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15 which they would have to occupy. There is no work, however humble or mechanical, which cannot be better done by an intelligent than by a stupid officer; and if it be feared that the victors in competition would be above their duties, we may be assured that this is an evil which, independently of the remedy to be found in official discipline, would work its own cure as competitions became thoroughly established and familiar. In the meantime, however, it is satisfactory to have the testimony of actual experience in favour of the plan; and this is supplied by the late Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, who tells us that in disposing of the few nominations in his gift, he had been favoured by the assistance of persons distinguished by their exertions for education, and amongst them by the Dean of Hereford. "Pupils," Mr. Wood says, "have been selected from schools under their immediate superintendence; and after undergoing the examination prescribed by our departmental regulations, have been appointed to the surveying branch of the Excise. The result," he adds, "has been most satisfactory as regards both the attainments and conduct of the young men so selected."

But what would be the effect of the scheme upon education? Would it tend to prolong the period of school instruction? In connection with this inquiry, we must not forget that these situations, considered as prizes, could not be awarded to lads immediately upon their quitting school, even though they might protract their stay there for several years beyond the present average age of departure; for the limits of age prescribed for admission to these situations prevent the employment of any person as a Letter Carrier before the age of 17—as an Excise Expectant before 19—as a Tidewaiter or Weigher before 20—and as a Messenger before from 21 to 25; and as these inferior limits have no doubt been carefully determined by the Heads of the several Departments with a full conviction of their propriety we cannot look for any alteration tending to facilitate an earlier entrance. It is therefore evident that the prizes could not be