" And
Lord Byron adds, that, in saying this, Sheridan wept. (16)
The tone of public morality in money-matters was very low in those
days. Political peculation was not thought discreditable; and
heads of parties did not hesitate to secure the adhesion of their
followers by a free use of the public money. They were generous,
but at the expense of others--like that great local magnate, who,
"Out of his great bounty,
Built a bridge at the expense of the county."
When Lord Cornwallis was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, he
pressed upon Colonel Napier, the father of THE Napiers, the
comptrollership of army accounts. "I want," said his Lordship,
"AN HONEST MAN, and this is the only thing I have been able to
wrest from the harpies around me."
It is said that Lord Chatham was the first to set the example of
disdaining to govern by petty larceny; and his great son was alike
honest in his administration. While millions of money were
passing through Pitt's hands, he himself was never otherwise than
poor; and he died poor. Of all his rancorous libellers, not one
ever ventured to call in question his honesty.
In former times, the profits of office were sometimes enormous.
When Audley, the famous annuity-monger of the sixteenth century,
was asked the value of an office which he had purchased in the
Court of Wards, he replied:- "Some thousands to any one who wishes
to get to heaven immediately; twice as much to him who does not
mind being in purgatory; and nobody knows what to him who is not
afraid of the devil.
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