The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-04 00:00:00

WAJOR-GENERAL WINDHAM AT HOME,

Nonwrcu, Aug. l.—Major•General Windham returned
to his native county this afternoon, and was received with
suitable demonstrations of enthusiasm and rejoicing from
ail classes of the public. The gallant officer arrived in
Yorwich at two o'clock by the Eastern Union Railway,
cud was received at the station by a guard of honour de-
rived from the artillery corps at present stationed in the
city, the Earl of Albemarle, Lord Hastings, Lord Suffield,
•,he Mayor (Mr. J. G. Johnson), several members of the
Town Council, the tenantry on the estate of his family,
ind the "reception committee" constituted to give eclat to
the occasion. Several Crimean officers, who shared with
the hero of the day the dangers and glories of the Sebas-
topol campaign, were also present. On arriving at the
Guildhall, Gen. Windham alighted, and the Mayor, on the
part of the Town Council, presented an address, which
was agreed to at a special meeting held on Monday. A
brilliant company assembled to witness the presentation of
:he address, to which General Windham made a suitable
reply.

Nonwrca, Aug. 2.—The demonstration here in lion-
iur of Major•Geueral Windham wag concluded by a
;rand banquet last evening in St. Andrew's Hall. The
scene presented in the fine old building was magnificent.
ieven long tables were filled by 600 guests, the large
seehestra was occupied by a number- of well-dressed
ladies, and another party was accommodated on a dais
behind the chairman. Mrs. Windham and several of the
eeneral's more immediate friends were among the tatter.
The pillars supporting the roof Were hung with banners
and other devices, and the words " Alma," " Bala-
elava," "Inkerman," " Sebastopol," &c., recalled the
glorious scenes through which the guest of the evening
sad so triumphantly passed.
The Earl of Albemarle presided, and was supported by
Lard Stafford, Lord Hastings, Lord Suffield, itte Hon.
W. R. Rolm-the-Hem. E. T. odehouse, R.N., Sir W.
-tioster, Bart., Sir II Bedingfield, Bart., Sir E. Buxton,
Bart., Sir H. J. Stracey, M.P., Mr. Burroughes, M.P.,
Air. Gurney, M.P., Sir 3. Bignold, M.P., the High Sheriff
sf Norfolk (Mr. R. K. Long), the Mayor of Norwich
(Mr. J. G. Johnson), and a large number of the princi•
' cal inhabitants of the city and county. There was also
' a fair sprinkling of red coats, and several Crimean heroes
connected with the district. Among the latter may be
nentioned Col. Hodge, 4th Light Dragoons ; Major
Fellowes, 11th Hussars ; Major Cator, 68th ; Major
Bellairs ; the Hon. R. Harbord, 71st; Major Haste,
R.A. ; Major Strange, R.A., &c., &c.
After the usual preliminary toasts, the CHAIRMAN pre-
,ented to General Windham two handsome swords, sub-
cribed for by the inhabitants of the county, to mark
.heir admiration for his services. The one was a fighting
sod the other a holiday sword, and the noble lord ex-
vessed his hope that for the sake of civilisation and hu-
sianity the gallant offer might hereafter wield only the
'andy weapon. At the same time he expressed his con-
idence that if her Majesty should again require the ser-
vices of her army, General Windham would not draw
he fighting sword in vain, hut would give fresh cause
'or pride to the inhabitants of the county. (Loud cheers )
The health of the gallant general was then drunk amid
enthusiastic cheering.
Major-General WINDHAM, who was received with
fresh bursts of applause, returned thanks. After alluding
to his associations with the county and his long friend.
ship with many then present, be observed, I well re-
member an incident on the 18th of June, 1855, when the
iret attack on the Redan took place, which shows
strongly the attachment of Norfolk men to their county.
[ was not what you would call employed in the attack.
was merely put there in reserve, and I did not run a
bit more danger than any of my friends whom Isee around
ne. I was sent at one time by Sir H. Bentinok to find
out what was going on, and two or three yards ahead o 1
me I saw a man walking in the trench. A round shot
cause and scattered the dust all over him. I thought it
sad killed him, but when the dust subsided I saw an in-
dividual reclining in the trench, with a countenance pre-
-enting a curious admixture of fright and joy. Scratch-
