ABSTRACT
The Secretaries of course employed a staff to assist them in the performance of their duties. But the numbers of that staff were small indeed compared with the number of those employed in the great Ministries at the present day. The Secretaries were long regarded as the King’s personal servants rather than as the servants of the State. Before the change occurred the Secretaries were employing assistants, whom they appointed and treated as they pleased. Since the arrangement was convenient to them no alteration was made. Many of the under-secretaries were also Members of Parliament. Between 1708 and 1747 at least eight had seats in the Lower House. Between 1761 and 1762 the number of under-secretaries in the Southern and Northern Departments who were elected to Parliament was also eight. The under-secretaries and clerks enjoyed a further source of income, apart from those previously mentioned. They had the right to frank letters and newspapers for transmission in the post.
