port of the kingdom; the commiſſioners of exciſe, and their numerous ſubalterns, in every inland diſtrict; the poſtmaſters, and their ſervants, planted in every town, and upon every public road; the commiſſioners of the ſtamps, and their diſtributors, which are full as ſcattered and full as numerous; the officers of the ſalt duty, which, though a ſpecies of exciſe and conducted in the ſame manner, are yet made a diſtinct corps from the ordinary managers of that revenue; the ſurveyors of houſes and windows; the receivers of the land tax; the managers of lotteries; and the commiſſioners of hackney coaches; all which are either mediately or immediately appointed by the crown, and removeable at pleaſure without any reaſon aſſigned: theſe, it requires but little penetration to ſee, muſt give that power, on which they depend for ſubſiſtence, an influence moſt amazingly extenſive. To this may be added the frequent opportunities of conferring particular obligations, by preference in loans, ſubſcriptions, tickets, remittances, and other money-tranſactions, which will greatly encreaſe this influence; and that over thoſe perſons whoſe attachment, on account of their wealth, is frequently the moſt deſirable. All this is the natural, though perhaps the unforeſeen, conſequence of erecting our funds of credit, and to ſupport them eſtabliſhing our preſent perpetual taxes: the whole of which is entirely new ſince the reſtoration in 1660; and by far the greateſt part ſince the revolution in 1688. And the ſame may be ſaid with regard to the officers in our numerous army, and the places which the army has created. All which put together gives the executive power ſo perſuaſive an energy with reſpect to the perſons themſelves, and ſo prevailing an intereſt with their friends and families, as will amply make amends for the loſs of external prerogative.
But, though this profuſion of offices ſhould have no effect on individuals, there is ſtill another newly acquired branch of power; and that is, not the influence only, but the force of a diſciplined army: paid indeed ultimately by the people, but immediately by
