The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-09 00:00:00

bir ribition

SYJS OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

LIVERPOOL RACES.—(This Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
CROXTETH STAKES.

Fisherman..

walked over,
MERSEY STAKES.

Dusty Miller
Sprig of Sdillelah
Apathy

Won by half a length. Five ran.
LANCASHIRE OAKS.

Uzella
Oltenitza.

BENTINCK HANDICAP.

Wild Huntsman
Early Bird

Four ran.
TRAINERS' STAKE.
Prince Plausible . ....
King of Scotland

Three ran.
SELLING STAKES.

Salmon
Icarus

0 1
0 2

ARRIVED.
Clarissa Colt, San Francisco, Miss Whip Colt, Breeze,
Naughty Boy, Daisy, Miss Nightingale, and Princess
Eugenie.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. —(This Day.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 3 o'clock.
Mr. HADFIELD presented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Sheffield, complaining of the manner in which
the misunderstanding with the United States had been
caused.
CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION.
On the motion for going into committee,
THE CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER made
an explanation with reference to the civil service, before
the Speaker left the chair, which he hoped would in-
duce Viscount Goderich not to proceed with the
motion in committee on which he had given notice rela-
tive to the mode of making appointments in the
civil service. In the early part of the ses-
sion his noble friend moved a resolution with
a view of making more general the practice for ad-
mission into the civil service by open competition, but
though a discussion took place, followed by a
division, the house had not yet come to any
ultimate decision upon the point. Since that
discussion the system then., in Lorne had been acted on,
and a considerable number of appointments had
taken place. That system was introduced in May,
1855, and the following was the result of its opera-
tion up to the 30th June in the present year.
There were 2,309 candidates, and out of that number
there were examined 1,055 in London and 693 in the
provinces, making a tutat of 1,748. There were 664
certificates granted in London, 445 on the provincial exa-
mination, and on the reports from heads of depart-
ments 61, making the total number of certificates
granted 1,070. The number of certificates refused
amounted in London to 318, and on the provincial ex-
amination to 233, making the total number of certifi-
cates refused 556. It would be obvious that these
examinations were not a mere matter of form, and that
they had the effect of separating the worthy from the
unworthy caudidates, who sought admission into the
publicservice. His noble friend (Lord Godericb)proposed
to carry the system further for the purpose of enabling
Persons to offer themselves as candidates without any
qualification, except that which appeared by their exa-
mination, and he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer)
would state to the house the views entertained
by the Government with respect to the system which
his noble friend wished to render universal. In the
superior departments, such as the Secretary of State's
office, or the Treasury, or any of the principal depart-
ments, the ai. pointments were made by the hull of the
office, the canuidates having been ,übjected to an exami-
nation to test their capacities. Although the heads of
the department might not be engaged for a lengthened
period in the public service in that department, it
was still his interest to procure efficient persons, and
they were able in this manner to make a selection of per-
sons who were capable of performing the duties they
were called upon to discharge. .He would go to the op-
posite end of the scale, and refer to the numerous class
of persons who were engaged in the Customs as tide-
waiters, &c., and in the Post-office department as letter
carriers, &c., and in his opinion a system of competitive
literary examination would be an unusualmodeof testing
the qualification of persons seeking appointments as civil
servants iu that class. Then came an intermediate class,
consi-ling of excise officers and the officials in other
public departments, who were at present appointed on
the nomination of the Treasury, and with reference to
whom the principle suggested by his noble
friend had great recommendations. He bad
communicated ou the subject with the Civil
Service Commissioners—two moat excellent public ser-
vants, Sir E. Ryan and Mr. Lefevre—and the result of
their experience showed that examination by competition,
where the number of candidates was not considerable,
on the whole led to a more satisfactory result than any
other class of examination, and be thought their experi-
ence was in favour of the judicial and cautious exten-
sion of the principle of making appointments in that
class by competitive examination. The question
was by what means, to what extent, and in what
form the principle should be extended. The
house must see the difficulty of laying down a universal
rule that all candidates for office in the public service
should be brought up to London, in order to un-
dergo a competitive examination. (Hear, hear.)
If all the candidates bad to come to Lon-
don, or to go to Edinburgh, or to Dublin to
undergo an examination great advantages would thereby
be conferred on the candidates who lived in the neigh-
bourhood of the three capitals. Means might be found,
however, to have examinations in different parts of the
country, and facilities thus afforded to all candidates
to come forward ; but he did not think it would be fair
to lay down a universal regulation imposing upon the
candidate the necessity of coming up to London or going
to Edinburgh or Dublin. Mr. Lefevre was in favour of
establishing the principle which he recommended by
graduel means, so that they should feel their way
as they proceeded, and avoid the difficulties which, ac-
cording to experience, exist. The Government would
give as much attention as possible, consistent with
safety ad'd propriety, to the principle recommended, and
he trusted that the explanation he had given would be
satisfactory to the house.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE expressed his satisfaction at the
statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and said
he was willing to leave the matter in the hands of the
Government and the civil commissioners.
Viscount GODERICH, after the satisfactory state-
ments of the Chancellor of he Exchequer, would with-
draw his motion.

