Milton's L288 a year for _his_ lighter and more occasional duties had doubtless been all along in fair proportion to the elder Frost's L600 a year, or Thurloe's L800, for _their_ more vast and miscellaneous drudgery.

Nor, if Milton had ceased to be able to perform the duties, and another salaried officer had been required in consequence, was there anything extraordinary, in a time of general revision of salaries, that the fact should come into consideration.

The question was precisely as if now a high official under government, who had been in receipt of a salary of over L1000 a year, was struggling on in blindness after six years of service, and an extra officer at L700 a year had been for some time employed for his relief.

In such a case, the official being a man of great public celebrity and having rendered extraordinary services in his post, would not superannuation on a pension or retiring-allowance be considered the proper course?
But this was exactly the course proposed in Milton's case.

The reduction from L288 to L150 a year was, it ought to be noted, only part of the proposition; for, whereas the L288 a year had been at the Council's pleasure, it was now proposed that the L150 a year should be for life.