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currence which ſeconds its exertions among the people. This is ſtated, with ſome experience of the unpopularity and ridicule that has been ſa often attempted to be fixed on the word Confidence, applicable only to that which is unthinking and blind. Stripped of its partial covering, confidence in thoſe who muſt act for the nation, in its preſent legitimate ſenſe, is that principle which gives energy and vigour to national enterprize, and ſtrength and ſecurity to national defence.
The amount of ſinecure employments cannot be compared with former periods, as there are no means for enabling that to be done; but we ſhall find the amount of penſions occaſionally in the Journals. In the laſt year of Queen Anne, it was[1] 130,000l. nett in England only, as the 1s. and 6d. taxes did not then exiſt; at which time the value of money was in the proportion of 257 to 562 at this day[2].
