The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-24 00:00:00

kRICE 4D. STAMPED SD.

with the live
public interee
enhanced at
tic felicity pr
Ito noble mem
arov,nd the h
their influencl

iest feelings of pleasure, on account of the
t and the enjoyment they afforded, so much
,he close by the engaging picture of domes-
sented at the Hall, and the reflex of which
6tes seemed so deeply desirous of diffusing
arths and homes of all within the sphere o
e.--Sunderland Herald.

1 of

THE DOCKYARDS,'nu :

The folio
August 18,

-ing memorandum, dated " Admiralty,
L 855," and relating to the List-'entry
ion of artificers and labourers in her
)ck and victualling yards, has been
•

and promo'

Majesty's d

issued

"biy lords
great exerti.o
in her Maj
they believe
'farther in

have viewed with much satisfaction the
is made by all classes for some time past
ity's dockyards and victualling yards, but
Ist the efficiency of the service may, be still
led by a change in the mode of.admission,
- -tries' be intrusted to the sty

and that if t, first entries - tie iust-u5,,.. —per-
intendent, of ach yard (who, being on the spot, is prac-
tically acquainted with the duties to be performed), the
average standard of qualification may be raised.
"My lordEi have therefore determined to transfer the
responsibility'' of the finsi entry of all artificers and
labourers to this officer in each yard, and trust that, in
so doing, they will have his active co-operation in watch-
ing closely that no workmen be admitted but such as
are in all respects the beat to be obtained for her Majesty's
service.
"In confiding this duty to the superintendent, my
lords do not intend merely to transfer.it to the heads of
departments, but they rely upon the superintendent him.
self giving active personal attention to the subject,
with the vietv to the prevention of Any. Abuse of the
power thus committed to him.
" They believe that the wages and prospects of the
service are sufficient to secure the beat workmen, and
that there is no want of candidates is proved by the,_
number of applicants.,
"My lords cannot but expect that attempts will be
made to support applications for employment by the aid
of interest, either political or personal. They are aware
that the connexion which must naturally exist between
the officers of the different naval establishments and per-
sons residing in the neighbourhood affords much seope
for the exercise of such influence.

" They must therefore insist on every effort being
made to check and put down all such interference, and
to encourage applications for employment being made
directly by the men themselves.
" It is due to hired men of good character and ability
that they should have the preference in succeeding to
the establishment ; and in entering men either as hired,
or upon the establishment, my lords would be disposed
to show a certain preference to those who have been in
the service before, if they then proved themselves to be
good workmen, and obtained the approbation of their
superiors.
" In all cases where men are required, a public notice
is to be affixed to the dockyard gates, or any other cot.-
venient place, specifying the ease required and the day
and hour fixed for the selection, which is then to be
made publicly by the superintendent, assisted by the
officers of the department, from the whole number who
may present themselves.
" Great care having been taken to select the 1)4)4 men,
they are to be entered on probation for one month, with
the un•ier,tandlng that their appointments will be con-
firmed, if at, the end of that period they shall have proved
themselves competent to the satisfaction of the superin-
tendent. And with tile view of more easily acquiring
this knowledge, my Lords would suggest that the super-
intendent should hold periodical nitu=ters of all these
newly entered men. My Lords purpose also themselves
on their annual visitation, carefully to inspect all the
new men of the previous year, who are to be separately
mustered for this purpose.
" The control of the numbers to be entered will still
rest with the Surveyor of the Navy or the Controller of
Victualling, under their lordships' supervision. A list
of the vacancies which it may be necessary to fill up will
therefore be transmitted to the superinten.ent each
month, which is to be returned by him at the beginning
of the next filled up with the nausea of the men who
have been entered on probation, their ages, and the na-
ture of their qualifications. A similar return is to be
transmitted at the same time of the men who, having
been entered the month before, have passed their period
of probation, stating with reference to their competency
whether they appear to the superintendent to be good,
very good, or middling.
" With regard to the entry of apprentices, the order
in Council of March, 1363, will remain in force, with
this exception, that my Lords propose to lonve to the
superintendent the duty of placing the names of candi-
dates on the list prior to examination, whether they be
connected with the service or not. But after their ex-
amination, the list is to be sent up in the same manner
as at present, with a statement of the names of the can-
didates placed in the order in which they pass, respec-
' tive of their ages and height, and of the names, service,
and character of their parents, and any remarks may be
added which may be thought desirable to enable their

lordships to select the most deserving of them for ap-
pointments.
This selection will be guided by the same rules as at
present.
" My Lords further take this opportunity of remarking
on the subject of promotion, as it is of the greatest im-
portance that persons of all grades should enjoy the
fullest confidence that industry and ability will be fairly
noticed, their wish is that increased attention should be
paid to those sections of the order in Council of March,
1853, which direct the mode of recommending for pro-
motion.
" Upon every vacancy the departmental officers are
to state against the name of each candidate who may be
selected by them not only his position on the examination
list, his age, and service, but their opinion at length of
his ability and energy, and his peculiar fitness for the
vacant post.
" On receiving such report the superintendent is to
make strict inquiry himself, and is to advert to all these
points in his own report.
" And with the view of preventing these recommenda-
tions from the officers to the suprintendent, and from the
superintendent to the Admiralty, from lapsing into a
mere form, the superintendent is on each occasion to re-
peat in his letter his conscientious belief that the persons
so recommended for promotion are the best, and that
uch selection and recommendation have been influenced
by no other motive than a desire for the good of the
service.

" While, however, my Lords wish that superior indus-
try and ability should be rewarded, they are disposed to
allow due weight to long and approved service ; care
must therefore be taken not to place over an efficient
man any one who is not clearly and decidedly his supe-
rior in all respects. Unless this be carefully attended
to, much injustice may be done and discontent occa-
sioned.
"My Lords are convinced that the objects which they
have so much at heart will, as regards selection whether
for entry or for promotion, be best attained by the exer-
cise of active vigilance by the officers on the spot. They
desire, therefore, that every opportunity be taken, as
well by example as in orders, of calling attention to
those portions of the recent order in Council which
threaten with the heaviest penalties all persons who try
to obtain advancement otherwise than by merit.
" A copy of this letter is to be appended to the official
copy of the instructions for the dock and victualling
yards, and its contents are to be made known to all offi-
cers and men in her Majesty's naval establishments.
" By command of their Lordships,
"R. OSBORNE."