The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-20 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 20, 1864.

evening sustained one
The Government on Friday
of the severest shocks that have yet assailed its tot-
tering strength. It is true that they escaped a re-
petition of those defeats which have been growing
lately by no means uncommon, and that the divi-
sion which closed a lengthened debate resulted in
their favour, But the victory was like that of
PYRRHUS, scarcely less dainzging than a repulse,
and in fact a majority of seven in a house of four
hundred and fifty-nine members is a virtual defeat.
The real blow to the Cabinet, however, was not the
alarming amount of the minority, or the narrow
escape of a vote of censure, circumstances suffi-
ciently ominous in themselves to produce a strong
manifestation of party feeling on the declaration
of the numbers; the real danger to the Govern-
ment was in the debate which preceded the divi-
eion,aml in the startling disclosures which it elicited,
and whose effect no counter charges, however reck-
less, no official ingenuity, however skilful, could
avail to mitigate. The Government stand con-
victed, unless they can bring forward a much more
satisfactory defence than any they have as yet made,
iadivdually or collectively, of having rashly ex-
posed the lives of our troops to needless danger, of
having hastily entered into a war which was likely
to bring us nothing but loss and discredit, of having
entirely n.9glected those preclutions for the health
end accommodation of the men which the most 0. -
riinary rules of common prudence would direct to be
fo lowed in the healthiest locality, much
more in
the deadlie::t spot of a coast which has been styled,
with only too much truth, the grave of Euro-
pans." It seems that while proclaiming 1
our ,ove
of peace with a fervour and a pertinacity that ii
make us the laugh:ng-stock cf the civilised
world, we are engaged in half a dozen ware
ia outlandish quarters while sc?rooly know-
ing it, Certainly, as Eir JOHN HAY remarked,
it was not until very recently generally known that
we were at war with the King of ASHANTEE, and
we might almost quote the hacknied lines which
tells us that 'tis folly to ba wise in some cases, since
a more melancholy and humiliating record of humen
life wasted and needless suffering inflicted by cEaial
indifference and mismanagement has seldom dark-

ened our annals. Ashantee is siittated i❑ the Bight
of Benin, in one of the most unfavourable parts of
that sickly locality. We have a treaty with its
KING, dealing among other points with matters of
extradition, always excepting the restitution of
escaped slaves. Two slaves fled to Cape Coast,
bearing with them, it is said, some stolen gold.
The KING insisted upon their extradition on the
ground that they were criminals. The Governor
objected on the ground that they were slaves.
Evidence of their guilt was demanded, and argu-
ments went on. Surely this was a case for negotia-
tion or compromise rather than warfare. But the
KING proceeded to ravage a territory under the
protectorate of England, and forthwith a war was
commenced, if that can be called a war in which our
troops were matched with no mortal foe, but with
the pestilence that walketh in darkness, that de•
stroyeth in the noonday. A large number of troops,
mostly coolies from the West Indies, were landed
on Cape Coast Castle at the commencement of the

1 rainy reason, without any adequate preparation
being made for their reception or accommodation in
a eountry in which, above all others, such provision
i 3 a matter of absolute necessity. Cape Coast Castle,
1,100 miles from Sierra Leone, is a settlement
standing en a projecting rock. To the east of it is
a small river, which during the great part of the
year is a swamp, and whose water is unfit for the
use of man or beast. It is well known that one of
the worst of the many insidious dangers of the gold
coast is the quality of the water, which produces a
dire disease. The water used in this settlement is
collected in tanks for the dry season, and the
quantity of water required for the use of the regular
garrison-250 men—was kept in the port. What
official eloquence, what skilful special pleading, can
mitigate the fact of sending men to such a coast
without any provision for supplying them
with extra water ? It is useless to tell us
of a distilling apparatus which got to work
in May, when the troops were landed in August, as
it is useless for the Prime Minister to declare that
in the course of a few days after they arrived they
were all placed under shelter. In the course of a few
days in a climate like that of the Gold Coast ! As
Mr. COCHRANE reminded the House, those charged
with the interests of the navy must have known
the nature of that coast, where at some seasons the
♦apours are of a poisonous and dangerous character.
The result of the whole affair was, that two expedi-
tions were sent up the country, one of 700 men, of
whom 180 were dead within five days, another of
400 men, of whom half were dead or disabled. Is
this a result likely to strike terror to the Ashantee
King ? Private accounts are even more frightful in
their details. A letter, well authenticated, but

whose writer was not mentioned, says that out of
twenty-six officers nearly half have been invalided
home, three have died, and four are so ili as to be
confined to bed; while of the twelve medical offi-
cers who accompanied these ill-fated troops three
are fever-stricken, throa more invalided, and one
dead ; so that the condition of the surgeons is not
much better than that of their patients. Four
weeks ago Sir JOHN PAKINGTON called attention to
the state of affairs, when the Colonial Secretary
announced that it was the intention of the Git vern.

ment to despatch transports immediately to the
fatal spot to remove from it troops equal in number
to the extra reinforcements, so as to reduce the
amount to those ordinarily accommodated. This

four weeks ago; but the promise so glibly given
was kept after the fashion of most Whig pledges.

