"Four Acts of Parliament were prepared for the Better Regulation of the Police.
"It was also proposed to adopt a new mode in regard to the public loans, by opening a new fund at the real price of money, instead of adding to the capital without end, which renders all idea of redemption vain—this has been partly executed since by paying last year's portion of Navy bills by a 5 per cent. fund—to set forward a plan of conversion by which the holders of 3 per cents., and 4 per cents. may be induced by a small premium to change their stock to 5 per cents. with a view to redemption; after regulating and simplifying the taxes, so as to produce a sinking fund; to secure the application of it by means of public trustees, or some other means which shall make it truly sacred, independent even of Parliament; to open trade upon the most liberal principles, and revise all the laws relative to it, and to take up a system in regard to Foreign affairs, suited to the interests of Great Britain with regard to all the other powers of Europe, and without regard to former prejudices.
"When Secretary of State, Lord Shelburne obtained an Act to prevent certain offices in the Plantations being executed by Deputy, or granted for life. These were previously certain offices in each of the islands, and all other plantations, which produced from 1000l. or 3000l. a year, and were always given to the children or near relations of Secretaries of State (the younger sons of Lord Egremont, Lord Sackville, &c., hold such now to a considerable extent), and have them executed by deputies, who rent them to a very great amount. After this Act no such office can be so granted."[1]It was not to be expected that these reforms would take place without exciting great opposition. The cry of parsimony and cheese-paring, of sacrificing efficiency to economy, and of favouritism, were at once raised. Of this abuse Burke made himself the mouthpiece in Parliament. "He himself," he said, "had aimed only at the
- ↑ Lansdowne House MSS. The Act is 22 G. III. c. 75. The papers of William Knox, for many years Under-Secretary in the American and Southern Department, illustrate the unpopularity of these reforms. Hist. MSS. Commission (various collections), vi. 285. In a letter now at Holland House, Lord Lansdowne says he will send Lord Holland an account of the adjustments of 1782. The Memorandum printed above is probably a portion of it. Price estimated the effect of the contemplated reforms would be a saving of about half a million a year. R. Price, State of the Public Debt and Finances in January 1783, 18, 19, note.
Bill was adjourned on the 30th of May; and the Bill regulating the Public Offices, after passing the Commons, was thrown out by the House of Lords on the 30th of June, "on the ground of its encroaching on the executive Power of the Crown."
