. 26 polttical progre/s of Britain. May g.- 
_.“* dred and fifty-three thousand four hundred pounds 
‘¢ of the public money *.”” Of this sum more than 
fifty thousand pounds had been paid to scribblers in 
. defence of his ministry. A crowd of scandalous and 
pitiful circumstances were discovered, though. the 
inquiry was stifled in the bud. Walpole used to 
boast that every man had his price, and he frankly 
profefsed the most sovereign contempt for every 
pretence of honesty or public spirit. Such was the 
master who, with absolute authority, governed the 
freemen of England for twenty years. Yet he had 
three excellent qualities,—he pofsefsed much good 
nature, despised personal revenge, and detested war. 
‘Parliamentary bribery was very bad; but military 
butchery was a thousand times worse. He therefore 
differed from his. succefsors in office, as a pickpocket 
differs from an afsafsin. One of the first acts of par- 
liament, after his resignation, was to provide for the 
subsidies to Denmark, and Hefse Cafsel; and five 
hundred thousand pounds for the queen of Hungary. 
The supplies of the year amounted to near six mil- 
lions sterling, of which more than one half was bor- 
-rowed from the sinking fund, or the bank of Eng- 
land, Thus did the nation ‘‘ lavith her blood and 
«< treasure, in supporting the interest and allies of 
.“* a puny electorate, in the north of Germanyt |” We 
mow seé one good reason why the French and Spa- 
nifh privateers, took three thousand two hundred 
and thirty-eight Britifh vefsels. The money which 
ought to have been expended in squadrons for their 
protection, was bestowed on those enemies of man- 
kind, the despots of Germany. Charity begins at 
* Smollet. + Smoellet. 