The best the Government could do to retrieve its
error and save the victims of its precipitancy and

folly from still heavier losses was to advertise for
a sailing vessel—not a steamer, on account of the
expense. Well might the House murmur at such
a tale. Bat even then the full measure of cruel

neglect was not filled up. Such as she is, this

sailing vessel has not yet-started. The best tender

that was offered was taken, says Lord C. PAGET,

and the men have been working day and night to
get fier ready. The naval reputation of the Govern•

ment must stand high indeed if the best vessel
offered for their service needs a month's hard work

to get her fit for sea. Mr. CORRY spoke the feeling of
the House and the country when he said that " The

moment the cry of distress came from Africa

he Admiralty ought to have applied to one

. _
of the great steam navigation companies
for one of their most powerful, roomy,

and rapid steamers at any price.
.... _

But when

Sir JOHN HAY mourning the loss of a near rela•

tive sacrificed in this wanton waste of life gave
notice of his motion, a sudden energy inspired the
Government. They gave orders that the Gladiator

should at once sail for Cape Coast to fetch away

he remnant of the troops. But with all the floe

vessels at their disposal the Admiralty thought fit
to select a ship declared on unquestioneble authority
to be totally unfitted for the purpose; thus needlessly
aggravating the sufferings of the invalids. She is

to be met at Cape de Verde by a saiiing transport

to take the coolies to the West Indies. Why, since

the Portuguese will not permit them to land there,

not have sent two steamers to convey them at

once in comfort across the Atlantic ? The landing

of the troops recalls most forcibly the disembarks.
tion in the Crimea; in fact General PEEL, a mem.

ber of the memorable committee, declared that we

had, on the Gold Coast, a repetition on a smaller

scale of all the horrors of the first winter in the

Crimel.

The responsibility of such mismanage

went cannot be lightly got rid of. Lord PALMER-

STOWS defence was a signal failure. He endeav-

oared, with his usual ingenuity, to turn the ques-
tion from the management of the troops to the
war; b zt even then it was impossible not to remem-
ber that the Minister who so emphatically declared
that the honour of the country required that Eng-
lish protection should not be an empty word, bad
not carried out that principle quite so boldly in the
north of Europe as on the African Gald Coast. The
noble attempt to divert the matter from a
national
Party movement was also
unsuccessful.
lord's
questiond's into a
Jokes fell fiat before the lists of the
dead and disabled. Indignant denials and rash

unsupported by evidence.
human life.
no pardonable
assertions were powerless
It is no light thing to trifle away
However innocent the intention, it Is
_ .

their adequate fulfilment. Englishmen will revel.
offence to undertake great duties and to neglect

shrink from sacrificing their lives when duty e4i,
them, but they will not tamely submit to a lavish

expenditure of life and treasure through a corn.

bination of recklessness, improvidence, and neglect.

There are few things more difficult to define than
the nature of appointments; it is almost impossible
to draw a line as to where influence should not pre-
vail, and favouritism have no share. It is seldom
that so glaring an instance of this kind of thing is
made manifest as was the case the other night
when Mr. FERRAND brought forward his motion
on the Board of Charity Cemrniisionerq. The hon,
member did not do his cause any snvico by rising
such vehement language, but, at the same time, he
adduced arguments which it may be presumed
were unanswerable, for no member of the Governs
ment attempted to refute them. Mr. BRUCE ex-
pressed virtuous indignation at the tone adopted
by Mr. FERRAND, and in this plea he very ingeni-
ously shuffled out of iequiry on the subject. If he
really considered that the CALlnisaloners were so
misrepresented in the etatements of the hon. mem-

