The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-14 00:00:00

TEE ADMINIST.RATITE REFORM
ASSOCIATION.

The first meeting of this association was held last night
in Drury-lane Theatre. The admission was by tickets
only, and shortly after the doors were opened the house
was crowded in every part. Amon., the gentlemen on the
stage were the following :—The Earl of Milltown, the Hon.
F. H. F. Berkeley, M.P., Mr. James Bell, M.P., Mr. R.
P. Collier, M.P., the Hon. H. B. Brand, M.P. Mr. B.
Oliveira, M.P., Mr. W. Michell, Mr. E.
Mr. F. French, M.P., Mr. A. Pella% M.P., Mr. R. Swift,
M.P., Mr. G. Bowyer, M.P., Mr. D. Jones, M.P., Mr. J.
F. Maguire, M.P., Sir G. Goodman, M.P., Mr. W. Jackson,
M.P., Major Reed, M.P., Mr. B. J. Follett, M.P., Mr. R.
Currie, M.P., Mr. A. H. Layard, M.P., Mr. W. J. Lind-
say, M.P., Mr. W. Tits, M.P., Mr. O. J. Otway, ALP,
Mr. F. C. H. Russell, M.P., Captain R. Kingscote, M.P.,
Sir C. Shakerley, Sir C. Napier, Sir E. H. K.Lacon,M.P.,
Mr. T. Alcoa, X.P. Mr. G. Dundas,. M.P., Colonel
Watkins, H.P., Capt. Eastwick, the Rev. J. B. Grey, Mr.
A. S. Ayrton, Mr. M. J. Higgins, Mr. W. J. Hall, Mr. J.
P. Gassiott, Mr. G. Bishop, jun., Mr. F. Bennoch, Mr. J.
Harvey, Mr. J. Bell, Mr. J. E. J. Greene, M.P., Mr.
Roche, M.P., Mr. C. S. Butler, M.P., Mr. J. Gladstone,
the Earl of Lindsay, Major Rudd, Mr. G. Gladstone, Dr.
Brown, Mr. W. Leaf, Mr. J. A. Nicholay, Mr. M. Travers,
Mr. Herbert Ingram, Dr. Hahnemann Mr. W. L. Ogilby,
Mr. H. Bateman, Mr. R. Henderson,' Mr. Norman Wil-
kinson, Mr. J. Lupton Mr. H. Hooton, Mr. W. A. Lyon,
Capt. Dawson, Mr. GAloore, Mr. W. M. Tkackeray, Mr.
W. Pritchard, Col. Freestun, M.P., the Hon. C. W. G.
Howard, Mr. Edwin James. Q•C., Mr. J. B. Bontems, Mr.
Jaffray, Mr. W. Edgar, jun., Dr. Sibson, F.R.S. Mr. J.
M`Cann, Mr. G. Stagg, Mr. P. Graham, Mr. W. lawion
(Willenhall), Mr. M. Marshall, Mr. C. George, Mr. W.
Jackson (Hartlepool), Mr. E. Swain; Mr. Rainy, Mr. J.
Laurie, Mr. J. B. Allan, Mr. M. Hullah, Mr. W. Kirk,
Dr. Hunter, Dr. B. Jones, Mr. Newmarch, Mr. J. Fairies
&c. &c. _ _

