ACCUMULATED TREASURE CHAP. VIII. 



Governments which chiefly depend on a mili- 

 tary force are compelled to store up large sums 

 of ready money to meet emergencies that may 

 suddenly occur. This was the case with the 

 more provident of the Roman emperors, some 

 of whom owed their elevation, and most of whom 

 were indebted for the retention of it, to having 

 always at command the means of gratifying or 

 preventing the clamours of their troops for pay 

 or for donations. The same necessity existed 

 among the several princes of India, till the over- 

 whelming power of our East India company 

 released the greater part of them from the fear 

 of attacks and incursions, so sudden as to leave 

 no time for defensive preparations being col- 

 lected. Even in recent times, Buonaparte is 

 said to have kept a great mass of treasure in 

 reserve ; and it is commonly believed that up 

 to the present day the military monarch of 

 Prussia, the only one of the European sove- 

 reigns supposed to be exposed to sudden attacks, 

 has deemed it necessary to keep in his treasury 

 a large sum in ready money, amounting, ac- 

 cording to some accounts, to near two millions 

 sterling * . 



1 These reports from various quarters, which corroborate 

 each other, though none are strictly official, yet are entitled 

 to credit. It has been said that a part of this treasure has 

 been lately drawn forth to buy up some of the funded debt, 

 and thereby to raise its prices, and enable the government to 

 reduce the interest on the remainder of the debts. 