mg his head be said to me, " Well, dash my buttons but
that was most amazin' nigh !" (Laughter.) I said
to him, " Aye, aye, my boy, we had better be digging
.reaches at threepence a rad in Norfolk than fighting
here." The only reply was an expression of astonish-
meet that I should have discovered his native county.
" What du yow to belong to Norfolk 2 " (The success-
ful manner in which the gallant general mimicked the
Norfolk patois excited bursts of laughter.) Lord Albe-
marle has been pleased to pay me some vary great com-
pliments as chief of the staff. I honestly tell you, as I
told the inhabitants of Leamington, that that office was
not nearly so difficult as many would be inclined to
think. I had, both at head-quarters and also in the divi-
sions of the army, a remarkably able lot of young officers
to carry out any oriers which the Cuintnander-in-Chief
issued ; and though I know it is the habit, not of the
press but of individuals who are in the habit of writing
in the papers to constantly insinuate that every Bri-
tish staff officer is something next door to a fool, I beg
leave to tell you that in my humble opinion after a
fey, months' practice, which at the commencement of
the war they undoubtedly required, they were just
as efficient and just as good as the officers of the French
service. I will appeal in support of this remark to the
appearance'of the two armies at the conclusion of the
las:, winter. The magnificent appearance of the army,
gentlemen, has nothing to do with mes I left the gene-
rals of division alone, and it is a remarkably good thing
for any young soldier to know that you had better by
far let a man do his duty without constantly interfering
with him. (Cheers.) If I deserve any credit at all, it
is because I allowed those who sought to do their duty
to do it without interference. (Cheers.) I hope there
is no officer on the staff who can ever say that I either
gave myself airs, gave him a cold shoulder, or refused
to listen to what he had to say, and that I did not im-
mediately do all in my power to make what he wanted
go smooth and easy. The instant I saw he was in-
clined to do his duty properly, it did not matter much
to me whether he took his own method of doing it or
mine, provided it was well done. (Cheers.) I believe I
should say too much for human nature if I were to
say there was no kind of jealousy at my promotion ;
but I must honestly say that many of those over whose
heads I have gone in the Crimea showed me personally
no jealousy. One of the best as well as one of the oldest
soldiers connected with the army there, Major-General
Garrett, who served in the Peninsula when I. was in my
cradle, and who has been twice wounded, came up to me
after my promotion bad been announced, threw his arms,
not like a Frenchman round my neck, but like
an Englishman round my shoulder, and, patting
me on the back, said, " Well, old fellow, I am
charmed at it ; they tent you through a devil of
a fire, but you did it well, and I should be un-
worthy of myself if I felt jealous." That fine old soldier
has not been promoted, but most anxiously do I hope
that both he and many others will be, for I am not one
of those who wish merely to get on myself. I wish to
do so, of course, but I wish also that others who have
done—barring the luck—just as much service as I have,
should, at the end of this great war, meet with some re-
ward. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN gave the other Crimean Heroes con-
nected with Norfolk. The noble lord, in calling on Col.
Hodge to return thanks, referred to his brilliant services
at Balaklava.
Colonel Holm responded to the toast, which was
drunk with loud cheers.
Major-General WINDHAM, in proposing "Our Allies,"
said they bad always acted 'with the greatest cordiality
and good feeling. The gallant general mentioned inci-
dentally that a week before the assault on the Redan
there was no intention on the part of either French or
English to make the attack. When the French, how-
ever, decided on making the attack, the English Com-
mander-in-Chief could not do otherwise than allow the
British army to partake iu it. He (Gen. Windham) had
never heard any French officer reproach the British with
the results of their attack, and he might fairly say that
the French had never exhibited any disrespect towards
us.

