own and in other offices, those who have succeeded in obtaining the appointments have appeared to us to possess considerably higher attainments than those who have come in upon simple nomination; and we may add, that we cannot doubt that, if it be adopted as a usual course to nominate several candidates to compete for each vacancy, the expectation of this ordeal will act most beneficially on the education and industry of those young persons who are looking forward to public employment."

After the candidate has passed his examination, and obtained his certificate, he is placed on probation for six or twelve months, at the end of which period, should he prove deficient in the necessary qualities of a clerk, the department is empowered to dispense with his services.

CERTIFICATES TO BE PRODUCED BY ALL CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC. EMPLOYMENT.

I.-AGE.

Candidates may be divided into two classes :

1. Those born in England or Wales subsequently to the 30th day of June, 1837.

(a) Candidates included in this class should produce certificates
from the Registrar-General of Births, Marriages, and
Deaths, or his local officers.

(6) In ordinary cases, no further evidence will be required.
(c) Every candidate not producing such certificate must account
satisfactorily for its non-production, and must prove his
age by the evidence hereinafter mentioned.

2. Those born in England or Wales before the 1st day of July, 1837. Those who, though born in England or Wales on or subsequently to that day, are unable to produce the certificate above mentioned. Those not born in England or Wales.

(a) Candidates included in this latter class should produce, if possible, certificates of baptism, duly signed, and in the regular form.

(b) Where such certificates specify the time of birth, and no suspicion of irregularity exists, further evidence will not be required.

(c) Where a baptismal certificate is not produced, satisfactory reasons for its non-production must be assigned and verified.

(d) Where a baptismal certificate does not specify the time of birth, and where no baptismal certificate can be procured, the best evidence that can be given of the date of the candidate's birth must be obtained. For this purpose, in the case of Dissenters, the non-parochial registers, entered under the Act 3 & 4 Vict. cap. 92, and preserved in Somerset House, will be available. If such evidence be offered by a family Bible or record, an extract therefrom must be made and subscribed by some credible and disinterested person, with the following form of attestation:

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This is a true extract from a Bible [or other book or document, as the case may be] in the possession of , residing at

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"insertion therein of the date of the birth of

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and the

appears to have been made at the time indicated. (Signed)

(Place of abode)

(e) Where such extract has been duly verified, and no suspicion of irregularity exists, further evidence will not be required.

(f) Should there be no record whatever of the date of the birth of the candidate, the evidence of some credible and disinterested person, who can speak to his age, must be obtained. Such person must be required to make a solemn declaration in the statutory form before a magistrate, as to the date of the birth of the candidate, and as to the particular circumstances which enable the party declaring to speak to it.

II.-HEALTH.

Every candidate must produce a certificate signed by a Member of the College of Physicians, a Member of the British College of Surgeons, or of the Apothecaries' Company, or a Medical Graduate of an University, dated subsequently to the nomination; and such certificate must contain the statements following:

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"I hereby certify, that I have this day personally examined Mr. proposed to be appointed to the junior situation in the department of

"of

"and that I believe him to be free from any physical defect or "disease which would be likely to interfere with the proper discharge of his duties.

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Special circumstances, with such explanations as may be necessary, should be introduced before the words " and I believe him to be free," &c., and the certificate should proceed "under [or notwithstanding] the circumstances herein appearing, I believe him to be free," &c.

The Civil Service Commissioners reserve to themselves the right to require a personal examination of the candidate by their own medical officer; and will, if they think fit, make a confidential application to the medical referee named by the candidate.

III.-CHARACTER.

The Civil Service Commissioners must reserve to themselves full discretion as to the evidence of character which they may in specific cases deem it expedient to require, but under ordinary circumstances they will limit themselves to the following requisition:

1 Candidates who have been previously employed in any department of the public service should without delay communicate the fact of their having been so employed. The Civil Service Commissioners will then refer to the department named, and if the answer received should prove satisfactory, no further evidence will be required.

2 Candidates who have been previously in the employ of private individuals, should name their last employer as one of the referees mentioned below.

3 Candidates who have left school within two years before their nomination should name their last schoolmaster as one of the referees mentioned below.

4 Every candidate who has not been previously employed in the public service should produce papers in the annexed Form (marked A), satisfactorily filled up by two or more referees, of whom two at least must be householders. The countersignature of a justice of the peace, clergyman of the Established or Roman Catholic Church, or of a recognised minister of some other religious denomination, must be obtained, where one of the referees is not himself a justice of the peace, clergyman, or minister. Such counter-signature should be appended to the Form marked B.

5 The heading of the schedule should be filled up by the candidate in his own handwriting.

In all cases where a certificate of qualification has been obtained by representations which afterwards turn out to have been untrue, the Civil Service Commissioners will deem it their duty to communicate the fact to the department to which the candidate has been admitted, and to take the best means in their power for fixing upon the referees the responsibility which they have incurred.

1 Are you related to the candidate; if so, what is your relationship?

2 Are you well acquainted with the candidate?

3 From what circumstances does your knowledge of him arise?

4 How long have you known him?

5 Is he strictly honest and sober, intelligent and diligent?

6 Do you believe him to be free from pecuniary embarrassments ?

7 What do you know of his education and acquirements?

8 Has he ever been in the service of the Government, and if so, in what situation ?

9 So far as you can judge, is his character in all respects such as to qualify him for public employment, and in particular for the situation which he now seeks ?

(Signature)

(Address)

(Date)

B.

I certify that the answers above written, and the signature thereto affixed, are in the proper hand-writing of

of

and that the said

,

is a person worthy of credit.

*To be signed by a justice of the peace or recognised minister of some religious denomination.

STANDARDS OF QUALIFICATION

ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
[Those in which "nothing is fixed" are omitted.]

ADMIRALTY.

(Age 17 to 25.)

I. WHITEHALL BRANCH.

1 Writing English from Dictation.

2 Arithmetic (including Vulgar and Decimal Fractions). 3 English Composition.

4 Précis.

5 Geography.

6 The leading points in English History.

7 Translation from French.

8 Translation from Latin or a second Modern Language.