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of 2425000l.for penſions and ſinecure employments at home and abroad, is between three farthings and one penny in the pound. By the extinction, therefore, of all ſniecures and penſions, a perſon paying taxes to the amount of 50l a-year would ſave about 4s. Such a ſaving we are far from thinking ſhould be treated as trifling or inſignificant; it would ill become the author to do ſo: on the other hand, how infinitely ſhort would this fall of the expectation that has been held out?
But if from the total ſum received from ſinecure places and penſions, deductions were made of ſuch as have been given as rewards for public ſervices, the amount would be very greatly reduced; penſions to foreign miniſters, in particular, whoſe appointments are hardly, in any inſtance, ſuifficient for their maintenance.
The penſion liſt alſo contains proviſion for the branches of noble and reſpectable families fallen into decay; this iſ however an exertion of national generoſity, if not of juſtice, which the moſt ſcrupulous œconomiſt will hardly conſider as improper. Something muſt certainly be allowed for mere favor;
