521 SUPPLEMENT. SIR, AUDIT OFFICE. Mr. Macaulay to the Civil Service Commissioners. Audit Office, Somerset House, 26th April 1861. I AM directed by the Commissioners for Auditing the Public Alteration in Accounts to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 15th scheme of exainstant, by which you transmit a copy of a correspondence which has mination for Clerks. recently passed between the Treasury and the office of the Civil Service Commissioners with reference to the recommendations contained in the report of the Committee of the House of Commons on Civil Service appointments, and in which you state that the Civil Service Commissioners will be glad to receive any observations with which the Commissioners of Audit may be disposed to favour them on the proposed plans of examination. It appears by the correspondence transmitted with your letter, that it has been decided that in future there are to be two examinations for candidates to junior situations in offices under the Treasury, the one a test examination and the other competitive; that the test examination is to be confined to those subjects a knowledge of which is essential for the due performance of the duties of the department, and that in the competitive examination no addition is to be made to the subjects at present prescribed except with approval of the heads of the different departments. The present standard of examination for the Audit Office is low when compared with that of other offices whose duties are somewhat analogous, and may thus have a tendency to act to the disadvantage of the office. Under these circumstances the Commissioners of Audit would propose that the following should be the list of prescribed subjects for the second or competitive examination, viz. :— 1. Exercises designed to test handwriting and orthography. 2. Arithmetic, including vulgar and decimal fractions. 3. Three first books of Euclid. 4. English composition. 8. Translation from one of the following modern languages, viz., French, Italian, or German. I am further directed to request that the Commissioners of Audit may be informed whether the Civil Service Commissioners concur in the above suggestions. SIR, I have, &c. Mr. Maitland to Mr. Macaulay. Civil Service Commission, In reply to your letter of the 26th instant, communicating by desire of the Commissioners for Auditing the Public Accounts a list of subjects proposed for the second or competitive examination of candidates nominated to junior situations in this establishment, I am directed by the Civil Service Commissioners to state that they will regulate their examinations in conformity with the wishes of the Board of Audit, and that they entertain a confident hope that the step Limits of age FOREIGN OFFICE. Mr. Hammond to the Civil Service Commissioners. GENTLEMEN, Foreign Office, 20th March 1861. I AM directed by Lord John Russell to acquaint you that his and subjects of Lordship will shortly send before you for examination some candidates examination for for the appointment of Student Interpreter in China. Student Interpreters in China. As this is the first occasion on which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has requested your assistance in ascertaining the fitness of candidates for such appointments, Lord John Russell directs me to explain to you that the object which it is desired to arrive at by the examination is not so much the extent of knowledge now possessed by the candidates as their capacity for acquiring knowledge hereafter. General intelligence, therefore, is a primary qualification, and as a test of the possession of it, Lord John Russell attaches great importance to précis writing. Subordinate to these points, Lord John Russell would specify orthography, handwriting, the first four rules of arithmetic, the first four books of Euclid, translation from Latin into English, translation from French into English, and a general knowledge of modern geography. These subjects Lord John Russell considers will be sufficient to test whether the candidates have had the advantage of a liberal education, which it is desirable should have been the case. It is probable that some of the candidates who will appear before you may have a certain knowledge of the Chinese language, but from the information which has reached him with regard to the influence which such knowledge acquired out of China is likely to have on the study of the language in China, Lord John Russell is not disposed to lay any stress upon it in the examination before the Civil Service Commissioners, or even to suggest it as a subject for examination. I need scarcely add, that steadiness of character, habits of application and good bodily health are points to which it is desirable that attention should be paid. The climate of China, at least, in some parts of the country, is represented to be very trying to English constitutions, though in what particulars it is so Lord John Russell is unable to state. Lord John Russell is aware that the probability of acquiring such a language as the Chinese must necessarily be increased if the study of it is commenced at an early age; but his Lordship would not think it right to send out to China a youth under 16 years of age, and as the rules of the Commission require a limit to be laid down, his Lordship will name from 16 years complete to 20 years complete as the limit of age. Lord John Russell intends on the present occasion to send before the Commissioners a greater number of candidates than there are appointments to be filled up, and he will be prepared to accept for the appointments those who, on competition, may be considered by the Commissioners most deserving. But before he takes any further steps for