And if the administration solely, or in its details, depended on these two, it would stop.

New men could not carry it on with vigour and efficiency; indeed they could not carry it on at all.

But, in fact, they are assisted by a permanent Under-Secretary, who manages all the routine business, who is the depository of the secrets of the office, who embodies its traditions, who is the hyphen between changing administrations.

In consequence of this assistance, the continuous business of the department is, for the most part, managed sufficiently well, notwithstanding frequent changes in the heads of administration.

And it is only by such assistance that such business could be so managed.