The CHAIRMAN, in giving the memory of the brave
who had fallen in the war, referred to the melancholy
deaths of Lieut. Boileau and Lieut. Sparke, both mem•
hers of Norfolk families.
The toast was drunk in silence.
Viscount BURT (son of the chairman), gave " Miss
Nightingale and the ladies who have served their coun-
try abroad and at home." (Loud cheers.)
Lord LIIFFIRLD prOposed the health's of Mrs. Windham
and her sons. (Loud cheers.)
Major• General WINDHAM responded.
Several other toasts of a formal character were given
and responded to, and the company did not separate till
a late hour.

CURIOUS COMPOSITION.—The following is a copy of
an advertisement published by the magistrates of a town
in the north of England, to announce the purchase of a
fire-engine—" Whereas an unaccountable multiplication
of dangers is oftentimes occurred by damage of outrageous
accidences by fire, we whose names is hereunto prefixed,
have thought proper that the benefit of an Indian
bought by us for the better putting out of which, by the
Providence of that gracious goodness, which may unto
us happen, to make a rate to gather from Subscriptions
in the aforesaid parishes for the better propagating of
such useful instruments in such eminent cases of ne-
cessity.

SUICIDE IN A BARBERS SHOP.-0o Saturday morning.
at about half-past 7 o'clock, a middle-aged man entered
the shop of Mr. Rose, a hairdresser, on St. Andrew's-
bill, City, and said he wished to be shaved. Mr. Rose's
daughter was in the shop, and she said that her father
would attend upon him in about a couple of minutes.
He said it did not matter, and that he would shave him-
self. He immediately took a razor from the mantel•shelf,
and going to a corner of the room where there was a
stand containing a basin, with one desperate cut he
nearly severed his head from his body. An alarm was
given by the daughter, and several persons were soon in
attendance, but life was extinct. Upon searching his
clothes nothing was found upon him to give the slightest
clue as to who the man was, only 54d. in copper being
in his possession. He was about 36 years of age, 6 feet
in height, with auburn coloured hair and bushy whit.
kers. Oil his left arm are the letter B and a star, and
on the right Adam and Eve and a tree, and a mole on th,
forehead. He was dressed in a dark check coat, grey
waistcoat, black trowsers, and Wellington boots. Thc
body was removed to the dead house, Holliday-yard, to
await a coroner's inquest.

REFORM IN
_TII.B GOVERNMENT

' OFFICES.