---
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. MORLEY), in opening the proceed-
ings said that this meeting was held at the invitation of the
Administrative Reform Association, and it was desired
that all who responded to that invitation should listen to
the addresses which would be delivered by those gentle-
men whose names had been announced ; that, as no resolu-
tions would be put, therefore no amendments could be
moved, nor could there be any other speakers in addition
to those whose names had been mentioned, as they had de-
termined that the meeting should olose at 10 o'clock. The
hon. gentleman, after alluding to the meeting at the Lon-
don Tavern and the committee formed on that occasion,
said that the best answer he could give to those who had
shownsome impatience that the association had not proceeded
rapidly enough was, that they had at present a pamphlet
prepared, entitled the " Devising Heads and Executive
Hands of the English Government, which, on the evi-
dence of men living and mixing among the abominations
complained of, from Lord J. Russell and Lord Lansdowne
down to some of the working men in the public depart-
ments, would show what this association was now demand-
ing' and which could not be read by thoughtful &en with-
out leading to the determination that this reform ought to
be carried into effect. The association, it would be seen,
knew what was wanted, and in this pamphlet would be
found a cut and dried plan which would remedy the evils
complained of. The more they had thought on this ques-
tion the more they had become convinced that the real,
evil lay with the people themselves. (Cheers.) This so-
ciety was prepared to say that the present system was as
good as the people had willed it to be, and that it was be-
cause there was a total absence of the recognition of indi-
vidual responsibility on the part of the people of England
that we were brought as a nation into the state in which
we now found ourselves. A variety of charges had
been brought against this association ; but, speaking
for himself,—and in so doing he believed he uttered the
sentiments of all connected with the society—(hear,
hear)—ho was utterly unconscious of any motive which
he did not enjoy in common with millions of his
fellow-countrymen. They wanted a good, honest, and effi-
cient Government, and it was because they had not got
this that this society noW called, with all solemnity and
earnestne,s, upon the people to determine that the present
state of things should no longer continue. (Cheers.) They
had been charged with attacking the aristocracy, but he
was unconscious of any such idea or intention. A member
of one of the noble f.onilies had said to a friend of his (the
chairman's), " If this movement gods on, what will be-
come of us younger sons ?" (Laughter and cheers.) He
believed this was a question in the right solution of which
the people were deeply interested; but there was another
question he should like to ask the meeting—lf the state of
things of which they complained was not altered, what
would become of their younger sons? (Lout cheers.)
Be had no desire to excite personal attacks or re-
marks • bat they had the power in their hands to re-
medy these evils, and it was a duty they owed to their
children to do so. The noblest thing that the younger sons
of the aristocracy could do would be to render themselves
efficient for the public service. Then there would bs no
objection to their taking even the lion's share of it. It was
not the intention of this society to enter upon any elabo-
rate system of agitation. They intended to do their bast
to expose abuses ; they intended to lay open to the pub-
lic gaze every department of the State—to be the depository
of all information respecting them ; and, having pointed
oat the evil, if the people did not come to the determina-
tion that it should be done away with, then the members
of this society would retire into that privacy which was
more congenial to them with the feeling that they had done
their duty in making the present attempt. He appeared
before the meeting on this occasion, because he felt, adopt-
ing the language of the Times newspaper, that "the public
business of was the private business of every in-
dividual," and because he believed the House of Comm ms

hail been unfaithful to the people in this matter. (Cheers.)
England oempiel a lower position in the public opinion of
Europe than it had done five years ago. What was the '
reason for this? This country had in it all the essen-
tial elements of strength and progress—a population at-
tached to order, wealth, industry, enterprise, and a
healthy morality equal to that of any other nation. But,
they had been deceived by thos3 to whom they had in-
trusted great responsibility, and it was right that they
bhonld now seek out the causes of their disasters, and de-
termine, by God's help, that they should be put a stop to.
(Cheers.) This was no mere war movement ; the neces-
sity for this reform was felt before the war began, and it
would be as urgent after the war was over. The only
true theory of reform was this—they ought to seek to have
less rather than more government, and in dealing with
departmental reform they ought to see how 08 depart-
ments could he lessened instead of increased. The bon.
gentlemen then referred to the various offices which had
been held by Lcrd John Russell, Sir G. Grey, Sir Charles
Wood, and Earl Granville, and said that, whatever
"night be their talents, it was utterly impossible that
they could have been fitted to discharge the various
offices to which they had been appointed. Se desired that
the offices of the State should be thrown open to public
competition, for he believed that every man possessed of
talent was sent into the word to employ that talent for
the benefit of his fellow-men ;and that any barrier which

