The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-23 00:00:00

which he has cast down. His challenge has been
oJepted ; the combat must take place a l'outrance.
de would be for ever dishonoured and held
"nidering"—it is a good old Saxon phrase—if
he now cries craven. We shall not, however, so
far wrong him as to suppose that he will now
aold back or evade the obligations he has volun-
arily assumed.

To-morrow or Friday, then, the vitally impor-
ant question will be decided. We cannot doubt
-he result. There must be a new Ministry. The
Family Party must surrender to more competent
lands the power they have so grossly abused.
Ne must have a firm Government, whose t‘
say-
ings and doings" will alike bear investigation, and
,vlio will not permit Great Britain to be any
-)nger bamboozled. Our Imperial Ally only
requires unflinching resolution on the part of the
English Cabinet to carry out his views in such a
nanner as will speedily alter the feeling both of
Russiaand Austria, and compel the former humbly
to sue for far more onerous terms than those she
has already so contumeliously rejected, and the
latter to declare herself without hesitation.
No true-hearted Englishman can remain neutral
under such circumstances. The several consti-
tuencies will know whether their feelings and
wishes are properly represented, and woe to those
who run counter thereto, who at the time of trial
are found wanting ! _ _ .

Mr. LAYARD has once more entitled himself to
the thanks and gratitude of the community for
io gracefully yielding priority to Mr. DISRAELI.
Although the country feels the deepest interest in
everything relating to Administrative Reform, the
" War policy" is, par excellence, the question of
the day. All others are comparatively of secon-
dary importance to that in which the national
honour is involved. All distinctions of party
tre now merged in the one grand point—
ill considerations are of minor weight. That
there will be a hard fight is certain. Ministers
will have not only the assistance of the waiters on
Providence, and of their late colleagues, the Peel-
ites, but also of the Peace party, of those who
,link with Mr. M. GinsoN and his associates
,hat England should submit to any insult, should
patiently witness any injustice, provided there be
io interference with "trade." Sir F. BARING
las already given notice of an amendment almost
tantamount to the dropped resolution of the Right
don. Member for Manchester, although couched
In less decisive terms. No one can, however, be
.aken in by the phraseology. Vague language
,vill not now answer, and the amendment will,
we hope and believe, ba rejected by a decided
najority. The moment for action has arrived,
tnd England indeed expects that every true-
warted citizen will faithfully discharge his duty.

The prophecy of that eminently popular his-
,,orian, Sir A. AusoN, last evening, at the Anni-
versary of the Literary Fund, is likely to meet
with but little scepticism throughout the country, I
tnd will go far ultimately to dissipate what there
rnay be of that. Possessing a deep personal in-
erest in the mighty struggle now going on, the
learned Baronet brought to bear on it the vast
store of knowledge with which a long course of
reading and much observation and reflection had
enriched him ; and, after a careful examination of
historical parallels and facts, felt justified in don-
ning the mantle of the prophet, anddeclaring that,
"as long as England and France remained united,
there was no danger but that Western Civilisation
would conquer Eastern Despotism." So be it. It
is too late in the day for us to insist that England
and France are the leaders of civilisation ; nor
is it necessary to adduce such of the facts
and parallels referred to by Sir ARCIIIBALD
as may have occurred to our recollection. The
higher intelligence and nobler ideas of the two
Western Powers, aided by the superiority of their
material resources, really tell their own tale.
Everywhere, hitherto, barbarism has in the long
run receded or succumbed before advancing civi-
lisation ; and by the operation of the same law
we confidently look for the ultimate defeat of
Russia. It is impossible for her to combat long
with success against ideas as well as swords. Her
armies cannot ultimately triumph over freemen
and those entrusted with the standards of liberty.
Sir ARCHIBALD is right. Russia must succumb,
and it is more Shan probable that nothing could
happen more advantageous to her slave population
than her defeat. That population cannot long
remain as they are. Thus, as the gall Ant soldiers
of England and France join shoulder to shoulder
in the conflict, they should be encouraged with the
idea that not only by the success of their arms do
they stay the irruption of barbarism, but also
aid in conferring on barbarians the blessings of

