GENERAL REMARKS ON THE EXAMINA TIONS. The Civil Service Commissioners have the power to admit to examination, as candidates for situations in the Home Civil Service, only those persons who have received nominations. These nominations are obtained through the interest of members of Parliament, or of others who have influence with those in whom the patronage is vested (see page 20). When a nomination is granted, the gentleman who made application is informed of the same, and receives a paper stating the qualifications for the situation sought. Some few days before the examination, the Civil Service Commissioners write to the candidate, informing him of the day on which the examination is to take place, and requesting him to call at their office, Dean's Yard, Westminster, to furnish certain particulars which they require, respecting his previous profession, age, &c. In nearly all cases now, the examination is competitive, three candidates being generally appointed to compete for one situation. The examinations are carried on exclusively by writing, and the usual order is:-the Arithmetic paper, Separate Addition, Dictation, and False Spelling, on the first day; History and Geography on the second, and Composition on the third. When more than these are required, the examination lasts nearly the whole week. statement of the result is forwarded to the candidate, usually within ten days from the last day of examination. Failure does not exclude the candidate from a re-examination, provided another nomination can be obtained, when all arrangements are precisely the same as on the former occasion. B A There can be little question that competitive examinations are attended with many difficulties. It can scarcely then be unimportant to consider the best means, by which these difficulties may be overcome. To the parents of children destined to fill government situations, it will become a matter of deep interest that their children shall receive such instruction as shall be best calculated to develop their faculties, and at the same time be useful in their future career. For all situations, correct Spelling, Arithmetic, English History, Geography, and English Composition are essentially necessary for ignorance in these subjects no attainments, however splendid, in Mathematics, Classics, or Modern Languages can compensate. Now it is just the above requisites which too frequently are the least attended to: hence the frequent, and in many cases, vexatious disappointment of candidates, .who now present themselves for examination. In ORTHOGRAPHY, the trial is severe; the ear is tested by dictation, and the eye by false spelling. To attain proficiency in this subject a habit must have been formed, and that early. In ARITHMETIC, principles, rather than mere rules, should be taught. By this means a most important habit will be acquired; that of regarding every question, not as an illustration of some rule perhaps unknown, perhaps forgotten, but as a difficulty to be grappled with and to be overcome. In all cases, perfect accuracy, together with a logical arrangement, should be insisted on; without the one, the work is valueless, without the other, unintelligible. The combination of these three elements, arrangement, accuracy, thought, cannot fail to give the examinee a superiority over all who have been loosely taught, or crammed for the occasion. In ENGLISH HISTORY, Some such work as "Anthony's Footsteps to English History" should be thoroughly mastered. Much must be committed to memory, in which the leading |