GUIDE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS; WITH Directions for Candidates, EXAMINATION PAPERS, ABSTRACT OF COMMISSIONERS' REPORT, AND ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR THOSE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL SERVICE. P. S. KING, PARLIAMENTARY PAPER DEPOT, 12, BRIDGE ST., WESTMINSTER; OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGH; HODGES, SMITH AND CO., DUBLIN, 1856. 232, C. 120. PREFACE. Ir is almost unnecessary to direct the attention of parents and teachers to the importance of the principle adopted by Government, of testing the qualification of the candidates for employment in public offices by a rigorous examination. Schoolmasters in particular will welcome a volume of this kind, as it will at once not only directly increase the value of their services and add to the importance of their position, but it will also raise the standard of their studies, and show the youths under their care that Government offices will no longer be a place of refuge for the idle and incompetent. In this little volume, which contains a digest of the Report presented to Her Majesty by the Royal Commissioners, and copies of the papers set before candidates, not only are the requirements distinctly pointed out, but the deficiencies which have led to the rejection of many of the competitors are also plainly indicated. Candidates for College and University honours are so well aware of the value of studying papers of this kind, that they form a most important item in university tuition, in many cases their private tutors confining their pupils almost entirely to the solution of the problems and questions contained in such papers. The Publisher hopes that the collection in this volume will be equally serviceable in directing and concentrating the studies of all candidates for employment in the Civil Service. In this hope he is supported by the fact, that to candidates rejected in the Woolwich examinations for Engineer commissions, or for admission into the Practical Class, sets of the papers of questions have been forwarded direct from the Government office, that they might be better prepared, in case they should desire to compete a second time. It will be clearly understood that the papers are different at every examination, and the old ones are only of use to show the general nature of the ordeal to be passed through. There is no doubt that the candidate who is thoroughly master of the questions contained in this volume, need not fear rejection at any future Civil Service examination. It has not been judged necessary to enter into any lengthened details as to the mode of obtaining nominations to Government offices. When the offices are open to general competition, which, it is believed, will be universally the practice ere long, due notice is given in the public papers. In other cases the nominations are to be obtained through the influence of members of Parliament, gentlemen in public offices, and others having connections either with the secretaries or heads of departments. Theoretically, the patronage is vested in the Ministers and heads of departments, but practically it extends much lower and among a larger class of persons, both in the metropolis and in the provinces. The range of age for each office has been given, and the minimum or commencing salary, so far as it could be discovered. During the probationary year, the salary may be somewhat lower than that set down; but when the appointment is confirmed, the holder immediately receives the full salary, which after the second year annually increases until the maximum of the class to which he belongs has been attained. Government clerkships, &c., are permanent, nothing but great irregularities or glaring incompetency causing a forfeiture of the office. |