Italian.-Count C. Arrivabene; Sir J. Lacaita; Signor Pistrucci; Count Saffi. Polish.-Major Czulczewski; M. Sosnowski. Portuguese. Signor Monteiro; J. M. De Mora, Esq. Sanskritt.-Dr. Ballantyne ; Professor Goldstücker; Professor Max Müller. Spanish.-E. Delmar, Esq.; J. M. De Mora, Esq.; Rev. L. Lucena; Signor Vives. Swedish.-Rev. F. Carlson; G. W. Dasent, Esq., D.C.L. Candidates resident in Scotland and Ireland are, for the most part, when it is possible, examined in Edinburgh and Dublin, by means of papers transmitted from and returned to London. SCOTLAND. Superintendent of Examinations in Edinburgh. G. Seton, Esq., Advocate, Secretary to the Register-General of Scotland. IRELAND. Superintendent of Examinations in Dublin. G. Johnstone Stoney, Esq., F.R.S., Secretary to the Queen's University in Ireland. Competitive Examinations. The great majority of all examinations are competitive; and, though in many places, particularly in country districts, there still remains a kind of lingering disposition to believe that the candidate who has been recommended by the most influential party has the best chance of success, we have never known an instance in which we could attach the slightest partiality to the examiners. A short time since a son of an M.P. whose influence was second to none (at least out of the Cabinet), competed twice unsuccessfully. Another remarkabie instance of the firmness and impartiality of the Examiners came recently under our notice. An A.B. of one of our universities came before the Examiners for a Preliminary Test, and was at once rejected in spelling. Instances of such rejections are very frequent. The Civil Service Commissioners though frequently appealed to by public examining bodies, have never recognised any university degree or special certificate as a qualification. After the candidate has passed his examination, and received his certificate of qualification, "he shall enter on a period of probation, during which his conduct and capacity in the transactions of "business shall be subjected to such tests as may be determined "by the chief of the department for which he is intended; and he "shall not be finally appointed to the public service, unless upon satisfactory proof of his fitness being furnished to the "chief of the department after six months' probation." A candidate is very seldom rejected after his probation; indeed, one instance in every thousand appointments could hardly be cited. Open Competitions, This mode of examination is gradually extending. Those offices open to the public, have already been given in this treatise, under "New Regulations." Honorary Certificates. In general the candidates are at liberty to present themselves for examination after succeeding in any subjects which they may select; but the notice of this examination is only a few days, and the result brings no immediate advantage. Official Hours. The usual official hours are from 10 A.M. until 4 in the afternoon. In many offices an attendance from 10 until 5 o'clock is required. It is usual for one or more of the juniors to remain a short time after the others in order to despatch the official letters. Any peculiarity in the hours of attendance will be referred to under the several offices. It frequently happens when Parliament orders official returns from an office, the official staff return in the afternoon, and are remunerated at a fixed rate per hour for such extra duty. Vacations and Leave of Absence. The usual annual leave of absence ranges from four to ten weeks; but the vacation must be taken with the aquiescence of the head of the department, so that it may not interfere with the public service. In cases of illness, a medical certificate should at once be sent in. A Treasury Minute of 30th June, 1857, says: "Leave of absence on full pay, for recovery of health, should not exceed six months; and if longer absence from duty should be necessary, not more than half salary should be allowed for a further period not exceeding six months." Superannuation. The Superannuation Act of 1859 enables the permanent Civil Servants to retire on attaining the age of sixty; but those under this age who wish to retire, must produce medical testimony that they are, from mental or bodily infirmity, incapable of efficiently discharging their duties. On the head of their department testifying to their good conduct, the Treasury grant a retiring pension in accordance with the following scale : I. An allowance of ten-sixtieths of his salary and emoluments to every person who has served ten years and under eleven years. II. An allowance of eleven-sixtieths of his salary and emoluments to every person who has served eleven years and under twelve years. III.-And, in like proportion, until a service of forty years is completed, when forty-sixtieths, the maximum retiring allowance, is granted. IV. The Treasury, however, from some special qualifications, or some very important public services performed, very often add years to a gentleman's service on his retirement; but in no case does the pension exceed the salary.* Messengers, Matrons, Housekeepers, &c. As a We have not considered it necessary, in some instances, to tabularize the qualifications and salaries of these officers. general rule, the ages extend to 40 or 45, the salaries vary very much, and the requirements are usually-writing from dictation, first four rules of arithmetic (not including the compound rules), and, in a few instances, reading. Entrance Age. In reference to age the inquiry is very strict; and for the open competition examinations, one day under or over the age disqualifies. It is customary to allow five years additional to the prescribed age to candidates already in the Public Service, who entered it within the prescribed limits. It is now (August 1870) contemplated to enforce the following from an old Act of Parliament of 1834:"If an officer has not been in receipt of the salary he enjoys at the time of retirement, or in the class from which he retires, for a period of at least three years immediately before the granting of" his "superannuation allowance," such allowance "shall be calculated upon the average amount of salary received by such person for three years next preceding the commencement of such allowance." En- Annual Increase. Sala y Maximum £ £ £ 17-25 23 100 10 250 10 300 78+ 78+ 16-26 10 50 300 10 180 60 Abp. of Can- Senior Assistants terbury, Lord (Lower Section) 18-30 44 150 Chancellor, Senior Assistants (Upper Section) 1st Class Attendants Messengers 18-40 78 60 15 320 10 180 10 & 15 310 20 400 120 545 120 BROADMOOR LUNATIC Clerks (a) The Third Class Clerks are divided into two Sections-I. commence at £250, II. as above. The other Officers are:-13 Second Class Clerks £350 to COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE has 14 Third Class Clerks £90, rising £10 to £300; 7 Second Class Clerks, rising £15 to £500, 3 First Class Clerks from |