The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-30 00:00:00

tion was one of very consideraW.e importance, and be
rust, therefore, take time to consider it.

THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR GENERAL OF
INDIA.
Mr. CAYLEY rose to ask the First Lord of the
Treasury whether, in selecting the individual to fill
the responsible office of Governor-General of India,
it was his intention to abide strictly by the spirit
of the resolution lately passed by that house
on the motion of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, and to
sanction the appointment of such an individual only as
by his antecedents in the public service, and by his ex-
perience and success in analogous positions, would be
entitled to public confidence, as the best administrator
that could be chosen for that most important portion of
this great empire ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that his hon. friend and
the house would be aware that the selection of a person
to fill the important office of Governor-General of India
was vested in the Court of Directors—(hear, hear, and
laughter)—subject to the approval of the Crown. The
chairman of the Directors, in accordance with
the usual custom, gave notice on Wednesday
last of his intention to propose on Wed-
nesday next the name of Lord Canning as successor to
Lord Dalhousie on the retirement of the latter from that
post. That selection, if made, would undoubtedly re•
ceive the ready approbation and consent of the Crown;
and he (Lord Palmerston) was convinced the choice, as
made by the Court of Directors, was in harmony with the
views of her Majesty's Government, and would fulfil the
resolution of the House of Commons by placing at the
head of the Indian Government a person fully qualified
by energy and intelligence to discharge the important
duties confided to him. (Cheers.) If he required any
additional illustration beyond the opinion which the re-
sponsible advisers of the Crown entertained of Lord
Canning's capacity
and qualities to fill that office, he
might mention without any breach of corfidence that
the Government of Lord Derby had so high an opinion
of his lordship that they were ready to have confided to
him the seals of the Foreign Department. (Cheers.)
Mr.CAYLEY said that on the motion for the adjourn-
ment of the house until Monday, he should put a further
question to the noble lord on that subject.
Mr. H. BAILLIE wished to ask the noble lord
whether any communication had taken place between
the chairman and the court of directors on the subject ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that be knew nothing
as to what passed between the chairman and the court
of directors. All he knew was that he cordially con-
curred in the intention of the chairman to propose, ac-
cording to the notice he had given, the name of Lord
Canning to the court of directors.

EXPLOSIVE MACHINES IN THE BALTIC—
LORD DUNDONALD'S PLANS,
Mr. FRENCH, in moving that the house at its rising
do adjourn until Monday, said he did so for the purpose
of having an opportunity of putting a question to the
noble lord at the head of the Government. He wished,
first, to know whether the report which had reached
this country was true, that one of our most distinguished
naval officers in the service, and second in com-
mand of the Baltic Fleet, he meant Admiral Sey-
mour, had been unfortunately injured whilst taking up
one of these explosive machines so numerously sunk in
the Baltic by the Russians ? He also wished, at the
same time, to call the attention of the noble lord
to a letter lately published in one of the news-
papers by his noble and gallant friend, Lord
Dundonald. The noble lord in a letter to the
Times, in reply to a leading article in that journal on
the 20th inst., said that by the plan he had submitted
to the Government and to the opinion of numerous
scientific men, that a blow might yet be struck
against Russia more speedily and permanently
than by the occupation of the Crimea by 100,000
troops. The noble lord said his plan could not
now be objected to on the plea of inhumanity since the
recent atrocities of the Russians against US, n.nd he now
for the last time offend not only to subdue all opposition
to the fleet in the Baltic, but also to annihilate the de-
fensive power of every fortress in the Baltic. He
wished upon this to ask whether Lord Dundonald
would have a practical opportunity afforded him of test-
ing the value of his discovery ? (Hear, hear.)
Sir C. WOOD said that the Government had received
a telegraphic communication from Dantzic to-day, an-
nouncing that forty-six explosive machines had been
taken up, and by some accident, the nature of which
was not explained, Admiral Seymour and sonic others
had been hurt, but not seriously. With regard to Lord
Dundonald the Government was not prepared at all to
carry into effect the scheme proposed by the noble and
gallant officer.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF INDIA.
Mr. CAYLEY, taking advantage of the motion of
his hon. friend (Mr. French) wished to ask the question
of which he bad given notice. (Hear.) He should
state, by way of prelude, however, that every
one who knew anything of public business
was aware that the nomination of the Governor-
General by the Court of Directors was not as bad
been stated ; the general practice being for the Govern-
ment to suggest the nomination to the Directors, who
were the parties who acquiesced in that nomination.
The noble lord opposite had said that the suggestion
carne in the first instance from the Court of Direc-
tors ; bat did they nominate him on their own
responsibility as being a fit and proper person to admi-
nistrate the affairs of the Indian Government ? He would
like to know whether the nomination was actually the
deed of the Court of Directors, or whether it originated
with the Government ? (Hear, hear.) No doubt Lord
Canning was an able man, and he had filled the
offices of Postmaster-General and Commissioner of
Woods and Forests, hut. these antecedents did
not qualify him-or show him capable of controlling the
affairs of one of our most important possessions. The
country required a man of administrative capacity.
Were they to place a man in that important position
who had no experience to qualify him for its
duties, and just as if a more able one could not be
found ? (Hear, hear.) Was there no man to
whom the public opinion of the country had pointed for
two years as the most proper one to fill that office—he
alluded to the Earl of Elgin. That nobleman was
qualified by previous experience of an administra-
tive kind. lie bad governed in Jamaica and Canada.
He (Mr. Cayley) could not help saying it showed no
great respect on the part of the noble lord either for ad-
ministrative reform or for the house to make such an ap-
pointment.

