minister who has been long in office will be the most likely to dispense his patronage properly; for the circle of his private friends is saturated. - it When a vacancy is declared, no further delay than is requisite for inquiry and circumspection should take place in choosing amongst the candidates. Delay in such cases extenuates the favour to the successful candidate, and aggravates the disappointment of the others, humiliates all. And expectants who are solicitous concerning effects on the character, will have cause to deprecate a prolonged suspense upon such occasions, as being calculated to make them think too much of themselves; except, indeed, the few who hold themselves under a strong moral discipline,—for these will bring strength out of every struggle. In general the substance of refusals should be mitigated by the manner of them, even when applications are unreasonable. But, nevertheless, occasion should be taken from time to time, when importunity is signally extravagant, to give it such a repulse as shall mortify and expose the party applicant. By making one example of this kind a minister will intimidate many who would otherwise beset him with demands and supplications. And few things will occasion a statesman so much embarrassment as a prevailing opinion that he will yield that to importunity which he ought to proffer to less forward parties upon juster grounds, and that whether he grants or refuses no harm can be done by asking. A man who is known to be weak in this kind draws upon himself a rush and pressure of solicitation which even a strong man might be unable to make head against. The victim should be selected by preference from amongst applicants of rank and station (who will give occasion as abundantly as any other class), because importunity on the part of such persons is at once more to be feared for its mischief and less to be excused for its inde licacy; because the more eminent the offender the more effective the example; and because persons who are in possession of many worldly advantages can better afford to suffer mortification, and have not so strong a claim as others have upon the charitable constructions and liberal feelings of men in power. A minister should adopt it as a rule, subject to few exceptions, that he is to make small account of testimonials and recommendations, unless subjected to severe scrutiny and supported by proved facts. Men who are scrupulously conscientious in other things will be often not at all so in their kindnesses. Such men, from motives of compassion, charity, good-will, have sometimes given birth to results which the slightest exercise of common sense might have taught them to foresee, and which, if foreseen, might have alarmed the conscience of a buccaneer. I have known acts of kindness done by excellent persons in the way of recommend ation, to which a tissue of evil passions, sufferings, cruelty, and bloodshed have been directly traceable; and these consequences were no other than might have been distinctly anticipated. The charity of such persons might be said to be twice cursed; but that the curse which it is to others, may be remitted to them (let us hope) as too heavy a visitation for the sin of thoughtlessness. Such being the slenderness of the trust to be placed in testimonials, the more easy duty in the exercise of ministerial influence over nominations to places, would seem to be in dealing with persons employed in the minister's more immediate service, of whose qualifications therefore he is personally cognisant. But if a man's translation to a different service be requisite for his promotion, his very merit will stand in his way with some patrons; for however the public service might be benefited by his employment |