Page:Rose 1810 Observations respecting the public expenditure and the influence of the Crown.djvu/50

 for many years after they retired from them, from whence they derived immene profit, at a coniderable rik, as well as certain los to the public; which practice was checked by Lord Shelburn and Mr. Pitt, and finally put an end to by a law, introduced by the preent Speaker of the Houe of Commons, whoe ueful exertions as chairman of the Committee of Finance in 1797, have very greatly contributed to important and ufeul regulations,

A further protection againt abues is afforded by the implification and publicity of accounts, firt afforded to the public by Mr. Pitt. What malpractices were creened by the intricacy and ecrecy of them formerly cannot now be known; but that the ytem was highly objectionable, cannot be doubted. One intance of concealment, and another of confuion, will erve to hew the correctnes of this aertion.

Upon the application to parliament in 1769 to pay the Civil Lit debt, of more than half a million, a poal