The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-02 00:00:00

THE STAMP ACTS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to
Mr. Crawford, said active measures were now being taken.
for the cansolidation of the stamp acts. (Hear, hear.)
PROMO "LION BY MERIT.

On the motion for the house going into committee for
the consideration of the army estimat,s,
Mr. ,c. BUXTON called attention to the late appoint-
ment of the deputy-master of the Mint. The situation
had remained vacant f3r a considerable time, and it was
fully to be expected that the gentleman who would have
received the appointment was Mr. Mushett, the
chief clerk, woo was in every way fitted for
the duty. Such a course had not been followed,
but the gentleman who bad the good fortune to get the
appointment was the private secretary of the right hon.
member for Buckingham, who received the appointment
but a few days before the late Goverment quitted office.
The gentleman who had been appointed had no ex-
perience in the duties to be performed, and the gentleman
who had been pissed over had been a great number of
years in the Miut, and was in every way qualified for the
performance of the duties required of the Deputy Master
of the Mint. He thought the greatest danger was to be
apprehended if promotion by merit was to be set aside in
favour of nomination by powerful friends.
Mr. DISRAELI said the appointment had been made
with a view to the public efficiency. It was not
a fact that the late appointment had been made as a
reward for political partizanship. The gentleman he had
appointed, it was true, had held the office of his private
secretary, but when the filling the appointment was first cot -
silered, the claims of Mr. Mushett were fully considered.
It was thought that fresh blood was wanted in the Mint,and
after the most deliberate consideration Mr.Freemantle was
appointed. Ile had received a letter fioni the Master of the
Mint, who entirely approved of the appointment; and he
was of opinion tit ;t great public advantage would result to
the public service by it.
Mr. GLADSTONE said it appeared to him that the
answer of the right hon. gentleman opposite must be quite
satisfactory to the hon. gentleman who had brought the
subject forward. Mr. Free-mantle was not the first
gentleman appointed to the Miut, not previously
holding an appointment in that establishment,
as Captain ILtruess was appointed to the establishment
from outside, and a batter public servant could not have
been had. (Hear, hear.) lie thought the explanation of
the right hon. gentleman perfectly straightforward and
quite satisfactory. (Hear. hear.)
THE SLAVE TRADE.

Mr. J. LOWTHER moved for a return of the forces
employed during each of the past twelve years upon the
West Coast of Africa, together with the annual cost, the
rate of mo.tality, and the sanitary condition of the forces.
A brief discussion followed, during which Mr. Childers
said that it was gratifying to kuiw that the slave trade on
the West Coast had ceased to exist---(hear, bear) but it
was necessary to keep some ships there for the protection
of commerce. Thu information the hon. gentleman asked
for. it was stated, was already on the table of the house.
The motion IV:1S eventually withdrawn.
THE NAVY ESTIMATES.

The house then went into committee.
Mr. WELDERS proposed to proceed to voting tho
navy estimates.
Mr. CORRY moved that vote 10, sec. 1, be reduced by
the sum of £lO,OOO.

I LEFT SITTING.]

LONDON GAZETTE-THIS EVENING.