrn!thter
Messrs. Sainetia Brothers, engineers, Poplar ..• . • 20
John Scott, Esq., engineer and shipbuilder, Greenock ...• • • 25 °
Messrs. Seaward and Capel, engineers, Llunehouse
Joseph Sims, Esq., Birmingham .......... „„ „ .......„ 5 0
Mess, s. aims and Muntz, Birmingham -
Edward Slaughter, Req., engineer, Bristol .• 5 0
Commander Luke Smithett, H.M.s. vivid
It. Stephenson, Esq., M. , C.E , Great George-
st••ect, Westminster ..• •
Captain James N. Strange, li, Y . ..... ........
John M. Sonic , Esq , insurance broker, cum
William Swann, i• sq., Queen-street, Westmin,ter .. • • • • 2 2
James Tilling, Esq., Hendon
G. 11. J. Walton, Esq., Serie-street, Lincoln's-inn.. • • 5
Captain Fredorick Warden, R.N., 11.74.4. Ajax
Thomas Waterman, jun.. Esq., shipbuilder, Blackwall lO 0
Mess s. fames W .tt and Co., engineers (per H. Wollaston
Esq , Soho, Birmilighain „ „ „ 100 0
I. Watts, Esq., Assistant-Surveyor H. M. Navy, Somerset-
house ...• •. •
Messrs John and Robert Wite, ship!milders, Cowes
Joseph Whitworth, Esq., engineer, Manchester 25 0
M. Wigratn, Esq., shipbuilder, Blackwall
G. T. Wright, Esq., I ympstone, Devon
Thomas Wright, Esq , engineer. George-yard, Lombard-st 2 2
Strscriptions are received by Messrs. Martin and Co— 68, Lom-
bard-street, London; Messrs. Ransom and Co., 1, Pall Mall Fast,
London : J. Scott Russel, Esq , 37, Great George-street, West-
minster (Honorary Secretary) and by C. Manby, Esq., 25, Great
George-street, Westminster ( Pre usurer).
J. SCOTT
SPC.OIITT
A LSTED,
RUSSELL,
37, Great George-street, Westminster, 1855.
Honorary Secretaries.

required, the deliberate consideration of the house.
. . . The Finance Minister of this country had,
in many respects, too little power in his hands for
the good of the public ; whereas, in other respects,
he had a great deal too much power, and exercised
powers that ought to bo greatly restricted." There
has been no such explanation ; there is no reliable
source of information from which it can be learned
how far the Chancellor of the Exchequer holds his
powers under act of Parliament—how far under
notions of Royal Prerogative—how far under mere
prescriptive abuse of power and traditions of office.
In what precise relation the Secretary to the
Treasury stands to the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer ; whether he can act only under the direc-
tion of the Chancellor, or can act of himself ;
whether he or his chief really supervises the na-
tional balance-sheet, or whether both, or either,
take it for granted as it comes to them, are mat-
ters alike unknown ; and may, for all the public
can discover, be mere questions of official
opinion. Yet this is the kind of information of
which Parliament and the people stand most in
need. There is clearly but little use in the controll-
ing power of Parliament upon taxation, if the
Chancellor of the Exchequer can, of his own will,
create permanent debt, or pledge the credit of the
nation, or deal without sanction of Parliament
with the millions of hard earnings deposited in the
savings banks.
The Foreign-office is another region of unknown
powers, and undefined, if any, responsibility. What
amount of Government is carried on there— what
amount of dictatorship exercised—is utterly un-
known. There is nowhere to be found auy com-
plete definition of the powers, privileges, patronage,
and expenditure of the Foreign department ; it is
carried on under the screen of an imaginary neces-
sity of official secrecy. The-character of the nation
abroad is thus left to the one man who may happen
to be Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and
those who may have him for the time in their
power.
The public found, to its amazemeut, when we
first entered upon the war, that its conduct be-
longed to the Colonial-office ; and, probably, there
are but few who know that it has still charge of
the order of the Bath, established for the promotion
of civil and military merit. The Colonial-office is
in itself a government—it controls the material
prosperity, the resources and energies, and lays
the foundation of the national character, for good
or evil, of millions of people. It is scarcely too
much too say, that it is determined almost every
hour at the Colonial-office whether colonists shall,
in their new homes, continue to be our fellow-sub-
jects, and retain their native enterprise, industry,
and vigour of purpose ; or shall, under the vexa-
tious and thwarting policy of Downing-street, be-
come dwarfed and dwindled from the due propor-
tions of the national character. Yet there is no
account accessible to the public of how the business
of the Colonial-office is carried on.
The powers of the Home Secretary are alike un-
d-fined. Probably no one who has ever held the
office would venture an account of the heteroge-
neous mass of duties imposed upon the Minister
by statute, custom, prescription, and common law.
