The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-14 00:00:00

THE GOVERNING CLASS.

(From. the Times.) i The art of printing is a marvellous invention.
The author of Eothen may always be sure of That it is fraught with incalculable benefits to the
commanding the attention, even when he fails to i human race is a proposition long past the need of
obtain the suffrages, of a constituency. Nor will proof, and one which we ourselves should be the
his claims on such attention or the numbers of his very last to dispute. But, as the best things are
auditors be diminished when he takes for his text open to abuse, the reader will perhaps feel less
the pleasing theme of the inferiority of the govern- surprise than sorrow at hearing, upon very good
ing class to the persons whom he addresses. Facile authority, that "at least one half the printing in
spud Athenienses Athenas laudare. It would not this country is absolutely thrown away." A
be difficult for a less accomplished candidate than good many people would be prepared, no doubt,
Mr. Kinglake to excite sympathy and applause by to accept this saying with considerable latitude of
a profession which must appeal so strongly to the application, but we must premise at once that the
sell-love of his audience. subject matter of the complaint is not general lite-
Mr. Kinglake's creed is thus enunciated :—" I rature, nor, indeed, any particular branch thereof,
am strongly of opinion that the high offices of this as usually understood. The remark of Mr. M'Cul-
country are mainly distributed among persons of loch, who represents the authority appealed to,
particular families, and belonging to a particular was levelled against the printing executed for the
class in society, without due regard to their quali- public service ; and, since the types as well as the
fication for holding them. And what is the result ? tongues of our legislators will now very shortly
Why, that in a country abounding in intelligence be put in motion again, we should like to bespeak
and business-like power there is always one firm a little consideration for one branch of the question
that is breaking down, and that is the firm of the concerned. It will not_have been forgotten, we
Government." And upon this theme Mr. King- dare say, that a select committee inquired into this
lake dilates at length. It is undoubtedly a taking subject in 1854, and continued their researches in
theme, and one that will afford immediate delec- 1855, and it is from their report that the principal
tation on the spot even if it produce no material information is to be derived.
fruits in the end. It cannot Ise denied that our The office through which payments for public
rulers belong to a caste. They are not all chosen printing are made is the Stationery-office, at the
from our Smiths, Joneses, Browns, and Robinsons. door of which it is the duty of Mr. M'Culloch, as
The humblest English peasant may, if he so like it, Controller, to stand guard in defence of the tree-
proudly luxuriate in contemplating the names of sures contained, and very efficiently does he appear
the Dukes, Marquises, and Lords who condescend to discharge this salutary function. "If I,"
to do his business for him. He is governed and said he, " were to be in the least degree what is
directed, and has laws made for him, by men called liberal,' you would very soon have the bill
whose ancestors were lords when his ancestors were for printing and stationery up to 1,000;000/. a
serfs. That is one phase of the picture. But year, and it would not stop even there." Under
there is another phase. Among the "lordly" such circumstances we ought to be thankful that
class are men whose fathers were, not so very the actual charge figures for less than half that
long age, in his own position ; but, of what- amount, but the case requires more analysis still.
ever descent, the Lords predominate in the The demand thus made (458,275/. in the last esti-
Administration, and of the Commoners those mates) includes the expenses, not only of printing,
who fill the most prominent positions are of but of stationery, and the comprehensiveness of
lordly stock or lordly affinity. So far a case this latter item will be appreciated when we state
is made out, and it is one well adapted for the that it includes not only writing materials for the
basis of a sentimental grievance. But Mr. King- several public departments, but paper for the cart-
lake has overlooked one point to which as a lawyer ridges which the military and naval services require.
he could not have been, though as a candidate he The quantity of " stationery," in fact, which was
might be, blind. The constitution admits of our despatched on this errand to the East, combined
Executive being supplied only from the Legislative with other exigencies of the war, had the effect of
body. We cannot give the Treasury to any leading just about doubling the estimates between 1853
banker, or the Home Secretaryship to the first and 1854. Taking now the first step in the way
country squire or provincial attorney that we meet. of discrimination, we observe that in 1854 the
The men who govern this nation are responsible to total cost of printing for the public service was
Parliament, and must, therefore, sit in Parliament. put at something betweeen 100,0001. and 110,000/.,
It is by their efficiency in Parliament that their and that the value of the paper directly con-
fitness for administrative posts is tested. If there sumed in this work was about 100,0001. more.
are more men of aristocratic birth in the Executive, This enables us, therefore, in pursuing the present
it is because there are more of that class in Parlia- object of our remarks, to eliminate- about a quer-
ment. Perhaps this is wrong, and to be regretted 1 ter of a million sterling from the discussion,
and amended. But it is a fact. There is a very and to reduce the actual sum under consideration
