neceffary for his future peace, that he should be confcientiously explicit with the latter; and, while he fhews himself not unwilling to bear a part in an Adminiftration with fome of the Members of which he differs in fentiment on political points of fecondary importance, that he should not leave them directly or indirectly impreffed with the idea, that his concurrence may be expected in measures which his deliberate judgement shall condemn. The money raised from the People for the public benefit is defigned to be applied in the payment of actual fervices, not in gratuitous donations. It is true that there are certain posts, exclufive of thofe offices which the policy of the State deems expedient for supporting the dignity and splendour of the Crown, to which no public duties are attached. But these, as long as the number and the value of them are confined within due limits, have their proper ufe. They are destined to requite extraordinary merit; to fecure a reasonable provifion to an individual, or to his immediate defcendants, if his abilities are called from a fituation of advantage to himself, to one less lucrative lucrative and permanent, but more beneficial to his country; to afford becoming retirements to thofe faithful fervants of the community, whom on account of their declining years, health, or abilities, or of fome peculiar occurrence in the political hemifphere, it is fit to remove with honour from the busy stage; and occafionally, perhaps, by furnishing leisure and competence to a man of industry, science, or learning, to enable him to accomplish a work or perfect a plan of national utility. A good man therefore ought not to accept one of these finecures (a), unless he believes himself honeftly entitled, on one or other of the principles which have been ftated, to public remuneration or public maintenance. And if he accepts it as the means and the recompenfe of future exertions, he will punctually fulfil his engagement; and will at once relinquish the earnest which he has received, if he should find himself incapable of redeeming the pledge which he has given. (a) The Tellerships of the Exchequer, and Chief Jufticeships in Eyre, are inftances, among others, of the fort of offices alluded to. There are likewife Military Govern ments of a fimilar defcription, II. Let II. Let us now suppose the die caft; and confider the views which will influence a conscientious man, when in the actual poffeffion of an efficient poft in Administration. For the fake of perfpicuity it may be expedient to diftribute the following reflections under different heads; and, after having employed the first of those heads in general observations, fucceffively to appropriate the remainder to the duties of a Minifter with respect to the exercise of patronage; the tranfaction of official business; the choice of public measures to be brought forward; and the conduct to be obferved towards the Crown, towards Parliament, and towards Foreign Powers. 1. From the first moment of his occupying a ftation in the Executive Government, a good Minifter will devote himself to a fedulous difcharge of its duties. He will perceive that the Public has the fame right to his exertions which any other mafter has to those of any other fervant. He will therefore afk himself habitually what it would be reasonable for him to to expect, if the interests confided to him were abfolutely his own, from any fubordinate agent whom he should entrust with the management and fuperintendance of them; and will at the same time bear in mind, that public business would never proceed, if Ministers were not to give far more time and attention to it, than a private agent is ever found to bestow on the concerns committed to his care. To diligence he will add punctuality even in matters of comparatively small importance, as well as in those of fuperior magnitude. Unwilling to occafion disappointments, he will be cautious of exciting expectations; flow to make promises, he will be ftrict in fulfilling them. He will guard against falsehood, expreffed or implied; against infincerity, in all its shapes and modifications. He will not ftrive to retain his friends or to conciliate his enemies by practifing on their weaknesses, their credulity, their avarice, their fears, their vanity, or their pride. He will not encourage their failings or their vices to gain their fupport. But, while he discards artful condefcenfion, he will cultivate ingenuous affability. He will be univerfally free from fupercilioufnefs, and fhew himself eafy eafy of access to the humbleft of his fellowfubjects, with whom bufinefs may render it neceffary for him to have intercourse. He will be candid in attending to representations, patient in liftening to complaints, free from irritability and peevishness under provoca tions. He will uniformly discountenance flattery, and every degree of fervile compliance, whether in his immediate dependents, or in those who folicit his protection and favour. Confcious of the extensive influence of his example, he will endeavour, as far as may be practicable, to regulate his converfation and actions with a view to the general encouragement of every thing that is good and laudable. He will not permit the affairs of State unne eeffarily to detain him from the public offices of religion; nor felect the Sabbath as the day for levees and entertainments. Aware of the baneful effects of progreffive luxury, he will discover in his conduct a marked distinction between his minifterial and his perfonal capacity; and, if the former require an occasional degree of pomp and fplendour, will exhibit in the latter fimplicity and moderation. Uncorrupt himself, he will fet his face against |