I never learned to love competitive examination; but I became, and am, very fond of Sir Charles Trevelyan.

Sir Stafford Northcote, who is now Chancellor of the Exchequer, was then leagued with his friend Sir Charles, and he too appears in _The Three Clerks_ under the feebly facetious name of Sir Warwick West End.

But for all that _The Three Clerks_ was a good novel.' Which excerpt from Trollope's _Autobiography_ serves to throw light not only upon the novel in question, but also upon the character of its author.
Trollope served honestly and efficiently for many a long year in the Post Office, achieving his entrance through a farce of an examination:-- 'The story of that examination', he says, 'is given accurately in the opening chapters of a novel written by me, called _The Three Clerks_.

If any reader of this memoir would refer to that chapter and see how Charley Tudor was supposed to have been admitted into the Internal Navigation Office, that reader will learn how Anthony Trollope was actually admitted into the Secretary's office of the General Post Office in 1834.' Poe's description of the manner in which he wrote _The Raven_ is incredible, being probably one of his solemn and sombre jokes; equally incredible is Trollope's confession of his humdrum, mechanical methods of work.

Doubtless he believed he was telling the whole truth, but only here and there in his _Autobiography_ does he permit to peep out touches of light, which complete the portrait of himself.