large proportion of this class which came into the to 200,0001., or thereabouts. • But this printing
House of Commons before the Reform era and has for the public service is not all Parliamentary
continued to legislate ever since. Some of these printing. A large amount of work is performed
men remain in the House of Commons ; others have for the various departments of Government in the
gone to the Lords. But, whether in the Lords or shape of forms, circulars, returns, tax-papers, &c.,
the Commons, their long political career has given so that when we come to look at Parliamentary
an amount of political experience which must make printing alone, the outlay involved is again dimi-
men who are willing to turn it to use almost indis- nished by fully one-half; in fact, " printing and
pensable in forming a Government. If we admit paper for printing for both houses, Reports and
it as a grievance that these men are not selected Acts," appear in last year's estimates as a charge
indifferently from all classes of society, we must computed at just 100,0001. How this may have
blame the constituencies, and not the constitution. been divided between the two houses we cannot
We may argue that the Lords ought not to mono- exactly say, but it seems, from a return on the
polise an Administration, but we must admit also subject, that in 1853 the printing for the House of
that, if they devote themselves to public business, Commons cost 65,0001., so that something less,
they ought not to be excluded from all share in ad- perhaps, than a third of the whole may he appor-
ministration. We do not wish—and we presume tioned to the Lords.
Mr. Kinglake does not wisk—to reduce them to In the House of Commons the control in these
the condition of Spanish Grandees and Italian matters rests with the Printing Committee a
rrincipi. If the country wishes to be governed committee appointed for the purpose of assisting
by another class of men it must send another class the Speaker, upon whom in the first place the re-
to Parliament. sponsibility devolves. At this point, however, yet
But are we quite sure that, in such an event, it another distinction must be drawn—it is not every
would be governed better ? We are willing to piece of printing which comes under the cognisance
concede all that the most clamorous agitators will of the Speaker and his assessors. Every session, as
tell us about the ignorance and incapacity of cer- our readers will remember, papers are presented to
tain heads of departments. Of many of them—not both Houses "by command," a category which
in this or in any one particular Ministry, but in all includes the reports of commissions, and over
alike—we can truly aver that they are singularly these the Printing Committee has no power what-
unfitted for their special duties. Men whom occa- ever. Working our way, therefore, by degrees to
sional business or official ties have made conversase, the desired residuum, we discover that the whole
with the machinery of different departments have amount that ever comes under the control of the
hundreds of stories to tell respecting the wondrous Printing Committee of the House of Commons is,
ignorance of their chiefs. This is all true. But with upon the average, about 24,0001. a-year. We (i.e.,
a different race of men are we at all sure of getting the management) have no control beyond that, nor
a superior class ? Under any circumstances the any cognisance of it in any way." A large pxopor-
heads of our Administration must be, to a certain tion, therefore, of what is called Parliamentary
extent, speakers and debaters. This is their first printing is not under the control of Parliament.
indispensable qualification. Are the men of great Now, the question is how to reduce expenses
and solid acquiremeats sure of recommending them- which are allowed upon all hands to have acquired
selves to the suffrages of the electors throughout an unnecessary magnitude. Very likely the cost of
the United Kingdom ? Is a man of special and the work performed may be reduced by and bye,
profound knowledge and thoroughly qualified for as the reportpoints out, when the terms of perform-
departmental administration likely to be always ance come under revision ; but, as a most compe-
equally well qualified for Parliamentary debate ? tent witness pointedly deposed, " the greatest sae-
Mr. Kinglake urges the reproach that "in acoun- ing which you can effect is by preventing the priut-
try abounding in intelligence and business power" ing of unnecessary documents." That the ease has
the El-overnment should be the only firm always its difficulties Mr. M'Culloch himself admits. The
breaking down. Now, it seems to us that recent very life of our national institutions is publicity, and
events give to this complaint the appearance of even the expedient of selection or compression be-
irony. Certainly a retrospect of the last year does come full of hazard where the least suspicion of
not enable us to triumph in the superiority of corn- "garbling" would destroy the whole value of the
mercial integrity or commercial adroitness over the proceeding. Where lie the advantages of an inquiry
integrity and skill of the Government. The middle if the results are not to be made known? We must
classes of this country have a vast field of adminis- perforce assume that the investigations in question
tration in their banks, railways, and joint-stock are useful, or they need never have been set
companies. Knowledge, economic and financial, on foot, so that to suppress the information which
vigilance, method, and integrity are as indispeas- may have been collected would be like ignoring the
able on their part as ou that of any Government. advantages of printing altogether. Yet that things
Yet how often within the last twelve months—to go are carried too far there is no denying. The report
back no further—how often have the most critical upon the Hull Election cost 3,0001. Application
