"This work is the outgrowth of a statistical study of removals from office begun in the Seminary of American history and institutions at Harvard university. The results of this preliminary study were published in the Annual report of the American historical association for 1899. From materials accumulated not strictly pertinent to the subject of this volume, an article on 'Lincoln and the patronage' was contributed to the American historical review for October, 1902."--Pref.

"List of authorities": p. 252-266.