Subordinates, our experience in this Office shows that such jealousies are the Curse of all petty formal Societies, and that Governors are scarcely more above them than the humblest of their officers. From one end of our Colonial Empire to the other there is a constant exhibition of the mischievous effects of the local authorities having different Official Superiors in England. Nothing will ever convince them that the public offices here will not squabble with one another on behalf of their respective dependants, constantly indulging in foolish things done and written in the confidence of support from the hands of the Treasury, the Board of Trade, and so on.
If this Office writes to different Superiors, it will great quarrel with each other to the hindrance of the public good. It may be said that the danger cannot arise where the Officer has two Superiors, for some man cannot, if he quarrels, sustain in his own person both sides.
The essence of the Controversy I apprehend is: first, that though the Governor and Superintendent will not collude with each other while the same man holds both Offices, yet that he is almost sure to be dissatisfied with one or the other of his two Official superiors, and to quote the other, and to endeavour to find out that their instructions are incompatible, and to obtain the Support of the Secretary of State against one or the other.