difficulties and distress been caused by the absence was once made to the Stationery-office for " a map
of these very qualities in associations created of Ireland, showing the situation of every one of
and controlled by the mercantile classes ? What the schools which are under the management of the
reason is there for supposing that the government Commissioners of National Education." This was
of the country would be better carried on if it were refused, but Mr. M'Culloch points out an " abuse
confided to the hands of such men as administered of printing" in the appendix to the second volume
the property of the Crystal Palace, directed the of the Wine Duties Report, which contains "a table
management of the Great Northern Railway, or of 234 pages of what is called vattings of wine in
originated that splendid institution of the Royal the different docks.' " "There is not," he adds,
British Bank "I believe, a sane person in the empire who ever
As long as we have Parliamentary government read one line of it, or ever will. But, though per-
we must be governed by Lords and M.P.'s ; arid fectly useless, it occupies 234 pages, and 1,750
we are bound to say that, judging from experience, copies were printed and circulated at the public
the Lords are not the worst element of this kind of expense."
government. To the discussion of great subjects of The remedies suggested by the committee on
public interest the Lords bring an eloquence, an this head are exceedingly reasonable, and will re-
argumentative and critical treatment, and a novelty- ceive, we trust, due effect. Tbey recommended
of illustration which a four nights' debate in the that au extension of powers should be conferred
Commons does not often elicit. A debate in which upon the Printing Committee, so as to embrace the
Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Darby, Lord Ellenborougo, reports of commissions, and that all reports should
and Lord Granville take part is far more interest- first be printed with the evidence only, leaving the
ing than most which the Commons can nowadays appendices subject to special decision by the Print-
produce on the same subject, and whoever has had ing Committee, acting under the directions of the
to conduct business before them both will admit house, and in communication with the persons from
that the Lords' committees are at least equal to whom the reports proceed. Generally speaking
those of the Commons. We doubt whether any the actual reports or conclusions at which commit-
change which the constituencies are likely to make tees arrive lie in a very small compass, the bulk of
in the composition of the Lower House will improve the volume being formed by the evidence and ap-
the component parts of our Administration. Ever pendix attached. Two very well informed wit-
.since the era of the Reform Bill there has been, on nesses—Mr. M`Culloch and Mr. Vardon—recom-
the part of the towns, a growing tendency in favour mended the publication, in the first instance, of
of the aristocracy of wealth. ,The rich retired reports only, but we concur entirely in the opinion
tradesman, the cornfactor, the woolstapler, and the of the committee, that the evidence on which the re-
provincial attorney are at present the ordinary port is based should not be withheld. It deserves
choice of the borough voters. We do not quarrel to be noticed that, though the cost of papers "by
with such a selection, but surely it would be depre- command" has been rising materially, that of
cated by none more than by those of whom Mr. the documents under the control of the Printing
Kinglake may be taken as a type—men whose high Committee has of late been diminished, while the
intellect and fastidious refinement at the same interest attaching to such publications generally
time qualify them for pronouncing. on the merits seems indicated by some increase in their sale.
of the candidates for high office, and indispose them The demand, however, is still but small, except
to join in a competition too often soiled by an ig- in cases of special attraction, such as, we are as-
noble pursuit ot self-interest, and an ignoble forget- sured, are the Bank Charter, Coal-mines, and Mar-
fulness of self-respect. riage with a Deceased Wife's Sister. The ordinary
rule under the Printing Committee is to strike off
1,000 copies of a document, of which 700 are de-
livered to the House, 100 reserved for permanent
et,loOseoaldantaio
demand.regular suTbhsecrriebpenrsr,taannfdeloomomleisf-t
stOs
supply
sions,
on the other hand, run from 1,750 to 5,000
copies—a source of great additional expense, though
the interest taken in the subject may occasionally be
considerable, and in one instance, where 10,000
copies of certain documents were ordered, a plea of
justification was put in, as we think, to good pur-
pose.
We should greatly regret to see any check given
to usages which conduce, however circuitously, to
the diffusion of knowledge on public affairs, but,
considering that a vast amount of " printing for
the public service" ends only in the production of
waste papers it is obviously desirable to retrench
an expenditure so plainly unremunerative. The
extent of waste, in fact, may be the measure of
economy. We think not merely a cheap sale, but
even a gratuitous distribution of Parliamentary
papers, likely in some instances to be attended
with advantage. There can be no benefit, how-
ever, in
publications or copies which are never
issued. The waste paper of the House of Commons
accumulated at one time to such an extent that
the reduction of the cost of warehouses to store it
in became a matter of consideration ; and Mr.
Vardon estimated in 1855 h
devoted to this purpose would be got rid of under
the improved management.t n three
this
wda
irreeheotiuosiej
therefore, may reforms be applied without any
danger to the publicity of business or prejudice to
the labours of those persons whose researches and
reflections the documents embody.—Times.