. -
was put in the way of his so doing either by the Legisla-
tive or custom was unnatural and impious. He believed
that the present House of Commons had shown itself
more subservient to party than any that had preceded it.
The great contention between the two parties composing
fhe house seemed to be how the one could best get out and
Use other best keep in the Ministry. He should have had
no hope at all if he had not seen the formation of a party,
small though it might be at present, which was disposed to
take an independent course. (Cheers.) If 100 men could be
induced to take a similar stand in the House of Commons
the work would be done, and it was with a view of obtain-
ing these men that the society now appealed to the coun-
try. He believed that it was the business of the House of
Commons to check and control the Government, though
any person who had been in the habit of attending the House
could not have failed to perceive that millions of money
were voted away and most important matters discussed
-with almost empty benches. Attendance at the house
Boomed to be regarded in the same category as a lounge in
Bond-street or an attendance at some evenitr, assembly.
(Cheers.) If, however, Mr. Layard was about to be baited
—(loud cheers)—or some other exciting scene was to be
enacted, the galleries would be full of hon. members
anxious to enjoy the fun. (Cheers.) It was a mere sham
to call the House of Commons the house of the people ;
neither the independence, the wealth, nor the intelligence
of the country was represented, and it was the duty of
every man to lend his assistance to the society in effecting
:a change. (Cheers.) The Chairman then read the follow-
ing letters of apology :
" Tavistock House, Monday, June 11, 1355.
" Dear Sir,—l regret that I cannot attend the meeting at
3Drnry-lane Theatre on Wednesday night, having a duty to
.dislharge elsewhere, to which I have been pledged for months.
" I have enrolled myself a 'member of the Administrative
Reform Association, because I believe it to be impossible for
England long to hold her place in the world, or long to be at
rest within herself, unless the present system of mismanaging
the public affairs and mis-spending the public money be al-
together changed ; because I daily see stronger and stronger
reason to entertain the conviction that it never will be really
amended, in any essential respects, until a general determina-
tion that it must be is so expanded throughout the country
that it shall make itself plainly heard, even within the very
thick party walls of the House of Commons; because the
s toady union of great numbers of earnest men is essential to
this result ; and because I hope the association will effect such
mnion by honestly instructimi the people as to their real
*wrongs, and their peaceful meals of righting them for the
common good.
" You know that literature is my profession. It is at once
my business and my pleasure, and I shall never pass beyond
it. The association can render me no service but as one of
the copimunity, and I join in no other character, and with
no other purpose.—Dear sir, faithfully yours,
" S. Morley, Esq." " CHARLES DICKENS.

---
" Eaton-place, June 11, 1855.
" Sir,— I regret very much that a previous engagement on
Wednesday evening next will prevent me from having the
pleasure of attending the meeting of the Administrative
Reform Association, at the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, on
that day. The members of the association will be glad to
see, by an advertisement in the Times on Friday last, June
S. that the Minister of War, Lord Panmure, offers the
appointment to the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers,
in the senior or practical class, in the Academy at Woolwich,
in July next, to open competition among natural-born sub-
jects of her Majesty who, on or before the 25th June, may
send in certain certificates there mentioned, of age, educa-
tion, &c,
-thu"s Wiwich
Academy and the Artillery and Engineers are
opened. to the best candidates whom the kingdom can
furnish, and the merits of the candidates are to be tested by
competing examination, which is the fair way to try their
qualifications for this branch of the public service.
" I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
" To Samuel Brown, Esq..
" JAMES HEYWOOD.

for
th"
se sir,With every good wish e B
sula ccedfordss a then move-
ment which seeks for the establishment principle of
the right men in the right places,' I of the the
the meeting on
quite in the wrong place in taking the part`' lai.uYself should be
, and such a
the 13th instant to which you so kindly invitet
" opinions can have little public weight,
anode of expressing them would hardly beconsistent with the
position of a country rector.
" The root of the evil is—patronage. So long as all eic
'
tioto, borough or county, can only be successfully earrw,i
0;
by re,l-,ainiu,s; the solicitors of local influence this root remains
untouched. A lawyer, to have influence, must be the go.
between of the constituent and member. Men sell their vote
to push their Own or the fortunes of their relatives, throug4
Government influence. The solicitor makes the purchase ;
he is retained to do it. The member must pester the 'llayter'
of. the day for the patronage he [wants ; the Hayter' must
or chance to the Ministry the loss of a vote.
members would not ask for places, or constituents
think
they have this sort of lien on their member, your work
would be half done
" It is not this or..that Government which is to blame, but
a system to which three parts of society, in one shape or
other, are parties.

