The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-16
THE BRITISH DIPLOMA TIC SERVICE
Those best acquainted with tho British

Those best acquainted with tho British
diplomatic service to-day complain OF the singu-
lar lack Of ability in 1t. Thorc are said to DO
scarcely half dozen mon in II with n rcputa-
ton for capacity. and competent member OF
the service not long since expressed the opinion
that. unless II change for tho bottor took place.
tho Government would have 10 depend moro
and more on outsiders. Mr.. Layard. now at
Constantinopc comes undor the latter desg-
nation. 1t Is q fair presumption that he was
pressed into the service at critical iuncture
because there was no insider available.
The conditions OF tho diplomatic career have
changed very much for the worse OF late years.
The erection OF the kingdom Of Italy and OF the
German empire swept away q lot OF snug things,
as for example, Naples. whore Sir William
Hamilton and his beautiful Emma whiled away
so many pleasant days. and where. later, Lord
palmorston's lazy brother passed n long life in
doing nothing. AS Munich, Dresden, Frank
fort, Baden and many other delightful littlo
retreats wore obiteratod from tho list tho un
happy attaches heart sank within him. Tho
minor prizes OF tho profession are gone. and an
ordinary attache has about rs much chance OF
tho Embassy at Paris tho blue ribbon Of the
servcel az an ordinary Tomplar OF the Wool
sack.
The pay Ia poor tho work. for tho most part.
light; for man fond Of society tho liio IL. ON
tho whole, agreeable. II has its drawbacks
however There ia the chance OF exile TO tho
South American ropublios md other dun
nIocas Auochss cannot hone IN 1.-Two in paris
md Vienna nil the time. There IA n good deal
~ lucl, in ,lis ma In o,her nrofessions For M
annie. many nconlea Mt Washington will romem-
Mr.. George Sheffield. He had the good fortune
to take the fancy Of Lord Lyons and became
his privato secretary. A private secretary really
bos nm enviahe position: although his nav ia
no, large. ns oompared with professional and
mercantile incomes. he hasn't penny of OK
pense. IIe lives with his chief who always
koons n bnndsome tablo lord Iyons's ia re.
putel the best in Parlsl. and draws from IL 900
Ia Al 200 n venr ma priynto socretary In addition
10 his regular BAY.
Itisa nnrt OF tho Foreign Onlce instructlons to
oltacbss-now called secrotarles arst. second
third-that they 20 into society and mako them
selves thoroupblv acouaint.d with the country
TO which they arc sent. Some years ago the
then Foreign Secretary hit upon n method of
utilizing ,hoir sorylces by recurring from them
roports ON the state of trade. various industries
"a nil over tho ulole Astho renorts nre nre.
sented to Parliament. and liuble to La oritieised
Lv thosa haVin. n anncinl na,uaintnncn with the
subiects carelessness will moi do. n single neg.
li,,ent and Inaccurate rnrort p,iyht sertousIy
nfroc, Tho nro.nec,s NJ tho man unkingit 7, IL
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