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, JAN. 13.
The market is exceedingly fat to-day, The reaction in
the cotton market is inducing buyers to hold back, in the
expectation that goods will be cheaper, and in addition
to this commercial advict:•s from India and the news from
China are exercising an unfavourable influence. Some
kinds of longcloths, T clothe, and printers are in fair de-
mand at full rates, but for most other kinds of clothe,
where any business is doinc,, prices are rather easier. The
same influences have prevailed in the yarn-market, which
bas been inanimate throughout the day, with rather
easier rates.

Messrs. John Stagg and Co. report on the cloth mar.
ket :

" Owing to the change which has come over the cot-
ton market within the last few days, and to the unfa-
vourable accounts by telegraph from India and China,
buyers have shown even less disposition to operate than
they have done since the late advance, and we have to
'report a very dull, inanimate market. As regards prices
we make no change in our quotations ; but with the ex-
ception of certain qualities of T-cloths, longcloths, and
printers, for which there is a moderate demand, the ten-
dency is in favour of buyers, and, were offers made for
sufficient quantities, no doubt a slight concession would
be made from the rates of Tuesday last."
LEEDS, JAN. 13.
. _

A good active demand has been experienced in the
cloth halls this morning, and there have also been some
tolerably large deliveries of cloth direct from the manu-
facturers to the merchants. The tone of the woollen
trade in the town and district continues healthy, with
prices very firm.
The report of the Huddersfield woollen market to-diy
is as follows :—"Many buyers in taar,iet, but purchases
marked with considerable caution, in anticipation of a
change in price?. Shepherds' plaids, mixtures, and Ulu
cheaper fancies find the readiest sales. Low goods are
soon bought up. Wool is still slight.y going up.e

Letters from Senegal of December 5 announce the
dkath of Mohammed Sidi. the chief of the Bracknap,
who was one of the most determined adversaries of
French domination, and who, in consequence of the
expedition of last October, had retired into the desert.
This chief was an ally of the King of Trarzas, who
himself took to flight to escape from the French troops,

STAMP DUTY ON DEEDs.—The amount realised by
the stamp duty en ddejs4, an,.!
,other iustrumeutA, it} the
year ended Mara, was 1,224,41.