The upshot on the present occasion was that the Ministers
remained in their places and that Mr. Monk's bill, though it had
received the substantial honour of a second reading, passed away for
the present into the limbo of abortive legislation.
All this would not concern us at all, nor our poor hero much, were
it not that the great men with whom he had been for two years so
pleasant a colleague, remembered him with something of affectionate
regret. Whether it began with Mr. Gresham or with Lord Cantrip, I
will not say;--or whether Mr. Monk, though now a political enemy,
may have said a word that brought about the good deed. Be that as it
may, just before the summer session was brought to a close Phineas
received the following letter from Lord Cantrip:--
Downing Street, August 4, 186--.
MY DEAR MR. FINN,--
Mr. Gresham has been talking to me, and we both think
that possibly a permanent Government appointment may be
acceptable to you. We have no doubt, that should this be
the case, your services would be very valuable to the
country. There is a vacancy for a poor-law inspector at
present in Ireland, whose residence I believe should be
in Cork. The salary is a thousand a-year. Should the
appointment suit you, Mr.
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