The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-29 00:00:00

TILE Sl3'N, LONDON, MONDAY EVF,NING, OCTOBER SP, 1855

in a manner to sustain only pauperism , wretched-
ness, and crime. Whilst he was depic •trng classic
examples of heroism, and patriotism cif the most
elevated character, the War Departmei d, of which
hewas the political Seare tary, was asouro:,ofpolitical
corruption and jobbery—beneath the dignity of his
refined perceptions—but of which we have now the
bitter experience in th e loss of twenty thousand lives
and the waste of some thirty and forty millions of
money in a single campaign. Whilst he was study-
ing the careers of CLITE and HASTINGS for a grand
tableaux India was sustaining the disasters of
Affghanistan, and the fruits of the careers of we
know not what inferior system of job-appointed
men, the bitter maladministration which assumes
sufficiency of classical accompliihments and gene-
ral qualifications for every species of lucrative and
dignified office. The Times has done well to call
attention in detail to the provision of securities,
for the attainments of the specialities for the ser-
viee, and the necessity of alterations in the course
of training first pointed out. it points to the
superior importance of a knowledge of sanscrit,
the mother tongue of a hash of Hindoo dialects,
to a mastery of Greek and Latin. Looking to
the fact, that the most pressing improvements for
kidia must be in the first instance, and for a time
to come physical improvements, improved means
for the collection and distribution of water, im-
provements in land culture, improvements in the
means of internal communieatiOn, and the admi-
nistration of the works of these great classes, and
the affairs connected with them, it might have
pointed out the need of a higher place being
given to the physical 'sciences than was assigned
to them in the curriculum first laid down.
On the general subject of Administrative Re-
form, it is to be observed at this time that the
constituencies will be themselves in fault, if for
the purpose they content themselves with general
qualifications and mere' general professions from
" walking gentlemen," or content themselves as
the people of Cheltenham contented themselves at
the last election, with the professions of favour to
Administrative Reform, from a gentleman whose
own office—that of third, or. political secretary to
the Poor-law Board—a useless office, in which no
adequate service is rendered for the salary to the
department from which he is paid—was itself a
flagrant example of the violation of every correct
principle.

As a body there is probably no class of men
engaged in commerce who display more intelli-
gence and industry in their vocation, or are of
wore importance to the community than Com-
mercial Travellers. Day by day, Sundays ex-
cepted, they may be found in every nook and
corner of the kingdom, pushing with admirable
skill and perseverance the wheel of trade, and
lending to the less vigorous shopkeeper the bene-
ficial example of their business tact and enterprise.
Of course a career of this sort involves incessant
travelling, and, consequently, much risk from
accident and exposure, in addition to a physical
and mental wear and tear inevitably tending to a
diminution of the term of existence. Under such
circumstances we are happy to perceive that a
newly-erected asylum for the distressed orphans
of deceased members of this body, and capable o f
accommodating 300, was opened at Pinner under
influential auspices on Saturday last. As the
reader will perceive, on referring to a report of
the proceedings on that interesting occasion,
which will be found in another column, the Com-
mercial Travellers' School Society was commenced
in 1845, by a few energetic commercial men,
who manifested the sincerity and earnestness of
their convictions by subscribing 2,0001. towards
the prosecution of the work they had in view
before they sought any aid from without. In
1847 a large mansion was rented at Wanstead,
in which 20 children were at first received, which
number gradually 'incrsased as the society
went on prospering until it reached 142, when
the present structure was erected at a cost of up-
wards of 20,0001., some 16,0001. towards which
have been already raised. Efforts- so honourable
and in so good a cause call for encouragement and
support; from the benevolent and humane, and we
sincerely.trust a society which has such especial
claims on a commercial community like ours will
before loug not only possess building accommoda-
tion, but also the means of provision and education
for the, number of children intended, towards
which at present no fewer than 158 are wanting.
A governorship of the institution is to be had for
five guineas, and probably no more graceful form
of contribution could be adopted.