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than at any former period of our political hiſtory. It is perhaps ſingular, and certainly moſt honorable to the individual Miniſter, that the fame Chancellor of the Exchequer, whoſe duty it became towards the eventful cloſe of the laſt century, to call forth as well as to manage the utmoſt reſources of the nation, made it another part of his duty to inſtitute the means of examination and controul of that expenditure which he was to direct and to apply. But there was in that (as indeed is the caſe in all ſuch public meaſures rightly underſtood) not leſs political wiſdom than political virtue; becauſe the credit of the country will always riſe in proportion to the proviſions made, and to the meaſures adopted, for the ſatisſaction of its creditors, and the conviction of the people, with regard to the juſtneſs and appropriation of its expenditure.
Beſides the general conſtruction (if the phraſe may be allowed) of our government, adapted at all times to the purpoſe of checking exceſs as well as abuſe in its expenditure, there ſhould be an occaſional adoption of enquiry to ſuit particular caſes and particular departments. This mode is rendered indiſpenſible from the complication, as well as the
