Mr. Robarts, we learn,
was appointed to the stall in Barchester by the late Prime
Minister, and we really think that a grave censure rests
on him for the manner in which his patronage has been
exercised. It may be impossible that he should himself in
all such cases satisfy himself by personal inquiry. But
our Government is altogether conducted on the footing of
vicarial responsibility. _Quod facit per alium, facit per
se_, is in a special manner true of our ministers, and
any man who rises to high position among them must abide
by the danger thereby incurred. In this peculiar case
we are informed that the recommendation was made by a
very recently admitted member of the Cabinet, to whose
appointment we alluded at the time as a great mistake. The
gentleman in question held no high individual office of
his own; but evil such as this which has now been done at
Barchester, is exactly the sort of mischief which follows
the exaltation of unfit men to high positions, even though
no great scope for executive failure may be placed within
their reach.
If Mr. Robarts will allow us to tender to him our advice
he will lose no time in going through such ceremony as may
be necessary again to place the stall at the disposal of
the Crown!
I may here observe that poor Harold Smith, when he read this,
writhing in agony, declared it to be the handiwork of his hated
enemy, Mr.
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