FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



" To prevent as much as possible unnecessary 

 trouble, persons, not well qualified by literary 

 and other suitable abilities, are hereby cautioned 

 against attempting to canvass the members for 

 support on this occasion ; " while persons, whose 

 genius and qualifications can be duly attested, 

 are equally encouraged to come forward. The 

 station is to be considered as requiring confine- 

 ment, care, and diligence." % 



In view of the number of people who regard 

 themselves as fully equipped so far as " suitable 

 abilities " are concerned for most offices from 

 that of Prime Minister downwards, it is to be 

 feared that the caution to unqualified persons not 

 to present themselves would not be a material 

 deterrent nowadays to many candidates ; whilst 

 the invitation to come forward addressed to those 

 who, in the estimation probably of " their sisters, 

 their cousins, and their aunts," are accredited 

 geniuses would at the present time be more than 

 sufficient to ensure an ample supply of applicants. 

 Personal experience leads one to appreciate the 

 desirability of " care and diligence " in the dis- 

 charge of the duties, but why " confinement " 

 which means, I suppose, a disposition to endure 

 it whether solitary or otherwise, should be put 

 in the forefront of the requirements is not so 

 clear, unless it were intended as a hint that the 

 secretary was to stick to his desk and not go 

 gadding about the country. It is sad to reflect, 

 as will shortly be seen, that all these precautionary 

 injunctions were apparently futile in their effect. 



A general meeting of members was held on 

 February llth, 1800, for the election, and two 



260 



