The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-18 00:00:00

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

An octavo volume of some 300 pages, the colour
of which may be best described by comparing it to
that of Mr. Drummond's proposed " rifle" uniform,
contains the fourth report of her Majesty's Civil
Service Commissioners, with copious appendices,
statistical tables, specimens of caligraphy and
cacography, examination papers in Hindoo;
Sanscrit, and many other, highly curious and
indescribable things. The principles of the -
-ssioners
havin(tgivistibtiiceaelnacfeuolulynteoxfptlhaeinoerdd,indanrdy
the details
relitptioertms,otrheethparensaenstta
nroceedings described in former
t.,,,
examinations conducted unde;s-tPhPle:
tri compriseson)
superintend-
ence. The regulations made under the Order in
Council of 1855, by the various departments of the
civil service, presenting the subjects for examination,
underwent but little change in 1858. It is inferred
that the system has worked satisfactorily,_and with
that inference before them the commissioners have
been unwilling to disturb the existing arrange-men&
by any experimental alterations. The principal
exception to this general acquiescence has occurred
in respect to the regulations in force at the Foreign-
office for the examination of attaches. The total num-
ber of nominations made in 1858 to situations to
which the Order in Council has been applied was
2,258 against 2,189 in 1857, and 2,432 in 1850.
The total number of nominations made from the
commencement of the commission to the 31st of
March, 1859, is 8,939; the number of persons actually
examined in the same period was 7,371; certificates
were granted in 4,514 cases and refused in 1,117.
Of the nominations last year 1,425 were single
nominations, without any reference to competition,
and 833 nominations of candidates as competitors
for one or more situations. Certificates upon single
nominations were granted during the year in-
cases, and in 292 cases certificates were refused on.
the ground of deficiency of knowledge in the pro-
scribed- subjects. 280 were refused, in fact,
fop-
deficiency in spelling or arithmetic, or in both, aul
only o
in othersubjects not in=
v
arithmetic. The unfavourable
sta
11 t and'com t
nt
conclusion
1 v n six
g spelling for incompetency o n
o ipr e t nfey
t
the number of candidates should be increased so u-
e atde
candidates
thetes induces
u w o
practicalc°
to bear a larger proportion to the vacancies, and
that 3 to 1, the present proportion, is insufficient."
The commissioners defend their system of examina-
tionagainstia t heform
callingidab ~ formidable
cramming
g;"
that it induces
i s
to
say, the practice of speculating on the questions
likely to be proposed, getting up only limited por-
w commonly
tions of subjects, and learning by rote. The com-
missioners demur to this objection, and deny that
"cramming" of this kind is available under- their
system. Another objection, that the standard of
examination is too high for the duties required, is
also answered. The only important alteration
made in the conduct of the examination of candi-
dates for service in India, as compared with those
that had taken place under the Indian Board,
was the extension of the viva voce examina-
tion. The commissioners, who enter at length
into the subject of these examinations for
Indian offices (the Act of last session having mate-
rially affected their functions quoad hoc), say that
they look forward with great interest to the next
examination in July. The number of vacancies
(40) which will then be filled up, and the increased
chances of success thus held out will, doubtless,
attract a considerably larger number of candidates
than 67, the number that appeared at the last exa...
mination. The advantages appertaining to an
Indian " writership" are strongly urged by the
commissioners in contrast to the hopeless uncer-
, tainty of the " bar" and the beggarly pittance
assigned to ministers of the church at home.