The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-14 00:00:00

TUSCANY.

The Corriere 11 lercaidile of the 7th has intelli-
gence from Florence up to the 6th. That capital
had been the scene of disorders, attributed to the
exalted party ; two chasseurs and an officer of the
civic guard were wounded by stones thrown at the
armed force, whose coolness prevented any more
serious collision. The Prefect Puccioni published a
proclamation in consequence on the Sth, re-
commending the citizens to avoid increasing
the groups of the ill intentioned by their presence
from the mere motive of curiosity, and an-
nouncing that in case the disturbances should take a
more serious turn the armed force will act, after
three intimations to make the crowd disperse. On
the 6th, Montanelli had a long conference with
the Grand Duke. A proclamation was posted at
Leghorn on the sth, signed by the new Governor,
in which, after thanking the Livournese for their
confidence in him, he declares that before he accepts
such a charge he must consider whether he can fuiM
it. Guerrazzi has left for Florence, and published
an adieu to his fellow-citizens, commending Monta-
nelli to their affections.

THE FINANCIAL REFORM ASSO-

CIATION.
(From the Liverpool Mercury of yesterday.)
The Financial Reform Association present to the
public the result of their examination of the salaries
and expenses of the House of Commons and the Go-
vernment offices.

At present it is scarcely possible to discover the
actual expense of any branch of the Government, for
almost every one is paid in three different ways,
namely, out of the consolidated fund, by annual
parliamentary grants, and by fees.
The association cannot discover any advantage
in separating the expenses of Government into the
different accounts of Civil List, Consolidated Fund,
and the Annual Estimates ; though they perceive
that the consequent complexity of the finance
accounts frequently prevents the detection of ex-
travagance. It would be a great improvement (and
by no means a difficult task) so to draw up the esti-
mates as to show at a glance the separate expenses of
the Royal, Civil, Judicial, Colonial, and Military and
Naval branches of the Government.

Concerning the public offices, the following evi-
dence was given before the Committee on Miscel-
laneous Expenditure, by Sir C. Trevelyan, whose
official position would give him ample opportunities
forming a trustworthy opinion :—" I think there
is a great deal of work in the public departments
which is superfluous, arising out of the perpetuation
of old forms. There are a number of offices which
are completely effete as practical offices for the trans-
action of business, and exist merely for the preser-
vation of antiquated forms." The preservation of
patronage is perhaps a more probable reason why these
useless offices are not abolished. There is scarcely
any public trust more misused than the power of
appointing to offices. The common practice of
making such appointments on account of the rank
and connexions of the parties, without regard to their
competency, is deeply injurious to the State. It
betrays a lamentable absence of moral principle, when
a public officer, to whom is entrusted the responsible
duty of appointing others, is initienced in the
exercise of that high trust by personal and selfish.
considerations.

The Committee above referred to recommend, in
their report, a general revision of all salaries, in
order that they may be made suitable to the altered
circumstances cf expense and condition of the
country since they were originally fixed. They say,
that in the course of such an examination, it would
be found advisable, also, to establish a more uniform,
rate of payment for similar services in different de-
partments. It is to be hoped that this excellent re-
commendation will be at once acted upon, as the need
for such a revision is very apparent.
It is a painful fact that the expenditure of the
House of Commons is, at present, on a most extrava-
gant scale. There is some hope, however, of a
change, since the Committee on Miscellaneous Ex-
penditure have suggested many important reductions
in these expenses ; though, even these suggestions do
not go so far as, in the opinion of this Association, is
practicable and expedient.
The following is a list of the officers of the House
of Commons, and their present annual salaries :
Speaker ... £5OOO
Chaplain ... ... 400
Secretary to the Speaker ... ... 600
Counsel to the Speaker ... ... 1500
ilia Clerk ... ... 150
Examiner of Standing Orders ... 1760
Taxing Officer ... ... 1000
Librarian ... 1000
Assistant Librarian
Messenger ... ... 140
Four Vote office Clerks, 800/., 3001., 1801., 1201. 1400
Four Clerks at the Table, 3,5001., 2,5001., 1,0001.,

Seven Public Bill Clerks, 1,900/., 8001., 8001.,

7100

500/., 4002, 300/, 200/. ... 4900
Seven Journal Clerks, 1,349/., 1,0301., 1,0001.,

928/., 591/., 3391., 2041. ...
Also for extra work ...

