The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-27 00:00:00

IVST.

Bright on 2
Brighton Club
Lewes
II untingtion . 9
Wolverhampton
Reading
tham
' OExford ' --1 -

SEPT:

Weymouth 1
Warwick September 6
Leicester 8
Bridgwater
Doncaster .. l3

OCT,

Bedford 4
Northallerton
Newmarkot Second Oct lO

NOVE

Worcester Autumn .... 1
Shrewsbury Autumn .. 11

IRI
MI

Dover .. is
York August
Yarmouth
Plymouth
Lichfield 29
Stocktcn
Devon and Exeter .... 30
Derby . -31
:MD ER.

Brecon .. 19
Richmond . 2O
Monmouth 22
Manchester Autumn
Newmarket First October 27

Lincoln
Glouccater
Newmarket Houghton 24

:MBER.

Leamington &War. Hunt 22

AY.

Springhill 2 I Cork
Galway Hunt ... 3, 4 Tullamore
Nenagh lO, 11 Tipperary 3O, 31

JUNE.

Curragh. 2B, 29, 30

SEPTElkiltEit.

Curragh 6, 7, 8
OCTOBER.

Curragh lB, 19, 20

The Civil Service Commissioners.

Yesterday was issued the ninth report of the Civil
Service Commissioners, dated the 9111 or the present

month. The total number of nominations notified
to the Commissioners since the commencement of

their proceedings has been 25,612. During the four

years up to the end of December, 1859, the nomi-
nations numbered 9,7‘52 ; during the last four years
they have amounted to 14,757 ; those for the year
1863 being 3,605. The number of nominations dis-
posed of in Class I—superior situations, clerkships,
&c.—has been 1,429, and the number of certificates

granted 609. Of the appointments thus filled 253
have been made the subject of competition among

813 candidates, and. 356 absolute nomination. The
ratio of the number of competitors to the number of
vacancies for which they competed has varied but
blightly during the six years, the range being frctu
2.6 for each vacancy, which was the proportion in
1860, to 3'o for each vacancy in 1862. Of the 813

competitors examined, 291 were found to Le below
the standard of attainment to quisite for a pass elm.
mination, leaving the bona fide competition to be be•
twecn 522 candidates for 278 places, or in tho pro-
portion of only 1.9 to each vacancy. As a general
rule, strict inquiries tau not nude as to the age,
health, or character of any competitors except those
who are successful in the c nnpetition. The nutub.2r
of competitors rctually rejected on these grounds has
been 15, of whom I proved to be disqualified in re-
spect of age, 7 in respect of health, and 4 in respect
of character. The total number of candidates nomi-
nat d during the year 1863 for preliminary test exam
minations was 633, of whom 82, for various reasons,
were not examined. Of the 651 who were examined
284 passed and 267 were rejected, the proportion of
rejections being just 48.5 per cent. Of 615 midi.,
dates who received absolute nominations, 356 have
obtained certificates, 122 failed to pass their exami-
nation, 5 proved ineligible in point of age, 4 were
unable to satisfy the Commissioners of their fitness
in respect of health, and 3 in respect of character.
In 25 cases the nomination was cancelled or the
candidate failed to appear. The total number of
candidates of this class rejected in 1863, on age,
health, and character, was 27—viz., 9 on
the ground of age, 11 on the ground of health, and
7of character. Under tho head of knowledge and
ability, as in former years, nearly all the rejections
have been due to failure in the elementary subjects.
Throughout the whole of the Commission's proceed-
ings, during eight years and a half, only 183 can-
didates of this class have been rejected without
having failed in orthography, hand writing, or arithe
metic—the total number of rejections havin.;
amounted to 2,334. The number of nominations
disposed of in Class—inferior situations—has been
2,109 ; in 46 cases these nominations have been sub.
sequently cancelled ; 1,663 certificates have been
granted; 139 parsons were rejected for failure in
their examination, 51 were found to be disqualified
in respect of age, 49 in respect of health, and 61 in
respect of character. In 86 oases the candidates
failed to appear, and four candidates were unsuc-
cessful in competition. It need hardly be said that
the standard of examination for this class is very
low. For the great majority of situations nothing
is required beyond reading, writing, elementary
arithmetic, and (in the case of letter cal riers and
rural messengers to the Post-office) the reading of
handwriting. To some officers, such as artificers in
the Admiralty dockyards, no literary test has been
applied. Of the 1,663 certificates which were
granted, 145 were of this character. In addition to
the 3,605 candidates who have been nominated
during the past year to situations requiring certifi..
cates, the Commissioners have examined a consider.
able number of persons at the request of the heads
of different departments. Under the category are
included 23 paid attaches, or third secretaries, in
the diplomatic service; five inspectors of schools
and examiners under the Education Department of
the Privy Council, who are examined only as to
their physical qualifications ; 59 competitors for
cadetships of constabulary in Ireland ; and 400 cane
didates for situations of factory boy and apprentice
in her Majesty's dockyards, which situations are
now thrown open to public competition.

ALEXANDRE DumAs ie going to publish his
Ami des Femmes." lie is al to N ico fur the benefit of
is health.

MANHATTAN'S forthcoming novel, in 3 volumes,
" Minion," hew, by the mere speed of its publication here
in England, afforded a marvellous instance of what can be
accomplished in these days by large printing establishments
anti steam presses. The copy was received by the pub.
fishers on Friday
revised, and published by Wednesday morning. Three
evening last. It will have been printed,
printing firms Were engaged in ire production—Spottis.
woods, Bradbury and Evans, and Harrill Let the Foreign.
office take this to heart I
EADVIIRTISEMENT,]..-11011Mafg Pille.—Pigurigh pains
in the side, oppression at the cheat, palpitation, wheezing,
and chronic coughs are notably alleviated by the use of
these purifying and regulating pills. Mr. Roberts, of Gt.
George-square, Liverpool, states that he had suffered for
several years from an excruciating stitch in.
.his side, which
the most eminent of the faculty failed to relieve. The va.
rious suggestions of friends were likewise acted upon with-
out benefit till one, mote fortunate than the rest, recom.
mended Holloway's Pills, which dairy diminished the pain,
and ultimately banished it entirely, This is one cue
selected from thousands, which should prove to the afflicted
that these pills will restore health after all medical weans
seemed to be fruitlessly exhausted,