The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-04 00:00:00

TH g CASE OF MR. LAWLEY.

No more painful task can possibly fall to the lot of a
public man than such as was undertaken by Sir John
Pakington in the case of Mr. Lawley ; and we think
that even the warmest personal friends of that gentleman
will admit that the invidious duty of public prosecutor
was never discharged with more generosity, more can-
dour, and more eentleness than by the late Colonial Se-
cra-tary in the debate of last night. It is not easy to find
p .itical men with moral courage and sense of right
enough at once to question and attack improper appoint-
ments on personal grounds, and to extinguish them be-
fore they explode into public damage and disgrace. Sir
John Pakington has undoubtedly rendered a true
service to the country by meeting a demand of this
nature, and saving the Home Government from the
ill-feeling, the scandal, and odium which must have
been created in South Australia by a nomination in
every respect so ill-advised and improper as that of the
unfortunate subject of last night's discussion, to the
highest post in one of our most important colo-
nies. We have no wish to add to the pain of Mr. Law-
ley's friends, or to the severity of his punishment, by
dwelling upon the errors to which he has pleaded guilty.
So far as his misconduct is concerned, he bears its full
penalty in lying under the broad sentence of public opi-
nion, and we are quite ready to share in the regret of his
patrons that merits; of which they thought so highly,
should have been obscured by a certain weakness of
moral perception, and to hope that he may retrieve his
character and shape his career anew in some other sphere
than that of official employment. But we are not dis-
posed to deal so lightly with those who have been the
most grave offenders in this business. We may pity
and pass in silence, if we cannot excuse, the fault
of a beginner in political life whose first steps have
precipitated him to a downfall, and deprived him
of all iopportuoity of further mischief ; but we do
not extend the same forbearance to a statesman, not
young in affairs, nor new to responsibility, not un-
touched by experience in the consequences of error
or rashness in the dispensation of patronage. Of all
men the Duke of Newcastle should have learned, by this
time, the danger that he was incurring and the wrong
that he did, in filling up so high an appointment—one at
this moment of such peculiar exigencies—as that of the
Governor of South Australia, on no better grounds, and
with no stronger warrant, than could be adduced to sane-
' tion the recommendation of Mr. Lawley to the Queen.
It cannot be forgotten how very recently the same Mini-
ster exposed himself, by a somewhat similar shortcoming
in duty, to the strong condemnation of a committee of
the House of Commons ; and it is difficult to conceive
how, with that well-merited sentence standing freshly in
public opinion against him, he should have plunged so
immediately into a repetition of the offence. We charge
the Duke of Newcastle expressly and especially with the
responsibility of this appointment, and with all the scan-
dal and disgrace of its results ; because it was on him
that the duty of selection and scrutiny rested before pro-
ceeding to the point at which Sir Geo. Grey found the
engagement to Mr. Lawley. It is quite clear that the
present Colonial Secretary was fully justified in as-
surn,ng that his predecessor had done his duty, and, in
fact, it does not seem that, under all the circumstances,
be could well refuse to endorse the act of the Duke of
Newcastle. There is no force in any of the representa-
vtioornnsmwenht. which
Iwere s set up a
defence
up last night.,o isnaydetfhenactetohe of the Go-
Autho-
ritiesrAesupsotnrsailbia werelefor ignoranttheap of the peculiarpointmentofaG unfitness
resosf
South
of the person whom they selected. It was their duty
not to be ignorant in such a matter ; and, had theydone
that duty—had they shown only decent vigilance in
their business, and fair justice to the colony it was
impossible that something should not have reached their
ears of what was talked of loudly elsewhere—that they
should not have learned enough of what was familiar to
others to make them pause if they meant honestly
by the ciuntry. We believe that public opinion will
be at no loss on whom to fix the chief blame in this most
unhappy transaction, and we conceive that such a
fresh and glaring evidence of indiscretion or incapacity
will not tend to lessen the surprise which has be 'n cre-
ated by the position lately assigned to the Duke of New-
castle, and by the Cabinet arrangements, made ap-
parently expressly for his advantage and elevation. The
unhappy episode of Mr. Lawley's appointment.
dis-
graceoffice peculiarly quali-
fivations of the War Minister for an
de-
manding judgment, discrimination, and firmness in its
is not of a nature to create confidence in the
possessor.
butW ite wish
psoinssciebrleelytothstartikoeurthcensure r mmiginhitstsetro here ;
p without
wounding the Chancellor of the Exchequer. What one
did the other counselled. There is an unhappy sympathy
between them in the matter of patronage. Both seem
to have a disastrous obliquity of vision, which has led
them to overlook honest and fit men in order to appoint
to places of trust, emolument, and dignity, persons whose
habits will not bear the light, and whose doings bring
ruin on themselves, scandal to the public service, and
disgrace to their patrons. Among all the names con-
cerned in this ugly story, we repeat that the one to whom
honour and credit are alone due is that of Sir John
saved
ind tgt
ihtmoe ne
cl.
yo u
goodni It ery hasfr faced
soomnsei,n a
fic incurring
mrr
nedifficult ad
seriousnd o
spirit,
d isdc discredit
oe
du istask
andt
has
and
injury in one of the most important dependencies of the
Crown.--Morning Post.

