guide the Crown in conferring the dignity of Peerage, he will recollect that in bestowing a title on an individual he gives a Legiflator to his country. In diftributing ecclefiaftical promotions he will confult the welfare of religion. In the nomination of the commanders of fleets and armies, he will have regard to perfonal merit, not to parliamentary connections. He will not affign the office of conducting an expedition across the ocean to a Member of the Upper or of the Lower House, either for the mere purpose of gaining over, or of removing, a troublesome opponent. If those whom he appoints fhould be guilty of peculation, fcandalous neglect, or other criminal proceedings; he will not ftrive to shelter them from enquiry and from punishment, either, on the one hand, in confequence of being attached to them as his own friends and fupporters; or of foreseeing on the other, if their relatives and connections are adverse to him in politics, that his acquiefcence in the fcrutiny and the chastisement will be clamorously afcribed to a defire of wreaking vengeance on his oppofers. If through events, which they could not control, they should fail of fuccess in their R profef VOL. I. profeffional efforts, he will not screen himfelf by making them the unjuft victims of public indignation. In filling up inferior official fituations, and in recommending persons to his Sovereign, when the post which he occupies authorifes fuch a fep, to be placed at the head of high executive departments; he will fcrupulously make choice of men, whofe abilities and attainments are fuited to the functions which they will have to discharge. He will be cautious in his appointment of public fervants abroad, not merely in proportion as the truft committed to them is important, but in proportion likewife as their removal from infpection renders the detection of mifconduct more difficult; and thus contributes to exempt them fròm the restraint of conscious responsibility. Shunning the example of France in the days of her ancient Government, when the conftructed with ftupendous magnificence the highways which connected her populous cities, and abandoned the meaner and lefs frequented roads to impaffable ruin; he will be no less constantly guarded in his nomination to offices in obfcure corners of the realm, and in diftant colonies, than to those which are exposed expofed to daily obfervation. He will feek, he will encourage, and he will reward merit, in whatever line it may be found, and in whatever fituation it is employed. Instead of indifcriminately committing to Members of Parliament who fupport him, the nomination to public offices in his difpofal which become vacant in their respective boroughs; he will not hesitate to give a denial, when the person recommended is obviously unfit for the employment; and in doubtful cafes will endeavour to procure impartial and fatisfactory information. He will not grafp at the patronage allotted to his colleagues; nor, while he converts to its deftined purpose that which the Conftitution and established usage have annexed to the post which he fills, will he attempt to extend it by creating unneceffary offices; nor will he feel himself excused by the selfish example of his predeceffors, from abolishing fuch as he finds exifting. 3. The fame spirit of impartiality, the fame attention to the general welfare, will direct him in executing the business of his office, and in fuperintending the proceedings of his deputies R 2 J deputies and affiftants. In his tranfactions on behalf of Government with private individuals, if loans or contracts are to be fettled, he will close with such of the competitors, provided they are likely to fulfil their engagements, as offer terms the most advantageous to the Public. If claims are to be balanced, difficulties removed, or difputes determined, he will diftribute equal juftice to every perfon concerned, whether enrolled in the lift of his adherents, or attached to the bittereft enemies of his adminiftration. He will abftain himself, and endeavour to make his fubordinates abstain, from thwarting by ftudied obftructions, from irritating by petulance and peevifhness, and from wearying by needlefs or artificial delays, those who happen to be connected with an obnoxious party. In executing the various duties of his department, he will purfue a course of strict regularity and method. He will not neglect to enter clofely into details; nor let the various returns made to his office remain unexamined like (b) wafte paper. He will not fuffer (b) The bad confequences which may refult from want of forethought, method, and attention to detail, in Minifters of State, and in great Executive Boards, are extreme, especially fuffer business to accumulate by procraftination; nor content himself with dispatching thofe affairs which will not allow of delay; and permit matters ultimately perhaps of greater moment to the country to be poftponed from time to time, until at length the mass fwells to fuch a fize as to deter him from infpecting it. He will not excite a spirit of diffatisfaction in individuals, or in bodies of men, by flighting applications or memorials addreffed to him in his official capacity, and worthy from their nature of serious and speedy regard. While he provides adequate falaries for those efficient men on whom the drudgery' especially in time of war. If it should happen, for example, at any period, that care and prudence are not exerted by the Admiralty in the difpofition of the naval force of the kingdom; if, for want of attention in examining returns, journals, and other documents, fhips are fuffered to waste their time in port; if, for want of a proper arrangement of the fhips, important fervices are neglected, and our trade is expofed to the enemy; if, through fimilar causes, an hundred veffels are requifite to do what by better management fifty might have done; it is evident that Great Britain muft carry on a war at an enormous unneceffary, expence, and in every refpect to very great difadvantage. The fame reasoning may be applied, with fome obvious alterations, to the other high official departments. |