As few of my readers can have any notion of what this entertainment consisted, besides being half stolen as the book lay on the table, whilst waiting, perhaps, some tedious time till the Secretary got to be disengaged, I may describe this Treasury official minute book. It was, and I daresay is, a goodly volume, more in width than length, and every page ruled with perpendicular columns, in which vacant places the names, and sometimes brief descriptions of the parties recommended, and the names of their recommenders, were severally entered, in line, and on the last column notes or remarks upon either or all these component elements. These were sometimes so curt and facetious, that it is probable no administration ever left their book for the perusal of their successors. “What, again!” “Would he have the whole patronage of the office?” “Too bad!” “Could such absurdity be imagined!” And occasionally observations still less complimentary, and hints as to the nature of the replies to be given, were scattered through these pages. It was also curious to see who were the seekers of these favours, and their revelations of political influences so unexpected, that they could hardly expect belief, and would not have been believed if stated anywhere else. The political secretaries of the Treasury, above all the rest of the government, must be the depositories of extraordinary secrets.
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