nominating the candidates, Lord John Russell would be glad to receive the opinion of the Commissioners on the scheme of examination which is now proposed. Lord John Russell, however, would wish to reserve to himself the power of modifying that scheme hereafter, either as regards the subjects of examination, the age of the candidates, or competitive examination, in case circumstances, in regard to which he would, of course, communicate with the Commissioners, should in his judgment render it expedient to do so. The Commissioners will readily understand that in a matter so important for the public interests as the proper selection of candidates for appointments in China, the Secretary of State cannot tie himself down to an invariable rule, which might in that case operate disadvantageously, by excluding persons well qualified for the public service, or by prescribing tests either inadequate to or in excess of the requirements of the case. I have, &c. Mr. Hammond to the Civil Service Commissioners. GENTLEMEN, Foreign Office, 20th April 1861. I AM directed by Lord John Russell to acquaint you with reference Exception to to my letter of the 20th ultimo respecting the nomination of candidates limits of age for Student Infor the appointment of Student Interpreter in China and Japan, that it terpreters in has been represented to him that certain students of King's College, China and London, who had been qualifying themselves for such appointments Japan. under the expectation that, as on former occasions, an opening would be afforded them for entering Her Majesty's Service in China, have, by reason of the delay which from political circumstances occurred in filling up vacancies, passed beyond the age which, after due consideration, had been assigned for the appointments now about to be competed for; and as Lord John Russell would much regret that these students should be debarred from competing for the vacant appointments, his Lordship proposes to extend the limit of age, for this time only, to 25 years complete. I am at the same time to state to you that the number of candidates will be somewhat above 30, and that the appointments to be competed for will be 10, namely, eight for China and two for Japan; and I am to request that you will cause Lord John Russell to be informed whether the first Tuesday in June will suit your convenience for their examination. I have, &c. SIR, HOME OFFICE. Mr. Maitland to Mr. Waddington. Civil Service Commission, I AM directed by the Civil Service Commissioners to transmit the Interpretation enclosed copy of a document which has been forwarded to this office by of the phrase Mr. C. S. In order to understand Mr. C. S.'s reason for obtaining the "Natural-born subject of Her licence and taking the prescribed oath, it is necessary to bear in mind Majesty," in that, by the Act 21 & 22 Vict. c. 106, for the better government of Regulations for India, no person, not being a natural-born subject of Her Majesty, is the Civil Seradmissible as a candidate for an appointment in the Civil Service of vice of India. India, and that consequently, under the circumstances appearing in the Interpretation memorial as recited, Mr. S. is not qualified, unless he has become so by the effect of the licence and subsequent proceedings. of the phrase "Natural-born subject of Her Majesty," in Regulations for the Civil Ser vice of India. The Commissioners do not feel competent to decide this question for themselves, and presuming that similar cases must previously have been brought under the cognizance of the Home Office, they request the opinion of Secretary Sir George Lewis for their guidance. It may be worth while to observe that the later of the two statutes (36 Geo. 3. c. 48) contains a clause enacting that nothing therein contained shall be construed to extend to qualify any person naturalized under its provisions, to hold any office or place of trust under His Majesty, his heirs or successors; and it may also be remarked that the licence is on the face of it somewhat inconsistent with itself, inasmuch as the statutes cited require an intention to settle in Ireland, while the memorial assigns as the ground of the application a wish to enter the Civil Service of India. Whereas by an Act passed in the 19th & 20th years of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing such foreign merchants, "traders, artificers, artizans, manufacturers, workmen, seamen, and farmers and others "as should settle in this Kingdom, it is enacted that all foreign merchants, traders, "artificers, artizans, manufacturers, workmen, seamen, farmers, and others who should "transport him, her, or themselves, to settle in any part of this kingdom, and take the "oath in the said Act mentioned, shall be deemed liege free and natural subjects of this "kingdom." And whereas doubts having arisen whether persons not being of the description of merchants, manufacturers, tradesmen, seamen, or farmers would be, under the words or spirit of the said Act, entitled to the benefit thereof, it is enacted by an Act passed in the 30th year of the reign of His said late Majesty, intituled, "An Act to explain and "amend an Act entitled an Act for naturalizing such foreign merchants, traders, "artificers, manufacturers, workmen, seamen, farmers, and others as shall settle in this "kingdom," that all and every person or persons, of whatsoever description, who now is or are resident in this kingdom, or who shall hereafter transport him, her, or themselves, to settle in any part of this kingdom, after his, her, or their taking the oath (or affirmation of a Quaker) prescribed by the said recited Act of the 19th & 20th years of His said late Majesty, before the chief magistrate of any