The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

ADMINISTRATIVE _REFORM.

(From the Times of this day.)
There is a movement iii the City for an object which
may be considered as novel, though the matter is old.
That, however, is the character of all our modern disco-
veries. They are the application of things old and &m .
liar to new and unexpected purposes. Such was the
Application Of coal to lighting, steam to locomotion, elec-
tricity to communication, and the light of the sun to por-
trait-taking. Then what is the old agent, the familiar
power or the vulgar material, which it is proposed to
turn to a new account ? There is in this country, and
particularly in this metropolis, a great deal of old Eng-
lish stuff either lying about or employed for merely pri•
vate purposes, in the shape of practical talent. It is
called talent for business, ability, or common sense com-
bined with experience, and it is either acquired or much
improved by the management of difficult, complex, or
critical affairs. When a man has a good stock of it
amongst us and the proper• opportunity, he very natu-
rally sets to work to make his fortune, looking . around
him to seethat others are sleeping while he is Waking, or
amusing them Selves while he is working, or blind to the
opportunities which he has the sense to see. • So he sets to
work in the true mercantile spirit, turning things to his own
account. Why should he not ? It is his duty to do so,
especially when his own profit is only a small percent-
age of a much larger benefit procured for the public.
The vast wealth of this country, and that fertility of re-
sources which enables it to go on for ever making up for
f
the greatest losses, is owing to the great abundancieso.
this practical talent among us. In arts and acoompl
borrowti
meths we fall behind some other nations
much-
so ph y ofan ourd ee htealsatree
hfri
po from
fromthe
tFhree
Germans,n ch,m urch
h;oef
twoeviure
jpuhs itlloy-
administrative ta,lentftas it is sometimes
for rea I ly, after all, we
pride ourselves upon our capacity fobeauslilendes.s—Toa
must be a peculiarity among us,t
subtle as the Italians, but we are
Yes, we are a nation
are not so industrious as the Du ehetril
manufacturers, and shopkeepers.
whatthan
the raw material on
of shopkeepers. Here,. thee, is
City are about to 'experi-
r b et term Germans,
r c hoarn tsse,
which some gentlemen in t
is there that a man canmaterialcou nt.
betterß il
ment and to turn
can we apply it to a better pur•
t o a ndwerewvi
with this
el e ac
own fortunes ?
pose than making our
this quality to the Government
London
is now done, for how
It is proposed to apply
The .projectors, at the risk probably of
Chiatyvelong been
of this country.
being thought enthusiasts, announce a meeting for what
suet wruitihneda
Tavernthey call
nest
Saturday. Administrative
ARsefaornmataiotnthwee
successionflounderingo in the
such
mmiushda,
pasnadl havewoui
a li latterlytterly
any private business. Had this unhappy
war been an
oattt,aintdnalousest, or -a sort of company for
have appeared long ere
tradingaffsi r of
in merelythe
LPevr
this in the Gazette, and the Unh
have been thankful for Six •
al) PYcreditors might
pence in the . pound. The
reason is obvious • it has
Tected, not for. their • been carried on by people se-
practical ability, but. for f .1
c23.9A04 imiority g fi Ami y,
-- • ------- / glenlo4ll7 valitios good-lo'oks or
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