A short sketch of the life and character of any one of the former Queens of England. Not less than 2 folio pages should be written. Time allowed, 1 hours. N.B. This exercise is intended to test the power of writing correct and grammatical English. Supposing that a friend in Australia has asked you to describe either the Crystal Palace, or the Manchester Exhibition, write a letter in answer to his request. Two folio pages at least should be written. Time allowed, 2 hours. N.B. This exercise is intended to test the power of writing correct and grammatical English. With a view to establishing a branch business at Glasgow, a person is sent to make inquiries. Write a letter of instructions directing him to inform himself on the spot whether there is a demand for the class of goods [name any articles of merchandise you please]; whether there is much competition in the trade; whether other houses have succeeded or otherwise in it; as to home and export trade respectively; as to terms, length of credit, and mode of settlement, and any other points which may suggest themselves to you. Time allowed, 21⁄2 hours. A letter from an Australian colonist, describing the effects of the discovery of gold, and speculating as to its future consequences; or, A comparison of the merits and defects of any two historians with whose works you are acquainted; or, An essay on the influence of increased habits of travelling on national cha racter. Write a letter applying for a situation in a mercantile house, selecting any branch of business you please. State fully the duties you are prepared to undertake, the nature of your previous employment, and any other circumstances which would naturally be mentioned in such an application. The letter should fill about two folio pages. Supposing yourself to have been asked to undertake the management of a gentleman's estate, write a letter accepting or rejecting the offer. State as fully as you can the duties you conceive to be attached to the situation, and the reasons which have influenced your decision. The letter should fill not less than two folio pages. Supposing yourself to have received an offer of a situation in one of our colonial dependencies, write a letter accepting or rejecting it. Select any situation you please. State the nature of the duties and responsibilities which appear to be attached to it, and the reasons which have influenced your decision. The letter should fill not less than two folio pages. A London merchant has sent out a confidential agent to one of the following places:-Hamburgh, Dantzic, Stockholm, Havre de Grace, Rio Janeiro, Lisbon, New York, or Boston, U. S., with a view to his making full inquiries into the present state and future prospects of trade. Write a letter as from such an agent to his employer, informing him of the result of such inquiries, and giving him full information on any point that would be useful under such circumstances. The letter should fill not less than two folio pages. Write a letter as to a friend describing how you have been employed during the last year, and what are your motives for wishing to enter the Civil Service. Discuss the benefits to be derived from the study of history, and the best methods of acquiring historical knowledge. Reflections on the return of Miss Nightingale. The coronation of the Czar at Moscow. Supposing that a friend in Australia has asked you to give him an account of the present state of commerce in Great Britain, write a letter in answer to his request. Time allowed, 2 hours. The letter should fill not less than 2 folio pages. Supposing that a friend in America has written to you asking for some account of the "Leviathan" steam-ship, write a letter in reply. The composition should fill not less than 2 folio pages. Time allowed, 2 hours. A description of any place in Great Britain or Ireland which is remarkable either for beautiful scenery or for historical associations. Not less than two folio pages should be written. A short sketch of the life and character of one of the following persons:Robert Bruce, Oliver Cromwell, Duke of Marlborough, Sir Walter Raleigh. Not less than two folio pages should be written. Time allowed, 2 hours. For the WAR OFFICE. Write a letter as to a friend, describing the nature of the duties and occupations you expect to perform in the War Office; stating whether any, and what, differences are occasioned by the Peace, and mention your own motives for seeking such employment. (The letter should occupy not less than 2 folio pages.) Time allowed, 11⁄2 hours. For the CONSTABULARY IN IRELAND. A comparison between any two of the provinces of Ireland, specifying the most important points in which they differ geographically and statistically; or, The advantages which have resulted from any of the inventions or improvements of modern times; as for example, the Electric Telegraph, Railways, the Steam Engine, &c. Time allowed, 23 hours. EXERCISES IN WRITING FROM DICTATION. [N.B. In writing from Dictation, Candidates are cautioned by a notice, printed at the top of the paper on which they write, that "attention should be paid to clear and legible handwriting, to correct spelling, and to proper punctuation." The following extract from a memorandum sent to examiners in the country will show the method pursued in dictating. "The examiner is requested to read the printed paper headed "Dictation," at first-so that the Candidate may gather its general purport; a second time, slowly-that he may have ample time to write it down; a third time-that he may have an opportunity of correcting and punctuating what he has written. Ruled lines should not be allowed."] Passages for the Examination of TIDEWAITERS, WEIGHERS, LETTERCARRIERS,* &c. In some parts of London the streets are wide, straight, and regular; but in others, especially in the older parts, they are narrow and winding. There is the same variety in the appearance of the houses, which, in some quarters of the city, are large, handsome, and well built, while in others they are small and mean. Two or three of the bridges are very beautiful, and present a noble appearance when seen from one of the river steamers. But the glory of London consists in its parks, which are more beautiful than any thing of the kind which can be seen in any of the capital cities of foreign countries. They are planted with trees, and some of them contain pieces of water. On a fine evening you may see people of all ages, men, women, and children collected in the parks to refresh themselves after the labours of the day. The art of printing was brought into England about the middle of the fifteenth century. The honour of introducing it is generally given to an honest citizen of London, who, while following the business of his trade in a foreign country, had heard and seen much of this new discovery. Being very desirous to make so valuable an art known in England, he went for some time to a town in which it was practised, for the purpose of learning it; and applied himself so diligently to his new undertaking that in a short time he was able to print a book. He then came to his native country, and set up a printing-press, with which he printed before his death nearly fifty different books. He says of himself