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with Loans and Lotteries; which uſed invariably to be ſettled by bargains made between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and a certain number of perſons, ſelected by him: then ſhewing the profit to the public, by putting an end to the practice of making private contracts with perſons Intended to be favoured, for ſupplying the troops on foreign ſtations with proviſious and money, and ſometimes for furniſhing ſhips, as already alluded to; and cloſing this part of the account with the profit derived from the mode irrevocably eſtabliſhed reſpecting the renewals of crown leaſes. In each of which caſes the influence diminiſhed was not only extenſive, but was obviouſly in its nature much more objectionable than any that could be acquired by the diſpofal of offices; as the effect of the former was ſecret and unobſerved, whereas the latter is apparent and generally known.
The former practice, of making loans was for the Miniſter to ſettle, with a few ſelect friends in the city, the terms on which they ſhould be made; and then to give theſe, lifts of more private friends, intended to be favored, with the ſpecific ſums for each. Under ſuch a ſyſtem it cannot be