Lord PALMERSTON said the appointment rested
with the Court of Directors, with the sanction of the
Crown. A communicaVon between the Court of Direc-
tors and the Government did take place, and, as he had
said before, they all agreed that Lord Canning was the
fittest person for the high and important office in ques-
tion. (Hear.)

BILLErTING THE MILITIA IN SCOTLAND.
In reply to Mr. Ewer.T,
Mr. PEEL said the evils complained of as to billet-
ting the militia in several towns in Scotland was one of
those evils incidental to war, and, although no doubt it
might be a hardship, yet it was one totally out of the
power of the Government to remedy while
the war itself lasted. (Hear, hear.) There
were only 3,000 men so hilletted, and the only
way to remedy this state of things was either to hire
buildings for the use of the men, or to provide
hut accommodation. Of the former no suffi-
cient buildings could be found in the the I illetting
towns ; and as regarded the latter the expense was too
large. Everything possible should be done to remedy
the evils complained of.
EXAMINATIONS FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Mr. M. MILNES said it was not his intention to pro-
voke a debate on administrative reform, but it would be
in the recollection of the house that lie moved some time
ago for a return of the present state of examinations in
the different branches of the civil service. At that time
he gave notice that he should call the attention of the
house to that subject, but his noble friend at the head of
the Government anticipated him by appointing a com-
mission for that purpose. A few days ago, certain
clerks in public offices, who had passed examinations,
were summoned to a place in Marlborough-buildings,
where they were told they would have to undergo fresh
examinations. Now he was sure it could not be the in-
tention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to subject
these persons to anything like injustice. He, therefore,
trusted that those persons who had already passed an exa-
mination would not be exposed to the possibility of a new
examination, the nature of which they were ignorant
of, and of which they had had no warning whatever.
There was another point to which be wished to allude,
namely, the non-payment for probationary work. He
found it was the custom in public offices to take clerks
on probation for a considerable period—often from one
to three months—and if they were not found sufficiently
qualified they were turned away without any remunera-
tion whatever.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said as
soon as the commissioners appointed under the recent,
order in council for conducting the examination of can-
didates for the civil service entered upon their duties,
they addressed a circu!ar letter to the public departments
requesting them to be informed of such regulations as the
heads of the several departments thought expedient,
in order to lay down tests as to the fitness of the candi-
dates for admission into their respective offices, and also
requesting them to send to the commissioners a list of
persons who had been appointed to office since the time
the order in council came into operation. Answers
from the different departments were received, some of
which contained the names of persons who had been
appointed to clerkships since the order in council came
into operation. It was, therefore, the duty of the com-
missioners to examine these persons, and they com-
municated with them, requesting to know if they
wished for any delay, in order that they might pre-
pare for their examinations. The answer wrs that
they did not require any delay, and an early day
had been appointed. With reference to the proba-
tionary period or Salary, the commissioners bad no con-
trol over either. Clerks were always paid their salaries
for the time they discharged any duties, al-
though they might not receive a permanent ap-
pointment. The Commissioners' functions took effect
from the date of the order authorising them to
make examinations, and no provision was made
with reference to the mode of examination, or whether
any of the clerks had
been previously examined.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. V. SCULLY moved that the house at its rising
adjourn to Monday, when he should bring forward his
motion for administrative reform.
THE STATEMENTS OF MR. LINDSAY.

Mr. LINDSAY gave notice that ' when the motion
of the learned and hon.
member for Sheffield came
before the house, he should notice the remarks
made in the house with reference to his statements else-
where, and which he should be able to prove were per-
fectly true. He proceeded to state that the First Lord of
the Admiralty had treated him unfairly in reading only
portions of the correspondence to which he referred.
Mr. 'WILLIAMS said that the whole system was a