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

THE DOCKYARDS.

The fQllow,ingmemorandra,,dated " Admiralty,
August 18, 1865," and relating to the first entry
and prcimotion of artificers and labourers in her
Majesty's dock and victualling yards, has been
issued :

"My lords have viewed with much satisfaction the
great exertions made by all classes for some time past
in her Majesty's dock) ards and victualling yards, but
they believe Vast the efficiency of the service may be still
further increased by a change in the mode of a !mission,
and that if the ' first entries' t,e intrusted to the super-
intendant of each yard (who, being on the spot, is prac-
tically acquainted with the duties t.) be performed), the
average standard of qualification may be raised.
"My lords have therefore determined tl transfer the
responsibility of the first. entry of all artificers and
labourers to this officer in each yard, and trust that, in
so doing, they will have his active c,-operation in watch-
ing closely that no workmen be admitted hut such as
are in all respects the best to be obtained kir her Majesty's
svrince.

"In confiding this duty to the superintendent, my
Innis do not iritend merely to transfer it to the heads of
departments, but they rely upon the superintendent him-
self giving his acti‘e perapnal atterition to the suhj-et,
with the view to the prevention of any abuse of the
power thus committed to Lim.

.
"They believe tliAte waos444.,2respccts of, the
ervice are sufficient to'secure the- lw-iinfmel'i, and
that there is no want of candidates is *Toyed by the
number of applicants.
" My lords iiannat but expect that attempts will b 3
made to support applications for employment by the aid
of interest, either political or personal. They are aware
that the connexion whiCh must natifrary exist between
the officers of the different naval establishments and per-
sons residing, in the neighbourh iod affords much scope
for the exercise of such influence.

" They must therefore in.ist on every effort being
made to check and put down all such interference, and
to encourage appucations 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 con-
venient place, specifying the c'ass required and the day
and hour fixed for the selection, which fs then to be
made publicly by the superintendent, waisted by the
officer. of the department, from the whole number who
may present themselves. _

Great care having been taken to select the best men,
they are to be entered on probation for one month, with
the unler'tanding that their appointments will he con-
firmed, if at the end of that period they shall have proved
theMselves competent to the satisfaction of the superin-
tendent. And with the view of more easily acquiring
this knowledge, my liords would suggest thst the super-
intendent should hold periodical musters of. all these
newly entered men. My Lords ptirtilse 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, limier their lordships' supervision. A list
of the vaeaticies which it may .be necessary to fill up will
therefore be transmitted to the superinten 'wit each
month, which is to be returned by him at the beginning .
of the next tided up with the names 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 noon who, having
been entered the month before, hove passed their period
of probation, stating with r,f-rence to their competency
whether they appear to the superintendent to be good,
very ;food, or middling.
" With regard to the entry of apprentices, the order
in Council of March, 1853, will remain in force, with
this exck ption, that my Lords propo,,e to leave to the
superintendent the d ty of planing the names of candi-
dates on the list prior to examination, !Artier they be
connected with the vervice 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-

&dates placed in the order in which they pass, respec-
tive of their ages and height, and of the names, servic,,
and character of their parents, and a►ny remarks may be
added which may be th mght 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 hi 4 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 superintendent, 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
such 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 ebcient
man any oue who is not clearly and decidedly his supe-
rior in all respents. Unless this be carefully attended
to, much iujuetice may be done and discontent occa-
sioned.
" MY Lora' are convinced that the objects which they

have so much at heart will, as regards selecti, n 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
copSy 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."

MIL'S NIGLITINaALE.

We have been requested to publish the following cor•
respondence :

"London, July, 1855.
"Madam, Knowing your admiration for Miss
Nightingale, will you be kind enough to tell me what
kind of testimonial would be most acceptable to her, at
we are most anxious to present her with some lasting
proof of our affectionate admiration, and gratitude for
her devoted services to our sick and wounded soldiers?

"I remain, Madam, yours faithfully,
"The Hon. Mrs. Herbtrt."

• "49, Belgrave-square, July, 1855.
"Madam,—Thera is but one testimonial which would
be acceptable to Miss Nightingale.
"The one wish of her heart has long been to found a
hospital in London, and to work it on her own system
of unpaid nursing.. , For this purpose money will be
needed, and I have sugqested to all who, like yourelf,
have asked for my advice in this matter to pay any sums
that they. may feel disposed to give, or that they may be
able to collect, into Messrs. Coutts's bank, where a sub-
scription list for the- purpose is about to be opened, to
be called the 'Nightingale Hospital Fund,' the "11)
subscribed to be presented to her on her return borne,
which will enable her to carry out her object--i•tn
reform of the nursing system in England. _.
"I remain, Madam, yours faithfulyl__:,
• "ELIZABETH HER

And becoming testimonial to Miss
to present a Two or::: zDITOB Or Tll BM
have been some time occupied in making
arrangements to iodace a public subscription, in order

tolfalstraal:iwork out her long-cherished objectr
NreitgulintiotogaElsn.giand,
her personal friends, agree that this testimonial ought
in asking your
iiairahle woman would accept. -
Lady Canning, Mrs. Sidney Herbert, aleotohnelrys
oneof
to be a means of enabliug Miss Nightingale to establish
and weaith h
A testimonial
:rtai uy ros eu s(
w,
ft attendioltlh
think
this
ink kind
mint heaei
st
justified
s sick.tiia
perhaps,
ladies distinguished
expressed them.
iiruPAVwniobeedhetentlitirlYer,vt,h"
Mrs. S. C. Hall, 21, Aihley-p
an hospital (too.
asiossitaitttiitt.iis,
advocacy for this project.
by station, talents, ave
I NA. MARIA HALL.
Ashley-place,
Victerialstreet.