... 5,4411.
..- 1,0901.

Thirteen Committee Clerks, 1,1001., 9001., 8001.,
750/4 four at 5001., 4001., 2501.; and three at
2001. ... 6800
Three Engrossing Clerks, 8001., 550/., 3010/. ... 1650
Six Private Bill Clerks, 8001., 4501., 3501., 2501.,
2501., 1501. . . ... 2250
The chief duties of the bead clerks of these
offices are to make minutes of the decisions of the
House and the Committees. At the Vote-office a
register is kept of all papers printed by order of
the Ilouse. The journal clerks compile a journal
of the proceeding. The engrossing clerks make
copies of Bills on parchment.
Sergeant-at-Arms ... ... ... ... 1500
Deputy ditto ... ... ... ... ... 1000
Assistant ditto ..• ••• ••• 525
Their duties are to maintain order (with the
aid of the police) in the lobbies and passages,
and at the command of the House to order the
messengers to take persons into custody.
Three Door-keepers, 374 L, 40C1., 2001 1474
Four Messengers, at 300/. each ... 1200
Four extra ditto, three at 1051. and one at 1261... 435
The messengers' duties are to wait in the
lobbies and galleries, and take persons into
custody when commanded to do to by the Ser-
geant-at-Arms.
Deputy Housekeeper ... 500/.

--- ---
And in lieu of apartments ... 1001.

The duties of this office are thus described by
himself:—" I have the charge of all the stores,
the ordering of the stationery, and the coals and
candles, and the housekeeping in general, except
the eating and drinking; I have nothing to do
ith that.,' The present deputy-housekeeper is
also secretary to the privy purse, at a salary of
3001. a year.
Superintendent of Waiting-room
Assistant and Porter to ditto
Attendant on Ventilation
Watchmen, &c.
Temporary Messengers and Porters ... 900
Retired allowances and compensations ... 5399
Considering that the foregoing officers are only
employed during the Parliamentary session, or about
six months in the year, and that none of the work
requires more than ordinary intelligencci and much
of it mere copying, it is evident that most of the Wk.
ries are grossly exorbitant.

... 200
... 132
... 105
... 1002

BANK OF ENGLAND.
(From last night's Gazette.)
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 22,ft
the Week ending on Saturday, the 7th day of October, 1848,
1881111 DETLETMENT.

Notes issued•• .. •• .. 2623,635

Government debt • . 11,015,1 00
Other securities • • 2,9134. )00
Gold coin and bullion 12,313,226
Silver bulliox • • • • • • 509,909

X 26,823.635

X 26,8'43,636
M. IfAUSELLLL, Chief Cas Ater.
1548.
or.PAZTMEN T.

Dated the 12th day of October,

BANKING D
X.
Proprietors' capital.. 14,553,000
Hest •.. 3,846,485
Public doposits (in-
cluding Exchequer,
Commissioners of
National Debt, Say-

Government Beene.:

ties (including Dead
Weight Annuity) • • 12,862.296
Other securities • • • • 11,639,164,
Notes • • • • - • • • • • • • 9,348,161
Gold and silver coin • . 493,644

ings-banks, and Di-
vidend accounts).. 6,962,466
Other deposits •••• .. 8,053,101
Seven day and other
bills•• •• •• •• .• .... 1,028,171

£34,443,226

1
A 34 ,443,226
M. MARSHALL, Chief C,aahier.
1848.

Dated the 12th day of October.

CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE CHELMIWORD BENCH OF
MAGISTRATES.—T. W. Bramston, Esq., has re-
signed the chair at the above bench, ip tx.visequence of
his Parliamentary duties.