198 



DICKSON ON THE INDIAN FIBRES 



have lately read in the Times (O'Flagherty, Lawley, &c, to 

 wit), that either by political influence with government, 

 favouritism, or jobbing, men are pitchforked into the position 

 of pubiic servants, who, however gracefully they may ngur 

 in a drawing-room, or mounted on a hired horse in 

 Phoenix Park, are as frequently found incapable of giving 

 public satisfaction by doing their duty. Having myself good 

 cause to complain, I would respectfully suggest (as a remedy 

 for such a national evil) for the consideration of landowners, 

 merchants, and the manufacturing classes in Ireland, the 

 necessity of advising aspirants to office, whether government, 

 railway, mine, or other joint-stock companies, to graduate 

 first in London, where the motto is 1 business first, and 

 pleasure after,' and when proper selections are made from 

 city-trained men, there will be little to fear from complaints, 

 such as I have now to bring forward, of neglect of duty. 



' ' My complaint against the railway officials in Armagh 

 is quite in keeping, and fully corroborates a common saying 

 in London ~~ ( that if letters require an immediate answer, 

 or business to be immediately attended to in Ireland (such 

 as would occupy Londoners a few hours), that persons 

 expecting such diligence in Ireland must bear with dis- 

 appointment, as Irishmen feel they have done their duty 

 if two days are allowed previously to elapse/ I am grieved 

 to acknowledge that I must bring forward, as proof, an 

 instance of the correctness of the accusation, although I 

 am aware that Ulster abounds with many thorough men 

 of business ; but as no man holding a public situation can 

 excuse himself for neglect of a day, much less two days, 

 he must not feel surprised at his being called to account 

 for it : for no matter how business may accumulate, 

 extra hands and ' extra attention ' are required, and busi- 

 ness should not suffer from inattention— if so, the public 

 should know it. 