ber, surely the best service that he could have
rendered to them would have been to have proved
the fallacy of his arguments, and contradicted his
assertions in the most effective manner by an inves-
tigation. There is no use whatever in making the
excuse that such a thing would have been done
had this been otherwise or that taken place in a
different manner. The fact is, that all legislation
that depends on "ifs'' for its basis is very purpose-
less, and when the apologists of a system are so
willing to seize on every available excuse, it makes
one suspicions as to their chance of success if the
subject had been thoroughly sifted. It is quite cer-
tain that, allowing for exaggeration by Mr. FER-
RAND, quite sufficient remains to prove that great
blame attaches to the authorities in their manage-
ment of this matter, and that the public would be
surprised and displeased if all the facts were elicited.
It is always the fate of these transactions
that the secret at last creeps out, and when an
inkling of the affair is made further attempts of
concealment only aggravate the evil and increase
the dilemma. It would seem as if all the golden
days of prosperity for the Ministers were now over,
as if the " sun that shone so long on them it now
had ceased to shine," for tarn which way they will
they find nothing but censure passed on their con-
duct, and meet with nothing but disapproval, The
speech of Mr. FERRAND, which has been permitted
to go first to the country uncontradicted in all im-
portant particulars, will do great damage to official
credit, or there will be many not slow to remark
that the most was made of the ingenious excuse of
" personal attack," while no defence was essayed ;
and a sort of deprecatory expostulation put forward
in lieu of a plain reply to direct charges and decided
remarks. For instance, Mr. FERRAND avers that
the Charity Board of Commissioners was a "select
nest of Whigs ;" and Mr. BRUCE discreetly waives
the consideration of that part of the question, but
declares that they were all men of acknowledged
ability and integrity ; in short, all honourable men.
But Mr. FERRAND went much further than dealing
in generalities, of hinting vaguely at this or that
discrepancy in the conduct of this department.
He spoke in very plain terms of some signal in-
stances of patronage, in which public interest was
completely lost sight of, in order that some private
motives might prevail and secret intentions be
duly carried out. Mr. OSBORNE in his amusing
speech made some very telling observations on the
state of the case as it stands at present. Ho said,
that to allow grave charges to pass like this w.s
a great injury done to the gentlemen in the public
offices, and that such assertions must be mtt with
an inquiry. This is a grave statement, that ought
to have weighed with the Government, but doubt-
less they know best what sort of answer would Le

made. As the case stands now a gross injustice
has been done to these gentlemen ; it is always an
erroneous practice to emit explanations whe❑
charges of so grave a nature are brought forward.
There is nothing in which the Government ought
to be more careful than in selecting fit and compe-
tent persons to undertake important duties, and
certainly from what was mentioned on Thurs-
day, it would not appear as if this de-
sirable end had been at all arrived at. It
seems strange that Lord PALMERSTON should
have allowed such aspersions on his character to
pass by unnoticed, either by himself or some of 12'..a
friends aad supporters. There is no doubt that all
these remarks and observations were more directed
against the authorities in headquarters than against
the more humble individuals chiefly mentioned.

Allowing, for the sake of argument, that much and
all was true that Mr. FERRAND so vehemently
declared about Mr. SmloNs and others, nothing iu
the statement at all effected their reputation com-
pared with the manner in which it compromised
those who had appointed him to the office he filled.
It is a serious thing to say against any official that

'or party ends and private purposes he has been in

diced to appoint those he knows are not competent
to any post whatever, and therefore it does appear
inconsistent that no explanation was vouchsaled,and
no answer given to the series of extraordinary
relations, and the curious questions put by the
hon. member for Newport. He overreached him-

self in being so bitter, for many who might have
supported him, had he come forward in a quieter
style, were naturally deterred from acting when
they found the matter so personal and almost

offensive in its bearing. Still, enough has been
said or done to inflict considerable damage on the

management of the whole affair, and the anecessfu

extrication of the Government from the committee

did not preclude the awkwardnaes altogether which

nseparably attaches itself to these insinuations and

suggestions. It would appear as if the Cabinet

cared for nothing that did not absolutely imperil
their position,-and prevent them from keeping in

;heirlinssesgion the blessings of place an'd.POWer:t'

We make no apology for again adverting to the
question of the " Amalgamation of the Customs and
Excise," being well assured that it is a subject which
may with great advantage engage the attention of
all practical reformers. For although we are not
sanguine enough to believe that the time will ever
come—certainly not in our generation—when the
duties collected by these great revenue departments
will be reduced within such limits that the two
services may be undertaken by one Commission,
yet are we equally confident in our belief that
there are many departments in the two services
performing analogous duties, we refer more
especially to those of law and statistics, which
might, with great advantage to the public interest
and a corresponding economy of the public purse,
be united under one control.

