THE DO-NOTHING SYSTEM.
TO THE EDITOR. OF THE SPECTATOR. November 26, In'. `
Stu—I have read with great interest your " Rationale of Government Es- `t, pentliture" of November 3. A curious exemplification of your exposi of the Do-nothings, Do-somethings, and Do-littles," came under my notice seize. years ago, when I was a resident in one of the Western eounties.2 i A gentleman of my acquaintance accepted the Chiltern Hundreds; that he Might accept something better—the‘Recovership of the Land-tax. This pro- jaueed him about 1,5001. per annum. Being a gentleman, of course, he was not fond of work : he therefore engaged a tradesman of the place where he lived, a respectable character, and conversant with accounts, as his Deputy, with a' salary of 500/. per annum. The tradestnan, of course, had his own business to attend to ; still the work must be done by somebody : therefore the Deputy also employed a Deputy at a salary of 100/. per annum to do it. It is true that the 5001. Deputy made occasional short journeys within the compass of the district, and kept the accounts; so that the account stands thus-
" Do-nothing," 1,0001. per annum ; "Do-something," 5001. per annum ; " Do-the-work," 1001. per annum. A CONSTANT READER AND (IN GENERAL) APPROVER.
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