city or town corporate in this kingdom for the time being, who is by the said Act authorized to administer such oath or affirmation unto such person or persons, and to certify in writing, under his hand, his, her, or their doing thereof, unto His Majesty's High Court of Chancery, there to remain on record, shall be deemed, adjudged, and reputed liege, free, and natural subject or subjects of this kingdom in every respect, condition and degree, to all intents, constructions, and purposes, as if he, she or they, had been or were born within this kingdom; and such person or persons shall be entitled to take, hold, and enjoy any lands, tenements, hereditaments, and premises in this kingdom, either by purchase, descent, or otherwise, as a natural-born subject of this kingdom could take, hold, and enjoy the same; any law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always, that no person or persons whatever shall be entitled to the benefit of the said Act, who shall not previously have obtained a licence from the chief governor or governors for the time being, in Council, of his or their being a fit and proper person to be naturalized; which licence he or they shall produce to such magistrate before he shall administer, or be authorized to administer, the said oath; and the said licence shall be filed, together with the magistrate's certificate, in the said Court of Chancery, there to remain on record. -, an And whereas C. S., of, and now residing at, hath by his memorial represented unto us that he was born near, in France, and is son of the late officer serving with the rank of colonel in the French army, and of Mary, his wife, a natural-born British subject. That in the year 1852, some time after the decease of the said -, he came with his mother to reside in this country, his mother being then married to the Reverend ———————, of -, County That after the decease of the mother of memorialist, he was placed under the care of guardians, viz., the Rev. -, his stepfather; -, his maternal uncle, of —, Sussex; and, of- London; and has always since resided with his stepfather and guar dian, the Reverend That all his relatives with whom memorialist has kept up any intercourse are naturalborn British subjects, and reside in Her Majesty's dominions; and all his property is vested in landed securities in England. That memorialist is now an undergraduate in the University of Dublin, having been educated at and intends shortly to offer himself as a competitor at the public ex- Interpretation amination in London for appointments in Her Majesty's Civil Service in India. 66 of the phrase That memorialist is anxious, therefore, to become a naturalized subject of Her Majesty Natural-born the Queen, and is willing to take all such oaths of allegiance as are required by the statute. subject of Her And therefore praying for a licence of naturalization accordingly. Majesty," in Now we, the Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, by and with Regulations for the advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council in Ireland, do hereby grant our licence to the the Civil Sersaid C. S., as a fit and proper person to become a liege, free, and natural subject of this vice of India. kingdom, in every respect, according to the true intent and meaning of the said recited Acts of Parliament. Given at the Council Chamber in Dublin, the eighteenth day of February 1859. (Signed) JOSEPH NAPIER. R. KEATINGE. Enrolled in the office of the Rolls of Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery, in Ireland, on the ninth day of March 1859. (Signed) JOHN REILLY. SIR, Mr. Waddington to Mr. Maitland. Whitehall, 5th June 1860. I AM directed by Secretary Sir George Lewis to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th April last, and its enclosure (herewith returned), relative to the case of Mr. C. S., and to acquaint you, for the information of the Civil Service Commissioners, that he has caused the opinion of the law officers of the Crown in Ireland to be taken as to whether the operation of the Acts 19th and 20th and the 36th George III., assuming them to be still in force in Ireland, extends to Great Britain, and how far the rights of a natural-born subject of the United Kingdom are conferred by the document which accompanied your letter, and that the law officers have reported that they are of opinion that the Acts referred to are still in force, and that the effect of them is to make the person to whom the licence is given a subject of Her Majesty in all parts of the United Kingdom, and confers all the privileges of a subject. The law officers further observe that in the absence of any further licence, they think Mr. C. S. is entitled to all the privileges of a natural-born subject of Her Majesty. I am, &c. Mr. Maitland to Mr. Waddington. 8th June 1860. SIR, I am directed by the Civil Service Commissioners to request that you will convey to Secretary Sir George Lewis their thanks for the trouble which he has been good enough to take, adding that Mr. C. S. has been informed that for the purposes of the Act by which admission to the Civil Service of India is regulated, he is entitled to be considered as a natural-born subject of Her Majesty. The doubts entertained by the Commissioners arose, as Sir George Lewis will be aware, from the circumstance that independently of any question whether the two Irish Acts referred to are still in force, and whether, if so, their operation is general or local, each of the two appears to contemplate continued residence in Ireland (the earlier indeed making the privileges which it grants expressly dependent on such continued residence), and the later declares that nothing therein contained shall |