To get at all this information, wherever it exists,
and to place it before the public in the plainest
words, is, with the help of the country, one of the
first things the Association are determined to have
done, cost what it may. There must be an end put
to every mystery of office—how the Administration
of the country is carried on must be made plain to
the most ordinary capacity. To this end, acts of
Parliament must be searched, and returns obtained.
The Association are resolved to have a complete
analysis of our official system, a thorough clearing
up of the question of personal responsibility. This
will, of necessity, be a work of time and expense ;
the Committee, however, are perfectly satisfied
that the required means will be forthcoming, that
subscriptions to the object will be general through-
out the country; that a failing purse will never
compel them to hold their baud. They have
already entered upon this portion of their labour,
with the most experienced and energetic help, and
will shortly be able to place sorno valuable informa-
tion, in a convenient form, in the hands of the
members of the Association. A knowledge of the
actual state of the official system once attained, the
next step will be to bring every department into a
thoroughly business condition. The nation can
afford to pension, even upon full pay, any amount
of incapacity, but it cannot afford to retain inca-
pacity.
But, beyond all this, there is much to be accom-
-plislied by the constituencies themselves. The in-
dividuals of the several parties, invariably sent for
on any change of Ministry to form a Government,
are apparently limited in the choice of colleagues to
a very narrow circle. The distribution of offices
may be altered, but—with now and then an excep-
-mcletons,eonr,aantdaillll-epl!aencetds,
teixi e-
et ieopnt,i
oann—d
tohfetesuanaleveseryt
of
fl
same names and connection, be they Liberals or
Conservatives, hold, Parliament after Parliament,
the entire governing power. The idea prevails that
there are no men in the kingdom to take their
places • that they, and they only, can command suffi-
cient influence to give Government a majority in
the Lords and Commons whilst Parliament sits, and
a majority in the country at a general election. The
candidates sent down from the clubs are chosen
with the constant object of upholding the fixed mi-
nisterial cliques, whether in or out of office ; the
party circle has, as a matter of course, a continual
hold upon members so selected ; and it is thus of
the utmost importance that the electors in every
borough and county shall put an end to the system
under which, not the constituencies, but the clubs,
choose who shall be members, and what places they
shall represent. The Association would therefore
urge the electors, in all earnestness, to select their
own candidates. It is an essential step in admi-
nistrative reform, that the constituencies shall
shake off the clubs and their agents. There is no-
thing in an election to require the assistance of a
parliamentary trafficker in seats.
Electors, if you would have an honest Govern-
ment, you must choose your members honestly,
and must set your faces determinedly against that
disgraceful system which spends fortunes upon
elections ; you must resolve, also, in earnest to put
an end to election corruption. It is this that keeps
aloof from Parliament your ablest men ; they do
not choose to be defeated—they will not condescend
to the conditions of success. Means must be found
to correct this grievous evil—the nation cannot
afford to have its representation jobbed, and its
best men deterred from Parliament.
With these objects before them, the association
invite every constituency in the kingdom to make
themselves acquainted with the opinions of their
representatives upon Administrative Reform ; to
call upon them to support in Parliament every
question bearing upon the subject ; to hold meet-
ings upon the subject of Administrative Reform ;
to organise local committees, to enrol members, to
collect funds, to put themselves in immediate com-
munication with the committee in London ; to be
ready for an election, ready with worthy candi-
dates, an honest committee, and a thorough deter-
mination to have done with the abuses of elections.
Fellow-countrymen, we have reached a turning
point in our national history. We know now that
we can go on no longer as we have done, that, follow-
ing the beaten track, we are no longer sure ofsaouuwadrrilmspooosl-e,sition. We must either work-out a thorough change,
or take a lower grade in the world. But there is no
ground for despondency ; the nation is not worn
out
debt,
which
tee;
ee,:tswrijnhoi
umsheuel
tieniepotrndhests
heto:ltp:fat,
oln.kehunadteelltwhrashatteehrai
aredotepteoini
eshsunmiroyaneyertsvovenhdt
reieneeleversmrri
failedaemgufo united
usrri,
prteet
er,
hsdi
fnteu:rig,ostonb,
erogonpnf odoodi fatnui purpose,lirttl,opinion.
peo-
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m
force to the reduction of that corrupt influence
awnhdi ehe v loadse r y
shadow
h ands
w withof
credit from the most venerable parts
prodi-
galityw i
authorityd o wisdom fromnd oandf
of our constitution." Let the nation resolve that
there shall be a searching and complete Adminis-
trative Reform—that "the right men shall be in
the right places" and there is nothing to appre-
hend from the position of England.
(Signed by order of the Committee),
SAMUEL MORLEY, Chairman.
WILLIAM TITES, Deputy Chairman.
J. I. TRAVERS, Treasurer.
Offices of the Association, 86, King
William-
street, City, May 19.