After a few remarks from Mr. TIT and Mr. RIgH,
the motion was withdrawn.
TENANT-RIGHT (IRELAND) BILL.
Oa the order of the day fur going into committee of
supply,
Mr. MOORE said that in consequence of the ob-
stacles that had impeded the progress of the measure
and had delayed it till this late period of the session, he
would not proceed further with the measure. After de.
!lying the statements put for .and on a late occasion by
Mr. foreman, the hon. and learned member moved that
the order be discharged.
Sir J. WALSH protested against the assumption
that because the house had been taken by surprise, and
the bill real a second time, that therefore the opinion
of the house had been expressed in its favour.
Mr. MAGUIRE said the promoters of the bill never
considered they would carry it, but, nevertheless, it was
their duty to introduce it. It was the duty of the Go-
vernment to legislate on this subject.
After some remarks from Mr. 3I'MAHON and Mr.
POLLARD URQUHART,
Lord PALMERSTON said that the coarse which the
Government Lad pursued was sufficiently clear, and his
opinion upon the landlord and tenant question had never
been concealed, and it was clearly expressed in a committee,
of which he was a member, which sat some years ago, .
and it bad also been expressed that house. In general
he thought it was highly desirable that Parliament
buyers and sellers, and
should
that
%y a nots in ifnateetr
tehr ebe
relativee taween
position of landlord and
tenant. But the present condition was so peculiar that
tit Government win-took last year the charge of the
hill of M. Sergeant Shee, with respeckao tenant right,
but they found that its provisions were very different
from the bill which was proposedon the same subject in
1854, and they felt it their duty to withhold their sup-
port from it. That bill of Sergeant Shee's failed, but the
bill now before the house was still more disagreeable
than that of Sergeant Shee, and very different from
the bill of 1854, and he therefore thought it ought not to
pass into a law. The bill had now arrived at a stage—
Mr. HORSMAN said the bill had been withdrawn.
(Laughter )
Lord PALMERSTON said he was not present at
the earlier part of the debate ; but, as he found the bill
had been withdrawn, he thought the discussion ought
now to cease—de morfius nil nisi bonunt.
Mr. HORSMAN intimated to the noble lord that
the gentleman opposite wiAhed to know what was the
course to be pursued next sTioe ?
Lord PAL MERSTON.n
i-aid he could not really say
what
Government next year.
He c othdonly say
(fcourse would be such as he
wouldo lbe the
thatinte
thetlo )
had stated. He did not think in the present temper of
Parliament of a tenant right bill being passed into a
law. But if any bon: member felt disposed to propose
another bill next session, it would be the duty of the
Government to izive that measure its respectful conside
ration. (Laughter.)
The bill was then withdrawn.
JUDGMENTS EXECUTION. &c. BILL.
Mr. CRAUFURD moved that the house go into
committee on tbii bill.

Mr. FRENCH moved as an amendment that the
house ao into committee this day three months. He
(Mr. French) hoped the hon. member (Mr. Craufurd)
would withoraw the bill.

After a short discussion, in which Mr. Fitzgerald Mr.