_ -.
" That we owe to this system the evils that have nearly
crushed oar real power as a nation, I have no doubt. Nothin3

can cheek it but the highest pressure of public opinion, en-
forcing more real honesty alike in the constituency and in
those it returns to represent it.
" Did we once live to see an honest House of Commons re-
turned by a really pure constituency there would be no fear
but the,right men would be found for the right places. It
won't be a political millennium, however, of which I can dis-
cern no warning sign.
" Yours truly, " S. G. 031301LNE."

No. 7, Hertford-street, May-fair, 9th June, 1855.
" Sir—l regret that it will not be in my power to avail
myself of the invitation with which you honour me—to attend
the meeting of the Administrative Reforra Association,' at
Drury-lane, on Wednesday next; but, as I feel quite satisfied
that the association, with the guidance under which it fortu-
nately commences its labours, can only be productive of pub-
lic good, I have much pleasure in sending the enclosed cheque
for ten guineas, which will, as I perceive, constitute me a
member. " I am, sir, yours obediently,
"W. CLAY."
In calling npon Mr. Layard, M.P., to address the meeting, he
(the chairman) felt constrained to say that the association as
an association had no representative in the House of Com-
mons; but he could assure Mr. Layard that if he pursued
with straightforwardness and earnestness the course of co-
operation he seemed to have cut out for himself in the house,
he might rest assured be would have the weight, the influ-
ence, and the thought of England at his back. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. LAYARD, M.P., then presented himaelf to the
meeting, and was received with loud and repeated bursts
of cheering. He said, there was a very general and
deep-seated conviction abroad that the country was most
grievously misgoverned. That conviction was not limited
to a few, nor had it been hastily arrived at ; but on the
contrary it was very deep-seated, and the movement which
was the consequence of it, like most movements which had
taken place-in the country, was essentially a movement
organised and carried on by those who, above all others,
represented the intelligence, wealth, and enterprise of
England. If he were called upon to divide England into two
parties as connected with this movement he should say that
on one side were all the men of common sense, of respecta,
bility, and wealth, who by their perseverance and industry
hoped to raise a name for themselves and to do good to the
public service ; while on the other there was a small party
who claimed to themselves the monopoly of Government,
and who lived, grew fat,and vegetated upon those corrup-
tions and evils which the association were determined, if
possible, to remove. Now, why wasthat meeting assembled
there that evening? Most of the gentlemen present were es-
sentially men of business, and they had only been induced
to leave their desks and studies by the conviction that there
were times when even their own cemfort and personal ad-
vantage must give way to public considerations. However
dangerous agitation might be in general, there was a time
when agitation was necessary in order to correct a greater
evil than agitation itself could produce, and that time
had now arrived. (Hear.) The - association felt that
while in this great country, during a long period of com-
paratively entire peace, all that concerned the private re-
lations and enterprises of the country had made a progress
unexampled in its history ; that, whilenational monuments
such as had never been equalled in the greatest empires of
the world had arisen around us, and while everything was
moving and doing, the Government of the country alone
stood still. (Load cheers.) They had, therefore, thought
it better to come forward now and give an impetus and
movement to this feeling, rather than remain any longer
listless and regardless of it. He was not surprised that
many of the leading men of the city had not yet joined the
movement. There were many who did not like to join a
movement when there might be some doubt as to its ulti-
mate success, but they would doubtless join it as soon as it
had obtained a fair prospect of success. He trusted, however,
that when the day of triumph arrived it would be enjoyed
by those who had legitimately won it. (Cheers.) Now, he
believed that this country having been long at comparative
peace, opinions had been advocated and circulated by a
small party composed of men of great and distinguished
talent, called the "Peace-at-any-price party," which 'were
both un-English and dangerous. If all nations had glum-
bored like this, the arts of peace might have been, alone
cultivated; but, unfortunately, ambition never slumbered,
but was ready to take advantage of any circumstance
favourable to the realisation of any object it had in view.
The country, however, had been rudely awakened from its
dream. He believed that Providence never inflicted so
great a misery upon mankind as war, without leaving
some good object to be gained by it ; and he could not.
but think that the present war, putting aside all
political objets, would lead to many beneficial
results, one of which was undoubtedly the establishment of
the Administrative Reform Association. If the war had

