1821 Nov. 12 Codification Offer '8. Foreigner best '.7 III. Active Talent /IV

Tout ensemble/ None but the best eligible Legislative affords better test than

Administrative

Much nearer to the case of the department of legislation taken thus in the whole

of its extent comes the case of the department of finance. Here, how far so ever

from conclusive, indications capable of being furnished by a literary work

having the field of this department for its subject can not be denied to be

capable of composing an instructive test of appropriate aptitude. See at the

same time how far, in this instance the most instructive test which all such

indications taken together are capable of affording in proof of appropriate

aptitude is from being conclusive. Suppose on this part of the field of

legislation a work produced, surpassing all that till then had appeared in that

filed as the work of Adam Smith on political economy surpassed all that down to

that time had appeared. From this work taken by itself could it with any thing

like adequately grounded assurance be affirmed, that with reference to the

situation of Minister of Finance, appropriate aptitude taken in all its parts

put together is in the person of the author of this work greater than in the

person of every other man capable of begin thought of for the office in

comparison with him? Could it with the like assurance be so much as affirmed of

him, that, absolutely considered, he is in any tolerable degree capable of

discharging the functions of the situation? No: that it could not. For, in a

situation such as that in question, besides the faculty of producing a literary

work, howsoever closely relevant, and transcendently excellent, many are the

other endowments requisite, in respect of any or all of which it might happen to

the author of such a work to be deficient: take for example probity, activity,

assiduity, dispatch, fortitude to resist sinister pressures, good temper,

steadiness, consistency, presence of mind, faculty of giving oral and extempore

expression to the contents of his mind.

Instead of the ordinary function of a Military Commander by land or sea or that

of Finance Minister take now the extraordinary function of legislative

Draughtsman in the first instance to be exercised by the penning of a suite of

Codes composing together a compleat body of law. By outlines already given of

the sort of work in question taken in all its parts or though it were in only

some of its parts or though it were be detached works applying to this or that

part of the whole field suppose a man to have made proof of a degree of

appropriate aptitude superior to any that had till then been manifested itself

in that field superior in the same degree as that manifest as above by Adam

Smith, or though it were but in an inferior degree. After the sort and degree of

appropriate aptitude thus manifested, what further evidence could be wanting to

prove on his part the degree of appropriate aptitude, absolute and comparative,

sufficient for the determination of the choice? Unless by any thing that had

transpired it has been proved that since the publication of the work or works in

question whatsoever appropriate aptitude was at that time possessed by him had

been made to cease, the proof already would remain conclusive. Look over all the

several endowments just stated as being in demand for the situation of Finance

Minister, they might all be wanting, unless it were in an extraordinary degree

activity and assiduity, and still with reference to the work in question his

aptitude might remain not only adequate but unrivalled. Lastly