It seems strange enough that in thiafree country,
famous chiefly for skill in politics and for success in
planting its race and institutions throughout the globe,
the service: of Government aheuld enter so little into
men's thoughts when, at the outset of life, they look
about them for a career. Ho* seldom do parents or
friends in their advice to the aeboolboy hold out to him
the honours and promotions Ota public department as
an incentive to exertion f Pais the great multitude of
the active and energetic thee** business in its many
forms, the prospect of gainintahompetence or amassing
wealth in the walks of private life, without any further
interference with national affaice-then is involved in sit-
ting
on a jury or adrninisterinitrimary justice as a town
magistrate. Then there are- professions, more or less
well paid, for the ambitious eibh will take their chance.
Considering that the bar, al( a body, probably spends
more than it earns—that theOhurch, without some pri-
vate fortune or positive aesurihee of preferment, holds
out but a hard lot—that in medicine the extensive prac-
tice, with its rewards and fesne, is a rare prize, it is
wonderful with what an unfailing stream the educated
middle class swell the old legitimate professions. For
these the public school, thi tutor,the university
give their instruction ; threligh , hope of success in
these men of genius, educattim, and energy are con-
tent to pass the flower of. their youth in 'severetoil and still more weary waitPog—with what results of
disappointment and bitternessils too well known. Yet,
whether. the Englishman look to business or profes-
sional life, he still thinks onlihf a private career. It
is not, as in some foreign con 'es, where a risen must
form part of the machine of SZa ate or be -E. tetit
inferiority. Here people olt,"
-bii
emonw -the governett, " in& pu is a airs 'td be ad-
ministered by whoever may gain access to them and
seize on those crumbs of patronage which it is not al-
lowed to every one to reach.
Such has been the state of things in England, and
such it is even now ; but already there are symptoms of
a great change. People begin to recognise both their
rights and duties. In the first place the professions are
overstocked, and there is a yearly increasing class of
men issuing from our improved places of education, who
are by culture and tone of mind averse from the pursuit
of trade. The public service of the present day, re-
quiring no mean powers of mind, and presenting, if not
the prospect of wealth, yet the certainty of a mainten-
ance, the assurance of an honourable and perhaps a high
position, together with the chance of great influence for
doing good and the gratification of a praiseworthy am-
bition, becomes more and more "a great fact" to the
community at large; and not only are a more highly en-
dowed body of men anxioes for admission into official
life, but the public, which cares only for the proper
administration of its affairs, is disposed to second
their aspirations. The nation at large feel that they
have stood too long apart from the proceedings of the
official world. The inhabitants of a country like ours
cannot safely look upon themselves merely as individuals
thrown together by chance, and only concerned each
man with his own pursuit of wealth or pleasure. They
cannot be content with merely demanding security of
life and property and the repeal of restrictive' laws,
leaving a limited class to carry on the business of State,
and to preserve its power at the price of occasional con-
eassions and the use of a conventional language of libe-
rality. The country must be governed not only for, but
by the public ; and that not merely at certain crises, by
outbreaks of national feeling, having the character a'most
of an insurrection, but constantly, regularly, and in de-
tail. A great step towards such a result is the opening
of the Government offices and the chances of a public
career to men recommended only by superior capacity
and diligence. Whether we look on the change as
affording fit employment to meritorious individuals or
as insuring for the State a better dkcbarge of necessary
duties, we can hardly doubt the benefits it will confer,
One part of the reform may now be considered as
achieved ; the victory is half won ' • the service is, or will
be, completely opened, and we doubt not that in a
year or two the event will exercise much influence
on the habits and education of the country. It
remains to perfect what has been begun ; the internal
organisation of the departments must be modified in ac-
cordance with the spirit of the new system. 'Attentive
inspection of conduct, consoientioua promotion of desert,
selection of the best men for important places without
regard to age or connexions, are among the duties of
the statesmen who will superintend the various depart-
ments. In no branch of the service will a deficiency in
these duties fail to be hurtful ; but we may cite the Co-
lonial-office as a department where there is the wildest
field for a bold reformer. Hitherto it cannot be doubted
that the distribution of the highest patronage has bean
distinguished neither by patriotism nor judsmsnt. The
frequent changes in the office of Colonial Secretary,
coupled with many of the appointments made, would
almost seem to intimate that each Minister was only
anxious to embarrass Lis uttzz.:3;.,- gissee him the
most narrow and impracticable trtatin'the tauntry to
'deal with. Lately the necessity df conciliating inde-
pendent colonists has led to the substitution of better
men in certain places ; Canada, Jamaica, and lastly
Victoria, have had good Governors, and now, we be-
lieve, Sir H. Barkly is to be succeeded in Jamaica by
Governor Darling, of Newfoundland, a gentleman
who has acquitted himself ably at several posts, and
who commenced his career in the colony he id no w
to govern. But still it cannot be said that the
vast machine of colonial Government has been worked on
any sound and intelligent principle. The separation be-
tween the Administration at home and the staffs of the
variees colonies seems to us to be prclific of the same
evils as the analogous practice at the Foreigheffice.
Men who have worked in North America, the West
Indies, and Australia, are never brought to London to I
assist the Secretary of State with their practical know-
ledge, while the officials at horse seldom receive advance-
ment to posts abroad which, from the insight they have
gained in the administration of the colonial system as a
whole, they could fill with a better directed energy and
a larger breadth of view. In fact, the local and what we
may call the Imperial administration have always been
considered as two distinct careers, though it is evident
that if we are to retain the idea of the British empire as
unity the relation of the colonies to the mother country
and to each other must be the highest and most neces-
sary study of those who would administer the affairs
of those dependencies. We cannot wonder that a race of
men placed at a distance from the governing country,
with no political responsibilities, and engaged chiefly
on the material concerns of life, should often look at
things with a narrow and somewhat selfish view.
Though Canadians, and Australians, and Cape Cole-
nists are, we believe, soundly loyal, though they respect
and love the mother country, as we have had good
proof in the late war, though they fully appreciate the
generous and self-denying policy of England, at least in
the present generation, it is no matter of surprise that
they should sometimes forget their correlative duties,
and look ouly to the advantage of themselves and their
own territory. The part, then, of the British Governor
and his subordinates, the sole reason why they should
be Englishmen, and not natives of the colony, is that
they should intelligently and effectively correct these
aberrations, and impress on the colonists how far they
should subordinate their owaimpulses to a patriotic and
large-minded Imperial policy. To do this fittingly what
education is so necessary as that of the Colonial-office
at home, where a man becomes acquainted with the
various characters and wants of many communities, and
is able to show those whose waywardness is only the
result of their want of information how the rights they
demand may be wrongs to their countrymen in some
other part of the globe, or inconsistent with the well-
being of the mother country, which has created and
which defends their society ? Yet, how, often hitherto
has a General or a Post-Captain been sent out, who
hardly knows a British colony when he sees its name,
much loss the relations of the various dependencies to
the mother country and the policy which it has been the
desire of the most eminent statesmen to uphold !
Surely one of the men who has helped to adminis-
ter from London the affairs of some 50 of these
communities must have learnt something which_ will
make him more capable than a military or political
partisan who knows nothing of colonial or any other
government ? And surely when a governor or local
secretary has been in a colony for years be must have
something to tell the department at horse whioh is
worth listening to, and might be fairly purchased by
an appointment on the central staff? Now that we are
really getting superior men in the public service, and
testing them by severe examination and training, it is
as well to turn them to account • for neither they nor
the public will long suffer that ;hey should have no
better fortune than to labour in obscurity for the glory
of their official chiefs.—Times.