not taken place we ohould have slumbered too long. (Hear.)
But, putting aside all political considerations as to the
justice and necessity of the war, he thought all persons
would be agreed that, as we were engaged in war, that war
ought to be carried on in a manner consistent with the
honour and dignity of the country. (Cheers.) Now, what
had been the manner in which the war hitherto had been
conducted ? Generally the blame was thrown upon the
system, and an endeavour was made to exculpate persons.
In the evidence given before the Sebastopol Committ.o
DO single fault had been pointed out which was not either
thrown upon the system or upon Mr. Ward, who died
several months ago. (Laughter.) If anything was found,
wanting which ought to have been supplied for the com-
fort of the troops. it was always said to have gone down
in the Prince. ( Laughter.) Now, he believed that all the
. .

misfortunes that had arisen were to be attributed to that
system of misgovernment of which the society complained,
and which the public had for many years permitted to
exist. But the indignation of the people was at length
aroused, and the Government were c.mupelled to endeavour
to ascertain where the blame rested in order to apply a
remedy. The Sebastopol committee was consequently ap-
pointed, and the result of their labours was to be found
in the three blue-books which they had issued. He believed
that the Crimean campaign would form an epoch in the
history of the country, and, if the worst enemies of Eng-
land were to seek the means of calumniating her and of
showing how hollow her institutions were, they could not
devise a better mode of doing so than by producing these
blue-books, for they wero the records of the ignorance, h-
i difference, and obstinacy of a Govern moat such as he
would defy the whole history of the world to produce.
(Cheers.) They cast the greatest shame upon the people
and upon the system, though fortunately there was one
redeeming point, inasmuch as they showed instances
of heroic suffering, of patient endurance, and of vir-
tue that had never been equalled. (Loud cheers.)
Who could read without emotion, the evidence
of such witnesses as Mr. Stafford, Mr. Osborne, and Mr.
Macdonald ? Their testimony proved the utter ignorance

