tion. Nothing can be so absurd as one office scrambling a few hundred pounds from another, under the notion that the Civil List and the Public are different interests, or that somewhat is to be drawn from Ireland or the India Company by these means.
"Limitation of Incidents, and particularly Stationery.—The abuses under the head of Incidents, are best seen by the Bills, which were called for by the Treasury in 1782 from all the offices. It went to the very ridicule of abuse; particularly the stationery, under which head several articles of household furniture were had in many instances through the medium of patents; each article paying 40 per cent, tax to the Usher of the Exchequer, besides the enormous profits of the patentee.
"Prohibition of Pluralities, Sinecures, and Patents.—The names speak the abuse of each. As to pluralities, what could be so absurd as to find Mr. clerk in the Treasury, and Secretary of State's Office; Mr. Pointz clerk in the Treasury and acting Deputy Pay Master in America at the same time? As for patents, what can be so inconsistent with every principle of economy, as to have the right of supplying several offices with stationery for ever, sold at public auction, and bought like a freehold estate, to be let out afterwards by the owner to the highest bidder, or in other instances, granted for one, two or three lives?
"Publicity on all matters of Expenditure or Judicature, except Secret Service.—It has been found by experience that this is the grand principle of economy, and the only method of preventing abuses; far better than oaths or any other checks, which have been devised. Instead therefore of oaths of secrecy, there should be an obligation to print at the end of the year every expenditure and every contract, except in cases of Secret Service, which may be subjected to checks of another nature.II
Reform of Particular Offices.