AUSTRALASIAN PACIFIC MAIL STEAM PACKETCOMPANY-
-On Wednesday the second half yearly general meet
ing of the shareholders in this undertaking was held at
the London Tavern, Bishopscrate-street, for the pur-
pose of receiving the report of the directors and on
other business. Mr. George Hibbert, the chairman of
the board, presided. After the usual preliminaries, Mr.
Championww
hiniedhin statedg.uW
p t
ht
eehtat
that
affairs
r( ts heo f s
the
hcer
reportinge tcaotrmhy
e)p
company,
eya, d
tht progresshe e report,
had to state that the three steam-ships, h.
directors
who had expressed themselves in terms of com-
am-s Menura, Black
Swan, and Dinornis, had been duly paid for by the pur-
tisfaction as to the performances of those fine
cp hi
eatsee rssa,
ent had beetnhe meoalndepawnyithwethree
buildersvessel' ofA nthearPraenhgmcean, by which
released from their contract for this vessel without
loss. The Emeu and Kangaroo are for the present pro-
fitably employed in her Majesty's transport service. The
qouffievrasl
ef
no
tr tthoe
their p u r-
edhi raescet oorfs had
sne o tv ae
sss ye
lest raetc e e
rate
taen ye
value, and they wait an advantageous opportunity for
the disposal of them. The directors have transferred
the stock of coal at Panama to the Pacific Steam
Navigation Company at the cost price. The cargo of
coal shipped to Tahitti has been purchased by the
French Government at a reduction of 10 per cent.
on the cost ' • and the coal in depot at Auckland and
Wellington, New Zealand, is consigned to the care of
an eminent firm at Sydney, forabsolute sale, either atthat
port or in New Zealand. Captain Hays, the com-
pany's superintendent, has been recalled from Sydney.
A return of 81. per share had been made to the proprie-
tors, and a further division will be made as soon as the
directors succeed in effecting a sale of remaining
vessels. In conclusion, the directors state that they
will wind up the affairs of the company
little delay as possible, consistent with a - with as
due regard
to the best interests of the shareholders, who might
rely on the strictest economy being exercised in so.
doing. The balance-sheet ending June 30 last showed on
the debtor side, amongst other items—costs and outfit
of ships, 98,2381. 15s. ; cash on loan at interest, 20,0001.;
bills receivable, 441/. 17s. 2d.; Admiralty charter and coals,
23,1371.; general coal account, 5,2311. 3s. 5d.; balance at
bankers, 4,6431. 4s. 11d. ; amounting in the whole to
153,557/. -2s. 9d. The creditor side showed—capital
stock (less return to shareholders at the rate of 81. per
share 97,8481), 73,0861. ; bills payable, 16,9581. 10s. ld.;
outstanding accounts, 23,844/. 14s. 7d. ; voyage accounts
of Emeu and Kangaroo (to which debits not yet render.
ed), 15,9181. 12s. 7d. ; profit and loss, 23,7491. 5s 6d.
making a total of 153,557/. 2s. 9d. The chairman moved
the adoption of the report, which was agreed to, and the
meeting separated.