The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-09 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1864.

Now that the Session of 1864 is one of the things
o? the'past, it is well to cast a glance at some of the
acts which have been carried, and to consider the
effect which has been produced by the exertions
made in divers quarters to carry out reforms, and
to inaugurate improvements in our time-honoured
institutions which command respect, but which have
from unhappy causes been suffered to fall into
disuetude, and fail in their original purposes. An
able and interesting article in the United Service
Magazine for this month, calls attention to the sub- 1
ject of Greenwich Hospital, and those who would
become better acquainted with the details that relate
to this place, and more fully informed respecting
its management and also its mismanagement, cannot
do batter than peruse its pages. Certainly there
should be no institution more held in regard than
_that of Greenwich, which is destined for the support
and succour of those who have passed the best years
of their lives, and expended their health and strength
in the service of their country. Those who took
pleasure in dwelling Oa the ideal view of the ques-
tion have long flattered themselves that in this
structure was to be found a welcome for those
veterans who have done their utmost to dee
fend their country, and that safe in its
fostering shades they passed a peaceful old age
in recounting the feats which they had performed
in their prime. Such a notion has been proved to
be a delusion, and the reports of those qualified to
judge of the affair have exemplified the melancholy
fact, that this noble institution has been perverted
from its original object, nee in
a great measure has
views of its founders. Of
late years
failed to carry out the
it was noticed that the number of
vacancies had considerably increased in this
establishment, whereas formerly it had been
found difficult to procure admission for the
numerous claimants. The commissions that have
been appointed have one and all declared the
management to be very faulty, and this is the more
discouraging, as it is well known that this style of
investigation by commission does not always suc-
ceed in tracing the evils complained of to their

source, and, moreover, often shelters the real
offenders from blame. While the pensioners were
insufficiently and inappropriately provided for,
their wives and widows were neglected and
ignored. The most disastrous management pre-
vailed in the regulations of the establishment,
and indeed the abuses there prevalent would not
have been tolerated at any place where due regard
was had to the expenditure of means, and right
views taken of the responsible natare of the service
entered into. It would be difficult to understand at
first sight how much an establishment of this class
can be perverted from its original intentions, but
when one comes to analyse details, inquire into
principles, and investigate particulars, the sad but
salutary information is acquired, and the searcher
is mortified and surprised to find how the best-in-
tentioned purposes are of:en perverted, and what
appears at first sight a laudable endeavour, may
become in time a reproach and a scandal to the
community once so proud of it. Few of our
national institutions have been more neglected than
that of Greenwich, and the excitement that has
been aroused in its cause has not been inoppor-
tune or untimely. The best way to estimate the
corruption and carelessness that crept into the
sphere of the management is to reflect that the ex-
penditure in 1859, as compared with that of 1805,
was double the Cost, whilst in proportion to the
number of the pensioners it was more than
treble. An elaborate accoant is given of the