In animadverting upon the grievances of the
Custom House officials, as set forth in the numerous
petitions which have lately been presented to the
House of Commons, we have taken especial care not
to confound the public weal with the personal inte-
rests of the petitioners. Inasmuch as private rights
must give way to the public good ; so great as are
the grievances alleged by the Custom House officials,
were they not inconsistent with the public good,
we should decline in the interests of the public to
have anything to do with them.
Bat we stated then, as we take leave now to re-
peat, that the system which obtains in this branch
of the civil service, whilst operating prejudicially
in respect to those employed is at the same time
both inefficient and unsatisfactory to the mercantile
public generally. The numerous letters which have
appeared in our columns, as well as in those of our
contemporaries—not even excepting those of our
London Charivari, of whom we are all proud—in
approval of our remarks, and condemnatory of
Custom-house official procedure, are, in themselves,
undeniable evidence of this fact, as well as showing
that the pablie are alive to the manifold incon-
veniences arising from their circumlocutory mode of
business, and to the baneful effects—
pound-foolish system -- of
ittchrsaeunffisPlcceinteinncYtglY•wir2eemuannedrating a most us•zfal and in-
branch of Government officials.
telligent

On a
former
th ccawe showed that, by a sim-
plification system° of accounts and a re-ar-
oe sn
rangement of departments, both the public and the
employes could be radically end permanently bene-
fited—the former by receiving statistical informa-
tion in a more direct, and therefore speedier manner;
the latter by being placed on a footing in unison

with other branches of the Civil Service performing
analogous duties to themselves. At the same time
the increased cost, as shown, being trifling, com-
pared with the great advantages that would imme.
diately accrue to all the parties concerned.
As guardians of the public puree we would never
advocate any system that should be productive of
needless expense; but when we see demoralisation
and dissatisfaction eating like a canker into a great
department of the State; when, mureover, we see
the discontent of a large and respectable body of
public officials—a discontent, too, which in candour
we cannot say is unjustified by the causes al-
leged as the grounds thereof, as wall as being
evidenced by frequent resignations--we at once
conclude that there is a wrong to be remedied. " U'oi
jus ibi remedium" is a maxim as applicable here as
in a court of law or equity. And although the
amount of right of these complainants is one of com-
parison only, it is not the less a right, for both civil
society and individual status are alike estimated by
this standard of comparison.
In what way, then, aan the heart-burnings and
discontent of this generally deserving class of offi-
cials be removed, and the service restored to a
really sound and workable condition ? Any large-
addition to the Civil Service Estimates would hardly
be submitted to in the present temper of the House
of Commons ; nor would the Government be justified
in any such proposal. But such an addition is not
sought by these petitioners. The whole that is really
required is that the House of Commons should fol-
low in the wake of public opinion in the manage-
ment of the business which the nation intrusts to
them. Let them grata the Committee which the
petitioners ask for. Let their alleged grievances be
thoroughly sifted by the Committee when granted;
but above all, we speak in the interest of the public,
let the mode of transacting business whether in
passing an Eatry or supplying Acaounts, undergo a
thorough and searching investigation.
For ourselves, we believe that there is ample

scope in the redundancy of forms acd circumlo-
cutory system of obtaining accounts from the

Customs through the Board of Trade for the pruning
knife of a judicious legislator, as well as in placing
analogous departments under one management, and
in weeding the service of those who are either use-
less or unnecessary. It is to this last that we should
look to effect a saving that might be beneficially
applied in increasing the incomes of the really
effective employ ei of the service.

Above all, as a means of removing the prevailing
discontent, let due consideration be given to all
well-founded complaints; since it is manifestly un-
just to treat officials from whom the Government
has exacted a high standard of education and effi-
ciency, and who confessedly discharge their duties
intelligently and faithfully, with studied indiffe-
rence or shuffling expedients.

We all know from the returns which the Statisti-
cal department of the Customs bas furnished Mr'
LINDSAY that all branches of commerce have doubled,
and in many cases quadrupled, within the last 15
years. We also know that with the increase acd
diffusion of wealth come habits more expensive and
tastes more refined, and it is only right and just
that the Government officials should participate
with the rest of the community in this higher
standard of civilization and refinement,

We would further take leave to remind the Go-
vernment that this is the era of amalgamations.
The roost acute and businesglike men in the City
act upon the time-honoured maxim that " Union is
Strength," and in furtherance of this principle have
found that no great undertakings can be carried out
with reasonable hope of profit emcept by Companies
and Societies. Indeed, so strongly imbued is the
public mind with this "idea" that the majority of

our Banking, and many mercantile firms, ha;eeither
themselves fused for their better success, or have
quietly glided into joint-stock companies; it having
been practically demonstrated that Companies can
work cheaper from their organization being at once
more simple and complete, thus enabling them to
remunerate their servants better, while securing at
the same time an ample prcfit to their share-
holders.