and incompetence of the Government officials, and showed
that the most intense sufferings had been borne by the
troops with patient endurance and with but one gleam of
hope. And whence did that ray of hope come? It came
from the midnight lamp of that heroic woman—(cheers)—
who, as had been well described, was nightly to be seen
passing alone along miles of agoey and suffering. (Cheers.)
Whence also had come the small comforti which had been
supplied to relieve the condition of the troops? They came
from funds supplied by private benevolence and ad minis•
tered by a great organ of public opinion. (Cheers.) A
woman self-devoted, and a man who had never seen war or
gone into sickness, and who was selected only for his in-
telligence, these were the people who scattered hope and
comfort, which all the great appliances of the country,
which had cast millions of taxation, were totally unable to
effect. (Cheers.) What lesson were they taught by this ?.
Why, that almost every improvement which had taken place
had come from private suggestion, and that almost every
substantial alleviation of suffering had originated in pub-
lic charity. (Cheers.) But need they feel surprised at this
when they knew from the testimony of Lord Aberdeen—
(murmurs of disapprobation)—and Sidney Herbert—(mur-
murs)—that during two months, while the greatest events
were in progress, and while the dignity and honour of this
country were pledged as they had never before been pledged
—there was no Cabinet Council held ? (Cries of shame !) All
the Cabinet, with three.exceptions—and they were Peelites
—were away amusing themselves. They found at the com-
mencement of the Crimean expedition, on the testimony of
Lord Aberdeen, all the information which the Government
received was almost entirely derived from the reports in
the public papers. (Hear, hear.) On the evidence of
their generals, they knew that the army, when sent to the
Crimea, was, as regarded appliances and poraforts, in
the same state in which the army was when sent to the
Peninsula. The soldiers were sent to the Crimea
with old tents, old clothes, old arms, and old habits and
manners. What was the result of this? Why, that thou-
sands of valuable—nay, of invaluable—lives had been sac-
rificed—sacrificed, not at the bloody shrine of war, but
at the ignominious, inglorious shrine of incompe-
tency, obstinacy, and neglect. In the face of all this, need
he ask was an Administrative Reform Association neces-
sary? Was it not necessary that the deeply seated indig-
nant mutterings of the people should find an utterance ?
And this society was formed for that object. He had been
told that the successes which had been lately made known
had done away with the objects of this society. (No, no.)
But had he, when he gave in his adhesion to this society,
been so unpatriotic as to believe that they should never be
successful? No, he always believed that they should be
successful ; that they would carry administrative reform
—they would take Sebastopol, and obtain many other
things before long. (Cheers.) But were not these late suc-
cesses an argument in favour of this society ? What had
happened, after a long period of torpor and God know
what, when a new and vigorous man was appointed to the
command of the French army? (Loud cheers.) Scarcely
was his name mentioned in the united camps than success
followed • the fact of the right man being appointed en-
couraged men ; they met danger with a good heart,
and success followed; and success would attend this meet-
ing if they acted on a similar principle. (Cheers.) Another
reason which rendered it necessary that this association
should be kept up was this—to whom did they owe these
successes? Was it to the commander and his staff? No ;
it was to those long-suffering and heroic men who through
a winter of unparalleled hardships had maintained their
courage and spirits, and were now ready to undertake
whatever might be demanded of them. As yet honours
had been showered, as the Tint& correspondent had said,
on the cocked hats of the staff. It was now for the asso-
ciation and the people of England to show that they
were prepared to shower their honours on the heads of
those who deserved them. (Cheers.) Let it go forth to
their soldiers that this association and the people of Eng-
land were now struggling on behalf of the regimental offi-
cers and soldiers, and sought to distribute honours to those
who merited them ; and by doing this they would only be
discharging their duty to their soldiers and the country.
He had been told that this association had no definite ob-
jects. He did not agree with this, as he thought the some-
what voluminous address which had been issued contained
many clear and definite ideas, and he was prepared to-night
to lay down grounds on which the association might pro-
ceed, and would lay down others on Friday next, when he
brought forward the motion of which he had given notice.
(Cheers.) He had never quailed from bringing forward that
motion, but he only postponed it because he thought
that it was necessary they should discuss the question of the
war before the Whitsuntide recess. He took it that the
first object of the society wasto gain information ; that was
a most important object; it comprised a multiplicity of
subjeits, but could not be said to be indefinite. Hitherto
all cunnalted with the Government of this country had
been guarded by a veil of mystery, which it was the object
of tha!society to break through. The Corn Law League
was established fur a specific object, to enable it to obtain
which a quarter of a million was collected. But, to his
mind, the abolition of the corn laws was infinitely second-
ary to the objects of that association—(cheers)—for, if they
put the right men in the Government, the abolition of the
earn laws and of every other noxious law would fellow as
burntethin
k,inatter of course, and therefore he said to all who wished
wellpor to the
orthe cause enable the society, by pecuniary sup-
more eain i
ntratonr guai ba tl
on.
t(hCeh se lie rnsp.)
o They
e rtehfeonr mc aomf h
e e
three great branches of to
the public "service—the army and
navy—the diplomaticaa delicate ani the civil services. They knew
that the arm
y wa subject with him—(laughter)
—he had already made
and, though he had dune thned ofl3
some mischief, he had
alaklava charge upon it,
received some rude blows himself.
Friday next to put himself right withie hoped,
the p howeverc
, o n
thison
subject to an extent that might not be expected, and