To-day there appears the copy of a Commission
which may appear to be of great importance, as
an instalment of concession to the principle of Ad-
ministrative Reform. It appoints a board to
regulate the examination of young men who may
From time to time be proposed to be appointed to
the junior situations in any of her Majesty's civil
establi'diments. The appointments of the com-
missioners are decidedly exceptionable. The first
Commissioner, Mr. JOHN' LEFEVRE, is a very estitn-
able man, who has been described as a person who
would not harm a fly, but would leave mischief to
work itself out in a kingdom. He would be the
last man to do an act of injustice himself, or to
interfere, with any risk to himself, to exercise
stern duties in preventing acts of injustice to
others. He was one of the first Poor-law Com-
missioners, and at a time when great firmness in
the assertion of principle was needed he quitted
the post for ono of no responsibility ;
and it is complained that, on important
occasions, he left the assertors cf principle
in the lurch. His own paper, on the reconstruc-
tion of the Civil Service, is one of the most feeble
of the whole set ; especially considering his large
opportunities for observation. Another of the
gentlemen chosen, Mr. EDWARD ROMILLY, has
indicated hostility to that alone which ought to
be accepted as sincere and true—namely, appoint-
ments for merit from whatsoever class. Looking
to his paper in the Blue-book, we find the follow-
ing very explicit declarations :
" Since writing the above I have had an opportunity
of considering the report of Sir Stafford Northcote aad
Sir Charles Trevelyan, suggesting, among other prin-
ciples of great value and importance, that first appoint-
ments to the civil service should be made by open com-
petition. Notwithstanding its ability, that report, toge-
ther with other papers advocating this principle, have
not convinced me ; it still seems to me that the ultimate
result of open competition will be a democratical civil
service side by side with an aristocratical Legislature.
Open competition must necessarily be in favour of the
more numerous class."
"The more the civil service is recruited from the lower
classes, the less it will be sought after by the higher,
until at last the aristocracy will be altogether dissociated
from the permanent civil service of the country.
" The encouragement given to education would no
doubt be great if flag system were once fairly established,
and its continuance believed in ; but it will be all in
favour of the lower classes of society, and not of the
higher."
"It may be true that at present a mixed multitude
is sent up, a large proportion of whom, owing to the
operation of political and personal patronage, are of an
inferior rank in society.' But it is also true that a still
larger proportion of this multitude are at present ia the
higher social position, and tl.at when under these pro-
portions the lower become associated with the higher,
the lower gradually acquire more or less the habits,
manners, and feelings of the higher. There is, ho we% er,
thevid :do rite
r ofi
some danger that the moment these proportions are ra-
sed the contrary will take place.
" It may also be true that the idle and useless are
medied hy oaungbmen,' if not commonly,' olten pro-
vided
can easily be public office,' and this may perhaps be re-
efarnination, eataMibiel
an
educatthecivposed arrangement, and young men
competition, may be secured.' But the idle and
selves with the ordi excluled by a proper system of ex
ed on rules which will work them-
recoune t,) open weary run of mankind, without basing
and to a new and expen-
sive board."
The truth of thesek)et
thati ents is impugned, in-
cluding the assumption
the majority of the public ocathe composition of
gels is really aris-

tocratical. We cite, however, the short and
complete reply of Mr. JOHN MILL
" Another objection is, that if appointments are give!
to talent, the public offices will be filled with low peo-
ple, without the breeding or the feelings of gentlemen.
If, as this objection supposes, the suns of gentlemen
cannot be expected to have as much ability and instruc-
tion as the sons of low people, it would make a strong
case for social changes of a more extensive character.
If the sons of gentlemen would not, even under the
stimulus of competition, maintain themselves on an
equality of intellect and attainments with youths
of a lower rank, how much more below the mark
must they he vith their present monopoly ; and to how
much greater an extent than the friends cf the measure
allege must the efficiency of the public service be
at present sacrificed to their incompetency. And more
—if, with advantages and opportunities so vastly supe-
r:or, the youth of the higher clasces have not honour
enough, or energy enough, of public spirit enough, to
make themselves as well qualified as others for the sta-
tion which they desire to maintain', they are not fit for
that station, and cannot too soon step out of it and give
place to better people. I have not this unfavourable
opinion of them—l believe that they will fairly earn
their full share of every kind of distinction, when they
are no longer able to obtain it unearned."
Mr. CHADWICK also contends that with a fair
field the aristocracy would contribute a larger
proportion to the service than their enemies may
suppose, and that it is for the interest of the
order itself that they should be put to the justifi-
cation of their positions. By them such au ap-
pointment should, indeed, be deemed an affront.
-With the country ringing with, perhaps, indis-
criminate censures of aristocratical appointments,
an appointment upon such an explicit declaration
of untenable principles, may be well deemed by
the increasing associations for Administrative Re-
form, not merely an evasion, but an outrage.
The Commission itself is framed ambiguously,
so as to retain the principle of close departmental
nominations and probations, and it is to be in-
terpreted as to intent by the appointments and
attendant circumstances. If it were intended
to adopt the larger popular principles, why should
not the changes be intrusted to Sir CHARLES
TREVELYAN, Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE, and others,
who have been foremost in contending for them,
and in whom the public might have confidence for
their execution?