various conflicting accounts which were repre-
sented by several authorities to head-quar-
ters, and it will be the opinion of
many that the Duke of SOMERSET deserves the
credit here awarded to him for the production of
his " Memorandum." Much has been done to
mitigate the evils so justly complained of in the
management of affairs at this hospital, but far more
yet remains, and it should not be considered that
the question is at all in a satisfactory state at pre-
sent. It is to be hoped that those who have so
earnestly and energetically bestirred themselves to
make the public acquainted with the several im-
portant failings met with in this establishment,
will not slacken in their efforts, but try by every
means in their power to bring their arguments
home, so that a good effect may result to those so
much in need of help, but who are unable to pro-
cure it in the way to which they are entitled. It
is obvious to all who attentively consider this
question, that the more they can go back to the ori-
ginal intentions of the founders the better it will
be. With the innovations and alterations that
have taken place of late years no good has accrued,
no one has been really or permanently benefited,
and the first objects to be gained at the outset have
been nearly lost sight of in the confusion and
diversity of opinion raised upon the subject. Sick,
infirm, and helpless seamen have not found the
" judicious care and kindly attention" which were
so much needed, and which the bounty of the
royal founders wished to bestow upon them.
It is here mentioned that the widows
of the seamen have been attended to by
the Act passed last year, and the sons are also
provided for, and w hen arrangements are made for
educating and maintaining their daughters the re-
forms which have been so long needed in this
noble institution wilt be completed. This may be
true enough so far, but it seems to be a lesson for
official and responsible individuals to ponder over,
that the defective management of so important an
institution is a thing to be greatly ashamed of. It
may be asked why is so much of the public, money
squandered away if no proper care is paid to esta-
blishments that especially demand a suitable super-
vision, and imperatively call for a strict and impar•
Cal adjudication of their affairs. Much good may
be done if all the requirements of the Duke of
SOMERSET be carried out, but the real question at
issue is why were such flagrant abuses suffered to
creep in at all, and why when their growth was
only tco plainly perceivable, were they suffered to
take firm root and become localised, as it were, on a
spot they should never have entered. Much may
be learned as to the misappropriation of funds des-
tined for a special purpose, and the mismanagement
of an institution intended for the safety and sup.
port of a worthy class by the perusal of this
article in question. The writer seems to have
acted in the spirit of fair play throughout the
whole of his difficult and delicate task. No-
thing extenuate nor set down aught in malice,
should be the motto of all those who attempt to in-
quire into the mode in which such establishments
are conducted. Too much attention cannot be paid
to this subject, since it concerns the welfare of those
who cannot help themselves or defend their rights.
It is too much the custom to let these matters drop
when once the fret excitement of the inquiries is
over; but the fact is, that these evils ensue in con-
sequence of a :ong course of neglect, and if more
general care were bestowed upon matters such parti-
cular instances of mismanagement would not occur.
It is to be hoped that the sad state of affairs at
Greenwich Hospital, which has so perplexed and
disheartened the public in its recital, may serve as
a warning, and that in future such anomalies may
be an exception and not a rale, as too often occurs
at present through the cupidity of some and the
carelessness of others in the arrangement and con-
duct of affairs.

The progress of time and knowledge has been
instrumental in altering the position of many per-
sons and things. Old prejudices are dispelled, old
errors exploded, and very often the verdict of our
wise forefathers is completely reversed. Among
those who are profiting by these changes is a very
humble race of friends and servitors, who have
just reason to complain of the manner of their
general treatment. An old and homely adage tells
us, " if you give a dog a bad name you may as
well hang him at once;" and the popular but
mistaken verdict which pronounced geese and don-
keys to be stupid has strongly exemplified this.
The geese, indeed, have much the best of it ; having
generally undisputed enjoyment of the common
or the pond; the public estimation of their intellec-
tual capacity does not disturb their equanimity.
Any sensibility that might exist on this point re-
stricts itself to their quills and the work they do
apart from them; but the goose herself rejoices in
her true elements with a better appreciation of
the comforts of life than of its elegancies, IS'ot
so the unfortunate
,donkey. For generation after
generation he has been kicked, and cuffed,
and generally ill-used by his masters. Un-
happily for him be is thanks to his
patience usually put under the command
of boys, and boys are undoubtedly as a rule the
most cruel of the human race. This is probably
due to their utter want of sympathy. A man of
sense and experience is unwilling to inflict unneces-
sary pain on any living thing, but if such infliction
is necessary, no cultivated mind can find a pleasure
in doing so. But the brute and insect creation has
a heavy charge against boys in general; and the
poor donkey may head the list of complainants.
After all our enlightenment there is a good deal of
tyranny in the human heart; and doubtless the
same sentiment which marches off Polish families
to Siberia would, under other auspices, have de-
veloped itself in the ill usage of beasts of burden.
There are not wanting very striking prcofa that the
fault of the donkey's go called stupidity aLd per- I