So it must also be with the Customs and the Ex-
cise. Willing or unwilling the governing bodies
of these departments must prepare themselves to
follow, since they will not lead, in the wake of
public opinion. Either the high salaries given to
Boards and Chiefs of departments are for their past

services or their present management. If for the
former, let them take What they have earned and

be gone ! If for the latter, let them give the State
the results of their experience, and, like the great
Sir ROWLAND HILL, organise and reorganise their
departments until the complaints of the. Tublic are
satisfied, and theslisconten. valid dissatithAltion of;.
the Service removed'.
e, ' •

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.-r-Their Royal High-
nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, accom-
panied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
Louis of Hesse, honoured the performances at the Royal
Italian Opera with their presence-on Saturday evening.
The Royal suite consisted of the Marchioness of Carmarthen,
Baroness de Grancey, Baron Westerweller, and Col, Rep-
pel. Among the fashionable company present were the
Duke and Duchess of Manchester, the Duke of Rutland,
the Duke of Granada,
the Marquis of Hartington, the Earl
of Strathmore, the Earl Granville, the Countess of Fife,
the Countess of Craven and the Ladies Craven, the Earl and
Countess of Egmont, the Earl and Countess of Bective, the
Earl and Countess of Cardigan, the Earl of Uxbridge, the
Count and Countess Wczele, Count Bathyany, Viscount
and Viscountess Hereford, Viscount Hinchinbroke, Vis •
count Maynard and the Hon. Miss Maynard, Lord and
Lady Poltimore and Miss Sheridan, Lord Stanley of Alder-
ley, Lady Panmure, Lord Hastings, Lord and Lady'Trede-
gar, Lady Henrietta Allen and Miss Allen, Lady Gertrude
Rolle and the Hon. Mark Rolle, Lady Ernest Bruce, Lady
Florence Paget, Lady Honeywood, Lord and Lady Walls •
court and the lion. Miss Blake and the Hon. Mrs J. Mac-
donald, Lady Augusta Milbank and Mr Milbank, Lady
Dashwcod, Lord and Lady Edward Thynho, Lord Llan-
over, Colonel the Hon. St. George Foley, Hon. Mrs Cust,
Hon. Mrs Duff, Hon. Mrs Dudley Ward, Hon. Mrs Pereira,
Hon. Mr and Mrs F. Stonor, Hon. F. L. Gower, Hon. H.
Eliot, Lady W. Fraser, Sir Laurence Palk, Sir G. Army-
tage, Lady Gooch and Miss Gooch, Lord Rutland and Lady
Airey, Adriiral Ryder Burton, Colonel Farquharson (of
Invercauld), Colonel Miachin, Colonel Dickson and Mrs
Dickson, Colonel Cuddy, Colonel Airey, Major Gage, Cap- I
fain Pemberton, Captain Spiers, Mrs Cavendish Bentinck,
&c.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.--•The Queen's box at
Her Majesty's Theatre was, on Saturday eTening,
occupied by the Countess de Grey and party. Amongst
the numerous visitors also honouring Her Majesty's Theatre
with their attendance were the Duke and Duchess of Wel-
lington, the Duchess of Montrose, the Marquis of Ormonde,
the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Countess
of Bective, the Earl of Mountcharles, the Countess of
Desart, Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Earl and
Countess of Cardigan, the Viscountess Midleton, the Vis-
count Exmouth, Lord Edward Thynne, Lady Clarges, Lady
Lawley, Lady Mary Fane, General Sir G. Bowles, K.C.8.,
Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., and Lady Howard, General Sir
Proby Cantley, Sir Ivor Bertie Guest. Bart, &c.
ASSEMBLY AT CAMBRIDGE HOUSE,—Viscount
and Viscountess Palmerston gave a grand dinner on Sa-
turday evening at Cambridge Ilcuse, Piccadilly. His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Colonel the
Hon. James Macdonald, C. 8., honoured the noble Premier
and her ladyship by his company.
Lady Herbert of Lea, we learn by telegraph, is
detained at Constantinople by tha serious illness, from
fever, of her eldest daughter, Lady Mary Herbert. It will
be recollected by many of our readers that her ladyship and
family passed the winter in Egypt, and, following the
example of most of the English tourists in the East, after
leaving Alexandria went on a tour in Turkey. The Earl
of Pembroke and Lady Maude Herbert had left Constanti-
nople fur home before Lady Mary was taken ill, intending
to proceed to England via Trieste and Vienna. The youth-
ful earl and his sister are daily expected to reach London.

Lady Rtalt has arrived at the Queen's Hotel,
Upper Norwood.
The Dowager Lady Bowyer Smijth and Mr and
Mrs Bary have left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyrystreet,
on their return to Thorps Lee.