“You entirely misapprehend what I said about your connection with the Press.
“The reason why I would not (if it were otherwise in my power) place in this office a young man, whose father was so connected, [is] because I am quite certain that, however unjustly, he would bear the blame of every indiscretion, or breach of the confidence of office, by which matters intended to be kept secret found their way to the publick.
“It may be some short time before the Clerkship in the
Navy Pay Office, which is to be at my disposal becomes vacant; because it will
only become so by my appointment of the young man, now holding out to a
clerkship here, in fulfilment of a promise given by me two years ago, to a
| 162 | AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. |
