cies in the office of the Secretary of State for India. It was thrown open to all comers; and, out of 789 applicants, no less than 339 actually presented themselves for examination, at Willis's Rooms, on the 18th January, 1859. The examination lasted three days, six hours each day, interrupted only by a break for refreshment; and, on the 11th February, the names of the successful competitors were declared. The third and fourth, and the seventh and eighth were bracketed as equal; but as the eighth had failed in History, and the ninth in Handwriting, the tenth received the required certificate. Seven of the successful candidates offered themselves for a voluntary examination in extra subjects, and obtained honorary additions to their certificates for proficiency in Greek, Latin, German, French, Political Economy, Euclid, Algebra, &c. The total of marks was 1,550, but the highest only reached 1,130, while the lowest was 84. Of the successful competitors, one was a sub-editor of a newspaper, one a school-assistant, two were schoolmasters, and three clerks.

The object of the final examination is to ascertain whether the candidate has received a liberal education, and, with this view, he will have papers set before him on the following subject:

(a) Arithmetic.-In addition to the arithmetic paper given in the "preliminary," the candidate is now required to solve a number of miscellaneous questions or problems, which occasionally tax his ingenuity very sorely.

(b) History and Geography.-In pass examinations an amount of knowledge in these subjects, rarely exceeding what may be acquired at good schools, has been received as sufficient. In competitions, a more extensive acquaintance with them is required.

(c) Book-keeping.-The specimens given farther on will enable a candidate to form some idea of what will be required of him, though the nature of some of the questions will make an experienced and practical book-keeper smile. The paper given in the final examination is generally more difficult than that in the preliminary, and sometimes consists of problems only.

(d) English Composition.-If the candidate passes this in the "preliminary," he will probably not be called upon for another

essay.

(e) Latin and Modern Languages.-The candidate is required to translate into English, except where the Department specially requires, in addition, a version from English into other languages. Latin and Modern Languages are mostly ranked among the voluntary subjects.

(f) Euclid and Algebra.-In Euclid a knowledge of the first three books would suffice for an ordinary examination; but the addition of the fourth and sixth, with some practice in working problems, would not be too much for a stiff competition. The Algebra papers are usually "tough customers," and require a thorough knowledge of Quadratic Equations and of Progression, arithmetical and Geometrical.

(g) Précis.-In some Offices, especially in the Foreign Office, very great weight is attached to précis writing. Mr. Hammond considers it "the only test of a candidate's ability." The exercises given in the following pages will show the nature of the examination to be passed, and in what manner the candidate may best prepare himself for it. It is one of those studies, however, that can hardly be followed successfully without a tutor.

5.-PATRONAGE.

The appointment to all the junior offices is in the hands of the heads of Departments and the Government of the day-the latter exercising their power chiefly through the "Patronage" Secretary. Nominations to vacancies are, as a rule, though not necessarily, procurable only through Members of Parliament and others having influence with the Ministry. They are looked upon as rewards for

political zeal the means by which Government and the Representatives of counties and boroughs benefit those who have benefitted them. When the proper influence has been brought to bear upon the Patronage Secretary, it is not enough to be satisfied that your name is "on the list," your patron must be earnest in his application and persevering in his calls, until the long wished-for nomination is actually in your hands. It may be well to mention that there are no open" competitions, patronage and nomination being both

66

essential.

When applications for appointments reach the Treasury (for instance), they pass through the hands of the Private Secretary to the Patronage Secretary, who, after consultation with his chief, places the candidate's name on the list or rejects it. But such entry on the list by no means conveys a promise of an appointment, although it is often misunderstood as doing so. The expectant candidate first learns that his name is down in the Treasury list, by an intimation to that effect, forwarded through his patron, with the additional information, that if he does obtain a nomination, he will have to be examined in the subjects of which a list is given; and thus he has sufficient time to make due preparation for his appearance before the Examiners.

In some Offices, as soon as the candidate attains his certificate from the Commissioners, he is placed on probation for six or twelve months; and should he prove deficient in the necessary qualities of a clerk, his services are dispensed with. It is to be regretted that business qualifications do not come under the cognizance of the Commissioners, as there are instances where the Examiners' certificate has led to the temporary appointment of unfit persons.

Delay will often occur, in spite of all the candidate's influence, when he desires to enter a particular Office, and for this there is no remedy, as vacancies cannot be made solely to please an individual. The difficulty is sometimes got over by exchange; and the safest plan is always to accept any good place that may be offered, and if your

influence be worth anything, you may even then be able to exchange into the coveted Office, as the Ministerial patronage is often doubled by such a course of proceeding.

A very considerable number of persons are now engaged in the Civil Service, under the various designations of Supplementary Clerks, Assistant Clerks, Extra Clerks, Temporary Clerks, and so on. Their functions are supposed to be of a more mechanical nature than those that are assigned to the general body of clerks who form the fixed "establishments" of the different Offices. Their number as well as their remuneration varies with the different Offices to which they are attached; but the average commencing salary is hardly ever less than 30s. a week, and in some departments there is a regular course of promotion up to a maximum of £200, £300, and even £500 a year. "Supplementary" Clerks are usually reckoned on the establishment, and are entitled to superannuation. When an "Extra" becomes a Permanent Clerk his whole time counts towards superannuation. Payments are made quarterly, but in some few Offices (as in the Admiralty) they are monthly.

6. VOLUNTARY EXAMINATION.

In addition to the subjects required by the several Departments, candidates are allowed to be examined in any others which they may please to select. These extra subjects include, among others, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Bookkeeping, Jurisprudence, Logic, Political Economy, Chemistry, History, Geography, Natural Philosophy, Shorthand, Geology, Botany, Moral Philosophy, International and Constitutional Law, and Mathematics. If the candidates pass in the required subjects, honorary certificates are given, somewhat after this form :

"Prescribed Subjects.-1. Writing from dictation. 2. Arithmetic (including Vulgar and Decimal Fractions). 3. Book-keeping.

These voluntary examinations have produced the best results, and there are instances, though they are but few, in which the bearers of honorary certificates have been immediately promoted. The number of candidates who have attained these honorary additions to their certificates in 1863 was 100.

7.-SALARIES AND SUPERANNUATION.

The commencing salaries, as will be seen from the lists which follow, are various-ranging from £80 to £120; though the average amount may be taken at £90. Usually, after two years, the salaries begin to increase by £5 or £10 annually, until the maximum of the class is reached. The clerk is then promoted to a higher class, where he will generally find the yearly rise of salary greater. Promotion is ordinarily by seniority; but a clever clerk is often rewarded by an