[Such a Date.]
The Ventilator-General presents his compliments to the Hon. Augustus
Aigulet, and begs to inform him of a serious abuse of Mr. Aigulet’s
authority, discovered in the office of the Rotten Row department, this
morning.
It is reported to the Ventilator-General that in the absence of Mr.
Aigulet, the clerk of the department, Mr. Slaney caused the chimney to
be swept, and the window to be thrown open. The Ventilator-General
submits that this is an interference with his peculiar duty which the
Secretary to the Rotten Row Commission will not sanction.
It is also reported to the Ventilator-General that the clerk has had
the consummate assurance to object to the proposed formation of an
apparatus for heating air immediately under his own desk: an
obstruction to the Ventilator-General’s proceedings which calls for
marked reprobation.
The Ventilator-General repeats the occurrences to Mr. Aigulet, in
order that the fact may be duly laid before my lords.
The Commissioners having assembled, their secretary read the letter, and
the Chairman ordered in the Clerk. Mr. Slaney appeared, trembled a
little, and thought he had done something dreadful. The following
dialogue ensued:—
_Chairman._ _Did_ you open the window, Mr. Slaney?
_Clerk._ Yes, my lord.
_Chairman._ Did you order the chimney to be swept?
_Clerk._ Yes, my lord.
_Chairman._ Be pleased to state, briefly, your reasons for these
proceedings.
_Clerk._ The chimney was very foul, and the rooms not having been
recently used, the window had apparently not been opened for some time.
The sash line was broken, and there is a little difficulty about opening
it.
_Chairman._ You may withdraw.
Blushing to the very forehead, and feeling as if his ears were setting
his hair on fire, Mr. Slaney retired.
After some discussion at the Board, the following minute to the Lords of
the Treasury, was dictated to the Secretary.