In this there was little difficulty.

He dropped in at the office of the Secretary of State within eight-and-forty hours after his last conversation with Mrs.
Lee.

During these early days of every new administration, the absorbing business of government relates principally to appointments.

The Secretary of the Treasury was always ready to oblige his colleagues in the Cabinet by taking care of their friends to any reasonable extent.
The Secretary of State was not less courteous.

The moment he understood that Mr.Ratcliffe had a strong wish to secure the appointment of a certain person as counsel to the Mexican claims-commission, the Secretary of State professed readiness to gratify him, and when he heard who the proposed person was, the suggestion was hailed with pleasure, for Carrington was well known and much liked at the Department, and was indeed an excellent man for the place.