A Return has just been laid before Parliament,
on the motion of Mr. MONCKTON MILNES, which
is of important significance on the subject of Ad-
ministrative Reform. It is "A return of the
subjects of examination to which persons are sub-
jected who are nominated to clerkships in public
offices." The purpose to which this return is
subservient is to show that examinations as to
competency are already in use at a number of the
Government offices, and the public may be told
that these examinations have been, or will be now,
revised, and that they shall be extended to all
the departments, including the Home-office, the
Foreign-office, the Colonial-office, and the Board
of Trade, where the return is "Nil." Now, it
is proper to lose no time in apprising—not the
House of Commons, not the Government—but
the General and Local Administrative Reform
Associations that this motion goes to the very
he Id of their subject.
The plan of dca iag with the offices departmen-
tally, and adopting their arrangement's is repu-
diated, and competitive examinations are con-
tended for by the Accountant-General of the
Navy, and by Mr. JOHN WOOD, the Chair-

man of the Board of Inland Revenue, officars of
the widest and longest practical experience.
The Accountant-General of the Navy, whose autho-
rity was highly extolled by Sir JAMES GRAHAM,
thus adverts to departmental examinations:—
" Unknown men of talent witness daily their inferiors
advancing before them, who may have been put into
the service through interest, and who probably passed
what is termed an examination, but such as a charity
boy would smile at.
"If a clerk is rejected, the chances are he will be re-

turned to the examiner (who is usually another clerk in
the office), having been crammed for a few weeks to pre-
pare him for another jump at the leaping-bar test, which
on this occasion is not unlikely to be lowered, the ex-
aminer not feeling disposed perhaps to run the risk of
further rebuke or of making an enemy of some person
of consideration.
" The most feeble sons in families which have been so
fortunate as to obtain an appointment, yes, and others
too, either mentally or physically incapacitated, enter
the service."

The Return from the Colonial-office would make
out that, although they have no examination, they
have, and have had for a number of years, what
they deem better—a year's probation. The Return

from the Foreign-office says they have adopted a

probation for six months. But in proof that
departmental probations are as illusory as the
the departmental examinations, Mr. CHADWICK
h.ids up the admission of the Right Hon. Sir
JAMES STEPHEN, the former Under Secretary for
the Colonies, that " the majority" of persons in
that department " possesssed only in a low degree,
and some of them only in a degree incredibly low,
either the talents or the habits of men of busi-
ness, or the industry, the zeal, or the knowledge
required for the effective performance of their
duties." The consequences of this was, " the not
infrequent occurrence of mistakes and oversights
so serious as to imperil interests of high national
importance." Sir JAMES also declares—" In re-
liance on much uniform, concurrent, and credible
evidence from others, and in reliance on what I
myself knew and observed at the Board of Trade,
I believe that the state of the Colonial depart-
ment, as I have described it, is no unfair example
and illustration of the state of the other great
departments of the Government, as they existed
during my personal connection with the public
service." It is only a year ago that he scoffed at
the scheme for reforming this state-of things as
an utopian notion—as, in truth, he might well do
at the audacity of a scheme which appeared to
contemplate reform from within the departments
themselves, or from within the House of Commons,
at that time.
In a small work, called " The Statesman,"
written by Mr. HENRY TAYLOR, senior clerk at
the Colonial-office, and dedicated to his then per-
manent chief, Sir JAMES STEPHEN, whom he ad-
dresses as a model statesman, the principle of corn-
petitive examinations is well opened, Mr. TAYLOR
says :—"Probation should not be relied upon to the
omission of examination, nor examination to the
omission of the most sedulous care in the choice
of the candidate who shall be, admitted to compete
and be examined. To require that the candi-
dates shall be three or more simultaneously for
one vacancy is a good device, because justice to in-
dividuals being unhappily a much stronger motive
with most men tlu justice to the State, a greater
security is taken against undue indulgence on the
part of the examining authority when the result of
indulging one individual is an injury done to two
other individuals than when the result should be
only an injury done to the public service. It would
be well that not only the competitors on the exa-
mination should be three for one probationary
appointment, but that the probationers should
also be three competing for one established and
confirmed appointment. In the case of the pro-
bationers, in truth, the need is still greater than
in that of the original candidates to have the
public claims backed up against private interests
by other and conflicting private interests."
With Sir JAMES'S own facts, this clear state-
ment of the principle by his colleague and fa-
vourite pupil may be presented to the chief official
champion against Administrative Reform.
The last number of the North British Review,
however, contains an article on the reform of the
Civil Service, which we earnestly commend to the
attention of the general and local committees for
the promotion of Administrative Reform, and to
all who have the matter under practidal considera-
tion, as giving the most fair and able summary,
that has yet appeared of much widely-spread evi-
dence and writing upon the subject. It thus
opens to larger view the vitally-important question
of competitive examinations :

" Let it be remembered, that it is agreed that the
fittest attainable man should in every instance be ap-
pointed to a vacant office, and that the question is now
solely as to the means of finding out the fittest attain-
able man. Now, if we suppose an omniscient, and also
thoroughly just Prime Minister—a man, who, though
sitting at the centre of affairs, knew thoroughly and inti-
m:a:ly, by personal familiarity, every individualof all the
millions composing the empire; knew his faculties, his ac-
quirement, his failings ;and also wag resolved and able to act
with strict impartiality—there would be no difficulty.
The problem of the right man in the right place would be
solved at once ; it would be a mere question of coach
hire. Such a mode of solution being purely ideal, how-
ever, we must be content with the best possible approxi-
mation we can make to it. Now what is that approxi-