Page:An answer to a pamphlet, intitled, "Thoughts on the causes and consequences of the present high price of provisions" in a letter, addressed to the supposed author of that pamphlet.djvu/22

( 20 ) or forty lazy domestics; the former gives bread and employment to three or four hundred laborious mechanics and manufacturers. Not to mention, that, with regard to government-contracts, the distinction beween a minister and a merchant is often a mere fallacy, as it is well known, that, in matters of this kind, many of our ministers have acted as merchants and contractors; or, which amounts nearly to the same thing, would let no merchant have a good bargain from the government without a proper consideration. But these are the Arcana Imperii, the sacred mysteries of state, into which the profane vulgar must not presume to penetrate.

Thus far then, Sir, we are agreed, that the only method of reducing the present high price of Provisions, is by reducing the national debt, and the only method of reducing the national debt, is by reducing the expences of government, or (as you emphatically express it) by narrowing those channels, through which the riches of the public have