The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-12 00:00:00

ORDNANCE`OFFICE.

Mr. MACARTNEY moved for copies of all correspon-
dence with the officers of Ordnance referring to the decision
of the Board of Ordnance refusing to entertain the com-
plaint against a senior clerk.in the department, or to insti-
tute an inquiry into his alleged misconduct, in violating
the rules for the guidance of the civil service, whereby
he became liable to dismissal.
Mr. MONSELL opposed the motion, considering- that it
would be most injurious to the public service if a prece-
dent for interference of this kind were established. The
motion of the hon. member referred to a gentleman (Mr.
Garrett), who had been for 25 or 30 years in the public
service, and who, on account of his merits, had been pro-
moted over the heads of 10 other clerks in the office, upon
a strong recommendation of the chief clerk; and, because
he had been thus promoted, persons who were his infe-
riors in ability and in business habits induced an hon.
member to make an attack upon him, on the ground that,
while engaged in the Orduance-office, he had transiicted
some business as a conveyancer. The fact was, that Mr.
Garrett was not prohibited by the rules of the Ordnance-
office from transacting his busines as a conveyancer out of
that office, and the complaint against him was founded on
the circumstance that he had sometimes answered ques-
tions upon legal points in the Ordnance-office, an.i that he
had there referred to certain papers connected with the
wills of de-ceased clerks in the same office, for whom he was
acting as executor. Mr. Garrett had in; no single instance
neglected his public duties; but, on the contrary, had
always discharged them in a most exemplary manner and
he (ffr. Monsell) hoped, therefore, that the house would
not assent to the motion.
Mr. MACARTNEY wished to state that he had not been
induced to bring this subject forward in consequence of
any representations from the clerks in the Ordnance-office,
bat from information he had obtained from other sources.
Mr. HIIIIE observed that he had been furnished with
the names of some 30_or 40 persons employed in public
offic:..s who also acted as directors of banks or companies,
wi who, in consequence of their engageineuts in eonnec-
on with those, companies, were frequently absent from
the public establishments. He thought the question fairly
arose, whether wen who were receiving pay from the pub-
lic ought to be allowed to engage in these private under-
takings. He had already moved for a return on the stth-
jOcts and ho rocculataltiod the boa, member for Antriw to

L::

withdraw his motion until that return was laid upon

table

Mr. SPOONER, supported the motion. . . .
Sir F. FILLING thought it was most undesirable that
the house should interfere unnecessarily with the manage'
ment of the public-offices, and opposed the motion..
Mr. I. BUTT jcined in requesting the hon. gentleman
not to divide the house. He thought that for the house to
interfere in such trifling matters would be to establish a
bad precedent.
Mr. S. HERBERT wished to state that us soon as the
sulject to whi.th the hm. ge.itle.,ian had rebore I w 34
brought under the notice of his IM. friend, the Clark t°
the Ordnance. he had interfered in the matter.
The motion Was ;hen withdrawn.
POWER OF SUMMONING WITNW;SES.
Mr. I. Burr moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable
the sup,rior courts 'of common law iu England and Ire'
land to issue process to compel the attendance of witnesses
resident out of .!:eir.jurisdiction;and to give effect to the
Vrviee of f,ucti vrecess in any part of the united kino.rrdom..
Sir J. YOUN(I had no objection to the bill being brought
in, or to the general scope or object of it. The detail''
however, were matters for further consideration.
Leave was then given, ar,l the bill was brought in and
real a drat dm,. and ordered to be read a second time 011
Monday, the Ise of May.
The hills for the prevention of bribery in the borougheof
Cam biidge, Hull, Meldon, Barnstable, and Cantaiburb
were brought in and real a first time.
The house adjourned at 10 minutes to 11.