that he was a rude and simple man: I am sure that he was a most industrious and useful one. to * The passages now used in the examination of Letter-carriers and Mail Guards are restricted three or four lines" in length. Queen Mary now began with the aid of her two women to undress herself; and the executioner also lent his hand to assist them. She smiled, and said that she was not accustomed to undress herself before so large a company, nor to be served by such attendants. Her servants, seeing her in this condition ready to lay her head upon the block, burst into tears: she turned about to them; put her finger upon her lips, as a sign that they should be silent; and having given them her blessing, desired them to pray for her.. One of her maids, whom she had appointed for that purpose, covered her eyes with a handkerchief; she laid herself down without any sign of fear; and her head was severed from her body at two strokes by the executioner. In the summer of the year 1806 (about fifty-one years ago), after a very rainy season, which overcharged the springs of water within the mountain, and caused them, it is supposed, to loosen the ground above, this part of the mountain gave way, fell headlong into the valley, and buried the village, houses, cattle, and many of the inhabitants beneath it. There were symptoms of some great movement in the mountain several hours before, but these were unheeded. At about five in the afternoon of the 2nd of September, the whole surface of the upper part of the mountain was seen by the wretched people to glide down, at first slowly, and then to throw itself headlong, as I have described, over the valley, burying every thing beneath it. An old man, who had often declared that he expected such an accident, was quietly smoking his pipe at the time. Among those who were buried together with their homes, when the mountain gave way, was a little girl named Mary. How she came to be left alone in the house when the rest of the family escaped, or whether they were already from home, and unable to return for her in time, I do not know; but she was completely overwhelmed in the ruins of her father's cottage. The earth and rocks had fallen upon it in such a manner as completely to cover it, but without entirely crushing it to pieces, so that the poor child, though buried alive, was not only unhurt, but had some little space to move about in. Mary at first gave herself up for lost, expecting nothing less than to die of hunger, and she sat down and wept bitterly; she then said her prayers, and felt more comfortable. After a few hours she heard the sound of the bleating of a goat. There are no persons who enjoy life so little, and are such burdens to themselves, as those who have nothing to do. Many think that an idle person must lead a pleasant life. Those who are obliged to work all day for their daily bread, enjoy their short period of rest so much that they are apt to think that, if their whole lives were spent in such rest and recreation, it would be the most pleasant mode of living in the world. But this is quite a mistake, as they would soon find if they made a trial of the life which they think so agreeable. One who is never busy can never enjoy rest; for rest implies a relief from previous labour; and if our whole time were spent in amusing ourselves, we should find it more wearisome than the hardest day's work. Passages for the EXAMINATION OF CLERKS, and SIMILAR OFFICERS. These apparently trivial observations seem to take away from the dignity of writing, and therefore are never communicated without hesitation. But it must be remembered that life consists not of a series of illustrious actions or elegant enjoyments; the greater part of our time passes in compliance with necessities, in the performance of daily duties, in removing small inconveniences, or in procuring petty pleasures. The manners of a people are not to be judged of in the schools of learning or the palaces of greatness, where the national character is obscured or obliterated by travel or instruction, by philosophy or vanity; nor is public happiness to be estimated by the assemblies of the gay or the banquets of the rich. The great mass of nations is neither rich nor gay: those whose aggregate constitutes the people are found in the streets and villages, in the shops and farms; and from them, collectively considered, must the measure of general prosperity be taken. According as they approach to delicacy, a nation is refined; and when their conveniences are multiplied, a nation, at least a commercial nation, must be denominated wealthy. Each party was now willing to throw on its antagonist the odium of commencing the civil war; but both of them prepared for an event which they deemed inevitable. To gain the people's favour and good opinion was the chief object on both sides. Never was there a people less corrupted by vice and more actuated by principle than the English during that period; never were there individuals who possessed more capacity, more courage, more public spirit, more disinterested zeal. But the infusion of one ingredient in too large a proportion had corrupted all these noble principles, and converted them into the most virulent poison. To determine his choice in the approaching contests, every man hearkened with avidity to the reasons proposed on both sides. The war of the pen preceded the war of the sword, and daily sharpened the humours of the opposite parties. The King and Parliament themselves carried on the controversy by messages, remonstrances, and declarations; while the nation was really the party to whom all arguments were addressed. Agriculture was in ancient times very imperfect in England. The sudden transitions so often mentioned by historians from the lowest to the highest price of grain, and the prodigious inequality of its value in different years, are sufficient proofs that the produce depended entirely on the seasons, and that art had as yet done nothing to assist nature. During this reign considerable improvements were made, as in most arts, so in this, the most beneficial of any. A numerous catalogue might be formed of books and pamphlets treating of husbandry, which were written about this time. The nation, however, was still dependent on foreigners for daily bread; and though its exportation of grain now forms a considerable branch of its commerce, notwithstanding its probable increase of people, there was in that period a regular importation from the Baltic, as well as from France; and if it ever stopped, the bad consequences were sensibly felt by the nation. Thus far the Prince's enterprise had prospered beyond the expectations of the most sanguine. And now, according to the general law which governs human affairs, prosperity began to produce disunion. The Englishmen assembled at Salisbury were divided into two parties. One party consisted of whigs, who had always regarded the doctrines of passive obedience and indefeasible hereditary right as slavish superstitions. Many of them had passed years in exile. All had been long shut out from participation in the favours of the Crown. They now exulted in the near prospect of greatness and of vengeance. Burning with resentment, flushed with victory and hope, |